Pikes Peak & Garden of the Gods Jeep Tour Colorado Springs

Ride to 14,115 Feet in an Open Jeep, Then Drop Through the Rockies

You ride an open Jeep to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak on the historic highway, spend time at the top with views that inspired "America The Beautiful," then descend through Garden of the Gods Park. The tour includes a local guide, wool blankets, water, and snacks, and runs in the morning when light and weather are most stable. Plan for about four to five hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pikes Peak summit and Garden of the Gods

• Start morning tour in Colorado Springs
• Journey to Pikes Peak summit
• Enjoy views inspiring "America The Beautiful"
• Spend time at summit
• Descend via Pikes Peak Highway
• See Garden of the Gods Park
• Receive bottled water, snacks, blankets

The experience

The Jeep climbs into thin air on the Pikes Peak Highway, switchback after switchback, and the valley floor falls away behind you. Nineteen miles of mountain road, windows down, the engine grinding through the gears as the altitude climbs and the air gets colder. Your guide (one of the cowboy Jeep drivers who know this route like their own driveway) points out the tree line as it passes, then the alpine tundra, then nothing but rock and sky. This is the Colorado Springs Jeep tour that starts at dawn to catch the light right, and it ends at the summit where Katharine Lee Bates stood and wrote "America The Beautiful."

At 14,115 feet, you step out into the kind of quiet that only happens on a mountain. The view spreads in every direction: the plains to the east, the Rockies folding away west, the whole state of Colorado laid out below. You get time to stand there, to breathe the thin air, to take it in without being rushed. The guide hands out wool blankets because the wind up here doesn't care what season it is. Bottled water and light snacks come out of the Jeep, and people usually just sit for a while, not talking much. Then the descent: the same 19 miles down, but now you're riding the brakes, watching the landscape shift from bare rock back to trees, back to the world you left an hour ago.

The second half of the day moves into Garden of the Gods Park, where the red sandstone formations rise up like something from another planet. The Jeep navigates the park roads, and the guide talks about the geology, the Ute people who hunted here, the climbers and hikers who come from all over. The tour runs in small groups (not private, but small enough that you're not packed in), and the whole thing takes a morning, which is why it starts early. Weather and light are better then, and you're back down before the afternoon heat builds.

Bring sunscreen even though the altitude makes the sun feel distant. The wool blankets help with the cold at the top, but layers work better if you have them. If you've never been above 10,000 feet before, the altitude is real. The guide knows this and doesn't rush the summit stop. The Jeep is open-air, so wind and weather are part of the ride, not something the vehicle protects you from.

What’s included

Your tour includes a local cowboy Jeep guide, bottled water and sodas, light snacks, wool blankets for the summit, and entry to both Pikes Peak Highway and Garden of the Gods Park. The guide handles the driving and navigation of the 19-mile descent, and you get unrushed time at the 14,115-foot summit.

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 08:30, from US$ 240 per person, in groups of up to 9 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30Last departure this season: 30 NovAnother time? ›

GroupUp to 92 private ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.2 with pickup ›

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Adventures Out West

Is this one for you?This tour works well if you want to see both Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods in one morning without driving the mountain road yourself or arranging separate entry to each site: the fixed schedule and included guide are what make both stops fit into a single trip.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Pikes Peak Jeep tour?

The tour takes a full morning, typically four to five hours from start to finish, including time at the summit and the Garden of the Gods section.

What time does the tour start?

Tours depart in the morning to take advantage of the best light and weather conditions at altitude.

Is the Jeep open-air?

Yes. The Jeep is open-air, so you're exposed to wind and weather. Wool blankets are provided, especially useful at the 14,115-foot summit where it's cold.

What's included in the tour?

Bottled water, sodas, light snacks, wool blankets, and a local guide. Entry to Garden of the Gods Park is included.

Is this tour private?

No. Jeep tours run in small groups, not as private charters.

Can children go on this tour?

Children six months and older are allowed. Infants under six months are not permitted.

Is there an age or fitness requirement?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers due to the altitude and open-air Jeep ride.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, layers (it's cold at 14,115 feet), and comfortable clothing. The guide provides blankets and water.

Can I bring my service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What if I have my own transportation?

Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer not to use the Jeep tour for getting to the starting point.