MAY 15, 2020: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service in cooperation with Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway, and GE Johnson has approved an alternate route from the end of Barr Trail to the summit during a temporary closure of the usual access to the summit house. The alternate route will be in effect May 16 to July 31 due to construction of the new Summit Visitor Center.

The alternate route will take hikers from the end of Barr Trail, down the Cog Railway track bed to the 19-mile point where hikers will access the Pikes Peak Highway and then hike up the shoulder of the road to the summit. Detour signs will be posted at the base of Barr Trail, at Barr Camp (which is temporarily closed due to COVID-19), and at the detour point. 

Hikers should exercise extreme caution while hiking on the shoulder of the highway due to vehicular traffic, and, as always, be prepared for quickly changing weather conditions. The summit can still be reached as normal by Crags Trail.

All visitors and guests should also be aware that the summit may not be accessible to personal vehicles depending on weather and construction activity. Call 719-385-7784 for current conditions.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Vanessa Zink

Senior Communications Specialist

719-491-0363