20 Miles One Way 7500-14110 Elevation

This road starts in Cascade and then zig zags its way 20 miles to the top of Pikes Peak. Along the way it climbs through thick forest, thin scrubby trees, then barren rocks. There are plenty of spectacular views at every turn in the road on the way to the 14,110 foot peak. It also has two cafes, and a picnic ground.

Five miles west of town on Route 24, turn left at the big sign then follow the road to the toll booths, you can't miss it. Traffic is slow on this steep and winding road with lots of picture taking stops, so plan on taking two hours to make the 20 mile uphill drive.

The road immediately starts its steep climb and after two miles, its first overlook appears on the left, looking over Cascade and the valley back to Colorado Springs. After a few miles in flat forest, the road passes a lake and turns from paved road to dirt. This lake is part of the Colorado Springs water supply, and is now a popular hiking, fishing and picnicking area.

Past the lake, the forest starts thinning to smaller scrub pines and the view is more open. Half way up is the Glen Cove Cafe. This lot is usually full with overheated cars on the way up and overheated brakes on the way down.

A little later, the road starts a series of switchbacks as it heads up a steep cliff face and heads above treeline and into barren rock gardens. The Devils Garden is a picturesque pile of car sized boulders, and a great place for fun rock climbing. A few switchbacks above the Devils Garden, the road flattens out as it climbs the northern ridge of Pikes Peak. This 13,000 foot plateau has remarkable views in every direction, and skirts the 2000 foot cliff called the Bottomless Pit.

The road finally ends on the flat top of Pikes Peak. A walk around the ten acre peak provides staggering views in every direction of both the foothills and mountain peaks one hundred miles away. The observation deck next to the cafe has some of the best views, including Colorado Springs 8000 feet below.