58.7
PDI
24.2 mi
DISTANCE
8,007 ft
GAINED
6.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Photos By: Maxfield Bonta
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton/Stacy Topping
INTRO
The Pikes Peak climb, part of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, is one of the most incredible climbs, period. This mountain is easily one of the most famous in the country and world. Every year more than one million visitors travel to Pikes Peak; after Mt. Fuji in Japan, this is the second most visited mountain on earth.
Our PJAMM Cycling Adventure App's preloaded Colorado Front Range and Trail Ridge self-guided tours are accessed below.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The grade is what separates Pikes Peak from other Colorado high altitude climbs, particularly Mt. Evans. The average grade of 6.1% is lower because of several brief descents (the longest being 0.35 miles at -5.7%). The average for Climb Only is a very robust 7.9%. 9.9 miles (41% of the climb) are at 5-10% grade; 4.5 miles (18%) are at 10-15%, and 0.3 miles (1.1%) are at 15-20%. The steepest quarter mile is 12% and steepest full mile is 10%.
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway: The roadway is in superb condition as of summer, 2020. You must pay $15 to enter the park (note that being an America the Beautiful Old Person [me 😊] gets you in for free).
Traffic: Traffic for the 3.5 miles you are on Highway 24 if you do the full climb can be harrowing -- start the climb early on a weekend for best starting traffic conditions. It's also a bit distressing descending on Highway 24 back to Manitou so use SAG from the main gate to Manitou if possible. Other than Highway 24, traffic is not a problem.
Parking: There is street or public parking in Manitou Springs if you take the full route (closest lot is on Canon Ave - Map; Street View), or just outside the gate (map) or down the hill a few hundred yards at Santa's Village if you start at the gate (map).
Provisions: There are 3 locations for food and beverages along the climb - Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center (Google Map + Reviews) at mile 11.4, Glen Cove at mile 18 (Map; Street View) and Pikes Peak Summit House at the top (Google Map + Reviews).
Altitude: This is a tough climb, particularly as you climb higher in altitude. You have 3% less oxygen for every 1,000 feet of altitude you are at above sea level (42% less oxygen at the summit).
Weather & Clothing: This is a tough one. I have been snowed on at the top of Pikes Peak but also experienced shirtsleeve conditions at the top. Consult PJAMM's weather data for conditions at the top and do not be misled by the mere presence of good weather conditions at the start of the climb.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Booking your travels through one of these links helps us continue to bring you awesome info on climbing and cycling. Thank you!
We've always eaten and spent a little time at the Pikes Peak Summit Complex (Google Map + Reviews) which has ok hamburgers but great donuts. Also consider riding the Cog Railway to the top on another day - Google Map + Reviews.
For hiking see AllTrails Pikes Peak.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
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willmercer
Flew from Toronto and rented a Domane from Scheels. Website said tollgate opened at 7:30am so I arrived at 7:25 in hopes of finishing before the weather turned nasty later in the day...turns out they changed to 9 the week before and didn't update site :( Biked back down, had a snack etc and restarted.
Grades were steep and altitude was noticeable (only had a day to adjust) but everything was manageable and felt good at Crystal Lake. Still had a bottle+ so didn't stop, just added layers a few kms after as temps dropped and wind picked up.
By Glen Cove wind was gusting to 40mph and every time the road turned back into it, it was tough to hold a straight line and the 15% grades were brutal. Pulled in to fill bottles, not noticing the cones/flashing lights up ahead.
They closed the road to the peak because of 70mph winds and I was forced to abandon. Thought about trying the next day (my last) but wind forecast was similar so I ran up Manitou Incline instead. Frustrating but still fun.
