Driving Up Pikes Peak for Cowards: 7 Tips for Braving the Trip
Nothing like 180° hairpin turns on a 14,000 ft mountain to invoke a mild panic attack in the most rational of people, much less someone terrified of heights. But, driving up Pikes Peak is one of the most exhilarating experiences in Colorado Springs. Don’t let fear keep you from the drive of a lifetime!
I don’t have many fears, but heights and driving narrow mountain roads top the list. As in palm sweating, can’t breathe, frozen in place kind of fear. But, how can you visit Colorado Springs without seeing the 14,000 ft summit of Pikes Peak? After all, its America’s mountain.
And so, when we found ourselves out west again last summer, getting to the top of that fourteener (as the adventurous types call it) was a must.
Why drive when there is a train that can take you to the summit? Because the only thing that would freak me out more than driving up narrow mountain roads with steep drop offs would be sitting captive in a train car while it crawled straight up the side of said mountain. So, taking the Pikes Peak Cog Railway was out of the question. Which left us with driving our rented Jeep to the top.
In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing about our day driving up Pikes Peak. It was an amazing experience! But, I thought I would pass on a few things that might help you tackle your fears so you can conquer that summit too
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1. Distract Yourself with a Free Audio Tour or Custom Playlist
Pikes Peak Rangers partnered with TravelStorysGPS to produce a fantastic free audio tour that you can access right from your phone. Download the TravelStorys app and connect your phone to the car’s audio system. Start the tour as you pass through the entrance gate. Using GPS, the app recognizes your location and the audio tour automatically kicks on as you approach sites of interest. You’ll hear bits of history, interesting facts, and other helpful information about the mountain. Be aware that GPS tracking can drain your phone battery, so bring along a charging cable just in case.
If you prefer music for your drive, make a playlist on Spotify or Apple Music of your favorites. Make it a fun one that will help keep your mind off the steep drops and switchbacks while letting you relax and enjoy the sites. I couldn’t resist adding a few golden John Denver nuggets to our list.
2. Catch Your Breath at Breathtaking Scenic Stops
One of the things that surprised me when driving up Pikes Peak was the number of places there are to stop along the way, including several with restroom facilities. I was prepared for one long panic-filled haul up the mountain with no stops for any reason.
However, there are plenty of picnic areas, hiking spots, scenic views with pullover parking, and even gift shops along the way. So, take the time to explore all the stops. The views are stunning and the stops give you the chance to really enjoy the journey (literally). The TravelStorys app (mentioned above) will give you insights on what there is to do in many of the stops.
Some recommend stopping on the way up the mountain to help your body acclimate to the altitude more slowly. Others say to stop on the way back down to give your car’s brakes some opportunities to cool off. We did a mix of both. Whatever you choose, take advantage of the scenic sidebars to make the most of your time on the mountain.
Popular Scenic Stops
Mile Marker 3: Crowe Gulch Picnic Grounds
This area is near the start of the drive up the mountain, so it is often overlooked as a place to stop. (Although marked Mile 3, it is only 3/4 of a mile past the entrance gate.) But, it makes a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch or a hike to an overlook with views of Pikes Peak summit.
Mile Marker 6: The Crystal Reservoir Visitors Center
Stop here to take in the views of the gorgeous reservoir, grab lunch inside the visitors center, fish the stocked lake, or even pan for gold. There is also a beautiful hiking trail that wraps around the water. Keep an eye out for Bigfoot. He’s rumored to roam the area.
Mile Marker 9: The Halfway Picnic Area
As the name suggests, this stop is located halfway up Pikes Peak and you’ll find picnic tables and even grills for cooking out.
Mile Marker 13: The Glen Cove Inn
Pick up souvenirs at the gift shop or grab a hot lunch in the Timberline Cafe located inside the Glen Cove Inn. You will also find restroom facilities around back. We planned to grab lunch here on the way down. But we were just a little too early for lunch service. So, next time.
Mile Marker 16: Devils Playground
Named for the numerous lightning strikes in the area, Devil’s Playground has a large parking lot and amazing views. This is definitely worth the stop. It had snowed over 8 inches the weekend before we made the drive so we couldn’t get very close to the rock piles, but it was still a nice break. Just be sure to head for your car if a storm breaks out!
