Pikes Peak via Barr Trail

The route begins and ends at Barr Trailhead, 6,707' in Manitou Springs, and runs to the summit of Pikes Peak (14,115'). From the trailhead, switchback up through forest, passing the upper terminus of the Manitou Incline on the right at about 1.0 mile. Continue climbing to Barr Camp at 6.5 miles (10,200'), a privately run camp with a cabin, tent sites, and a reliable water source — the last dependable water on the route. Continue past Barr Camp to the A-Frame shelter at 9.0 miles (11,500'), just below treeline. Above the A-Frame, the trail steepens onto a long series of switchbacks known as the 16 Golden Stairs, climbing past Sentinel Point on the right before leveling onto a broad, boulder-strewn plateau. At about 11.5 miles, reach the junction with the Crags Trail at Devils Playground (13,400'); continue straight to stay on Barr Trail. The final 1.5 miles follows the shoulder of the Pikes Peak Highway to the summit (14,115'), at the Summit Visitor Center. Descend the same route, or arrange a pick-up at the summit. Weather changes fast above treeline — thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons, and there is no cover between the A-Frame and the summit; start early and turn around if storms build. Barr Camp's caretakers post current trail and weather conditions and are a reliable check-in point on the way down.