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Pikes Peak Mountain Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak in Colorado is an American icon. From Native American tribes to early settlers to modern day travelers, this mountain resonates with each individual in a different way. Composed of granite and shaped by glaciers over millions of years, Pikes Peak mountain is a stunning backdrop for the modern city of Colorado Springs. But the human history of this mountain stretches back far before. The Ute Indians called it "Ta-Wa-Ah-Gath" or “Sun Mountain Sitting Big” and passed along the foot of the mountain as they traveled from their summer campgrounds to the winter hunting grounds. It was later discovered by Spanish settlers during the 1700s.

In 1803, Pikes Peak mountain became part of the United States as part of the vast Louisiana Purchase. Three years later in 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike was sent to explore the borders of the new territory. Pike’s journey was a companion to the Lewis and Clark expedition. On November 24, 1806, Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike set out from his stop near modern day Pueblo, Colorado, to climb the mountain. He was forced back by a blizzard and declared that no man would ever reach the 14,110-foot summit that now bears his name.

Since the time when Lt. Pike first saw the mountain that would eventually carry his name, Pikes Peak mountain has played a significant role in the development and allure of the Pikes Peak region. In the 1850s, gold seekers heading west emblazoned “Pikes Peak or Bust” on the canvas of their covered wagons. Katharine Lee Bates, inspired by what she saw when she arrived at the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1893, immortalized the mountain in her beloved anthem “America the Beautiful.” It is an ageless sentinel that overlooks the peaks and plains of Colorado, an enduring symbol of mountain majesty and western spirit.

Modern travelers can experience the mountain up close by driving up the scenic Pikes Peak highway, a spectacular toll road that winds its way up the mountain. Other visitors can experience a different side of the mountain of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world. The more adventurous types can choose to hike the 13 mile Barr Trail to the summit. Whatever your choice, your time with Pikes Peak Mountain is sure to be memorable.

Find lodging, attractions and other things to do, all with the beautiful backdrop of Pikes Peak mountain.

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