Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in America. Its view from the plains gave the 1858 gold rush its slogan, “Pikes Peak or Bust,” and the summit inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful.” The Barr Trail to the top is a Class 1 hike, which means there’s a trail the whole way and no scrambling. It’s also the biggest standard-route day of any Colorado 14er, at about 24 miles round trip with roughly 7,600 feet of elevation gain.
The peak also has a toll highway and a cog railway to the summit, so plenty of hikers go up on foot and ride down. That takes planning, and I’ll walk you through it. I recommend splitting the hike into two days with a night at Barr Camp, or trying the shorter Crags route from the west side. Heads up for fall 2026: with snow already on the summit and shorter highway hours, the City of Colorado Springs recommends waiting until summer 2027 to hike the Barr Trail.
These peaks can be unpredictable and dangerous. Help is often hours or days away: your safety is primarily your responsibility. Prepare for your trek, understand your limits, be aware of the risks, and equip yourself with the necessary skills and gear.
The Barr Trail climbs Pikes Peak’s east side from Manitou Springs. It starts in a shady forest of pines and aspens, passes Barr Camp at about the halfway point, and finishes with a long series of switchbacks above treeline. The trail’s well built the whole way. What makes it hard is the length, the steady grade, and the altitude.
Mileages and elevations are approximate, since sources measure the trail a little differently.
The trail climbs right away, winding up through the forest on switchbacks with views back over Manitou Springs. The first few miles are some of the steepest, so don’t burn out early. About 1.5 miles in, near 7,800 feet, you’ll reach a corner near the Manitou Incline. Stay left on the Barr Trail. Near 8,600 feet, about 2.75 miles up, you’ll walk through a rock arch. Just past it are more junctions. Stay on the Barr Trail at each one, and make a note of them for the way down, when they’re easy to miss.
After a short hill, the trail eases across a flatter stretch to an overlook just past mile 5, near 9,600 feet. About another mile brings you to Barr Camp, at roughly 10,200 feet and 6 to 6.5 miles from the trailhead. You’re about halfway there. Barr Camp is a nonprofit backcountry camp. Day hikers can use its bathrooms for free, buy snacks, and ask the caretakers about trail conditions. There’s no treated drinking water, but a creek runs through camp, so bring a filter or rent one there.
Above Barr Camp, pass the Elk Park trail junction and keep climbing through thick forest. Near 10,850 feet and about 7 miles in, you’ll reach the junction with the Bottomless Pit trail. Stay on the Barr Trail, which is well signed here. Between about 11,300 and 12,100 feet, you’ll grind up roughly 20 switchbacks. Just below treeline, about 9 miles up, there’s an open shelter known as the A-Frame. It’s your last real shelter, so it’s a good spot to eat, regroup, and take a hard look at the sky before you go higher.
Above the trees, the trail’s rocky and fully exposed to wind and weather. More switchbacks bring you to the north edge of the east slopes at about 12,800 feet, around mile 9.75. The trail then traverses south to a corner near 13,200 feet with a view into the cirque on the peak’s south side. The ground drops off steeply just off the trail here, so watch your footing. Turn back northwest and traverse less than half a mile to the final stretch, a set of switchbacks known as the “16 Golden Stairs.” Near the top, you’ll pass a plaque honoring Fred Barr, who built the trail. A few more switchbacks bring you to the summit and the Summit Visitor Center. You made it!
You’ve got three ways down, and you’ll want to pick one before you start:
If you can’t hike down and your ride can’t reach you, there’s an emergency hiker room on the south side of the Summit Visitor Center. If you aren’t sure you’ll reach the summit before it closes, turn around.
From the Crags Trailhead near 10,000 feet, cross Fourmile Creek and follow the trail half a mile to a junction. Bear right onto the Devil’s Playground Trail and cross the bridge over the creek. The trail follows an old road through the forest to treeline near 11,900 feet. Above treeline, follow the rock cairns and cross the Pikes Peak Highway at Devil’s Playground. From there you’re still more than 2 miles from the top. The trail curves south past an overlook near 13,150 feet, and above 13,600 feet you’ll finish with about 350 feet of easy Class 2 rock-hopping on well-cairned rock. Descend the same way. It’s about 14 miles round trip with 4,300 feet of gain.
This CalTopo map shows the Barr Trail with topographic contour lines, and the elevation profile below shows how steady the climb is. The only real break is the flatter stretch below Barr Camp. I recommend saving the map to your phone and carrying a paper backup in case your technology fails. For detailed route lines, see the 14ers.com East Slopes (Barr Trail) and Northwest Slopes (Crags) route pages.
These photos were taken along the Barr Trail and show what to expect between the trailhead and the summit, including Barr Camp. Click an image to view it full screen.
