 |
|
|
| For directions to a trailhead click a portal number
on the map below, or click on a portal name on the left. |
For a map of a trail click a trail segment on the map below,
or click on the segment to the right of the map. |
|
|
|
| The Trail: |
Located in Colorado near the City of 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 trails completed.
|
Design and construction is ongoing for the remaining 20%.
The altitude ranges between 6,400 feet in
Manitou Springs to 11,400 feet in Bull Park, consequently many trails are obscured
by snow during the winter months.
Ten portals have been designated as access points to the trails, although there are
numerous other ways to find your way to the trails.
|
|
| Hiking: |
All the trails in the system are open to foot traffic (hiking,
snow shoeing, back country skiing) year round. The only exceptions are the trail segments
in the North Slope Recreation Area (NSRA) which are accessed from the Catamount Reservoir and the
Catamount Ranch, Portals 3 & 4. NSRA is closed from October through April. See
NSRA
for exact dates. Hikers should carry drinking water on all segments of the trail.
|
Warning: Depending on weather conditions
some trails may be hard to follow. Hikers should have good navigation and route finding
skills. It is recommended that hikers carry a map and navigation tools when
traveling in the back country and be knowledgable in their use. Users of the information
on this web site assume all risks associated with the use of this information.
As with all maps and related data, inaccuracies may exist and conditions may change.
|
|
| Biking: |
Mountain biking should be limited to those seasons when the
trails are dry. The North Slope Recreation Area, which is accessed from the Catamount and
Teller County Open Space Portals, is closed to all winter travel. See
Scott Morris'
illustrated diary of his one day ride of the complete Ring the Peak trail.
Riders are encouraged to
abide by the IMBA trail rules.
|
|
| Horseback Riding: |
Horseback riding is allowed on most segments of the Ring the Peak Trail. Horseback riding is
not allowed on that portion of the trail crossing the North Slope Recreation Area (West end
of Segment 2-3, all of Segment 3-4 and the east end of Segment 4-5. There are no designated
trailer parking areas at any of the portals, so please be considerate of other users. Camping
overnight with horses is not permitted on any part of the trail.
|
|
| Camping: |
Wild camping is allowed anywhere in the Pike National Forest. National Forest rules apply:
No camping within 200 feet of streams or other bodies of water, proper handling of personal
sanitation, pack out your trash. See Tips
for dispersed camping in the National Forest. The Crags Campground, located near the north
end of Segment 5-6, is the only formally designated campground located on the trail.
Drinking water, restrooms and picnic tables are provided here. The following trail segments are
located within the Pike National Forest:
- The eastern end of Segment 2-3 from portal 2 to the point where the trail leaves the power line.
- The southwestern portion of Segment 4-5
- All of Segment 5-6, 7-8 and 8-9
- Most of Segment 9-10. Camping is not allowed in the area surrounding Jones Park which
is part of the City of Colorado Springs watershed.
- Only a small section of Segment 10-1 near Hunter's Run is located in the National Forest.
Camping is NOT allowed in following areas:
- Portions of Segment 2-3 including the area below the dam for Crystal Creek Reservoir and
the west end of the segment.
- All of Segment 3-4.
- The eastern end of Segment 4-5.
- Segment 10-1 that crosses Bear Creek Canyon Park and City Limits of Manitou Springs.
Because of the danger of lightning campers should avoid ridgetops.
|
|
| Drinking Water: |
Day users of the trail should plan to carry the drinking water they need. If you are
depending on natural water sources, you should be prepared to purify your drinking water.
The following trail segments have streams that can be purified for drinking:
- Segment 2-3, the outflow of Crystal Creek Reservoir and the outflow of Catamount Reservoirs.
- Segment 4-5, North Catamount Creek.
- Segment 5-6, Four Mile Creek, Putney Gulch and Horsethief Park.
- Segment 6-7, Horsethief Park.
- Segment 8-9, Middle Beaver Creek at trailhead 8.
- Segment 9-10, North Cheyenne Creek and Bear Creek.
