Colorado Springs, CO Hotel Near Pikes Peak

Crowne Plaza Pikes Peak Peak Access Peak Wildlife Peak Events

Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan. Climbing to an altitude of 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain. It became known for the slogan “Pikes Peak or Bust” during the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado. This must-see site is a short drive from our Colorado Springs hotel.

Pikes Peak Access. More than 500,000 people get to the top of Pikes Peak annually. There are three ways to do it: Pikes Peak Highway, Barr Trail, and Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway is open year round, as long as the weather cooperates.

Barr Trail, which is 13 miles long, starts at the base of Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs. About 15,000 take this path each year.

The nearly nine-mile-long Pikes Peak Cog Railway, a very scenic way to travel, is also open all year, weather permitting.

For more information, visit http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com/GeneralInformation.htm.  [Top]

Pikes Peak Wildlife. The three main animals you will encounter on Pikes Peak are yellow-bellied marmots, bighorn sheep, and black bears

Yellow-Bellied Marmot. Also known as the whistle pig, the yellow-bellied marmot is related to the woodchuck and is the largest member of the ground squirrel family. It gets its name from its belly, which sports a yellowish hue. Adults weigh up to 11 pounds and are a little over two feet long.

Bighorn Sheep. There are more bighorn sheep in Colorado than anywhere in the world. It’s not surprising that they are the state animal. Bighorn sheep are five to six feet long. Rams weigh 150 to 250 pounds while ewes weigh 123 to 200 pounds. Ten percent of that body weight comes from the massive, coiled horns.

Black Bear. Colorado's largest carnivores have no enemies, except for humans. They are four to six feet long and weigh 200 to 450 pounds. Black bears, which are occasionally brown, not only eat meat but fruit, nuts, honey, eggs, and insects.

For more information, visit http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com/RecreationWildlife.htm.  [Top]

Pikes Peak Events. Three very fun events take place on Pikes Peak each year.

Pikes Peak Marathon. This 26-mile round-trip race up and down 13-mile Barr Trail takes place every August, drawing thousands of runners from around the world. The current Pikes Peak Marathon of 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 30 seconds was set in 1993.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. This annual race is on the 12.42 mile gravel road up Pikes Peak which starts around the 6 1/2 mile mark on the highway. In 2007 Nobuhiro Tajima set a new record of 10 minutes 1 second.  The next race is June 27, 2010.  Visit www.ppihc.com for more information.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks. Sponsored by the AdAmAn Club, this New Year’s Eve tradition gets started at midnight and is a sparkling way to bring in the New Year.  [Top]