Since 1891, the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway (the world's highest cog railroad, the highest Colorado railroad AND highest train in the United States) has taken passengers to the 14,110' summit of Pikes Peak.Just six miles from downtown Colorado Springs, this classic Colorado train trip is open from mid April through December.
The round trip from the railway station in Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak and back will cost you about $27 per adult and $14 per child (3-11 years). All major credit cards, travelers checks, and cash are accepted.
You can read the history and all about the cog railway on the their website, so I won't bore you with that detail here.
A few suggestions to make your trip the most enjoyable are:
Once in the CO Springs area and after you checked the local weather Weather.com, order your tickets in advance at Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
Be sure your camera is filled with film or you have a disc large enough to store a lot of pictures because the sights worthy of a picture are numerous.
Bring extra clothing (e.g. sweater, jacket, pants) as the temperature at the summit is much colder than at the railway station. When traveling up Pikes Peak, ascending 1000 feet is like traveling 600 miles to the north, so the temperature drops by about three degrees. Thus, at the top of Pikes Peak its 30 degrees colder than at the station in Manitou.
Be sure to pack your sunglasses as the sun is brighter and don’t forget the sunscreen as the sun is hotter way up there.
Load onto the train early and claim a seat so you don’t have to get one of the seats where you go up the mountain backward.
Once at the summit, but after you have heard the departure time, exit the train and walk around to see the sites. The views from the summit are great in every direction. Get your picture taken next to the summit sign. Get a penny pressed in the Gift Shop or buy another souvenir to commemorate your reaching the more than 14,100’ summit.
Be sure to check the plaque describing the inspiration for the lyrics of the beloved song, "America the Beautiful," being the stunning vistas from the summit of Pikes Peak back in the summer of 1893.
Listen for the boarding signals to make sure you don’t miss your train back down the mountain, otherwise you will have to wait for the next train, or if it’s the last train, it's a long and expensive taxi ride back down.
The cog railway is a great experience for all ages and worth your time and the cost for the ticket.
Once back at the railway station, consider enjoying lunch on the premises. But if not, it's just minutes back to the Springs area.