Raoul
Did this climb on September 3,2024 from Cascade as the road up from Manitou isn’t a happy place for cyclists.The day brought favorable temps and winds luckily.I was well acclimatized having spent 10-12 days above 8,000’. Very important for this climb! It was long and hard, BUT sorry PJAMM, your new PDI ranking system is just plain flawed. It ranks Pikes Peak as considerably harder than Mt. Washington. In 2 words, No Way! Having done Mt W 4 times, each time left me spent with my tank near empty. After Pikes I was feeling surprisingly fine. I’m sure a lot of thought went into your new ranking system, but in my opinion it got these 2 climbs wrong. It’s sustained gradient that makes you hurt, not easier grades over distance. Raoul the east coaster.
JohnJohnson
Hello Raoul - No climb rating formula is perfect. We have done our best to create the fairest and most accurate formula for ranking climbs, but nothing is perfect when you have subjectivity baked into the components of the formula. 2 factors that should not be ignored are (a) if one acclimates for a high altitude climb it will not seem as difficult – our formula assumes no acclimatization before the climb and (b) effort on a climb – if one races up Mt. Washington but does not give 100% race effort on Pikes Peak, even if the climbs were precisely equal in all manner Mt. Washington would seem harder. If one races up Pikes Peak and rides casually up Mt. Washington it may very well be that Pikes would seem much more difficult than Mt. W. I have ridden Pikes Peak 5 times, all at casual pace, but once on the same day and after I cycled Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) and I was more exhausted on that climb than when I raced up Mt. Washington.
sspeed
I did this as part of the Pikes Peak fondo, which was nice as the road was closed and they brought our extra clothes up in a van. It was amazing and MUCH harder than anticipated, even just doing the final 12 miles to the summit. My Garmin's grade field never went much below 10%. If you take out the flats and downhill of the last 12 miles, it's about a 10% average for those last 12 miles. I've done Evans many times and can do that in a reasonable gear at a nice cadence, it's still a long grind. On Pikes Peak I averaged 56rpm on a 34-34 and there were definitely times when it was lower. The views and sense of accomplishment were well worth it. Very cold at the top, 46 and raining, at midday in August. I was excited for the downhill, but you accelerate quickly at 10% and even with 4 layers of clothes I was shaking uncontrollably from the cold. I had to ride the brakes most of the way, you just can't let it go until you get a bit lower. Visitor center up top is really nice.
neilvet
Did the climb on Sept 18, 2023. Started in Manitou Springs around 7 AM and reached the summit around 1PM. As others have said, the 4 mile stretch on Rt 24 to Cascade was a bit dicey with a lot of traffic and little shoulder, but it wasn't terrible. The climb itself was brutal! I have a 50/34 crankset and 11-28 rear cassette. I rode Mt Evans a couple of years ago and did the entire climb in my large chainring. For Pikes Peak, I was in my lowest gear for the majority of the climb and it was a struggle. In the last 2 miles, I was stopping so frequently to rest that I ended up walking most of it (something I never do). The weather was good being sunny and cool for the climb, but it did get cloudy for the descent and I was glad I brought some extra layers of clothing. Food and drinks are available at the Crystal Reservoir (only bottled water) and Glen Cove Visitor Centers, and, of course, the summit visitor ctr. The views from the summit on a clear day are amazing.
zesoloist
Tried the past three summers. Got snowed out each time. Finally got her done
zesoloist
Sep 7th. Parked at Field's Park, Manitou. Bathrooms open 7:30 in the summer. Im used to no/little shoulder high speed traffic so did the full climb. Get a Garmin Varia radar. Trust me. Started 7:15 to avoid storms/wind in the summertime Rockies. At toll gate ($15 per bike, no passes, you get a wristband) was told 100 sports cars would be coming up. Picked the day a national club of Dodge Vipers would summit.
Lessons learned: Not as winded as Mt. Evans but definitely more difficult. Same exact avg power on both climbs. NO cracks/expansion joints like Evans. Great descent. 40 cars backed up for brake check. I just rode past them.
Skotscott
August 8, 2023
Avoided the hwy 24 climb after driving in in my car. To sketchy for me.
