
easy
3–4 hours
Little fitness required—most of the time is seated—but travelers must tolerate high altitude and short walks at the summit.
Buckle into leather seats and let an expert driver-guide take you up the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway to 14,115 feet. This luxury jeep tour pairs roadside photo stops with summit time and the kind of high-altitude perspective that changes how you see the Rockies.
The jeep pulls away from the narrow streets of Manitou Springs and the world begins to tilt upward—first a scatter of Victorian storefronts, then the pines thickening like a dark hand along the road. In an air that thins with every mile, the Pikes Peak Highway unfurls for 19 miles of switchbacks, raw rock faces and sudden gaps that reveal the Colorado Front Range stretching in layered ridges toward the horizon.

If you’ve just arrived in Colorado, take a few hours to rest at lower elevation—altitude effects are common and can hit quickly at the summit.
Temperatures can swing wildly; pack a windproof layer and a warm mid-layer even on summer days.
High-altitude UV is strong—bring SPF 30+ sunscreen and polarized sunglasses for glare off rock and snow.
Bring a small daypack and leave bulky gear behind; stops are short and you’ll move between viewpoints frequently.
Pikes Peak was central to Colorado’s 1859 gold rush—its name was popularized despite Zebulon Pike never summiting—and the mountain has been a civic symbol ever since.
The alpine tundra atop Pikes Peak is fragile; stay on paved areas and marked paths, pack out trash, and follow vehicle idling rules to minimize emissions.
Wind and temperature drop at the summit make a warm outer layer indispensable.
Reduces glare from rocks and snow and protects eyes in thin air.
Hydration helps prevent altitude-related headaches; bottled water is provided but bring your own for the climb.
summer specific
Good for short walks on rocky summit terrain and uneven paths.