Pikes Peak is where Katharine Lee Bates penned "America the Beautiful" after being moved by the view from the summit in 1893. At 14,115 feet, it's Colorado's 30th highest peak—but arguably its most famous. The mountain dominates the Colorado Springs skyline and has drawn visitors since Zebulon Pike first spotted it in 1806.
Unlike most Colorado fourteeners, you don't have to hike to reach the summit. The Pikes Peak Highway offers a 19-mile scenic drive to the top, while the newly renovated Pikes Peak Cog Railway provides a stunning train journey from Manitou Springs. Of course, adventurous hikers can still tackle the challenging Barr Trail.
The summit features the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex, completed in 2021, with a visitor center, cafe serving the famous high-altitude donuts, and observation areas offering views spanning four states. On clear days, you can see Denver to the north, the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the south, and endless plains to the east.