Parked just off hwy 24 in Cascade and biked up to the tollbooth $15. A nice warmup climb to get to the tollbooth. Started at 9am with heavy traffic up and down the whole way. Felt safe with slow vehicle speeds and courteous drivers. Stopped at the lodge (break check area) and refilled water bottles, removed wet, from sweat, shirt and put on 2 long sleeve dry shirts and gloves for the final climb to the summit. Temp was warm up to the lodge then progressively colder with strong gusty winds on the way up to the summit. This was my 3rd time climbing Pikes Peak and switching to warm dry shirts and gloves at the lodge has made the climb very pleasant. Donuts and hot coffee at the top are always enjoyable ! I add a wind jacket on the way down, then stop at the lodge area and remove the extra layers. A fast, fun, safe decent back down to Cascade.
dyben
This climb has it all! I skipped the Manitou section like most riders because of the danger on hwy 24. When I arrived i had to go past the tollbooth to park at the first gift shop but I parked at the first pull off picnic area about 13 miles from the summit. This climb starts out hard and just gets harder and harder. I had to dig so deep to manage the gradient and elevation as I'm from Wisconsin and had 5 days to try and acclimate. This was an absolute dog fight for me and I'm proud to say I made it. I trained as hard as possible and it just got me by. Epic, Beautiful, extreme, amazing, unbelievable!!!
Go for it.
gbussey
Question for those who have done it - other than the two mentioned stops along the way, do any of the campgrounds have potable water? @ age 74, I will be EXTREMELY slow, and while I can carry lots of nutrition, I'd like to be able to refresh my water (and add electrolytes) as frequently as possible. As a reference, I used at least four tall bottles, if not more for each of the two sections of Mt. Evans (Idaho Springs to Echo Lake, and Echo Lake to the top)
tylerdag
What a climb. I parked at “Fields Park†in Manitou, where the parking was free, and rode a few minutes to the roundabout. As advertised, the traffic on Hwy 24 was uncomfortable, with the shoulder completely disappearing in favor of a rock-face at times. I rode on a Wednesday morning, and the highway traffic was heavy. Once arriving at the toll gate, all was well and the climb was a steady slog in my lowest gear as my sea level power was cut by about 70%! It was truly a great, epic climb, with amazing views, switchbacks, and the fall leaves. I highly recommend this climb, although the summit has become far more commercialized than in the past, with a huge paved parking lot and fancy new glass buildings.
Gtmandan
Thanks to this site and the comments. I rode Pikes Peak from Manitou Springs yesterday and Mt Evans today. I left 7AM and found the traffic on 24 fairly sparse since it was Sunday. The traffic on 24 was quite heavy on the return trip. A car in front of me paid my entrance fee ($20) which was a good start to the day as he thought I had a tough day ahead of me. I found the drivers on the climb were quite courteous, patient, and supportive. It was a bit tough above 12K ft with the altitude (arrived from the east coast the day before) and 9% grades, but took it easy. The winds were quite intense and only made the situation even rougher. I arrived at the top and it was packed with people… didn't get the donuts since the cafeteria was crowded. The descent is a lot of fun with the curves. Friendly tip, the stops within the park for beverages generally had water and soft drinks. I also rented a sweet bike - Specialized Tarmac Pro from Specialized Boulder. Overall, it was a great experience!
johnnywaynethompson
This year, I skipped the section from Manitou Springs and started at Santa's Workshop. Smart move. Hyw 24 has very narrow bike lanes and, in some spots, they're non existent. Add gravel and debris and a notable incline along w highway traffic and the decision was made easy. That said, Pikes Peak is never easy. Unlike previous reviews, my ratings on traffic and road conditions are higher due to the new start location.
