Summit Pikes Peak!

Just get off the couch and tackle a 14’er!

Reaching the Summit of Pikes Peak was on our bucket list after we casually decided to hike to Barr Trail on a visit to Colorado Springs. We ran out of time to attempt the summit- so we decided to return the following year and take on the challenge of summiting our first 14’er!

The facts:

-You can hike, bike and run the trail

-It is 12 miles long to the summit, 26.2 miles roundtrip

-Hiking to the Summit is a 7800ft. elevation gain

-It is a difficult 6-10 hour hike if you do it in one day

-Dogs are allowed on the trail!

-It is FREE to hike here- but parking is NOT! Plan ahead

Good to know before you go:

-Start hiking EARLY, as in- SUNRISE. It often rains at elevation- Barr Camp and above. An early start will allow you to beat the rain on the way up.

-Its gets colder at higher elevations, so bring layers!

-Bring plenty of water and snacks. There are limited drinks and snacks available at Barr Camp to replenish your supply. You can also filter water at the stream at Barr Camp. But come prepared!

-Parking stinks at the Trailhead. There are only a few spots available, but you can reserve them by paying at the on-site parking kiosk. You CAN park overnight here, but I would not count on it due to the limited number of parking spots available. Check the Barr Camp website for other options. We made arrangements with our hotel to keep our car in their lot overnight and just walked to the trailhead.

Other ways to get to the Summit besides hiking Barr Trail:

Barr Trail is the only way to get all the way to the top via hiking. But due to the 13 mile one way trip, this may not be for everyone. Crag’s Trail is a 4 mile moderate hike if you are not up for such a long day. The Catamount Trail is more challenging at 6 miles round trip. Keep in mind neither of these trails will take you all the way to the top.

If hiking is not your thing, take a drive up the Pikes Peak Highway. Plan about a 3 hour round trip drive including picture pit stops. The Cog Railway was another option, but it is currently undergoing renovations until 2021. Check their website for updates. Lastly, Challenge Unlimited hosts a downhill road ride. They drive you to the top and then outfit you with a bike for a 19.5 mile thrill ride all the way to the bottom! That sounds like a blast, right?! But I still would rather hike up for the best view…

So how hard is it to summit Pikes Peak?

Here is the real deal: There is no doubt- this is a tough hike. It is only rated Class 1, the easiest rating for a fourteener. But, that doesn’t say much when you throw in a little heat, or cold, altitude, exhaustion, and thirst. Just be prepared, don’t underestimate the climb, and enjoy the challenge!

Follow the signs to Barr’s Trail Trailhead. You can either take the switchbacks to the left or the stairway to the right. (and who wouldn’t take the easier way…via the switchbacks of course!) The trail is well marked and well-traveled, so there is no need for a guide. The path was pretty easy in the beginning, with a gradual incline on a dirt trail. But don’t be fooled! The incline gets tougher and so does the terrain.We made it to Barr Camp in about 3 1/2 hours in between Insta pics, snacks, and breath breaks.

Since there were 10 of us we occupied the lean-to’s (reserve them months in advance since there are only 4 of them), pitched a couple tents and even took 2 spots in the Main Cabin. We had a great time at the spaghetti dinner (again, reserved in advance) meeting fellow hikers and swapping stories. We were all exhausted so after hanging out under the stars for a bit, we hit the hay to get an early morning start for the summit.

We started the summit hike right after the pancake breakfast that the guys at barr Camp prepared for everyone. Since we opted to do the hike in 2 days (but you could absolutely do it in 1 day…just have an exit strategy in case you are too tired to make the hike back down) we had a 20lb. pack on our back. This is one probably the biggest drawback of a 2-day hike. I am not gonna lie, we were all dreading putting that pack back on for several hours more of hiking. BUT, we were also super-excited to summit! Lots of mixed emotions, lots of anticipation. Barr Camp is at just about 10,000 feet up, so we thought the overnight would help with the altitude issues we were certain to encounter. well, I was wrong! We started to feel “it” pretty much right away as we made our way up. Two people in our group took diamox (helps with altitude sickness) and felt no pain, though. The trail was rocky, the air was thin, our packs were heavy, and I was getting SALTY! Thankfully, everyone in the group made fun of each other and the difficulty we all felt in making the final ascent. We took more “breath breaks” pretended to take Insta shots, and laughed at our discomfort.

The last mile or so was pretty daunting. Once we reached the 16 Golden Stairs we thought we were home free! Boy were we wrong. That last mile felt like 100 miles as we trudged along. This Midwestern girl was NOT used to the crazy altitude and felt every breath! So much for all that marathon training! Despite how hard the climb is- remember the goal, and the accomplishment afterward. Its no small feat to hike a 14’er! It is physically and mentally challenging, but you got this! If we can do it, so can you!

Anyway, once we made it to the top it got a little chaotic. Tour buses unload hoards of people. As we were just exiting the final stretch of our climb, some freshly showered tourist had the nerve to ask for a photo. My SALTY friend abruptly said “no” as she wielded the 20lb. pack off her back and headed straight for the Summit House donuts! (A must-do. Rumored to be the best donuts on earth. I would argue that fact, even after climbing 14,000 ft. But I had to try one, of course!)with our bag o’ donuts in hand, we headed to the van where our driver was waiting for us and made our way (comfortable sitting!) back down the mountain.

Options after the Summit:

-Hike back down, of course! Another 12 miles to tackle!

-Stay overnight at Barr Camp: Its fun! Enjoy a spaghetti dinner and camp under the stars (or in a lean-to or Main Cabin Bunkhouse)

-Take a shuttle from the Summit back to Manitou Springs (book in advance to ensure a seat)

-Hire a driver to pick you up at the summit. Make sure to book in advance and the driver will be waiting for you!

Thus ended our mountain adventure- and we all headed to Manitou Springs to enjoy indoor plumbing, a hot pizza, and some rest and relaxation after a tough climb. We made our way to Boulder after ward since its such a cool town. I would definitely recommend a trip there- its only about 25 miles away.