Rocky Mountain Ride is the only dedicated service for safely transporting hikers back to Manitou Springs! We provide daily shuttles from the summit of Pikes Peak back to the Barr Trail trailhead parking lot. Shuttles depart the summit at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Our experienced staff is available before and during your hike to answer questions and give advice and encouragement! This is a service by hikers for hikers and we are here to make sure you stay safe and successfully reach the summit.
Groups of 4 or more automatically receive a discount of $10 off per person!
Circumstances such as weather, traffic, or needs of passengers decide if shuttles may depart earlier or later than scheduled times (or not run at all). If you have a reservation, we will be in contact with you in these instances. If you do not have a reservation, you may still be able to get on the shuttle but you must not rely on the schedule. Please make a reservation to ensure availability!
- Shuttles typically run from early June through early October depending on the status of the Pikes Peak Highway.
- Please try to reserve your seat at least 24 hours in advance.
- $68 per passenger which already includes your $15 Pikes Peak Highway toll fee as well as the timed entry reservation fee.
- Ride time: roughly 1 hour from Summit to Barr Trail parking lot in Manitou Springs.
- This is a shared ride service with a limited number of seats available (especially on weekends and during the month of July)
- Cancellations due to road closures will be refunded 100%
- All other cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund. Cancellations made between 24-48 hours will receive 50% refund. Rescheduling is usually easily accommodated but must be done at least 24 hours in advance.
- Plan to summit the peak at least 1 hour in advance of your reserved ride. If you are late, we may have to leave without you.
- The 1:00pm shuttle is best for fast, experienced hikers and for folks who stayed the night at Barr Camp.
“This was exactly what we needed after 7 hours hiking the Barr trail. Communication was great, we knew exactly where to be, when and when the weather decided to get in the way of our original time they accommodated an earlier time to get everyone out safely. I even got some encouraging words when I was keeping them posted on where we were at on the trail when I needed them most. Would highly recommend and worth every penny.”
—Ian
“We had a great experience with Rocky Mountain Ride. We summited early and asked if we could catch the earlier bus and it was no issue since they had availability in the bus. We were offered snacks and drinks. Our driver, Wayne was a great driver and it was a peaceful ride down. Will definitely book again if we ever hike Pikes Peak again!”
—Rachel
“We used this service for transportation down from Pikes Peak and were impressed. The directions via email prior to our hike and the text communication on the day of our ascent were clear and easy to understand. We especially enjoyed the positivity and encouragement when we communicated during our hike. I’m looking forward to using this service again.”
—Jan
“Great service! Easy to book and we ended up finishing our hike faster and wanted to take the earlier shuttle down. They were super accommodating to make that happen.”
—Heather
“I hiked up to Pikes Peak and took RMR down. First time doing a 14k hike. When I made the reservation, the person I spoke with on the phone was supportive, offered advice on the hike, weather choices, timing…I reserved for the later ride, but she told me how, if I got up in time for the earlier one, how to change. That’s what happened – she made that so easy. Then the van showed up 15 min before, knew who I was…great drive, there were snacks, water…incredibly friendly. If only all businesses were run this well and with such friendliness. Awesome.”
—Judith
How long will it take me to hike Pikes Peak?
There is no good answer for this question. It depends on your body’s tolerance to the elevation and your experience hiking 14ers (14,000 ft mountains). We have had marathon runners late for their shuttle and amateurs who finish earlier than expected. We strongly recommend all hikers begin the trail by 4:00 – 5:00am. Barr Trail is one of the toughest hikes because of the drastic elevation gain and length of the trail. Plan ahead and do your research!
What if I book the 4:00 departure but I’m very early?
We can usually accommodate you on the 1:00 departure. Please text our office at 719-362-6332 to check for available seats.
What if I book the 1:00 departure but I’m running late?
We can try our best to accommodate you on the 4:00 departure but only if there are available seats. Please text our office at 719-362-6332 to see what we can do.
Why don’t you pick up later than 4:00pm?
Afternoon thunderstorms are pretty much a daily occurrence during the summer. These storms roll in from noon to 4:00pm for the most part. Plan to summit as early as possible. We cannot give refunds for weather events unless the Pikes Peak Highway closes and the shuttle is unable to make it to the summit.
How much water should I bring?
