Pikes Peak and Mount Evans

Pikes Peak and Mount Evans
The trailheads described here are places passenger cars can reach. Sometimes these places are well-marked parking lots at the end of a road, and sometimes they are just points on a continuing road where the road becomes too rough for passenger cars. Four-wheel-drive vehicles can shorten many of the ascents in Colorado, but, when you think about it, wouldn't you rather have more mountain, not less?
Colorado's Front Range extends from the Wyoming border southward 175 miles to the Arkansas River valley west of Pueblo. It is Colorado's longest range. When you approach the Rocky Mountains from the east, the Front Range provides an abrupt scenery change. The land is flat, then roars up like crazy. Two of the most well-known and popular peaks for climbing in the Front Range are Pikes Peak and Mount Evans. Both are close to Denver and allow the motivationally challenged the opportunity to drive all the way to the summit. The standard climbing routes to the summits of both peaks can also become quite crowded.