Nicknamed “America’s Mountain,” Pikes Peak stands at 14,114ft. The most popular 14er in Colorado, mostly due to its easy access from Colorado Springs and a road to the top, Pikes Peak gains 7,510 vertical feet in a 13.5-mile hike (via Barr Trail). The popular song “America the Beautiful” was written by Kathleen E Bates in 1893 atop this great mountain. The hike will take you the full day no matter which angle you approach it from. The most popular routes are via Barr Trail, or from the Crags.
Barr Trail is by far the most popular route to the top, the longest, and also highly trafficked. Most people will camp along the way and complete it in two days, but it’s possible to do it in one if one leaves early. Being the most prominent peak in my backyard that everyone talks about, I hiked the peak on July 23, 2011, with my high school business teacher. I then hiked it again on September 20, 2015. We approached from an alternate route, far less crowded, near Cow Mountain.
A treacherous and tiring day, the sights at the top are so worth it . . . As they are every time. Most I talk to who have hiked the peak either take the Cog Railway down or catch a ride from a tourist. Over half a million people visit the summit each year!
To learn more about Pikes Peak, visit ColoradoSprings.gov.
