Pikes Peak Winter 14er Hike Information & Review

Pikes Peak Winter Hike Information & Review

April 7, 2020 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 1 comment

General Trail Information: Pikes Peak Winter Hike

Video Review: Pikes Peak Northwest Slopes

Pikes Peak Northwest Slopes Hike Rating: ★★★ (⅗ Stars)

Distance: 14 Miles RT, 16 Miles RT in Winter

Elevation Start: 9,779 ft, 10,000 ft from Crags Campground

Highest Point: 14,110 ft

Total Elevation Gain: 5,100 ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 8-12 Hours RT

Difficulty: Difficult to Strenuous Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 1 What does this mean?

Season: Year Round – Expect snow November to June with extra mileage

Check the Weather Forecast

Trailhead: Crags Campground

Getting Here: Take U.S. 24 to Divide, turn south onto Colorado 67 and drive 4.1 miles. Near a ranch, turn left onto a dirt road and follow it 3.0 miles to the trailhead. This dirt road is usually in pretty good shape and is maintained during winter months. As you get closer to the TH, there is a right you need to bare, but it’s pretty obvious where you need to go. In the winter, this is where the road is closed. In the Summer, continue another 1.2 miles to a signed parking lot and the trail starts on the southern left side with a marked TH. You can enter Crags Campground or trailhead into your navigational device.

Fees: There is no fee to hike Pikes Peak.

Parking: Parking for Pikes Peak Northwest slopes route can vary depending on the time of year, but in general is a high traffic area. In the winter, expect a smaller lot which can fit between 10-15 cars that is about 1.2 miles from the TH. In the summer, the small trailhead lot will fill up quickly but there is additional parking about a half mile down the road. There are non-plumbing bathrooms that are open during the summer months only.

Camping: Camping is prohibited at the trailhead and along the road, but there are options to camp at the Crags Campground or along the trail per national forest guidelines.

Dogs: Pikes Peak is dog friendly, but be aware that this is a long, exposed hike that has almost no water sources along the way. Make sure your dog is used to extremely long days on the mountain and pack accordingly to meet their needs. Bringing a dog during a winter hike is not recommended.

Make it a Loop: The hike up Northwest slopes of Pikes Peak is an out and back hike.However, there are several spots to check out along the way including: devil’s playground and the bottomless pit which are cool spots and right off the trail.

Trail Summary: Pikes Peak or America’s Mountain is located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. This 14,000 ft mountain is one of two in Colorado that you can drive or hike up to its summit. Pikes Peak has two main trails to reach the summit: East Slopes via Barr Trail or the Northwest slopes. Both involve long days on the mountain, but can be hiked year round. A hike up Pikes Peak is only recommended for a moderately experienced hiker who is in good shape and prepared for a long day on the mountain.

Trail Route:

Trail X Factors: Wind & Snow Levels

When planning a hike to Pikes Peak, especially during the winter, snow levels and wind need to be carefully planned. Since Pikes Peak is so prominent, the winds on the hike can be mentally defeating and frigid cold. Be sure to check various weather forecasts and I generally add 5-10mph to whatever the wind forecast is.

In terms of snow, it’s not usually a major factor on Pikes Peak even in the winter. Between the winds that prevent it from sticking above treeline and the massive amount of treeless terrain on the route, deep snow is usually not a concern. In the winter, the Northwest Slopes route avoids almost all avalanche terrain if you stay on trail. However, if you stray off route, even for a little bit, it’s easy to end up in higher risk avalanche terrain. As always, know before you go.

Gear Needed

Mickey’s Mountain Kit
Backpack – this has been my go to

Comfortable Hiking Boots – These are the ones that I use.
Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
Microspikes in winter

Protection from the sun, lots of exposed hiking
Optional: Snowshoes in winter
Optional: Gaiters (in winter)

Optional: Hiking Poles
Optional:Camera and Lens
Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod

*Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

Mick’s Tip: Regardless of the time of year, an early start on Pikes Peak is advised. During the summer and fall, an early start allows for ample time to avoid afternoon Thunderstorms since over 50% of this route is highly exposed to the elements. The route has very little options in terms of shelter to avoid storms once you are above treeline until you reach the summit. In the winter, an early start will help minimize the amount of “mashed potato” snow you have to deal with on the trek back down the mountain. Remember, a winter hike will add a few extra miles because of the longer approach and in the summer months the small TH parking lot can fill up quickly the later you plan on hitting the trail.

Best Views: For me, the best views on Pikes Peak are not at the summit, but actually on the way up. Right around 12,000 ft when you emerge from treeline, there is an outstanding backdrop of views to the north and west. I also enjoyed the devil’s playground area as it has unique sandstone rock formations with some great views into the upper basin. Stop at the bottomless pit as well for some unique views as its only a couple of hundred yards off the trail.

Mick’s Trip: Pikes Peak Northwest Slopes

March 2020

March came in like a lamb during 2020 so I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and safe avalanche conditions to hike Pikes Peak. I had previously attempted the mountain via the Barr Trail (east side). However, the Northwest slopes of Pikes Peak is by far the shortest and safest route during a winter attempt. Check out pictures and a video recap of the hike below: