Scenic Pikes Peak Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

. This iconic road will take us up toward the summit of a 14,000-foot mountain that has captured Colorado’s imagination for decades. Along the way, we’ll have plenty of opportunities for great mountain views, as well as a couple of hiking trails for more advanced hikers. Note: The tour is over 18 miles long, with more than 29 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Travelers have been stopping at this spot since 1890! This observation site was once a stop along the cog railway line. We’ll get to the railway’s history a little later in the tour, but back in 1890 this ride allowed tourists to enjoy the view and adjust to the high altitude.

It’s not just mother nature though that helps supply all that water. Human innovation helps too.

The other two are the North Catamount and the South Catamount Reservoir.

There’s a small parking area if we want to stop here for a quick break.

We know that ‘cos the Glen Cove Visitor Center is coming up soon. It’s been a key stop and halfway marker for travelers for decades.

But here’s a tip: You don’t have to hike the whole thing to get some great views of the north face of Pikes Peak.

There are no slides and swings here. Instead, this barren landscape is a place where lightning bolts hop and dance across the terrain during thunderstorms.

But scientists assure us that there is a bottom in the bottomless pit.

It’s called the Barr Trail. The origins for it date back to the days of the gold rush, although it wasn’t the well-maintained trail that it is today.