This page is complicated, we know that and we apologize. Why IS it complicated?  For many reasons. First, because we have extremely limited parking. A regular train passenger will only be parked here for 4 hours. Hikers will usually be much longer. Second, because we turn away many people every day willing to pay full price for a round-trip ticket. Third, people don't understand what is going on, get delayed, underestimate their ability or the altitude or whatever and miss their train.

Please accept our apologies, but please read the entire page.

Barr Trail at the Cirque-One mile below Summit

For a true workout, one can hike to the top of Pikes Peak and ride the Cog Railway down (almost 13 miles one-way / allow 8-10 hours to hike up). Many  people prefer to ride the Cog Railway up one-way then hike down (allow at least 6 hours to hike down). There are some restrictions to the dates and times that you can make one-way reservations. Remember, you can simply reserve a regular round-trip ticket to ensure availability.

Dates available for reserved one-ways

On Barr Trail -Enchanted Forest ,11,000 ft.

Download a Map of Barr Trail
(right click and save, if Acrobat doesn't auto-open)

Reserve a One-Way!

KEY POINTS-
1. The reason we do not allow more dates and times is the extremely limited parking availability. You can, however, purchase a round-trip ticket and use it as a one-way.
2. We do NOT allow mountain bikes or dogs on the train.
3. One-Way tickets may be reserved ONLY on the dates listed below and you must secure the reservations with a credit card.
4. TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE NOR ARE THEY EXCHANGEABLE! This is EXTREMELY important for you to understand. Our trains are sold-out; if you underestimate your ability, get injured or dehydrated or cannot make the train FOR ANY REASON, your ticket is NOT refundable nor is it exchangeable!

WARNING

Any time of year, but ESPECIALLY from mid-August through late May, weather conditions on a 14,110 ft mountain can change at a moments notice. There can be times that the train CANNOT make the summit due to wind, snow, thunderstorms, falling trees, rock slides or other factors that we do not control. There will be times that we make the summit part of the day and not the entire day. Safety is our number one concern.

What does this mean to the hikers who climb Pikes Peak and want a train ride down? On the day of your hike, please do the following:

1. Check the weather forecast for the day you want to hike.

2. Take your cell phone with you and call the depot (719) 685-5401. We usually open at 8am.

3. Check at Barr Camp (half way up) on trail conditions.

4. If you do go to the top, just be prepared to hike back down. If the train can not make it, then the road would be closed and there would not be anyone up there. (The Summit House would be closed).

5. If we can not make the summit, you will NOT be charged for a ticket. If you had paid cash, we will refund your money.
 

Barr Trail-Timberline Shelter

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is pleased to make one-way tickets available for reservation on a very restricted basis. Please understand that the reason we do not allow more dates and times is the extremely limited parking availability in the upper Ruxton Avenue area. We simply do NOT have enough spare parking (nor empty spaces on the trains) to allow people to park the long times needed to hike down from Mountain View or the Summit of Pikes Peak. As lovers of the outdoors, however, we realize the appeal of hiking and running and the possibilities opened up via the Cog train. We have chosen dates and times when we have a few available parking spaces and when our trains are traditionally not filled. Please be aware, we do NOT allow mountain bikes or dogs on the train. Also, if you have a back pack that is larger than 15” x 15” x 24”, YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEAT (at the child’s rate).

One-Way tickets may be reserved ONLY on the dates listed below. You will need to provide a valid credit card when you make the reservation. You can reserve a trip to the Summit of Pikes Peak, from the Summit to the Manitou Depot or from the Manitou Depot to Mountain View (1.5 miles from Barr Camp).

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO PARKING IS ALLOWED ON COG RAILWAY PROPERTY UNLESS YOU HAVE A VALID PARKING PASS WHICH WILL BE ISSUED WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR PAID RESERVATION!

Times shown are DEPARTURE TIMES from the Manitou Depot. To reserve a trip DOWN from the Summit, departure time from the Summit is EXACTLY 2 HOURS LATER THAN MANITOU DEPOT DEPARTURE TIME (2:40 PM train departs the Summit at 4:40). For trips down, please remember that TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE NOR ARE THEY EXCHANGEABLE. If your boyfriend is a bigger wimp than you anticipate and he cannot make the scheduled departure time, HIS TICKET IS USELESS (as is yours if you do not make the departure). You can cancel your reservation at any time UP TO 2 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME (12:40 PM for the 2:40PM Manitou Depot departure, for example) at no penalty; any time after, you will forfeit your tickets AND your money!

DATES YOU MAY RESERVE A ONE-WAY

January 1, 2008 thru June 14, 2008 *

August 25, 2008 thru December 31, 2008 *

First and Last Train Of The Day Only

*NO ONE-WAYS on any Saturdays or the following dates; May 24th, 25th, 26th & August 30th, 31st, September 1st & November 28th, 29th, 30th

Barr Trail - 2 miles below Summit

If you CANNOT reserve a one-way, or we do not offer them on the date you want, the following will apply:

YOU CANNOT PARK IN ANY COG RAILWAY PARKING SPACES IF YOU ARE HOPING TO BUY ONE-WAY TICKETS! ALL PARKING IS FOR ROUND-TRIP CUSTOMERS ONLY!
One-way tickets are sold on a space-available basis only. They cannot be reserved or purchased in advance. To get a one-way ticket, you must show up and hope that there is room on the train. You CAN purchase a round-trip ticket and use just one portion (to go up or to come down). Keep in mind that train tickets are good for ONE TRAIN on ONE DAY. If you have a round-trip ticket for the train that departs the summit of Pikes Peak at 4:40 PM, and you arrive at the summit at 4:45 PM, your ticket is useless and you will NOT be allowed on another train nor will your ticket be refunded. Many hikers grossly underestimate the 13 mile and 7600 foot elevation gain of Barr Trail. Due to the extremely limited parking at the Cog Railway, the Railway may limit the amount of round-trip tickets used to go one-way (cars for round-trip customers stay only 3.5 hours while one-way customers are gone nine or more). IF available, they are $20 per adult and $10 per child (age 3 through 12). You can also get (again, space-available ONLY) a ride to Mountain View for $10 and $5 respectively, and access to Barr Camp .

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