Scenic Pikes Peak Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Pikes Peak is best experienced with time to stop, look around, and let the mountain set the pace. This self-guided audio tour turns the drive into a narrated route through old railway stops, reservoirs, hiking trails, and storm-battered high country.

I like the low price for a whole carload, and I like the freedom to pause for photos, snacks, or a short walk. The audio works offline and never expires, which is useful if you return to Colorado. The main catch is important: the $16.99 price is not mountain admission. You still need to pay the separate entry fee at Pikes Peak Highway.

Key points to know before you go

• More than 29 audio stories cover an 18-mile drive: The narration fills in the mountain’s railway, water, road, and racing history as you climb.
• You pay once per car, not per person: Up to four people can use the tour for $16.99, making it far cheaper than a private vehicle tour if your car is full.
• Pikes Peak admission is separate: This purchase gives you the audio guide only, not entry to Pikes Peak Highway or any attraction.
• The route works without phone service: Download the tour over strong Wi-Fi or cellular service before arriving.
• You control the day: Start, pause, skip, replay, or spread the tour over several days with lifetime access.
• Have someone else drive if possible: The road, views, and stops deserve your attention, especially near the upper sections.

What this Pikes Peak audio tour actually provides

This is not a ticket, shuttle, railway ride, or escorted excursion. You bring your own vehicle to Pikes Peak Highway, pay the required mountain entry fee separately, and use the Action audio app as your guide.

The tour covers about 18 miles and includes more than 29 narrated stories. The listed stop times are often around 10 minutes, with 15 minutes at Barr Trail, but the full outing can take longer if you stop for pictures, short walks, or food. The stated audio route itself takes about one to two hours.

That timing needs a little interpretation. A fast drive with few stops may fit the estimate. A relaxed visit to a 14,000-foot mountain will likely take more of your day, especially if you want to see the viewpoints or walk part of a trail. The audio is designed to play as you approach each location, so you can keep moving or pause when a story points out something worth seeing.

You receive setup instructions and a password by email and text. Search for audio tour if the message is hard to find. Then download the separate Action app and the tour while you have a strong connection. Once it is stored on your phone, it works offline.

The app can connect to your car through Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. Apple CarPlay is supported. Android Auto support is listed as forthcoming, so Android users should plan to use the phone itself or connect by another method. An iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with version 9 or later, or an iPad or tablet with GPS and cellular service is recommended.

Starting at Cascade and climbing toward America’s Mountain

The published starting point is 5050 Pikes Peak Highway in Cascade, Colorado. No guide meets you there. You open the app at the starting point, enter the first story location, and the narration begins when you reach it.

That hands-free setup is the best part of this format. You do not need to stop and read directions at every bend. The app uses your location to trigger the next story, then guides you along the route. Keep to the posted speed limit and follow the planned direction for the audio to work as intended.

The opening section introduces Pikes Peak as a mountain that has shaped Colorado Springs for generations. You will hear about the route toward the summit, the mountain’s famous height, and the hiking options along the way. The narration gives the drive a sense of place instead of treating the road as a simple climb.

I would set up the app before you enter the highway. Downloading at the gate or in a weak signal area is a needless gamble. Also connect the phone to the car before the climb, and let one person handle the app while another drives.

Cascade and the old railway viewpoint

Cascade is an early pause on the route. People have stopped here since 1890, when this area served as a point along the cog railway. The train gave visitors a way to enjoy the mountain views while adjusting to the increasing altitude.

That detail adds useful context to the drive. The road is not the only way people have reached Pikes Peak. Long before today’s car trip, visitors depended on the railway and made planned stops as they climbed.

You may find this a good place to reset your pace. The stop is listed at about 10 minutes, enough to listen to the story, take in the view, and decide how much walking you want to do later. Do not treat every stop as a formal attraction with staff or facilities. This is an audio route pointing out places along a public mountain drive.

Crystal Creek Reservoir and Colorado Springs water

Crystal Creek Reservoir is tied to a practical side of Pikes Peak that is easy to miss when you are focused on scenery. It supplies drinking water for Colorado Springs, and the narration explains how natural water sources and human engineering work together.

The stop is listed at about 10 minutes. That makes it an easy addition for most people, since you do not need to commit to a long hike to understand why the reservoir matters. It also breaks up the climb with a story about local infrastructure rather than another broad mountain view.

This is one reason I prefer an audio guide to a silent scenic drive. The road can look wild and remote, but the water system connects the mountain directly to daily life in the city below.

North Catamount Reservoir and the mountain’s water system

The North Catamount Reservoir is part of a larger group of reservoirs in the area. South Catamount Reservoir is also mentioned, giving you a wider picture of how the region supplies water to nearby communities.

The stop itself is brief, around 10 minutes. You can listen without turning this into a major detour. The value is in the connection between several points: Pikes Peak is not only a recreation area, but also part of the water system serving Colorado Springs.

If you are traveling with children or anyone who prefers clear, practical facts to long historical accounts, this section should work well. It shows how a mountain can matter to a city even when you are far above its streets.

The cog railway stop and Pikes Peak transportation history

The Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway stop comes next. Despite the name, you are not yet halfway to the summit. A small parking area offers a place for a quick break, and the audio continues the story of how people have reached the mountain over time.

The railway connection gives the whole drive more depth. You are following a route shaped by visitors who once relied on a cog train, not simply driving a private car uphill. The narration helps you see the road as part of a longer tradition of mountain access.