Pikes Peak can see snow in any month. The upper Barr Trail and the Golden Stairs often hold snow and ice from fall into early summer, and the highway’s hours change with the season. Check these sources before you go:
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Pikes Peak stands alone at the edge of the plains, and it often builds its own thunderstorms on summer afternoons (KOAA explains why). It’s usually much colder on the summit than in Manitou Springs. Check the forecast several times before your hike, and plan to be above treeline only in the morning.
If the forecasts disagree, plan for the worse one. Read my lightning safety tips for 14ers before your trip.
Barr Trailhead (Manitou Springs)
The Barr Trail starts above the Cog Railway depot off Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs, at about 6,650 to 6,700 feet.
Parking: The lot is small and fills very early, because Barr Trail hikers, Incline climbers, and Cog Railway visitors all share the area. All parking from the lot down Ruxton Avenue is paid, at self-serve fee stations. The free Manitou Shuttle (Route 33) runs year round from downtown Manitou Springs to the Incline and the Cog Railway, right by the trailhead, so check the current shuttle schedule before you go. There are restrooms at the trailhead. If you’re staying overnight, you’ll need a Barr Camp reservation.
Water: Fill up before you start. Barr Camp, about 6.5 miles up, has free bathrooms and a creek, but no treated water.
Crags Trailhead (Crags route)
The Crags road is narrow, winding, and rough dirt. It’s closed to motor vehicles every year from December 1 to June 1.
Pikes Peak Highway (for your ride down): The 19-mile paved toll road starts near Cascade on US 24. In 2026, admission was $18 per adult and $8 per child (ages 6 to 15), or $65 for a carload of up to five. Drivers also need a $2 timed-entry permit from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30. From October 1 to May 27, uphill gates open at 9 a.m., last entry is 3 p.m., and the summit closes at 4 p.m. The highway’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the day of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and it doesn’t accept America the Beautiful passes. Check current hours and rates before you go.
Climbing any of Colorado’s high peaks requires careful preparation and the right gear to ensure safety and enjoyment. Here’s a comprehensive gear list for this climb:
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Here are some specific items I recommend bringing with you to tackle this route:
Check out my complete 14er packing list here to make sure you bring everything you need to succeed and stay safe.
The right map for this peak:
Peak-specific gear: Carry a water filter, since Barr Camp’s creek is your only refill. Bring microspikes outside of midsummer, when snow and ice often cover the Golden Stairs. A headlamp is a must, because a Barr Trail day often starts or ends in the dark. Pack warm layers and a rain shell for the summit, even if it’s hot in Manitou Springs.
Barr Camp (on the Barr Trail)
Barr Camp sits about 6.5 miles up the Barr Trail at roughly 10,200 feet, and it’s run by a nonprofit under a Forest Service permit. A night here turns the hike into a much more manageable two-day trip, and it’s the way I recommend doing Pikes. As of fall 2026, rates were $20 per person for tent sites, $24 per person for lean-tos, and $45 per person for the bunkhouse, with a private cabin for groups. Every reservation includes a pancake breakfast. Reservations close 48 hours ahead, and Barr Camp suggests booking three or more months out for June through September. There’s no treated water, so you’ll need a filter (rentals are $5), and only the caretakers’ cabin is heated, so bring a warm sleeping bag outside of summer.
Campgrounds (Pike National Forest)
Dispersed camping: The Forest Service allows camping along the Devil’s Playground Trail once you’re a quarter mile in, and recommends staying 300 feet from any trail or stream. For more ideas, see my guide to free camping in Colorado.
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Manitou Springs is the closest town to the Barr Trail, and staying there puts you minutes from the trailhead, which takes some stress out of the parking scramble. Colorado Springs is roughly 15 to 20 minutes away and has the most lodging and food options. For the Crags route, Woodland Park and Divide are the closest towns, roughly 20 to 30 minutes from the trailhead.
If you’re doing the full Barr Trail, a night at Barr Camp is the best lodging on the mountain (see the Camping tab). These are a few places to stay in Manitou Springs:
With more and more people visiting Colorado and heading outdoors with each passing season, it is more important than ever to recreate responsibly by using Leave No Trace practices on this peak. Here are the LNT 7 Principles and some relevant tips:
By following these principles, you can ensure your hiking and camping adventures are environmentally-conscious and preserve the natural beauty of the great outdoors for future adventurers.
Check out these 50+ Leave No Trace tips for more information and to learn more.
The Forest Service estimates that more than 150,000 people a year climb Pikes Peak on the Barr Trail, and they share it with Incline climbers and trail runners. Pack out everything, including food scraps, and use the composting toilets at Barr Camp.
Don’t cut the switchbacks. That goes double for the long sets below treeline and on the Golden Stairs, where shortcuts quickly turn into erosion gullies. On the Crags route, follow the rock cairns above treeline to protect the fragile tundra, and cross the highway only where the trail does. Watch for bighorn sheep on the upper mountain and give them plenty of space.
There are more than 3,000 search and rescue missions in Colorado every year. Don’t become one of them!