Eazy_Eric
Wow! Had this climb on my bucket list for a while so I flew in from Southern California day prior and man this climb was a beast! First half of the climb gives the false impression of what's to come and once you hit the second half it's hard! I usually spin up mountains but I couldn't get my cadence over 65 for the last ten miles in my 53-30. The relief once I got to the top was awesome and totally worth it! Got many cheers and motivation from cars and at the top many people in disbelief that people can make it up on a bike! As for the altitude, you will most definitely feel it if you are not acclimated but that being said it definitely do able! Good luck and don't forget to bring 15$ to get through the toll.
codywellons
Recently did this climb from the toll station (road traffic from Manitou looked very heavy and I didn't want to add extra stress to an already long day). Only had a day to acclimate from sea level (Atlanta) but I've spent a decent bit of time at altitude and figured I'd give it a shot anyway.
As all of the other reviews mentioned, this climb is flat out hard. I was on my gravel bike (as it packs/travels much easier than my road bike with an integrated cockpit) with "easy" gearing (44T front, 10-52 AXS mullet rear) but nothing about this climb ever really felt comfortable, even with that gear. Traffic was reasonably light (Tuesday morning around 9am) and the weather was cold for this time of year (started in the 30s and got even colder and winder as I got higher up) but the views made it worthwhile. Took my time and eventually made it, then tried to enjoy the descent back down but even that was difficult due to the cold.
Definitely the hardest climb I've done but so worthwhile!
JeffHeitz
I started in downtown Colorado Springs ... which might have been a mistake since my fatigue level increased rapidly once I finally reached the steep sections. The hardest climb I have ever attempted. I had a compact on the front with a 32 in the back ... and I really wish I had more gears. After competing in Leadville three times I thought this might be moderately easy. False assumption!! Bring tiny gears, be ready for some serious wind for the last 5 miles and take some breaks near the top. The views are amazing, so take a shot and dig deep. The summit is worth the pain.
mingus
You nailed it. I could not agree more. I rode it from Cascade. It's hardest at the top with the cross winds and incline on the hairpins. Thanks for admission of true difficulties.
I did Evans after Pikes with only a day or two between and Evans almost was easy , it felt much more safe and doable. Probably should do them 1st Evans then Pikes if in the same week for mental health reasons if nothing else. I just failed a attempt on Trail Ridge from Loveland a week ago. But the afternoon leaf traffic my ability to hold a line. Geologically those mountains will always be there let's keep our abilities to attack them later. No need to beat one's self up. If it's epic it is still a epic even when it's a 80% achievement. Stay safe compadres!
coryrood
While the FIETS score says this is 'easier' than Haleakala, I argue that it isn't. The significant increase in grade compared to Haleakala( I am not saying Haleakala is easy by anymeans!) will have you pushed up against the limits much more than the more gentle Haleakala. This is a fantastically hard climb. If you enjoy climbing, this has to be on your bucket list!
Theisdc
This was my Bucket List climb. The previous two days I rode the Trail Ridge Road thru RMNP and the Copper Triangle route so I was a little nervous about tackling this beast but my legs were feeling good. Being 55, 6'2-210 lbs I knew my work was cut out for me. I started from Manitou Springs and must confirm what others were saying about the road and traffic but is definitely the must do route for the climb. The day of the climb. 7-22-21 , the weather was fantastic. The climb definitely is beastly. The road thru the park was in great shape, traffic was heavy at times but everyone gave me space and quite a few were encouraging. I found my cadence and dieseled up the mountain for an experience of a lifetime. Definitely will be back.ðŸ‘
LocoGringo
What gearing did you run. We're about the same in size. I'm going 9/25/21 and I'm running a 39/28.
