Once you reach the summit, you can’t miss the World Famous Summit Donuts, a cross between a cake and yeast doughnut that has been loved for years. Unfortunately, outside food and beverage are not allowed aboard the train. Grab some locally roasted nuts, ice cream, frozen fruit bars, or trail mixes at the Manitou Depot before boarding the train. You’ll never be far from delicious snacks during the 3-hour roundtrip to the summit. Dining Snack wall at the Pikes Peak Cog Railway gift shop in Manitou Springs. Swiss engineers played a huge role in planning and producing larger and faster cars throughout the 20th century, contributing to the smooth summiting experience that’s still around today. Over the next few decades, many of the cars were shifted from steam power to diesel to make summiting more efficient. The Broadmoor acquired the railway in 1925. Only 2 years after construction began, a church choir group boarded the railcars and became the first guests to summit Pikes Peak via the passenger train. 6 steam-powered locomotives were used in the early days, and 3 of them are now proudly displayed around Colorado Springs. The Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway Company was founded and construction on the tracks began in 1889. He realized the views were beautiful and wanted to make them more accessible to the public. Zalmon Simmons took the two-day mule trek to the summit of Pikes Peak to check up on an insulated telegraph wire he created.
It all started with a mule ride and the founder of Simmons Beautyrest Mattress Company. History Historic railcar from the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. If you choose the latter two, the railway offers single-way tickets to get back down.
Another way to reach the top is by automobile on the Pikes Peak Highway, by a long hike, or you can even go by bike. The trip is 8.9 miles to the top and takes one hour and 40 minutes each way, for a roundtrip total of just over 3 hours (plus however long you want to stay at the top). Enjoy this front-row experience while you sit right up with the train engineer.Įach ride departs from the cog depot in eclectic Manitou Springs. Photo by: /pikespeakrailcogwayĮither side of the train offers spectacular vistas and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Kansas! If you want unobstructed sightseeing during the ride, they offer a special “Engineer’s View” ticket for both uphill and downhill rides. Inside one of the railcars on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The interiors are kept at a constant temperature of 73☏ no matter the season with new heaters and air conditioning units. Inside each car, there are rows of 2 and 3 seats facing one another that are ideal for families to sit together. The train cars are brand new and were shipped over from Switzerland in 2019 as part of a multi-million dollar renovation. Chug along the 9 miles of railroad tracks that wind through Engelmann Canyon, past a gorgeous waterfall, and above the treeline to reach the 14,115-foot summit. Although there are several ways to reach the summit, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is one of the most unique. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Kansas!Īs the highest peak on the Front Range, Pikes Peak is a staple part of any trip to Colorado. Year-round train rides up Pikes Peak Fantastic view of Colorado Springs from the Summit of Pikes Peak. The smell of the “World Famous” donuts is hard to resist, be sure to grab a few and see for yourself why they’re so popular.
The Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center has a gift store, cafeteria, and restroom facilities, as well as plenty of interpretive displays and exhibits for learning the mountain’s history. Visitors will spend 30 minutes at the top of Pikes Peak before returning to the depot where they can browse souvenirs or head into town to explore. It passes through a variety of beautiful alpine landscapes before making it to the 14,115-foot summit. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway departs year-round from Manitou Springs.
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