Vacationing in Colorado? Take a train to the summit of Pikes Peak

Vacationing in Colorado is always a treat, but sometimes when you spend most of your journey in a car it is easy to miss out on the wildlife and natural beauty of the Colorado Mountains.  If you’re in the mood to get up-close and personal with one of Colorado’s most storied peaks, a ride on the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway is a must. 

Kids of all ages will enjoy the steep trip up the side of this 14,110-foot mountain while they witness some flora and fauna that is unique to the high altitudes of these mountains. 

Even though this journey is only 8.9 miles long, the round-trip is lasts more than three hours. 

Passengers start out with a trip along Ruxton Creek, where the track follows a cascade of dense Engelmann spruce and Ponderosa pine trees.  The conductor directs passengers’ attention Minnehaha Falls and “Hell Gate”, a natural mountain gateway.  He will point out the mule deer at Deer Park, and the ancient bristlecone pine trees near the edge of the timberline. 

Once the train is above the timberline there is permafrost and Alpine tundra, which is a mixture of grasses, mosses and wildflowers in the summer months.  It is among this unusual landscape that one will frequently see Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep and yellow-bellied marmots.  Everyone’s favorite, marmots are playful little creatures that are known for their piercing whistle, but they also enjoy sunning themselves on mountain rocks in the summer months.

Once at the summit, passengers can get out and take pictures of a jaw-dropping vista that encompasses three states – Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.  Stretching before them is the rich textural tapestry of the Great Plains and the Sangre de Christo and Collegiate mountain ranges.

After checking out the gift shop and concession area at Summit House, be sure to leave time for the viewing platform, where you can see a great view of the Continental Divide and the old mining towns of Victor and Cripple Creek.  And remember, you will only be at the summit for about 30-40 minutes, so grab some hot chocolate and listen for the train whistle… if you miss your train; it’s a long walk down!

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is located near Colorado Springs, CO which is about 75 miles from our vacation cabin located in Alma, CO.  The drive from our cabin to the cog railway is very scenic.