Theisdc
I'm running Sram AXS Red with 46-33 up front ,10-33 in the back. For me it was definitely nice to have a one to one ratio especially if your a bigger guy. Didn't need 33 as much as I thought I would but definitely nice to have it at times, good luck with your upcoming climb
mingus
34x34 was what I had. I'd at least go with that. First time I was in Colorado biking , back in early 80s, I had 42x21. So If your age is also that second number then that should work. With freaky winds up top had I a 26x42 MTB gear appeared I'd jumped on that. Up where winds put you into oncoming traffic on the switches above 12k anything lower than 1x1 could really help. They're predominantly headwinds with gusty direct crosses where curve and ridge edge exposes view to SW. never experienced anything like it. I predict, with cycling demographics, gravel, and people's cycling tastes. ...
At some point if any 2X cranksets remain in grouppo specs
34x36 or even lower will be the new 1st gear thing. Modern Rear derailleur technology is certainly capable of it. Over the past 40 years we owe MTBs for these gear tech improvements.
coralsnake
Toughest climb I've ever done and so worth it. If you're starting at the bottom, keep in mind you're basically riding on a highway for a few miles. We had to wait in line with cars to pay the toll (Aug 2020). Extremely challenging as you get into altitude. We stopped at the rest area/ Visitors centers mentioned for a break and water. For the last few miles it seems like it was always 11%+ grade. It was hard to take a drink from my bottle because at that altitude and grade I was working so hard to keep upright and taking a drink meant losing a breath and then panting in the thin air to catch my breath. I was relived when it went to 10%. Was much colder and raining once we got the the top. One of our guys hitched a ride down while the rest of us descended in the rain. Was not a fun descent with the slick roads, cars and rain on that grade.
JohnnyT
Having climbed most of the epic mountains in France and the U.S., Pikes Peak proved to be the hardest for me. I live in "flat" Minnesota and PP's altitude was a marked challenge. Traffic is fine if one begins the climb early in the morning. Wait until the afternoon and it's considerable. Hence my overall traffic rating as a 3. There's water available about halfway up. High up, there are pull-offs available if one has to find a place to put a foot down for a spell. I normally refuse to stop on long, tough climbs but for this one, I had to put a foot down twice. Even then, I was proud of myself. Unless you live at altitude, this climb will challenge the best of you. Give it full respect on the way up. And enjoy the decent of a lifetime on the way down!
dreidtri
Don't do this if you haven't done a few HC's before, preferably at altitude. Start early if you do the full climb from Manitou Springs, and don't be afraid to stop for food at the two lodges on the way to the top. that being said, if you have the opportunity, take it. It's a beast and it's worth it.
bikuslikus
This has everything you want in an epic climb. Super high, steep, and long. The pavement is fantastic. I enjoyed just about every moment of it, and I have plans to do it again.
Be aware that highway 24 can be sketchy (between Manitou Springs and Cascade). The traffic speed is high and some sections of the road have zero shoulder. I had a bus pass me with the canyon wall inches away on the other side. If you start extra early, traffic on 24 may not be an issue. Once you're on the main climb, traffic is much nicer.
micahling
I've done this several times -- both as the hill climb fondo and all the way from Manitou Springs. I highly recommend doing the full climb. The first few miles on the highway are the scariest part! The climb itself is great and continuous. There's a short break about 4K from the top, which is nice. The last mile is the toughest! Both because you're at 14,000 feet and because it is so steep. The descent can be scarily fast, so keep in control. The switchbacks come fast when you're on your way down. Love this ride.
KrisLJames262
A MUST do. Train seriously before attempting. Be prepared to pay at the toll gate even if on a bicycle. Can be extremely windy above the tree line. Massive temperature change from downtown Manitou to the summit. Amazing experience.
masonblevins
An amazing climb. The road is in great shape. The first few miles riding from Manitou Springs had a lot of traffic and felt a little hairy at times, but after that it wasn't bad. The last 10 miles were a grind, but worth it once reaching the top. However, be really careful coming down as it is easy to pick up too much speed. And be sure to check your brakes!!! My brakes gave out and I actually ended up crashing. I wasn't hurt as bad as I could have been, but was still pretty beat up. Be safe out there!
Andrew
Epic & Breathtaking!
