Private Pikes Peak Backcountry Tour: Off-Road Adventure

Navigate rugged canyons and mining-era roads on your own terms

A private half-day off-road tour through the Pikes Peak region in a custom Toyota Land Cruiser, with a live English-speaking guide who tailors the route to your group's interests. You choose from six historic backcountry routes (Eleven Mile Canyon, Phantom Canyon Road, Shelf Road, Gold Camp Road, and others) each following old railroad grades and mining trails through Pike National Forest. The owner personally drives every group of up to six, and the vehicle includes air conditioning, WiFi, bottled water, and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Off-road adventure in Pikes Peak region

• Set off on off-road adventure
• Explore Eleven Mile Canyon
• Visit Rita the Rock Planter
• Drive Phantom Canyon Road
• Travel Shelf Road
• Explore Gold Camp Road
• Drive Rampart Range Road
• See Woodland Park views
• Pass through Victor
• Pass through Cripple Creek

The experience

You arrive at the trailhead with a free afternoon or a morning to spare, and the guide meets your group in a custom Land Cruiser built for rough terrain. Before you leave, you tell the owner what kind of day you want: mild backcountry roads or wilder tracks, canyon views or mining history, a focus on photography or wildlife. That conversation shapes the route. The vehicle seats up to six and carries all the gear you'll need (water, snacks, and a cooler), so you travel light.

The roads themselves are the draw. Eleven Mile Canyon follows the old Colorado Midland Railroad bed alongside the South Platte River, passing through granite tunnels carved a century ago. Phantom Canyon Road, built in 1894 to serve the Cripple Creek goldfields, climbs through canyons and over historic railroad bridges. Shelf Road clings to limestone cliffs 1,200 feet above Fourmile Creek on a stretch so narrow it earned its name. Gold Camp Road winds around the back of Pikes Peak on what was once the "Short Line" railway corridor, now a dirt track through dense forest and past old tunnel portals. Rampart Range Road, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, opens views across the Front Range and Pikes Peak itself. The guide stops often: at Rita the Rock Planter, a 21-foot wooden troll sculpture made from recycled materials near Victor, or in the mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor, where 19th-century buildings and gold-rush history still stand.

The tour runs three to four hours depending on which roads you choose and how many stops you make. The owner drives, not a hired operator, and the Land Cruiser's air conditioning and WiFi mean you stay comfortable between photo stops. Bring a camera and wear layers. Elevation in the Pikes Peak region ranges from 5,000 to over 9,000 feet, and the mountain weather shifts fast.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a custom Toyota Land Cruiser.
• live English-speaking guide.
• bottled water and snacks.
• soda.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Ridgeline Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free half-day and want to choose the route as you go: the owner tailors the backcountry roads and stops to your group's interests, whether that's canyon views, mining history, or photography, rather than following a fixed itinerary.

Traveler reviews

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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.

What roads will we actually drive on during the tour?

The tour chooses from six historic backcountry routes based on your group's interests: Eleven Mile Canyon, Phantom Canyon Road, Shelf Road, Gold Camp Road, Upper Gold Camp Road, and Rampart Range Road. Each follows old railroad grades or mining-era routes through Pike National Forest, and the guide tailors the selection to whether you want canyon scenery, mining history, wildlife viewing, or photography stops.

Can we see Pikes Peak on this tour?

Yes. Rampart Range Road and Gold Camp Road both offer clear views of Pikes Peak, and Woodland Park, which sits at 8,465 feet just 20 minutes west of Colorado Springs, offers views from nearly every corner of town. The guide can include either location depending on your route choice.

What's included in the price, and what do we bring?

Private transportation in the custom Land Cruiser, a live English-speaking guide, bottled water, snacks, soda, and air conditioning are all included. WiFi is available on board. Bring a camera, sunscreen, and layers for the elevation and changing mountain weather. The guide handles the vehicle and route planning.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the vehicle is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Note that the third-row seat has less legroom and is best suited for children if your group fills all seats.

Who actually drives the tour?

The owner personally drives every group, not a hired guide or driver. This means consistent knowledge of the routes and the flexibility to adjust the day based on what your group wants to see.

How long does the tour take, and when does it start?

The tour runs three to four hours depending on which roads you choose and how many stops you make along the way. Specific start times are arranged when you book.