Pikes Peak celebrates 200 years on America's map

DENVER — Zebulon Pike wasn't the first person to see the towering peak that would bear his name. He never reached the 14,110-foot summit. And after a miserable time in the Rocky Mountains, he was captured by the Spanish and carted off to Mexico.

Such details are part of the lore surrounding Pikes Peak, put on the map 200 years ago by the Army captain's expedition.

For its anniversary, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and organizations throughout southern Colorado have scheduled lectures, exhibits, reenactments and hikes over the next year, showcasing everything from Pike's 1806 journey to images of the mountain in art and advertising.

Pikes Peak arises from the plains just west of Colorado Springs and dominates the landscape along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. On clear days, it is visible for 100 miles, far out into the plains toward Kansas.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak Highway

To get to the Pikes Peak Highway from Colorado Springs, take state Highway 24 west five miles past Manitou Springs to Cascade, exit to the left. The highway is a toll road costing $10 per person 16 or older and $5 per child, with a maximum of $35 per vehicle. www.pikespeakcolorado.com or 719-385-PEAK.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Departs from 515 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, Colo. 719-685-5401 or www.cograilway.com. Train runs at various times through the year and charges $31 for adults and $16.50 for children ages 3 to 12 during peak summer season.

Pikes Peak running races

For information on various runs to the summit, including a marathon in August go to: www.pikespeakmarathon.org/

More information

The Pike Page: zebulonpike.org

Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum: www.cspm.org

The peak isn't Colorado's tallest mountain nor its hardest to climb. But beginning with Pike, explorers, thrill-seekers and miners have flocked there looking for pristine views, breathtaking adventures and easy money. The views at the summit inspired Katherine Lee Bates in 1893 to write the lyrics to "America the Beautiful."

"It's like a beacon on the plains," said Barb French-Pfeifer, a ranger on Pikes Peak (which is administered by the city of Colorado Springs and the U.S. Forest Service). "It still has that mystique and that allure to attract people."

An explorer's mission

Pike's mission in 1806 was to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas River. He traveled from Kansas and was in southern Colorado in November of that year when he first caught sight of Pikes Peak from near present-day Las Animas.

Later, Pike set out from what is now Pueblo — 40 miles south of Colorado Springs — with three men, little gear and linen Army uniforms, believing they could summit the "Grand Peak" and return to camp in two days.

"He was quite an optimist," said Clive Siegle, manager of the Santa Fe Trail Association, which is coordinating bicentennial activities.

It took two days just to reach the base. After two more days of climbing and a long, awful night on a nearby peak, the team turned back to Pueblo.

Getting to the summit now isn't nearly as arduous. Nowadays, more than 600,000 people head to the mountain each year, and attendance is up 16 percent this year, French-Pfeifer said. Visitors also flock to the Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb car race each summer.

About 15,000 people try to hike to the top each year, but the far more popular routes to the top are by car or rail. The weaving, 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway, a toll road, is paved part of the way and open year-round, weather permitting. The road has several places to stop for views which, besides the scenery, may include black bears, mountain lions, bald eagles and elk.

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway offers several trips daily in the summer from nearby Manitou Springs. The three-hour round trip includes 30 to 40 minutes on the summit to walk around and visit the Summit House — and enjoy one of its famous doughnuts.