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Pikes Peak

5069 Pikes Peak Hwy.

Cascade , CO , United States http://www.springsgov.com/

(719) 684-9138

From its summit at 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak delivers panoramic views of four states, Colorado Springs, and the mountainous Continental Divide. A 19-mile paved highway climbs up the mountain—a journey that inspired poet Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful" after she traveled up to the peak by carriage. The mountain includes hiking trails and picnic areas on the shores of Crystal Reservoir, but watch for wildlife like black bears and bighorn sheep. On the downhill journey, Glen Cove restaurant and gift shop provides a much-needed rest for both travelers and vehicle brakes.