Ring the Peak Trail 
Located in Colorado near Colorado Springs, the Ring the Peak trail is a collection of trails, four wheel drive roads, and a few paved roads that circumnavigates Pikes Peak. The trails cross federal, state, county, city, and sometimes private lands. The total length of the trail system is approximately 63 miles with approximately 80% of the route completed. Evaluation and planning is ongoing for the remaining 20%. The altitude ranges between 6,400 feet in Manitou Springs to 11,300 feet east of Portal 8 on Trail Segment 8-9; consequently, many trails are obscured by snow during the winter months. Currently, 9 portals provide access to the Ring trails, although there are numerous other ways to find your way to the Ring.
For directions to a trailhead, click the portal name in the column to the left of the map.
For a map of a trail, click on the segment in the column to the right of the map.
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Signage: The Ring trails are all marked with green Carsonite stakes with 3 inch square labels. The color of the label indicates the direction of the travel, brown for clockwise and green for counterclockwise.
The Ring the Peak trail concept is an outgrowth of the 1999 Pikes Peak Multi-Use Plan.
 Manitou
Drive west on US 24 (W. Cimarron St.) to the Manitou Ave. Exit (approx. 4 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Drive west on Manitou Ave. through downtown Manitou Springs to the intersection with Ruxton Ave. (approx. 1.4 miles). Turn left on Ruxton Ave. You will come to the clockwise trailhead first, just beyond the Iron Spring mineral springs (under a gazebo) on your left. The trailhead is marked as the "Paul Intemann Memorial Nature Trail". The counter-clockwise trailhead is on your right just behind the Iron Springs Chateau. You must walk up the exit drive from the Cog Railway Depot parking lot. Watch on your right. It is marked as the Ute Pass Trail. Parking is on the street and very limited. Only customers of the Cog Railway are allowed to park in this lot. The nearest public restroom is at the Barr Trailhead at the end of Hydro St. |
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Alternatively, you may drive up the Pikes Peak Highway to the Crowe Gulch Picnic Area and join the trail there. |
Chipita Park Catamount ReservoirDrive west on US 24 to the turnoff for the Pikes Peak Highway. (approx. 9.3 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Turn left at the traffic light and follow the signs for Pikes Peak and North Pole. At 0.4 miles from the traffic light you will come to a fork in the road. Follow the left fork to the toll gate. Tell the attendant you are going to the North Slope Recreation Area (the toll is less). About 5.8 miles past the toll gate, turn right and continue across the South Catamount Reservoir dam. There are parking and restrooms at the south end of the North Catamount Reservoir dam. The trail to Catamount Ranch begins by crossing the dam. The trail to Chipita Park is the road you just drove in on. The North Slope Recreation Area is closed in the winter and on the day of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (See Pikes Peak Highway dates and hours). |
 Catamount Ranch
Drive west on U.S. 24 through the town of Woodland Park and up a steep hill. After a gradual curve to the west, watch for Edlowe Rd. (appox. 21 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Turn south on Edlowe Road and follow it to the well marked trailhead (approx. 3.3 miles). From the Elder-Fehn and Vayhinger trails at Catamount Ranch, there are 2 portals to the North Slope Recreation Area and the Ring the Peak Trail. If you are traveling clockwise, the first portal is the most direct. As soon as you pass through the gate, turn left. If you are traveling counterclockwise, turn right when you pass through the gate. If you wish to see more of the Catamount Ranch, follow the Elder-Fehn trail to the Vayhinger turnoff. Following the Vayhinger trail will bring you to another gate and through it is the RTP trail. This is a longer route but a very pleasant extension. |
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The trail to Catamount Ranch is across the open area near the stream. You should find a log bridge crossing the stream. The trail to the Horsethief Park portal follows the road you drove in on, in the direction of the campground. The closest restrooms are at the Crags Campground. |
 Horsethief ParkDrive west on US 24 to the town of Divide (approx. 25 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Turn south on Colorado Highway 67 and continue to the point where the highway passes through a deep cut. This cut bypasses an historic railroad tunnel. At the far end of the cut is the parking for the Horsethief Park trailhead on the left (approx. 9.3 miles). You must hike about 0.6 miles up the Horsethief trail to reach the Ring the Peak trail. |
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The trail to Gillett is not complete. The trail to Frosty Park is an ATV trail on the east side of FS 376. |
 Frosty ParkDrive west on U.S. 24 to 21st Street (approx. 1.5 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Turn left on 21st and continue south until you dead-end at Mesa Ave. (approx. 4.8 miles). Turn right on Mesa. At the traffic circle take the second exit. Follow El Pomar Rd. until you come to Penrose Blvd.. Turn left on Penrose and continue to the intersection of Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. and Old Stage Road (approx. 6.1 miles). Turn right on Old Stage Road. At 6.8 miles, Old Stage Road turns to gravel. It is passable with a passenger car; however, it is very windy with several blind curves. Continue on Old Stage Road (the main traveled way) until you come to Forest Service Road 379 (approx. 18.5 miles). The Frosty Park trailhead is 1.6 miles north on Forest Service 379; however, you will need a high clearance vehicle to drive this road. There is adequate parking at the intersection of Forest Service 379 and Gold Camp Road. (Old Stage Road became Gold Camp Road a while back.) |
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Alternatively: drive west on US 24 (W. Cimarron St.) to 26th Street (approx. 2 miles from the intersection of I-25 and U.S. 24). Turn left on 26th and continue until you come to the second intersection with Gold Camp Road (approx. 4.6 miles). At the first intersection the name of 26th Street changes to Bear Creek Road. At the second intersection the pavement ends and the road becomes one way against your direction of travel. You may cross Gold Camp Road to a small parking area on your left. If it is full, there is parking along Bear Creek Road, the road you drove up. The trailhead is 0.75 miles up High Drive. |
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Trail Signs Directional signs have been posted on the trails. These signs are 3 inch square labels fixed to a 4 inch wide green fiberglass stake. It is our policy to keep the number of signs to a minimum, posting them only where the direction of travel is unclear. |
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The brown signs mean you are traveling clockwise around Pikes Peak |
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The green signs mean you are traveling counterclockwise around the peak. |
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These signs are intended for the guidance and safety of users of all skill levels. Removal or defacing of signs can cause trail users to travel miles out of their way and could place them in danger. Some signs will be missing, so users should take map and compass, as on any trail. Please report missing signs and comment on sign placement to info@fotp.com |
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