MTB Project Logo

8,000ft of vertical drop in 12.6 miles.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

12.1

Miles

19.4

KM

Singletrack

14,095' 4,296 m

High

6,496' 1,980 m

Low

3' 1 m

Up

7,602' 2,317 m

Down

12%

Avg Grade (7°)

46%

Max Grade (25°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

Note: this trail is used extensively by hikers who don't appreciate mountain bikers screaming downhill. Please be extremely courteous if you use this trail, or consider picking one of the other great trails in this area during busy times.

You can ride up this in theory, but it's extremely hard and you'll be hiking lots of it, including all of the last very steep 3 miles, which include a lot of steps at 14,000'. So start by convincing someone to shuttle you to the top of Pikes Peak!

Starting from the top, you'll encounter 32 boulder-filled switchbacks (called "The Golden Stairs") that mostly have to be hike-a-biked, and even that isn't easy.

The next few miles and couple thousand feet are more rideable, but still difficult and dangerous due to all the rocks and pea gravel in the trail. You'll pass a shelter around tree line in case the weather has gone to hell, which is entirely possible at any time at this altitude. You next reach Barr Camp, which means you're about halfway down. The trail is more rideable in this area, and much flatter for a couple miles (though still downhill). The last few miles are rocky and steep, but rideable.

There can be heavy hiker traffic, especially on weekends and during the weeks leading up to the Pike's Peak marathon, so please be courteous! It's best done during the week after the marathon is done.

Contacts

Shared By:

Matt Thoele with improvements by Forrest Rover

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 31 votes

#1

in Pikes Peak

#546

Overall
  4.1 from 31 votes
5 Star
52%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
10%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Pikes Peak

#159

in Colorado

#546

Overall
32 Views Last Month
16,984 Since Jun 8, 2013
Very Difficult Very Difficult

0%
0%
0%
0%
26%
74%

Photos

When riding 14er a lot of hike-a-bike is inevitable; luckily that leaves many opportunities to take some awesome shots!
Oct 4, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
In five minutes, fog rolled in and snow hit. Unbelievable scenery even in the midst of a storm!
Oct 4, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
Looking down from just below the Golden Stairs.
Sep 14, 2015 near Manitou…, CO
Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.
Jul 21, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
Just a glimpse of the rocks that await you on this gnarly descent.
Jul 21, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
Delicate balance.
Jul 21, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
loading

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 1, 2021
Austin Crary
Completed on a hard tail, epic ride! Rode in from elk creek due to Barr being closed from the top!
Jun 19, 2021
John Stroud
Jul 30, 2020
Larry Clinton
Jun 10, 2020
Nolan van Harte
Snow and slush above treeline. Patches of snow in the trees, and mostly all clear from Bottomless Pit Trail intersection. Upper Elk Camp also snowy. 29mi — 5h 42m
Jul 17, 2019
Gregory Gehlhoff
other tha normal springs above 12500ft it bone dry and sendy. 13.1mi — 1h 40m
May 12, 2019
Samuel Sojourner
Oct 28, 2018
Logan Thomas
Snow and ice for the first two miles then smooth sailing. 12.1mi
Aug 4, 2018
Russell Bardsley
3ft of climbing is complete BS. 12mi
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.