Pikes Peak

Description

Pikes Peak is an isolated peak on the front range of the Rocky Mountains, located in Central Colorado. It forms a massive backdrop behind Colorado Springs as one travels west off the eastern plains.

Pikes Peak and Mount Evans are the only two Colorado fourteeners with roads winding to their summits. The Pikes Peak Toll Road was completed in 1916, and today is the site of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a motorized vehicle race held annually in July. One can also reach the summit on a Cog Railway that has been operating since 1891. In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates composed the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" after returning from the summit of Pikes Peak.

The summit today is crowded with tourists, but excellent hiking routes exist that avoid the road and railway. The most popular trail is the Barr Trail.