karmasalad

A friend and I will be traveling to Denver next week for work. We have some free time upon our arrival and we would like to drive up Pike's Peak. Neither of us has ever been to CO before and we would like to take advantage of the opportunity.

We're coming from NYC, so the altitude change will be significant. Is it a really bad idea to try and go to Pike's on the first day?

I've already read the precautions about alcohol, caffeine, and trying to drink lots of water. If we could go later on during our stay, we would, but unfortunately, our only opportunity is when we first arrive.

FWIW, we don't plan on doing any hiking - just want to drive up and take in the view.

nygvic

Unless altitude bothers you in general, should not be a problem. I am a former NYer and have done the ascent twice. The drive to the top can be somewhat intense. Dropoffs and narrow road can be intimidatding. Figure on a 20 degree difference in temps from top to bottom. make sure you have jacket with you.

Connie

You do realize that Pikes Peak is about an 80 mile drive from Denver, don't you? Then it's a pretty good drive up and back down.

If you have that much time, it will be well worth it. It will be pretty windy and chilly on top, more than likely. Don't go by how it feels at the bottom.

Connie

Something else you should really consider is going a little north to Rocky Mountain National Park. It won't cost you any more to get in there than to drive up Pike's Peak and you will in some awesome mountain scenery.

You will also be there for prime elk rut viewing. This is when all the big male elk bugle and call in their harem and fight off the other males.

The aspens should have turned golden by then too and they should really be beautiful.

sylvia3

I agree that RMNP would be spectacular.

karmasalad

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I did think about heading north, but didn't think we'd have enough time.

We're arriving in DEN at 11am and need to get back to Aurora by around 8 or 9pm. So we basically have about 8 ~ 9 hours total roundtrip.

Where can we go in RMNP with that amount of time? Great mountain vistas are what we're hoping to see. Our original plan is to hit Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods on the way back.

DebitNM

I now live in SW but on my first trip to Colorado as a then lifelong NYer, I went to Pike's Peak the second day I was in Denver. We took the cog rail up. My Brother and his wife were with me.

SIL and I had horrible altitude sickness, spent 5 minutes on top and came down right away. We felt a bit better when we got off at the bottom, but it took a full day to feel better.


Also, assuming your are not used to driving on those kinds of roads, that alone could take lots of time and make you nervous. We saw the road at some points and it was intimidating, to say the least.

Now 8 years later as a local, I can tolerate up to around 13,000 ft or so without any effects.

Take the cog if you want to go to top; skip driving it.

Deb

Kansan

I was going to mention the cog railway also. It might be more pleasurable than driving the steep road, especially on the way down when you have to stay in a low gear most of the way. Will you have a rental car? Also, watch the weather. If you can't see the peak from below, chances are there won't be a view.

DebitNM

I just thought of this -- if neither one of you has been before, one of you isn't going to get to see anything but the asphalt in front of you. The driver MUST keep their eyes on the road at all times..

www.cograilway.com/

Deb

karmasalad

Yes, I've thought about taking the rail up. However, we're not sure when exactly we'll be able to make it up there. How likely is it that we'll be able to buy a walk-up ticket next Wednesday for the cog rail?

DebitNM

I'd call them and ask. I do see a coupon on their site for the 2:40 pm train {$5 off}. That is the last train of the day.
Deb

WhereAreWe

The problem with the cog railway is you're on their schedule. If you do have problems with the altitude, you're going to have to wait until the train goes back down. They allow 30-40 minutes on top. If you start feeling the effects before you even get up there, you can't turn around and go back like you could if you were driving.

It's always considered a bad idea to undertake that much altitude change on your first day. You might get away with it or you might be miserable, but at least if you drive you have the option of stopping short of the summit.

tekwriter

If you rent your car at DIA and go straight to Estes Park, you can be at RMNP in about an hour after you get on the road (I-25 north to Hwy 34 east through Loveland and Big Thompson Canyon.) I think scenery-wise, RMNP is more bang for the buck, plus you don't have to worry about the cog railway schedule, nor as quite extreme altitude. The fall foliage will be peak or near peak, the elk will be frisky - it's all good! Unless there's any serious unexpected snowfall, Trail Ridge Road will be open all the way to the top. Even as flatlanders, you won't be spending any considerable amount of time at very high altitude, so generally, that doesn't pose a problem, although you will notice that you're sucking wind on light exertion!

