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Forest Areas: Colorado

Quick Facts

Pikes Peak General Forest Area





Satellite and Topo Map




General Description

Pikes Peak is the namesake for the Pike National Forest and the Pikes Peak Ranger District
Copyright: Amy Pyle-Interactive Outdoors, Inc.
Pikes Peak is the namesake for the Pike National Forest and the Pikes Peak Ranger District
The Pikes Peak General Forest Area includes recreation opportunities on the east and west side of the peak. The Barr National Recreation Trail is the most extensive trail network on Pikes Peak. Hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers are welcome on this trail network. Barr Camp beckons tired hikers as a halfway point up the Barr Trail.

On the west side of Pikes Peak is the Crags Campground and the small system of trails that stem from it. Horsethief Park Trailhead also provides opportunity for biking, hiking and horseback riding during the warmer months. This is a good area for cross-country skiing during the winter. Mueller State Park provides an extensive system of trails easily accessible to campers at Crags.

Directions from Colorado Springs: Travel west on Highway 24 to Manitou, Cascade or Divide for access to the Pikes Peak General Forest Area.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Open: Year-round .



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Recreation Opportunities
Activity Remarks On Site
ICON Backpacking Barr National Recreation Trail
Yes
ICON Camping Crags Campground, Barr Camp
Yes
ICON Family Camping Crags Campground
Yes
ICON RV Camping Crags Campground
Yes
ICON Tent Camping Crags Campground, Barr Camp
Yes
ICON Trailer Camping Crags Campground
Yes
ICON Rock Climbing Bottomless Pit Trail
Yes
ICON Cross-country Skiing Horsethief Park Trailhead, Crags Trail
Yes
ICON Automobile Travel Pikes Peak Highway
Yes
ICON Fishing Crystal Reservoir
Yes
ICON Forest Areas Pikes Peak General Forest Area
Yes
ICON Hiking & Walking Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Horseback Riding Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Animal Identification Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Bird Identification Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Mushroom Identification Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Pine Cone Gathering Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Plant Identification Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Wildflower Identification Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Mountain Biking Horsethief Park Trail, Horsethief Falls Trail, Pancake Rocks Trail, Crags Trail, Barr Trail, Mount View Trail, Bottomless Pit Trail, Elk Park Trail, Severy Creek Trail
Yes
ICON Picnicking Eagles Nest Picnic Ground, Crow Gulch Picnic Ground, Halfway Picnic Ground, Glen Cove Picnic Ground
Yes
ICON Scenic Driving Pikes Peak Highway
Yes
ICON Snowshoeing Horsethief Park Trailhead, Crags Trail
Yes
ICON Viewing Scenery Pikes Peak Highway
Yes



Related Activities
Barr - Summit Trailhead - The Barr Summit Trailhead serves the Barr Trail as well an entire network of trails on Pikes Peak. It offers a less strenuous hike than that from Manitou Springs.

Barr Camp - Barr Camp is located 7 miles west on the Barr Trail from the Ruxton Trailhead in Manitou Springs. Reservations are necessary during the peak season, Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Barr Trail - The Barr Trailhead in Manitou serves the Pikes Peak summit trail as well an entire network of trails on Pikes Peak. The elevation for this trailhead is 6,720'.

Barr Trail - The Barr Trail climbs the eastern face of Pikes Peak. It has the largest elevation gain of any single trail in Colorado.

Bottomless Pit Trail - Bottomless Pit Trail stems from the Barr Trail west of Barr Camp. It provides a view of the sharp crags and interesting rock formations that form Pikes Peak.

Crags Trail - The Crags Trail is a good nature trail for children of all ages. The trail is 3 miles long round trip with an overlook of interesting rock formations as the destination.

Crow Gulch Family Picnic Ground - The Crow Gulch Family Picnic Ground is located 2 miles passed the Pikes Peak toll booth. Visitors to this area may enjoy scenic driving, hiking, mountain biking and fishing along the Pikes Peak Highway.

Eagles Nest Family Picnic Ground - The Eagles Nest Picnic Ground is located on Barr National Recreation Trail approximately 2 miles west of the Manitou Trailhead. Five picnic sites are available for day-use only.

Elk Park Trail - Elk Park Trail leads from the Pikes Peak Toll Road to Barr Camp. Users may take a short spur to an abandoned mining town from this trail.

Glen Cove Picnic Ground - Glen Cove Picnic Ground is located 12 miles up the Pikes Peak Highway from the toll booth. The facilities include restrooms, drinking water and picnic tables.

Halfway Family Picnic Ground - The Halfway Picnic Ground is located 9 miles up the Pikes Peak Highway. The facilities include 22 picnic sites, restrooms and drinking water.

Horsethief Falls Trail - Horsethief Falls Trail, #704B, may be accessed from Highway 67 at Horsethief Park Trailhead. It is open to foot, mountain bike and horse traffic.

Horsethief Park Trail - Horsethief Park Trail, #704, is located on Highway 67 at Horsethief Park Trailhead. It is open to foot, mountain bike and horse traffic.

Mountain View Trail - The Mountain View Trail connects Barr Trail with the Cog Railway to the south. The trail begins about .5 miles below Barr Camp on Barr Trail.

Pancake Rocks Trail - Pancake Rocks Trail, #704A, is located on Highway 67 at Horsethief Park Trailhead. It is open to foot, mountain bike and horse traffic.

Severy Creek Trail - Severy Creek Trail has been closed to protect the Greenback Cutthroat Trout, an endangered species, from whirling disease.

The Crags Campground - The Crags campground is located southeast of Divide. It has 17 camp sites for tents or small trailers. Hiking is the primary recreation enjoyed from this site.



More Information

Visitor Information:

Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202, Phone: 800-COLORADO






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