Summer is just one month away.
At least that’s the case at Pikes Peak, the majestic summit near Colorado Springs.
“Summer season” at Pikes Peak is mid-March to Dec. 31, meaning that the Pikes Peak Cog Railway will take passengers all the way up to the top of the summit. During January through early March, trains do not reach the full summit because of unpredictable weather and snow. Instead, trains go to Inspiration Point, which at 11,500 feet is 2,610 feet lower than the summit.
But all that changes in four short weeks, so now is the ideal time to make plans.
Although Colorado offers a multitude of attractions, don’t overlook the obvious ones like the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. It’s a bucket-list-worthy treasure.
How worthy? Did you know that the eloquent “America the Beautiful” was inspired by the stunning vistas of Pikes Peak? Yes, Katharine Lee Bates made it to the summit in 1893 and couldn’t believe the mountain ranges and sea within sight. She described it the only way she could — through lyrics. A beautiful, oversized marble monument at the top commemorates the occasion.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. To reach the top, passengers first must start at the depot in Manitou Springs. On the way up the mountain, they will experience different life zones. For instance, bristlecone pines, some more than 2,000 years old, soar from the ground for amazing sights.
At around two-thirds up to the peak, trees become nonexistent. They can’t get enough moisture, as the ground at that point is frozen year-round, creating permafrost under the surface. Once the train climbs above the timberline, the views become expansive, just as Bates saw them 122 years ago.
Whatever time of year you visit Pikes Peak, remember that ascending 1,000 feet is the equivalent of traveling 600 miles to the north, meaning that the temperature drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet. Count on a 30-degree drop from the depot to the top of the summit. Even in summer, passengers could encounter a few snowflakes.
Once you reach the top, tremendous views await, as does the Summit House, which sells food and souvenirs. But don’t just blindly get off the train and rush to the Summit House or other parts of the mountaintop. Instead, go to the side of the train that narrowly faces one of the edges of the summit (other passengers will rush off elsewhere). If you’re lucky, like I was, you’ll be treated to the sight of Bighorn sheep. A family of four sheep precipitously navigated the large rocks at the edge of the summit, to the backdrop of picturesque hills and lakes. 
Besides magnificent views and the Bates monument, the summit includes plaques for explorer Zebulon Montgomery Pike and colorful signs to mark the occasion that you made it to the top. The Summit House is a great place to shop and warm up, and the addictive chili fries are a must-eat to purchase from the concessionaire.
The 3-hour, 10-minute roundtrip covers 8.9 miles of track, and before you leave the summit, you’ll likely wave goodbye to one of the most populous inhabitants on the peak: the yellow-bellied marmot. These large squirrels scurry around the area and, along with the sheep, supply the peak’s “cute” factor.
As you return to the railway to anticipate the descent back to the depot, you reflect upon the all the grandeur that you just experienced. But, suddenly, an unexpected sadness settles in. The train’s whistle blows and the cog wheels begin to churn to deliver you back to the mountain base. It is at that moment when you realize a profound truth about your vacation: It’s all downhill from here.