Pikes Peak Jeep Tour: Scenic Drive to America's Mountain Summit

Colorado Springs•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

3–3.25 hours

Fitness Level

Minimal fitness required for this ride, but be aware of high-elevation effects on breathing and stamina

Overview

Drive 19 miles up Pikes Peak Highway to the 14,115-foot summit with a guided Jeep tour that blends geology, local history, and wide-open mountain views. Expect dramatic weather swings, short interpretive stops, and the chance to see five states on a clear day.

Pikes Peak Jeep Tour: Scenic Drive to America's Mountain Summit

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Wildlife

Jeep

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The Jeep hums and climbs, tires chewing asphalt as the forest thins and the air begins to feel thinner—colder, sharper, like someone turned a dial on the world. Within 15 minutes you leave Colorado Springs behind and enter a landscape that goes from lodgepole pines to windswept rock in less than a half hour. The Pikes Peak Jeep Tour is less about the speed of ascent and more about the small refusals of gravity and perspective as the highway winds 19 miles toward a 14,115-foot crown.

Adventure Photos

Pikes Peak Jeep Tour: Scenic Drive to America's Mountain Summit photo 1

Adventure Tips

Layer for the summit

Bring an insulated jacket and windproof shell—temperatures can drop 30–40°F between Colorado Springs and the summit.

Hydrate before you climb

Start hydrating the day before and sip water during the tour to reduce altitude effects.

Pack sun protection

High-elevation sun is intense; bring sunglasses, SPF 30+ sunscreen, and a hat.

Prepare for motion and space

Jeeps can feel cramped; if you're prone to motion sickness, take precautions and request a seat with more legroom when possible.

Local Insights

Wildlife

mule deer
golden-mantled ground squirrel

History

Pikes Peak has long been a landmark for Plains tribes and 19th-century miners; Katharine Lee Bates wrote lines that became America the Beautiful after visiting the peak in 1893.

Conservation

The area balances visitor access with fragile alpine ecosystems—stick to paved areas and designated platforms to protect tundra vegetation and reduce erosion.