The World’s Highest Cog Railway Will Take You to the Summit That Inspired “America the Beautiful”

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

The steepest railway climb in North America starts in a quiet Colorado town and ends above the clouds.

This rack-and-pinion train climbs 7,600 feet in just 9 miles, taking passengers from Manitou Springs to one of Colorado’s most famous summits the same way it has since the 1890s.

It’s one of those experiences you need to try at least once in a lifetime. And don’t worry, it’s absolutely safe.

Swiss engineering from the 1800s

The train runs on a special rack system first made in Switzerland back in the 1800s. It has cogwheels that fit into a toothed rack between the rails, which lets it climb steep slopes up to 25% without slipping.

Switzerland provided the new train cars during the $100 million update finished in 2021. You’ll hear a unique clicking sound as the cogs connect with the track—something regular trains don’t make. The bright red color of today’s trains honors its Swiss roots.

Double safety brakes keep you secure on steep hills

You’re kept safe by two separate braking systems—air brakes and mechanical brakes. If the train goes too fast, the backup system kicks in on its own.

The steepest part of the track has a 25% grade, making it one of the steepest normal-width railways in North America. Even though it runs year-round, sometimes in winds over 50 mph at higher spots, the railway has never had an accident.

Workers check the whole track every morning before the first trip starts.

Your trip crosses five different climate zones

In just 9 miles, you’ll pass through five different climate zones—like traveling from Colorado to northern Alaska.

Your journey starts in the montane zone with ponderosa pines at 6,571 feet, goes through subalpine forests at 10,000 feet, and ends in the arctic-like tundra above 11,500 feet.

Plants in the tundra grow extremely slowly—less than an inch in 75 years. The temperature can drop by more than 30 degrees between the bottom and top stations, so it’s smart to wear layers no matter when you visit.

Donuts that taste best at the summit

These special Summit House donuts have been served since the 1950s, with bakers making up to 700 per hour on busy days. If you try to take them down the mountain, they’ll collapse. They’re a treat you can only really enjoy fully at the top of the railway.

This happens because of the high altitude. With air pressure at only 60% of sea level, the donuts puff up more when fried, making them lighter and fluffier. Water boils at just 186°F instead of 212°F up there, which also changes how they cook.

Famous people rode these same rails

When you take this train, you’re following in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, Clark Gable, and Katharine Lee Bates. After her 1893 trip, Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” inspired by what she saw.

The railway started because Zalmon Simmons, who owned the Simmons Beautyrest Mattress Company, took an uncomfortable mule ride to the top in the 1880s and wanted a better way up.

Spencer Penrose, who owned The Broadmoor Hotel, bought the railway in 1925 for $75,000. The first passengers—a church choir from Denver—reached the summit on June 30, 1891.

Wildlife watching is fantastic on the railway

From your window, you might spot yellow-bellied marmots, bighorn sheep, or even mountain lions. Pikes Peak is home to one of Colorado’s biggest bighorn sheep herds—over 100 animals live there.

The marmots, nicknamed “whistle pigs,” have a clever system where one stands guard while others eat, whistling if danger approaches. The animals are so used to the train that they often just keep doing their normal things as you pass by.

Your best chance to see wildlife is on early morning rides in spring and summer.

Rock shapes create amazing sound effects along the route

The way the rocks are shaped around certain bends creates natural sound boosters. At specific spots near mile marker 4, you can hear voices and water sounds from valleys thousands of feet away.

This happens because bowl-shaped rock formations gather and direct sound waves toward the track. The train drivers know exactly where these sound hotspots are and often pause briefly so you can experience this natural wonder.

Part of your ticket money helps fund climate research

When you buy a ticket, you’re helping support climate research at different heights on the mountain. Weather tools along the railway collect information at various points, creating one of North America’s most complete top-to-bottom climate tracking systems.

Scientists use this data to study weather patterns and how different heights respond to environmental changes. Without the railway, researchers would need helicopters to reach their stations.

The summit has had a weather station running non-stop since 1873, providing over 150 years of climate data for scientists to study.

Perfect views no matter your seat

The seats in your train car are specially tilted to stay fairly level even when the train climbs steep hills. The windows have special coatings that block harmful UV rays, which are 60% stronger at the summit than at sea level.

The newest trains, added in 2021, cost $4.5 million each and have heating for winter trips. The railway now has five self-powered diesel-electric cars that each carry up to 214 passengers, making three round trips daily.

Night tours are available, too

Sometimes the railway runs special evening trips using night vision gear. These limited tours use military-grade infrared equipment to watch elk, bears, and mountain lions during their most active hours without disturbing them with bright lights.

This nighttime program started in 2022 and only runs during summer months when most people want to go. The railway tracks work as quiet viewing corridors for seeing animal behaviors humans rarely get to witness.

These tours are limited to 50 people and often sell out months ahead.

The newest trains add extra oxygen as you go up

The newest train cars have a system that gently adds more oxygen as you climb higher. This gradual oxygen increase helps prevent altitude sickness, especially for people with breathing problems.

The system adds just enough extra oxygen to make up for the thinner air at higher elevations. If you need more oxygen, you can also buy small canisters at the station or summit gift shop.

This feature was added after medical studies showed 15% fewer altitude-related complaints among passengers.

Each season gives you a completely different experience

How the railway sounds changes dramatically depending on when you ride it. In spring, you’ll hear the powerful rush of melting snow flowing through ravines below the tracks. Summer trips come with the buzzing of alpine insects and bird songs.

Fall rides feature the bugling calls of elk echoing across valleys during mating season. Winter journeys offer an otherworldly quiet broken only by wind and the rhythm of the train itself.

The railway runs more than 300 days a year, with each season creating its own unique soundtrack even on the same stretch of track.

Riding the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

You’ll find it at 515 Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The railway runs daily with extended hours May through September and shorter hours October through April. We suggest booking weeks ahead because tickets tend to go fast.