Pikes Peak Climbing/Hiking Information including Map, Photos, a Video & Reviews
Pikes Peak, widely known as “America’s Mountain,” rises prominently above Colorado Springs in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Located approximately 10 miles west of the city in Pike National Forest, the mountain is one of Colorado’s most famous and recognizable Fourteeners.
Reaching an elevation of 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak towers more than 8,000 feet above Colorado Springs and is the easternmost major Fourteener in the United States. Its commanding position at the edge of the Great Plains made the mountain an important landmark for Indigenous peoples, explorers, settlers, and travelers moving west.
Spanish explorers referred to the mountain as El Capitán. It was later named for Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who led an expedition into the region in 1806. Pike and members of his expedition attempted to climb the mountain but were forced to turn back because of deep snow and severe winter conditions.
Pikes Peak later became closely associated with America’s westward expansion and the Colorado Gold Rush. The phrase “Pikes Peak or Bust” was used by prospectors traveling west during the late 1850s, even though many were ultimately headed to mining areas farther north.
Today, Pikes Peak can be reached by hiking and climbing routes, the Pikes Peak Highway, and the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The mountain’s summit area above 14,000 feet is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The POCKET PALS Pikes Peak Hiking, Climbing, and Backcountry Skiing Map includes detailed coverage of 5 trailheads, 5 hiking and climbing routes, and 6 backcountry ski lines.
Trailheads Included
- Barr Trail / Manitou Springs Trailhead
- Crags Trailhead
- Heizer Trailhead
- Elk Park Trailhead
- Devil’s Playground Trailhead
Hiking and Climbing Routes Included
- East Slopes via Barr Trail — Standard Route
- Northwest Slopes via Trail 664A
- Heizer Trail / Trail 638 Approach
- Lake Moraine Approach
- Elk Park Approach
Backcountry Ski Lines Included
- The Bowl, also known as Big Blue
- The Chimney
- Cornice Bowl
- Little Italy
- Old Pikes Peak Ski Area
- Y Couloir — Middle Fork
From the historic Barr Trail to quieter western and northern approaches, the POCKET PALS map provides detailed terrain and route information for exploring one of Colorado’s most celebrated mountains.