As much as you can comfortably carry. Drink often on your hike. Drink lots of water in the days leading up to your hike also, especially if you came here from a lower elevation.
What should I wear?
Lightweight layers are best. It can be quite warm at the trailhead and frigid and windy at the summit. There will likely be snow and ice on the trail above tree line, so ice spikes for your shoes will be helpful. Heavy hiking boots won’t feel great after a while. Wear lightweight shoes with good tread. Use waterproof covers for your shoes if you’re hiking in the late spring/early summer. You may be going through deep snow.
What if I am late for the shuttle?
Notify our office immediately by text if you think you might be late. We might be able to get you on a later shuttle, but only if availability exists. The later shuttles fill up quickly! If you are late and we have no other availability on a later shuttle, we will have to depart without you and there will be no refund. Other transportation options are very limited. Plan to hike back down.
Is there snow on the trail?
Most likely above tree line in areas. It sticks around until early July. It comes back again in late Summer/early Fall. Every year is different though!
Is there another way to get back down the mountain?
You can walk back down the trail or hitchhike. You can purchase a ticket for a ride on the Cog, but only if there are seats available (there rarely are).
Where will the Rocky Mountain Ride hiker shuttle drop me off?
At the Barr Trail trailhead, 13 Hydro Street in Manitou Springs.
Do you allow dogs on the shuttle? – Yes! We love dogs and we can accommodate them on our shuttle. There will be an extra fee for your dog. Please be aware that most of our customers who bring their dogs on this hike may have to carry their dog or turn back and hike down as this is a very extreme hike for your dog and the elevation and extreme conditions will affect them as well. Please be considerate to other passengers on the shuttle and keep your dog near you on the floor of the vehicle and not in a seat when possible. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Cleaning fee of up to $100 may be charged if your dog has an accident or gets sick in the vehicle.
Can you take me back to the Crags trailhead?
No, sorry.
Can you pick me up/drop me off at Barr Camp?
No. There is no road anywhere near Barr Camp. The Pikes Peak Highway does not, at any point, come close to the Barr Trail aside from at the summit.
Can you pick me up/drop me off at another point along the trail?
No, it’s not possible.
Can you drop me off somewhere else in Manitou Springs?
In most cases, yes! We often make drops at Memorial Park as well as the Barr trailhead parking lot. If your location is too far away from Manitou Ave. or if we don’t have enough time, we might not be able to accommodate your specific drop off. Please ask your driver for details.
Can you pick me up somewhere in Manitou/Colorado Springs and bring me to the Barr Trailhead?
Usually, no. Please call an Uber or Lyft for assistance with this transportation.
How is the parking at the trailhead?
The parking lot is kind of small, but if you arrive early, as we recommend, around 4:00-5:00am, you should be able to find parking easily. The address is 13 Hydro St. in Manitou Springs. Don’t forget to pay at the kiosk or you will receive a parking ticket!
How often do the Rangers decide to close the Pikes Peak Highway?
It depends on the weather. If there’s too much snow and ice on the road, they may close the highway. Also, if there are gusty winds or fog, they may temporarily close the highway. They may close and reopen the highway throughout the day. Sometimes this affects the timeliness of our hiker shuttle. If this happens, we will do our best to notify you by text or calling. The highway closes for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb every summer and we will not be able to run the hiker shuttle on that day.
Can I make special arrangements for my large group?
If you have a large group who wants to hike Barr Trail together you should reserve your seats as early as possible to ensure availability. Have one person make the reservation for the entire group so we know you are all together and can communicate with only one point of contact. Be aware that most larger groups are not successful in summiting at the same time or at all. Tell the members in your group who are struggling, that they should strongly consider hiking back down or they may risk making everyone late and putting the group in an unsafe situation. Barr Camp is an excellent location to stop and reassess your status.
Cancellation Policy:
100% refund if canceled at least 48 hours prior to scheduled departure (pick up) time. 50% refund if canceled between 24 – 48 hours in advance. No refund if canceled less than 24 hours prior to scheduled departure time.
- Please be aware that the Barr Trail is rated very difficult. This is due to the length of trail and drastic elevation gain.
- Many hikers will be unable to make it to the summit, regardless of physical fitness and experience.
- Always have a backup plan which may include hiking back down the entire trail.
- There is no road near the trail at any point besides the trailhead and the summit. Hiking up or down are the only options.