Follow these tried-and-true practices to mitigate your risk on this climb and improve your odds of making it back to the trailhead safely.
By following these safety tips, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with a high peak like this one and have a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Learn more by reviewing my complete mountain safety guide.
The Barr Trail is Class 1, but its length makes it one of the most demanding days on any Colorado 14er. These are the risks specific to Pikes Peak:
If you’re stuck at the top after hours, use the emergency hiker room on the south side of the Summit Visitor Center.
You don’t need a permit or reservation to hike Pikes Peak on the Barr Trail or the Crags route. The rules that’ll affect you are mostly about parking and getting down.
Check the Pike and San Isabel National Forests alerts page for current fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Pikes Peak rises 14,109 feet by LiDAR, the figure 14ers.com uses. The long-standing official figure, used by the Forest Service and the City of Colorado Springs, is 14,115 feet, and a 2024 National Geodetic Survey reevaluation lists about 14,107. By the LiDAR list it ranks 30th of Colorado’s 53 ranked 14ers. It sits in the Front Range in Pike National Forest, about 10 miles west of downtown Colorado Springs, and it’s the easternmost 14er in the United States. It stands alone, with no other 14ers nearby, which is why it dominates the skyline for so many miles.
The Ute people called the mountain Tava-Kaavi, or “Sun Mountain.” Zebulon Pike, for whom it’s named, tried to climb it in November 1806 but turned back in deep snow. The first recorded ascent came on July 15, 1820, when Edwin James of the Stephen Long Expedition reached the summit. During the gold rush of 1858 and 1859, “Pikes Peak or Bust” became the slogan of people heading west, even though the main gold strikes weren’t near the peak itself. In 1893, the view from the top inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem that became “America the Beautiful.”
Fred Barr built the trail that bears his name between 1914 and 1921. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway dates to 1891 and bills itself as the world’s highest cog railway. It closed for repairs in 2017 and reopened in May 2021. The Pikes Peak Highway is a 19-mile toll road that was fully paved in 2011, and it hosts the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a race held since 1916.
Pikes Peak is made of a pink rock called Pikes Peak granite, which formed from molten rock that cooled deep underground about a billion years ago. Erosion over millions of years stripped away the layers above it and exposed the peak you see today. On the Barr Trail, you’ll pass through three life zones: montane forest, spruce-fir forest, and alpine tundra. For more peaks in the area, see my best 14ers near Colorado Springs.
These photos show Pikes Peak from around the region, in different seasons and light. You’ll find more pictures along the Barr Trail in the route photos above.
Use these resources to keep planning your Pikes Peak hike:
It’s about 24 miles round trip by 14ers.com (the city and Forest Service call it 13 miles each way), with about 7,600 feet of elevation gain. The shorter Crags route is about 14 miles round trip with 4,300 feet of gain.
Strong, acclimatized hikers do it, but it’s a very long day. The Forest Service puts the average round trip at about 16 hours and says people not used to hiking at altitude shouldn’t try it in one day. I recommend a night at Barr Camp or arranging a ride down.
No. You don’t need a permit for the Barr Trail or the Crags route. You’ll pay to park at the Barr Trailhead, and anyone driving up to get you needs highway admission and, in summer, a timed-entry permit.
You can hike back down, have someone pick you up at the summit, or book a private ride. Your driver needs highway admission, a summer timed-entry permit, and enough time to get through the uphill gate and leave the summit before it closes.
Only sometimes. The Cog occasionally sells one-way tickets down, but they’re extremely limited and not guaranteed. The railway recommends not planning your hike around the train.
Yes. The Pikes Peak Highway is a 19-mile paved toll road to the summit, open year-round, weather permitting. In 2026, admission was $18 per adult, and summer visitors also needed a $2 timed-entry permit.
The city says June through September is generally best, but snow, cold, and sudden storms are possible year-round. In fall 2026, the city recommended waiting until summer 2027 to hike the Barr Trail.
The Barr Trail is Class 1 with no scrambling, but its length and gain make it hard for anyone. If you’re new, build up with shorter 14ers first, split the trip with a night at Barr Camp, or try the shorter Crags route. See my guide to Class 1 14ers.
Notice: The material presented in this route guide may not be comprehensive or precise and should not be solely relied upon when planning your climb. Inadequate experience, physical fitness, supplies, or equipment may result in injury or fatality.
The Next Summit and the author(s) of this hiking guide offer no guarantees, neither explicit nor implied, regarding the accuracy or dependability of the information provided.
By utilizing the information herein, you agree to indemnify and absolve The Next Summit and the hiking guide author(s) from any claims and demands against them, including any legal fees and expenses.
Alex Derr is an Eagle Scout, climber, and environmental policy expert located in Denver, Colorado. He created The Next Summit to help others stay safe exploring the mountains and advocate to preserve the peaks for the future. Follow him on Linkedin or Twitter or click here to contact him.
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