- Segment 10-1, Bear Creek and Hunter's Run.
|
|
| Signs: |
|
The Friends of the Peak signs committee has posted
directional signs on the trails. These signs are a 3 inch square label fixed to a fiberglass stake.
|
|
The brown signs indicate that you are traveling in a clockwise direction around Pikes Peak
|
|
The green signs means you are traveling counter-clockwise around the peak.
|
|
The signs are subject to vandalism and may be missing alltogether. For this reason we have
attempted to provide photos and verbal descriptions at trailheads and key intersections. Click the
icons on the trail section maps.
|
|
| Connecting Trails: |
The Ring the Peak Trail intersects many other trails
in the Pike National Forest. Two good sources of information on these trails are, "The Pikes Peak
Atlas" by Robert Ormes and Robert Houdek and The National
Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, "Pikes Peak Canon City, Colorado, USA" number 137. Both maps can
be purchased at sporting goods stores and book stores in the area. Some of the more popular trails
are listed at the right in counter-clockwise order beginning in Manitou Springs. Maps for some of thes
trails can be found at e-TrailMaps.com
|
Barr Trail (FS 620)
Heizer Trail (Cascade)
Catamount Creek (Green Mt. Falls)
North Slope Recreation Area
Catamount Ranch Trails
Raspberry Mountain
The Crags Trail (FS 664)
Banana Rock Trail (FS 753)
Oil Creek Tunnel
|
Amalgre Mountain (FS 379)
Foresters Trail
Mount Rosa (FS 672 & 673)
Seven Bridges Trail (FS 622)
St. Mary's Falls (FS 624)
Hunters Run Trail
Palmer Trail
Red Rocks Canyon
|
|
| Conservation: |
|
We share Pikes Peak with many species of wild animals, fish and rare plants. Please stay on the
designated trails. Do not cut switchbacks. We prefer that pets be on a leash, but animals under
voice control are permitted. Barking dogs will eliminate your chances of seeing wild life.
You can enjoy photographs of wild flowers as long as you want. However, picked flowers
do not reproduce, please leave them for others to enjoy.
Most of the streams and all the reservoirs on Pikes Peak feed the drinking water system for
Colorado Springs and surrounding communities. It is unlawful to discharge anything into the
water, which may cause pollution. Swimming by humans and pets is prohibited.
Smoking and camp fires are prohibited anywhere on the Ring the Peak Trail.
Pikes Peak has been the location of a great deal of human activity for over 200 years. Traces
of these activities can be found in the remains of old structures, machinery and tools. Please
do not deface anything or collect souvenirs.
|
|
| History: |
|
Pikes Peak has been the focus of human attention by the Ute Indians, trappers and Spanish
explorers. The Louisiana Purchase prompted scientific interest in the early 19th century,
followed by gold miners, homesteaders, and entrepeneurs. For a brief history of the mountain
visit the Aramark web site. For more
detailed accounts of the early settlement of Pikes Peak see a series of pamphlets available
for sale at the Old Colorado City History Center.
Since 1936, Pikes Peak has been the site of a grueling marathon. If you are a runner you may
enjoy Mat Carpenter's web site (click the Pikes Peak link).
He also has an extensive bibliography
of books on history of the peak and running the peak. Matt also presents a very complete account
of the Oil Creek Tunnel
one of the most interesting historic sites on the peak.
Many artifacts left behind on the mountain attest to this early interest. On your hikes you
will encounter log cabin ruins, prospect holes, mines and mining structures. Trail users
are urged to leave these artifacts where they find them. In addition the
area is rich in more prominent relics of the past such as the Cripple Creek and Victor Historic
Mining District, Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
and the Ghost town at Oil Creek Tunnel accessible from the Elk Park Trail branching off the
Barr Trail at Barr Camp.
|
|
| Eat, Sleep, Visit: |
If you are a visitor to
the Pikes Peak Region, you will find information about restaurants, lodging and
other attractions at the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Contact Us: |
If you have questions about this website, or to report errors or broken links, please
email: 
Contact the Friends of the Peak Board.
last revised: 04/11/2007
|
|