3. Know that Park Rangers Have It Under Control
If you’re nervous about driving through snow, ice, rock slides, or whatever other random road hazard you can imagine, you can rest easy. That’s because the drive up the mountain is actually very safe. You may not see the Pikes Peak Park Rangers, but they are busy working to protect both the park lands and its visitors. They monitor road conditions constantly and will only allow you to drive up if its safe to do so. That means you shouldn’t have to worry about icy or dangerous driving conditions.
That being said, the week before we visited Pikes Peak, a sudden blizzard did hit the mountain, stranding several visitors. The park rangers drove families down the mountain car by car to ensure that everyone made it back to base safely.
Beyond road conditions, Park Rangers also control the actual traffic on the mountain. While the timed entrance tickets during the summer help to control the total number of visitors on the mountain, it is sometimes necessary for the Rangers to further space out the cars reaching the summit. When the parking lot at the summit fills up, Park Rangers will hold cars at Devil’s Playground until spots open at the top. This happened to us. After about 15 minutes, the Rangers came around the lot to let us know we could continue our drive.
On the way back down the mountain, Rangers will stop your car at the Glen Cove Inn to check the temperature of your car’s brakes. If your brakes are too hot, you will be directed to the parking lot to let things cool off for a while.
4. Remember That the Switchbacks Only Last One Mile
The first 3/4 of the trip is relatively uneventful. Meaning, roads are relatively wide with plenty of trees and land on each side. Mostly. Then, just before Devil’s Playground – you hit the switchbacks . Switchbacks are 180° turns where the road basically folds back on itself. Hairpin turns at 13,000 feet, sometimes with no guardrail. My nightmare. The good news is that this stretch of road only lasts one mile.
Granted, for that one mile I was white knuckle gripping the door handle. (There may or may not be permanent nail marks in the door handles of our Jeep.) Truly my biggest fear. My palms sweat even thinking about it now. But, knowing that that stretch was only for one mile helped me (sort of) relax enough to enjoy the spectacular views.
5. Drink Water to Help Curb Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a nasty condition that strikes when you ascend to a high altitude without giving your body time to acclimate to the thinner air and lower oxygen. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, and can be very dangerous. While there isn’t much rhyme or reason to who will feel the effects, the elderly are most at risk, so take special precautions if traveling with parents or grandparents.
The only treatment is getting down the mountain to a lower altitude. And, if you are going to brave all those switchbacks, you don’t want to get to the summit only to feel horrible.
Dehydration can make altitude sickness much worse, so staying hydrated is super important when driving up Pikes Peak. We learned from our TravelStorys audio tour that your body loses as much as a quart of water as you ascend the mountain. So, take a water bottle with you and drink lots of water during your drive. In fact, experts recommend upping your water intake several days before driving up Pikes Peak to ensure you are sufficiently hydrated.
6. Pack a Jacket & Sunscreen
Temperatures drop drastically as you ascend 14,000 feet on your drive up the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway. Pack some layers and be prepared for snow no matter what time of year you are visiting. We made our drive on June 19 and a storm had dropped 8 inches of snow on the summit just a couple of days before. I tracked the drop in temperatures as we drove up the mountain.
Also, the sun reflecting off the snow is incredibly bright so don’t forget the sunscreen and sunglasses. Jason did not bring his and he regretted it!
Temperature Changes Driving Up Pikes Peak
TOTAL DROP IN TEMP : -35°
7. Know That the Summit is Totally Worth It
You may have been holding your breath for the last 19 miles, but the payoff is absolutely worth it! The views from the summit are stunning. As mentioned earlier, a summer storm had recently dropped a ton of snow so the walkways were still rather icy and some places were not easily accessible. But that didn’t stop us from exploring.
Inside the Summit House, you’ll find exhibits about the mountain as well as a small cafe and gift shop for souvenirs. We collect Christmas ornaments for our travel themed tree. Since we had watched a marmot play in the snow right outside, we chose a glass marmot ornament to remember our trip.
You’ll also find a couple of EMTs in the Summit House with oxygen canisters ready to help anyone suffering the effects of altitude sickness. While we weren’t bothered much, Jason and I both noticed that the effects were worse inside the building. We felt slightly dizzy and lightheaded until we got outside and into the fresh air.
