Pikes Peak Jeep Tour

Pikes Peak is America’s Mountain.   Pikes Peak Highway is 19 miles of paved road to the summit.  This summit is 14,115 ft above sea level. From

the summit you can see 140+ miles and 5 states on a clear day.

The road has been an attraction in Colorado Springs since 1888.  The experience of being on a 14,000 ft mountain is like no other. 

We've heard a plethora of words to describe it, but the "oohs" "aahs", and "wows" are are the most telling.

The drive up this historic highway is one you won't forget.  We make several stops above and below the treeline to really soak in all the views

that makes the experience so unique.  Some of the stops are Crystal Reservoir, Glen Cove, the Bottomless Pit, the pull-off at the switchbacks,

and the summit.   

At the summit, we walk around with you to point out some interesting facts and features of the mountain.  We then let you explore the summit

 house (or your own summit exploration) for about 20-25 minutes.  There are restrooms, a gift shop, concessions, and world famous donuts at

the summit.

The smell of the fresh air of large forests.  The differing pine trees as we ascend the mountain. The stunning views above treeline. Walking

around the summit and being able to see for miles in all directions with nothing obstructing your view.  This is an amazing tour.

Will we see wildlife on Pikes Peak Highway?

It is possible to see some wildlife on Pikes Peak. Bears, mountain lions, elk, bobcats, porcupines,moose...just to name a few. These are

 somewhat rare to see though. A little more common are big horn sheep, marmots, mule deer, and chipmunks. Many bird species doing

bird things. And you never know, Big Foot may belurking about!

Summer is filled with wild flowers of rich color, and the fall is dominated by the beautiful colors of the Aspen trees.

How long do we get at the summit on the Pikes Peak tour?

We typically spend about 40 minutes at the summit. We get your pictures at the Pikes Peak Summit sign. We then walk around the summit

for about 20 minutes. There are things to see and information you won't know otherwise. Then we allow about 20 minutes for you to explore

the Visitor Center or walk around the summit on your own. More if we are ahead of schedule.

The summer can get very busy with long lines at the gate. We might have to cut out some stops in order to give you adequate time at the

summit. That is the priorty.

Is the Pikes Peak Highway safe? 

We get asked this a lot.  Yes, Pikes Peak Highway is safe.  The rangers and road crew will close areas if they feel it is not safe.

That said, your safety is our first priority.  Our guides know this mountain and have driven in all weather conditions.  They know when

weather is turning bad and when to be leaving.  Our Jeeps are outfitted with the tires for the worst of conditions.  Our guides also

"mother hen" our guests all along the way.  The high altitude affects people differently and they watch them closely to see if

they are having issues. 

The Jeeps have oxygen bottles and water if anyone is struggling.

Can we always make it to the summit? 

Most of the time, but it is possible the Pikes Peak Rangers will close parts of the road for weather.

Snow, lightening, high winds, fog, and graupel (a soft hail which behaves much like snow on the road) can close the summit on any given

day, even in the summer. Read more below in the "what about the weather" question.

Unfortunately there is never a guarantee to reach the summit regardless of the time of year.

Can I drive Pikes Peak Highway myself? 

Yes, you can. However, it's not for everyone. Once above treeline on the switchbacks (tight turns leading up the mountain) people can get

nervous and just can't do it. This literally goes up the side of a cliff with few guard rails.

The main reason to book a tour is you can sit back and enjoy the views without being concerned about the road. Plus you get lots of history and information along the way and we know the best stops.

If you decide to take this journey yourself, you will need a timed entry reservation to be able to drive to the summit, plus entry fees at the gate.

Will the altitude of Pikes Peak affect me?

It could, yes. It affects different people in different ways. There is not really a way to know until you're there. It is common for people to be a

little light headed or even dizzy at the summit. Slow, deep inhales into the belly, hold it for a beat, and exhale. This helps.

The single best thing to do to mitigate ill effects of the altitude is to hydrate...both before you arrive in Colorado and while you're here. Drink

lots of water or hydration drinks. Be careful with drinks that have additional electrolytes. Too much can cause an electrolyte imbalance

which can have negative side effects.

Can I bring food and water?

Absolutely! You can bring your own but we do have water and snacks available in the Jeeps.



What should I wear?

As a general rule, it can be 20-40 degrees colder at the summit of Pikes Peak than in Colorado Springs. It seldom gets above 60 degress

in the summer. Add in some wind and it can be chilly.

We recommend layers. A light jacket in the summer with heavier clothing in Spring, Winter and Fall. You can put extra clothing

in the back of the Jeeps until you need them (if you need them). It's best to be prepared.

It is recommended to wear shoes or boots and avoid sandals and crocs as the terrain is rocky.

Okay, so I'm drinking lots of water, what about restroom breaks?

There are several places along the Pikes Peak Highway for restroom breaks. All the visitor centers have proper restrooms and there is vaults

along the way as well. Vaults are basically an outhouse. Not ideal but they work in a pinch.

Why Mountain Jeep LLC?

Not only is your safety our first priority, we care deeply about Colorado and giving you an experience you won't forget.  You will learn

much history and legend of the area, as well as insights into our favorite places to eat and things to do in Colorado Springs.  We take you on

this journey so you can relax, knowing you are in good hands, and enjoy the views and conversation. 

We engage with our guests on a personal level.  This is a much more engaging adventure than the Cog Railway or other outfitters. This isn't

just a Jeep tour, it's an experience, and one we look forward to sharing with you.

You might come away with new friends. 

Is it for locals as well?

Absolutely!  Whether you've never been up, or a little leary of driving it yourself, or you have been but never had a guided tour, this is still

fantastic.  You can relax and see the views as opposed to white knuckling the drive, gain new knowledge of the area and mountain, stop at

places you might not have known was there, and maybe get some insights on some local places of interest you might not have been aware of. 

Let us take you!

What about the weather?

Mountains make their own weather, and they don't much care for weather forecasters. 

Sometimes we can't get to the summit, and that's not too bad.  There are a few areas in which they can close the highway.  Typically we feel

anything less than Glen Cove (mile 13 of the 19) is not worth it and will suggest cancelling.  Anything above Glen Cove gets above the treeline

and is still worth the experience.

Glen Cove itself is where we'll typically give people the choice to cancel or to go for it.  Glen Cove is at 11,450 above sea level.  It is not on top

of the mountain, but at the base.  There are still great views to be had here and along the way.  Especially in the winter time when you see

the towering walls of the mountain covered in snow.  There is a gift shop here, restrooms, and concessions.  We feel this is worth it still on

a nice day, but we understand some may not want to embark on the journey if they cannot reach the summit.  We've taken many people

to this point and they still enjoyed the experience.

Bad weather days aren't necessarily bad, either.  Some of our most memorable experiences has been on the mountain when the weather

 is doing interesting things.  Watching lightening happen below you, a thunderstorm off in the distance, being above cloud layer, or a freak

snow storm out of nowhere.  Sometimes this is just exciting to see. 

On the days it is very cloudy and there's just no views to be had, we will cancel the tour. 

We'll be in touch on weather days when it might affect your tour, and you can decide what you want to do.