Glorious Rocky Mountain Views & Fall Foliage Await Along The World's Highest Cog Railroad

Tucked in the Pikes Peak region, the charming town of Manitou Springs, Colorado, serves as the gateway to one of America's most enchanting alpine journeys: the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Affectionately referred to as "the Cog," you can climb nine miles up the flanks of Pikes Peak while seated in a rare cog-rail train. Finished in 1891, the train replaced the use of mules, which made the journey up the mountain long and treacherous.

The ride begins gently, winding past mineral springs, before entering forested slopes of pine and aspen. As you climb, the scenery opens up. This route becomes a beautiful fall getaway to take in October with vibrant autumnal colors and the occasional sighting of elk or bighorn sheep. At its heart, the Cog transforms from simple transport into a captivating ascent where every curve, chug, and vista feels like a carefully composed travel experience. If you're seeking a journey that's equal parts scenic spectacle and engineering marvel, this is it.

Once you arrive at the summit of Pikes Peak via the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the payoff is unforgettable. The newly updated summit visitor complex offers expansive panoramic views that stretch across the eastern plains to the Continental Divide. On a clear day, visitors can see the budget-friendly town of Colorado Springs and you might even glimpse the towers of downtown Denver in the distance.

Up here, the air feels thinner and the silence grander. You've stepped beyond the tree line into alpine tundra where bristlecone pines — some over 2,000 years old — cling to rock crevices. Potential wildlife sightings include yellow-bellied marmots, deer, and the hardy mountain sheep who call this craggy environment home. Whether you're sipping hot coffee in the visitor center, savoring the views, or stepping outside onto the terrace for one more look, this experience is the perfect way to experience Pikes Peak without the blood, sweat, and tears of hiking.

"The Cog's" story is as rich as its vistas. Founded in 1889 by mattress magnate Zalmon Simmons, the railway was conceived after Simmons endured a grueling mule ride up Pikes Peak and vowed to make the ascent more civilized. The company's first train reached the summit on June 30, 1891, the second attempt of the day with a church choir in tow, marking a milestone in mountain transport and placing the Cog among the highest railways in the world.

Over the decades, the railway evolved. Steam engines gave way to diesel and eventually modern Swiss-built railcars. In 2021, after a significant multi-year refurbishment, "the Cog" reopened with state-of-the-art infrastructure and comfort. When you ride "the Cog" today, you're participating in a century-plus legacy of adventure, engineering, and skyward ambition while simultaneously checking off one of the most scenic train rides in the U.S.