The Mountains

The summit ridge of Gray Back Peak offers expansive views of the southern Front Range (hike 22).

Pikes Peak, a 14,115-foot-high sentinel of granite and snow, dominates Colorado Springs as well as the surrounding area, dictating not only its fickle climate but also its diverse natural history. The Pikes Peak massif as well as lower mountain ranges, including the Rampart Range and the Tarryall Range, are laced with numerous excellent trails that offer four seasons of high-mountain adventure. Intrepid hikers can tackle strenuous hikes up the Mount Manitou Incline Trail and Blodgett Peak as well as the Devils Playground Trail to the airy summit of Pikes Peak, while easier hikes scale lower peaks, explore wooded valleys, discover waterfalls and clear cascading streams, recall the area’s colorful gold-mining history, and follow hidden canyons filled with wildlife and birdsong.