You should have time to drive and sightsee around the east side of the park. If you do, I recommend a stop at a very scenic spot, Sprague Lake. It has a one-mile totally flat trail around a small lake. On the far side is a gorgeous view of a snow-capped peak reflected in the water, with autumn trees all around. Serious photo ops here! You can also find some nice spots for lunch in Estes, including the Estes Park Brewery - no "Staggering Elk Lager" for the driver, though!

I just think when you compare what you'd see at Pike's Peak vs. RMNP, the latter wins everytime - with me anyway!

sylvia3

Bear Lake is also an easy walk-around with a stunning mountain backdrop. SEveral easy aspen walks nearby, too.
After some gorgeous scenery viewing and mild walking, you can have a meal in the Stanley Hotel!

Gretchen

Landing at 11--won't be on the road until 1PM at the earliest would be my guess. 7 total hours? You would not get to the base of Pike's Peak and back to Denver.
RMNP? I think that is a stretch also but if you keep at it, you might get some scenery in. It is truly spectacular, no doubt about it.

karmasalad

Thanks, everyone, for your replies so far. They have been very helpful!

So it sounds like RMNP is a better bet to get some great scenery in. How far along can we reasonably go on the Trail Ridge Road?

Also, Google Maps suggests taking Hwy 36 through Boulder to get to RMNP. Is the I-35 -> Hwy 34 route faster?

Gretchen - why do you estimate 2 hours before we can get on the road? We won't be checking any luggage, so all we need to do after we land is to get our rental car.

39N105W7800Ft

Hello Karmasalad! Go to Mt.Evans!, the highest PAVED road (Pikes Peak is gravel, which adds to the scary factor)in the US. See MountEvans.Com
It should be about 1.25 hrs to the mountain entrance from DIA. I-70 West will be scenic by itself (check out the Arapahoe Peaks as you crest the hill). Take the Evergreen Pkwy exit. Then, after your up&down, visit downtown Evergreen for food/drinks--check out the Little Bear Bar. I do live nearby, but I will not profit from your visit.

Bring a jacket and if you can't see the top of Mt.Evans (it's the tallest one)looking West from DIA, save your gas and time, the mountains are socked in under clouds.

Oh--watch our weather forecasts closely. We can get snow (it doesn't stay) any time now.

sylvia3

You can be in your car in an hour, if you have carry-on only and don't run into delays at the rental place. Just take the train to the main terminal, go out the doors to the shuttle island, and the car rentals are about a mile down the road. Go to the west side, BTW, that's where all the busses and shuttles go first (then they loop to the east side); they are the same distance once you get off the train. Get on the tollway (E470 North, 2 tolls of $2)from Pena Blvd., and from the tollway get on I25 north.
The fastest way to the park is I25 north to 34 west; going through Boulder and Lyons traffic will add time (and lots of traffic lights in Boulder). YOu could also bypass Boulder by taking I25 to 66 (going through Lyons), but I agree that tekwriter is giving the best directions, and that RMNP is the place to go! (Trail Ridge will probably be open; just go to the top (stop at the turnouts to view the scenery), then back down (and go to Bear Lake if you have time).

tekwriter

RE: 3N....'s suggestion of going to Mt. Evans. The road to the summit is closed after Labor Day.

RE: Trail Ridge Road - right now, the long range forecast is good, no snow, so there's no reason the road shouldn't be open all the way to the top.

I think you'll be able to get into your rental car within an hour after landing, then arrive at Estes Park an hour after that via the E470-I25-Hwy 34 route. It's much more interstate instead of two-lane roads. You could return to Denver via Hwy 36 through Boulder to I-25 South to get a different view. If you arrive at the park by 1:30 or 2:00, that gives you about five hours to visit, which is a good amount of time to drive around and even take a short hike. Well worth the effort, I'd say!

november_moon

I had issues with altitude at the top of Pikes Peak - nothing serious, just slight headache and nausea. That trip we drove from CA to CO, so had time to acclimate to the altitude and didn't go to the top of Pikes Peak until our 3rd day in CO, but still the altitude got to me a bit. Glad I wasn't the one driving.

I live at sea level, but have spent time in the Sierras all my life and never had issues with that altitude - 5000-7000 feet. Pikes Peak is quite high though.