Pikes Peak Highway: Guided Scenic Tour with Summit House

Summary

Riding up Pikes Peak Highway with stops for wild views snacks and summit stories

You’ll wind up Pikes Peak Highway with a local guide who knows every curve and story along the way. Expect plenty of stops for photos and wildlife spotting, plus time at Summit House for fresh doughnuts and huge views. The pace is relaxed—snacks included—and there’s always room to pause or laugh at a Bigfoot joke before heading higher.

What’s the experience like?

We started winding up the Pikes Peak Highway just after a light drizzle—enough to make the air smell sharp and earthy. Our guide, Mark (he’s lived in Colorado Springs forever), kept pointing out things I’d never have noticed: a hawk circling above the reservoir, patches of snow still clinging to shadowy corners in July. He handed around snacks—somehow trail mix tastes better when you’re watching clouds drift below you. I kept craning my neck at every turn, trying to spot that first full view of the mountain across Crystal Creek Reservoir. It’s bigger than it looks in photos, you know?

Mark told us to watch for Bigfoot near one of the stops—there’s actually a sign about it, which made everyone laugh (especially when he offered to take our “Bigfoot sighting” photo). The van felt roomy enough that nobody was elbowing for space, which I appreciated more than I thought I would on a four-hour tour. We stopped at Glen Cove Inn—a ski lodge turned rest area—and I swear the coffee there tasted somehow stronger at altitude. There were little plaques about local wildlife; I read about pikas while my partner tried to spot marmots out by the brake check station.

The last stretch got steep and twisty—Devil’s Playground is a weird name until you see those rocks all jumbled like someone dropped them from above. At one point Mark just let us sit quietly as we looked out over the Bottomless Pit (it’s not bottomless but it does make your stomach drop). The wind up top was colder than expected; my ears stung for a minute before we ducked into Summit House. Those high-altitude doughnuts? Still warm, almost cake-like inside—I ate two without thinking. You can see clear into Kansas if it’s not hazy. I still think about how small everything looked from 14,115 feet up.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Pikes Peak Highway scenic tour

• Stop at points of interest
• Photo with Bigfoot sign
• Drive over Crystal Creek Reservoir dam
• Visit Glen Cove Inn and view mountain
• Pass Devil's Playground rock formation
• Stop at Bottomless Pit cliff viewpoint
• Explore Summit House and take photos

Top questions

How long does the Pikes Peak Highway tour take?

The guided scenic tour lasts about 4 hours including all stops along the highway and time at the summit.

Is transportation included on this Pikes Peak day trip?

Yes, comfortable passenger vans are used for transport throughout the tour.

Are snacks or drinks provided during the tour?

Yes, complimentary snacks and drinks are available in the vehicle at no extra cost.

Does this tour include entry fees for Pikes Peak Highway?

Yes, all tolls and timed entry reservation fees are included in your booking.

Will there be restroom breaks on this Pikes Peak tour?

Yes, multiple stops offer restroom access including Glen Cove Inn and Crystal Creek Reservoir.

Is this tour suitable for young children or babies?

The tour is not recommended for babies under 2 years old but is suitable for most fitness levels otherwise.

Can extra stops be requested during the drive?

Yes, additional stops can be requested for photos, wildlife spotting, or restroom breaks when possible.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable van transport with pickup points nearby public transit if needed, all highway tolls and reservation fees covered upfront, plus complimentary snacks and drinks along every stop—from Crystal Creek Reservoir to Summit House—so you can focus on mountain views instead of logistics before heading back down together.