- Barr Camp is about half way up the trail. This is a good location to reconsider continuing up to the summit.
- If you are from a lower elevation, breathing will be very difficult for you, especially the higher you climb. Altitude sickness occurs for many hikers which can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, and body swelling. Altitude sickness gets worse the higher you climb and starts to alleviate as you descend.
- Give yourself an hour or more to climb each mile above timber line.
- The last half of Barr Trail will go much slower than the first half. Plan accordingly.
- Don’t let your cell phone battery die. Turn off wifi and bluetooth to conserve your battery and bring a backup battery as well as waterproof storage for your phone.
- Cell service is poor on the Barr Trail and at the summit of the peak. If you need to communicate with someone, text will usually work best. Calls are difficult. There is usually free wifi available inside the Summit House, you can connect to this wifi to text/email from the summit. Don’t turn off your phone or put it in airplane mode so that we can alert you to any issues with the shuttle including road closures or delays.
- Find a map of Barr Trail and bring it with you or save it on your phone. If you have an iPhone, you will be able to see the Barr Trail on your maps app. If you want to know where you are on the trail, you can drop a pin on the map to view your current location. This is also helpful if you wander off the trail and need to find it again. All Trails has been a useful app for hikers as well.
- Extreme weather occurs frequently on the trail and on the summit, and especially above the timber line. Be prepared to hike through it. You will not be able to rely on weather forecasts to accurately predict your upcoming hiking conditions. Lightning is deadly and occurs frequently on the mountain, especially above timber line where there are no trees. Do not get caught in a lightning storm. Most storms occur in the afternoon but can strike up at any time. Small clouds turn into huge thunderheads very rapidly and produce lightning without warning.
- Preparation is key. Pack your bag the night before your hike and get to the trailhead very early in the morning while it is still dark outside. We recommend beginning your hike at 4:00am and certainly no later than 6:00am.
Extreme weather events occur at any time, despite the weather forecasts. Afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence during the summer. The weather on the summit of Pikes Peak is dramatically different than the weather in Manitou Springs or at any point along the Barr Trail. Rain, snow, hail, wind, and fog comes and leaves rapidly throughout the day. Therefore, it is our policy to not allow refunds due to weather cancelations. Rescheduling is encouraged if possible.
Our shuttles will operate daily whenever possible. The only exceptions are:
- If our team decides that the upcoming forecast looks to be too dangerous to operate. In this case, we will call/text the person who made the reservation and cancel your shuttle and offer you a full refund. We try to do this as soon as possible, usually the day prior.
- If the Pikes Peak Rangers close all or portions of the Pikes Peak Highway on the way to the summit and do not allow our drivers through the road blocks to provide our scheduled pick ups. (Often, we are allowed through even though everyone else is not). If this happens, we will text you and tell you that you will need to plan to hike back down. We will offer a full refund in this case.
- Seasonal closures typically between October through May
- Scheduled events on the Peak including the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent and some holidays.
HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE!
14er
a mountain that’s at least 14,000 ft high
timber line (or tree line)
the elevation in which trees stop growing
summit
the very top of the mountain
trailhead
where the trail begins
Crags Trail
the other trail which reaches the summit of Pikes Peak (trailhead begins an hour west of Manitou Springs near Cripple Creek)
Barr Camp
An awesome hike-in, hike-out camp halfway up Barr Trail with full time caretakers and overnight accommodations (with reservations required). You can purchase refreshments here or ask for basic medication, etc. No road access. Outhouse style restroom. Buy a T-shirt or leave them a tip! The caretakers work very hard and don’t often leave their post.
A Frame
A rustic A frame structure right around timber line. A little off the trail. A great weather shelter if you need it
Cog
The train that begins near the Barr Trailhead and ends at the summit. Reservations required
Summit House
The state of the art structure located at the summit of Pikes Peak with a cafe and gift shop as well as wifi. Free shelter, clean restrooms
switchback
the hairpin shaped turns along the trail or the highway
16 Golden Stairs
The last stretch of the Barr Trail near the summit. The hardest, steepest part. Lots of stepping up onto boulders. It’s actually 16 switchbacks, no stairs.
Manitou Incline
The steep stairway trail that begins near the Barr Trailhead and requires hikers to use the last 2 miles of the Barr Trail for downhill access. This is why you’ll see so many other hikers and runners during the start of your hike.
