Situated in the Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak is in the front range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. At 14,115 feet (4,302 meters) above sea level, Pikes Peak is one of 54 mountains in the state above the 14,000 mark.
Prior to 1806 the mountain was called El Capitan by Spanish settlers in the area and was renamed following explorer Zebulon Pike’s expedition to map out the southern portion of the Louisiana Territory and the headwater of the Red River, a tributary of the Mississippi. Pike failed in his original attempt to scale the mountain in November 1806 (it was first scaled 14 years later led by botanist Edwin James) and documented the weather was about 6 degrees at the base with no sign of beast or bird. Confused in their travels, Pike and his men were captured by Spanish, taken in for questioning by the then-Mexico governor and later released.
A short distance away one finds the Garden of the Gods which offers incredible geologic formations.
Today visitors can hike or even motor to the summit, with visitor’s centers along the way (some of which include gift shops and restaurants). Pikes Peak is a designated National Historic Landmark and worth a visit, whether it be from a distance to photograph or to reach the top.
Over For Now.
Main Street One