Getting to Barr Camp

Caretakers Neal and Teresa Taylor love visitors at Barr Camp, the rustic camp at 10,200 feet on Pikes Peak. It’s a long distance to get there, but hikers are rewarded with a friendly greeting, a bed or place to camp if staying overnight and — if they’re lucky — one of Neal’s Pikes Peak Power Pancakes.

Here are three ways to get to Barr Camp, each a vastly different type of hike. Be sure to make reservations if planning to stay overnight (www.barrcamp.com), because the camp in the middle of the woods is a popular destination, especially in summer.

To get there

Elk Park: Take the Pikes Peak Highway — the summer toll is $12 per person or $40 per carload — to the Elk Park scenic area on the left 13 miles up. Park here.

Barr Trail: Drive up Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs to a small parking lot on the right past the Cog Railway. If the lot is full (likely) drive back down Ruxton and look for a spot along the street or park in town and walk up Ruxton.

From the Cog: Same as for Barr Trail. The train does not allow visitors to park in its lot unless buying a round-trip ticket.

The hike

Elk Park: Follow the trail steadily downhill. Turn left 1.4 miles in, following signs to Barr Camp, taking in the dramatic views of Pikes Peak 3,000 feet above you. Overnight parking is not allowed along the highway, so either return the way you came, hike to the summit and hitch a ride down or arrange a drop-off in advance.

Barr Trail: The most brutal way to reach Barr Camp is also the most popular. From the heavily used trailhead, which will probably be teeming with joggers and hikers, follow the trail relentlessly uphill, for 6.8 miles, to the camp.

From the Cog: For the easiest way to Barr Camp, buy a ticket for the Cog Railway. The train sells $10 hiker tickets, except on holiday weekends and Saturdays, but they cannot be reserved and seating priority goes to customers buying round-trip tickets. Buying a round-trip ticket ensures a seat.

Request a stop at Mountain View, halfway up the route. From here, hike along a gently rising trail for 1.5 miles, turn left at the junction with Barr Trail and hike a short distance to the camp. Return to Manitou via Barr Trail. Another option is to ride to the summit and hike down to the camp, thereby ensuring sore knees the next day.

Information

Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak Ranger District, 636-1602. For information on Barr Camp and to make overnight reservations, visit www.barrcamp.com. For information on the Cog Railway, visit www .cograilway.com.

Snacks and drinks are sold at the camp, but there is no potable water.

Rating system

A scale of one to four boots. One is easiest, with little elevation gain, and it is at a reasonable altitude. Four is most difficult, with severe elevation gain, difficult terrain or extreme length or altitude.

TRIP LOG

Elk Park to
 Barr Camp

• 3 boots

• 5.5 miles each way

• 1,600 feet of elevation loss (and gain to return to your car)

Barr Trail uphill

• 3 boots

• 6.8 miles each way

• 3,800 feet of elevation gain

From Mountain View on the
Cog Railway

• 2 boots

• 1.5 miles to camp, 6.8 miles back to Manitou

• 200 feet of elevation gain