Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak, one of the most famous peaks in the Rocky Mountains, located in the Front Range, central Colorado, near Colorado Springs. Although the elevation (4,302 m/14,115 ft) of the peak is not the highest in the state, Pikes Peak is noted for a commanding view. Tourists can ascend the mountain by three different means: by horseback, by a cog railway 14 km (9 mi) long, or by automobile over a well-constructed road. Two springs, Manitou and Colorado, are located near the foot of the mountain. On the summit of Pikes Peak is a meteorological station. The peak was discovered in 1806 by the American explorer and army officer Zebulon Montgomery Pike. It was first climbed in 1820.