The Broadmoor Manitou Pikes Peak Cog Railway: A Scenic Adventure

If you’ve ever dreamed of standing atop one of Colorado’s famed 14,000-foot peaks, the time has come. After being closed for three years for a comprehensive renovation and reconstruction, the Broadmoor Manitou Pikes Peak Cog Railway is now open for business.

Topping out at 14,115 feet above sea level, this cog railway is the highest altitude railway in the U.S. After renovation, it now operates on a single steel cog rail, which controls the speed and safety of the steep, one-hour, nine-mile journey to the summit.

Originally named Sun Mountain by the Ute Native American tribe, due to being the first place to see the sun daily and considered the source of all life, Pikes Peak assumed its current name after Zebulon Pike, a man who never actually summitted the mountain, but wrote about it enthusiastically in the early 1800s.

For 130 years, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, one of only three cogs in service in the U.S., has been taking passengers along the scenic route up what has become known as “America’s Mountain.” It was here, amid the vast skies atop Pikes Peak in 1893, that English professor Katharine Lee Bates penned the poem that, when set to music by organist Samuel A. Ward, would evolve into “America the Beautiful.”

Taking the cog railway is an awe-inspiring experience, much like it was when the railway first opened in 1891. The depot for the cog is located in the historic mining-era town of Manitou Springs, a short distance from Colorado Springs, which features local shops, artistic displays, and eight public cold-water drinking springs, fed by the town’s mineral-water sources. The Victorian train depot has been revitalized with a bright blue coat of paint, and the four refurbished and three new railway cars gleam in vibrant red against the mountain’s neutral hues.

As we boarded one of two cars preparing for the ascent, we found ourselves shoulder to shoulder with fellow passengers, each carrying water and an extra layer for the unpredictable weather at the summit. Some were also equipped with small canisters of oxygen available in the depot gift shop. Seated in our comfortable new chairs, we began the journey up the mountain through dense forests, past boulders the size of houses, wildlife, alpine lakes, and ultimately above the tree line.

The cog speed averages about 10 miles per hour with an average grade of 16 percent, reaching up to 25 percent at Son of a Gun Hill. Once at the top, guests are granted 45 minutes to explore the summit, which features an elevated pathway and an overlook designed to protect the fragile tundra, along with a new summit marker.

The newly constructed $30 million Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center has replaced the old Summit House from 1964. This landmark building is currently the highest of its kind in the United States and was designed by GWWO Architects in collaboration with RTA Architects. Already LEED Silver certified, it aims to achieve the Living Building Challenge certification, signifying a highly sustainable, net-zero construction. If successful, this will mark the first federal building and the first in Colorado to earn this accolade.

The low-rise structure is embedded into the mountainside, positioned against the southeast side of Pikes Peak. Inside this striking example of modern architecture, visitors can anticipate interpretive exhibits, dining (including the famous high-altitude donuts), retail, restrooms equipped with their own wastewater treatment plant, and two outdoor dining terraces that offer spectacular views of surrounding peaks, including Mount Rosa and the distant Sangre de Cristo Range.

Accessibility is a significant advantage of the reconstruction of both the trains, railway, depot, and visitor center. Pikes Peak is Colorado’s only “Fourteener” that is easily accessible to all, irrespective of physical ability, and is expected to welcome over half a million visitors to its summit this year alone.

The cost for standard admission on the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is $58 for adults and $48 for children aged 12 and under for advance e-ticket purchases, or $59.50 at the depot ticket window. Guests can opt for reserved seating for $68 for adults and $58 for children, allowing them to select specific seats on the train. Lastly, adventurous visitors may choose to ride the cog to the summit and then bike down Pikes Peak Highway for a thrilling 19.5-mile journey back into Colorado Springs.

For further details, please visit cograilway.com.