The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Begin in Manitou Springs
The Cog Railway Depot sits in the foothills, a historic building buzzing with anticipation. Wander the gift shop while you wait—shelves stacked with Colorado-made goods, Cog memorabilia that’ll look good on your shelf back home, trail mix for the journey, ice cream to enjoy before you board.
Then the train pulls in. The cog engages with a mechanical click that promises adventure.

Nine Miles of Constant Wonder
Settle into your seat as the train leans into the mountain. The rhythmic clack of the cog becomes your soundtrack. Outside the panoramic windows, Englemann Canyon reveals itself—rock walls rising on either side, the forest thick and untouched.
As you climb through Pike National Forest, your guide fills the air with stories. Tales of miners and explorers. The geology that shaped these peaks. The wildlife that thrives at impossible altitudes. Listen or don’t—the views demand attention either way.
This route takes you where most visitors never go, through terrain reserved for backcountry hikers who know what they’re doing. Rock formations twist into improbable shapes. Alpine wildflowers cling to slopes. Bighorn sheep watch the train pass with mild interest, too accustomed to the sight to be impressed.
The train crosses multiple life zones—each with its own character, its own ecosystem. Ponderosa pines give way to bristlecone. Then trees disappear entirely, replaced by tundra and sky. Your camera works overtime. Every curve reveals something new.

Forty Minutes at 14,115 Feet
The train crests the summit, and you step into the thin air—forty minutes to explore. Make them count.
On clear days, five states spread before you: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Kansas. The Summit Visitor Center offers multiple vantage points, each with interpretive displays that explain what you’re seeing. But honestly, the view speaks for itself.
Walk the accessible paths. Feel the wind cut across the barren summit. Look down at the world you just left behind—it seems impossibly far below now.

Or Make It One-Way
The Cog Railway doesn’t have to be a round-trip. Hike the 13-mile Barr Trail to the summit, legs burning with effort, lungs working double-time in the thin air. Then reward yourself with a civilized ride back down, the train doing all the work while you rest.
Or flip it: ride up in comfort, then point your bike downhill for 19 miles of switchbacks, hairpin turns, and gravity-assisted speed down the Pikes Peak Highway. Your quads will have opinions about this choice, but the rush makes it worth it.