Riding to the Roof of the Rockies: Your Complete Guide to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Some adventures begin the moment you step outside your hotel door. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway departs from the heart of Manitou Springs—less than a mile from The Outrider—and climbs nearly eight thousand feet in elevation to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. It is, by a significant margin, the highest cog railway in the world. And it offers one of the most dramatic two-hour journeys in all of Colorado.
Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned Rocky Mountain explorer, riding the cog is one of those experiences that earns a permanent place in your memory. Here's everything you need to know before you board.
The Story Behind the Railway
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been carrying passengers to the summit since 1891, making it one of the oldest tourist railways in the American West. After a major renovation completed in 2021, the line now runs state-of-the-art Swiss-built trains—wide windows, climate control, and smooth handling on gradients that would defeat most other forms of transportation. The upgrade was worth the wait: the new cars offer uninterrupted panoramic views from every seat.
The Outrider Tip
The depot is an easy walk from our front door on Manitou Avenue. No car needed—just lace up your shoes and head west along the creek.
What to Expect on the Ride Up
The Terrain Changes Fast
The journey begins in the canyon, rolling through stands of pine and aspen as Manitou Springs drops away below. Within the first thirty minutes, the treeline gives way to high-alpine tundra—a landscape that looks more like the Arctic than the American Rockies. Keep your eyes on the ridgelines: mountain goats and bighorn sheep are regular sightings on the upper slopes.
The Summit Experience
The summit visitor center sits at 14,115 feet, and the view on a clear day is staggering: the Great Plains stretching east for what feels like forever, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the south, and on exceptional days, the faint outline of Denver's skyline more than sixty miles away. This is the view that inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write 'America the Beautiful' in 1893. It's easy to understand why.
The Outrider Tip
The summit café is famous for its high-altitude donuts. The recipe is specifically adjusted for 14,000 feet—a detail that makes them taste like a genuine reward for the journey.
Practical Tips for First-Timers
Book in Advance
The cog railway books out weeks in advance during peak summer season. If your trip dates are set, reserve your tickets online at pikespeakcogroad.com before you arrive. Last-minute seats do sometimes open up, but planning ahead guarantees your spot.
Dress for the Summit, Not the Valley
Manitou Springs can be warm and sunny at the base while the summit sits in clouds and wind. Bring a layer—a light jacket or windshell at minimum—regardless of how bright the morning looks. Temperatures at 14,000 feet are typically 30 to 40 degrees cooler than in the valley below.
Watch for Altitude
The ascent is rapid, and some visitors feel the effects of thin air at the summit—lightheadedness, headache, or shortness of breath. Stay hydrated, take it easy when you arrive, and know that symptoms typically pass within a few minutes. The descent brings quick relief.
The Outrider Tip
The cog railway offers morning, midday, and afternoon departures. We recommend the earliest train for the clearest skies—afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer months above treeline.
After the Summit, Come Back Down Right
After a ride to the top of the world, The Outrider is exactly the kind of basecamp you want waiting for you. Our sauna and cold plunge wellness area is a perfect antidote to high-altitude fatigue, and the fire pit patio is the right place to wind down with the canyon walls turning gold in the evening light. We're the closest full-service lodge to the cog railway depot—which means the gap between summit and rest is as short as it gets.