Pikes Peak ColoradoOnly Mt. Fugi in Japan attracts more tourists than Colorado's Pikes Peak. Over a half million people per year make it all the way to the summit. The mountain, at an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, ranks 31st highest of the 54 Colorado mountain peaks. The mountain is more famous than the rest because it is relatively easy to get to the top, and it is the easternmost big peak in the Rocky Mountains. The mountain ranks first for base-to-summit elevation gain - 7,400 feet. Pikes Peak Highway runs 19 miles to the summit. It is paved most of the way; the last part is gravel. It's open all year, but closes during poor road conditions. You can climb to the top if you are in great physical condition. Approximately 15,000 try that every year. Most of the climbers use the 13 mile Barr Trail which begins in Manitou Springs. If you are driving, plan on taking two to three hours to get up and back down the mountain. Most people will not want to stay long at the summit; the air is thin and hard for most people to breath, and it is probably going to be very cold. When we made it to the summit in the middle of October, it was below freezing and very windy. If it is cold in Manitou Springs, count on it being 30 degrees colder at the top of the mountain.
The mountain is made of a pink granite that ranges in color from light pink to red. The granite sparkles in the sunlight. Take advantage of the pull-overs; stop occasionally to walk a little bit and get some photos. The pull-overs are also good for allowing faster traffic to move on. From the summit in nice weather, you will be able to see to Kansas and New Mexico. Everybody wants a picture in front of the "Summit Pikes Peak 14,110 Ft. Pike National Forest" sign, so don't get so light-headed you forget about it. Try to spend a some time in the Summit House Restaurant. It's not fancy, but it gets you indoors out of the cold, and you can relax with some of their "high altitude donuts" and a cup of coffee. There is also a nice gift shop where you can purchase some souvenirs of your adventure (I think the number of those people who come from the mountaintop with nothing is very few). A lot of people miss it because the environment is so uncomfortable, but there is a plaque at the summit honoring the patriotic song, "America the Beautiful." The mountain was the inspiration for the song, and in fact the song was originally written as a poem, titled "Pikes Peak."  Stop at Crystal Reservoir either on the way up or on the way down. There is a nice gift shop there (not always open.) There is a good hiking trail here. We have hiked part of it in January when the lake was frozen and nobody else was on the trail. In warmer weather, there is often a lot of activity around the lake - fishing, boating, and hiking.  Another good place to stop the road in the Ute Pass Overlook. The Ute Indians used the pass as a gateway from their mountain homes to the mineral springs at Manitou Springs and hunting grounds east of the Front Range. Spanish and American explorers followed the same route.
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The best time to visit Pikes Peak is when you are in the area. Even if you can't get all the way to the summit the trip is fun. Since there is probably going to be a lot of snow on the mountains during those times the road closes, the scenery is going to be spectacular even at lower elevations.
