Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pikes Peak Hwy
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Mileage: 38 miles
Why Go?
Climbing a 14er is a Colorado rite of passage, and who knows? Driving it might give you
inspiration to take on the next one on your own two feet. On clear days you can look down
on four states.
The Route
From Colorado Springs take US 24 west to the Pikes Peak Hwy/Toll Rd. First you'll skirt
knife-edge drops into the valley below as Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City become
scattered specks in the distance, then you'll roll through thick stands of pine and cedar and
finally scree fields. You can thank eccentric tycoon Spencer Penrose for this luscious rib-
bon of surprisingly sound asphalt that winds up and up and up to the tippy (flat) top of
Pikes Peak. After Penrose built the road, he christened it with the first ever Pikes Peak In-
ternational Hill Climb, a car race that still runs each June.
Before you embark on your journey make sure your brakes and tires are sound, and re-
member that at altitude your car will have about half the horsepower it usually does. When
driving back down, do so in a low gear. The Pikes Peak Hwy/Toll Rd is accessed via Man-
itou Springs, a fine place to have lunch, stroll and shop afterwards. It costs $40 per car (up
to five people).
When to Go
The road is open most of the year, though it's sometimes closed during the winter.
Detour
After you get back into the flats, stop for a drink at the Broadmoor, where you can experi-
ence Penrose's game-changing resort and one of the earliest tourist draws to Colorado.