The supplied end point is listed at the Pikes Peak Cog Railway Station near Barr Trail. That can make the route details feel slightly confusing, since the audio also continues higher toward the summit. I would use the in-app route and story triggers as your working guide, rather than relying only on the written stop list.

Glen Cove, the halfway marker

Glen Cove Visitor Center is described as the halfway point, a role it has held for generations of people climbing the peak. The stop is listed at about 10 minutes, making it another natural place for a short pause.

A halfway marker matters on a mountain road. It helps you judge your remaining time, energy, and weather conditions before the upper climb. If you are already feeling the altitude, use this point to slow down and decide how many stops you want to make above it.

There is also a hiking option connected with the north face of Pikes Peak. The full trail is just over 10 miles and difficult, taking several hours. You do not need to hike the entire route to enjoy it. Even a short section may provide a better look at the mountain than the car window, but you should treat the full trail as a serious undertaking, not a casual stroll.

Devil’s Playground and the exposed upper mountain

Devil’s Playground is one of the most memorable names on the route. It has no playground equipment. Instead, it refers to a bare, exposed area where lightning can appear to hop across the ground during thunderstorms.

That story gives you a reason to pay attention to conditions. The upper mountain is not just a place for photographs. Storms and lightning can change the experience quickly, so check the weather before setting out and follow any local instructions at the highway.

The stop is listed at about 10 minutes. You can listen, look across the open terrain, and continue without a long walk. The name may sound playful, but the lightning detail gives it a serious edge.

Bottomless Pit and a bit of mountain folklore

At Bottomless Pit, the local story says that rocks tossed over the edge never make a sound. Scientists, however, confirm that the pit does have a bottom.

This is a small stop, but it adds variety to the narration. Not every story needs to explain an engineering project or a major historical event. A bit of mountain folklore makes the route feel less like a series of road markers and more like a collection of places with their own identity.

Use care near any edge. The supplied information does not promise railings, services, or a specific walking surface at each stop, so stay alert and follow posted signs.

Barr Trail and the option to walk farther

Barr Trail is one of the best-known walking routes on Pikes Peak. Its origins reach back to the gold rush era, although the trail was not always as well maintained as it is now.

The audio lists about 15 minutes here, but you can decide how much time to spend. This is a good place to stretch your legs after the drive or sample a small part of the route without committing to the full climb.

The trail’s reputation can tempt people to underestimate it. The information provided describes the longer hike as difficult, and the north-face route can take several hours. Treat any extended walk as a proper mountain outing, with enough time and preparation. For a short visit, enjoy the viewpoint and return to the car before the drive continues.

What the $16.99 price is worth

At $16.99 per group of up to four people, the price is strong if you already plan to drive your own car. A full carload pays less per person than a private guide, and you can start at your chosen time instead of matching someone else’s schedule.

The price also includes lifetime access with no expiration. You can use it on another Colorado trip, replay sections, or pause the route and return later. That is a real benefit for people staying nearby or building a longer Colorado itinerary.

But do not confuse the audio price with entry to Pikes Peak Highway. Two people who paid $16.99 for the audio were surprised at the entrance when they were charged separately. The highway admission is not included, and the tour provider does not replace that pass.

This distinction should be your main booking check. Think of the purchase as a digital guide layered onto your own paid mountain drive. It is good value in that role. It is poor value if you expect a gate ticket.

Who will get the most from this format

I would choose this tour if you want to drive independently but still want context along the way. It suits couples, families, or small groups sharing one vehicle, especially when people prefer stopping for their own photos and breaks.

It also works well for repeat visitors. Since the access does not expire, you can listen to different stories on separate trips or take the route in stages. The offline maps are helpful in a mountain area where cellular service may be unreliable.

This is less suitable if you want a live guide, a scheduled group, or someone else to handle every detail. You also need a driver who can focus on the road. One person specifically advised having someone else drive so you can concentrate on the views, and I agree. The mountain road deserves attention, especially while the narration is playing and the scenery keeps changing.

The tour is offered in English only. Most people can participate, but the experience depends on having a compatible phone, GPS, and a way to hear the audio in the car.

Practical timing, weather, and setup advice

Give yourself more than the bare one to two hours if you want a relaxed visit. The stated duration describes the audio route, not necessarily the total time needed for entry, parking, photo stops, walks, and weather delays.

Dress warmly. One visitor specifically stressed warm clothing, and the reminder matters at high elevation. Conditions near the top can feel very different from those in Colorado Springs. Bring the basics you want for a scenic drive, and avoid rushing through the stops.

The highway hours listed for April 16, 2025 through March 11, 2027 are 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Since mountain conditions and local operations can change, check the current access details before setting out.

Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The time cutoff uses local time.

Should you book this Pikes Peak audio tour?

Book it if you already plan to pay for Pikes Peak entry and want an inexpensive narrator for your own car. The route covers more than scenic overlooks, connecting the drive to the cog railway, reservoirs, old trails, mountain folklore, and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb area.

Skip it if you are looking for admission, a railway ticket, or a live guide. The audio cannot replace those things. But for $16.99 per carload, offline playback, automatic stories, and lifetime access give independent drivers a useful way to get more from the climb.

My best advice is simple: buy the mountain pass separately, download the app before you arrive, let someone else drive if possible, and leave room in your schedule for the stops that catch your eye.

FAQ

Does the $16.99 price include entry to Pikes Peak Highway?

No. The price covers the self-guided audio tour only. You must pay separately for park or highway entry.

How many people can use one purchase?

One purchase covers a group of up to four people in the same car.

How long does the audio tour take?

The route is about 18 miles and the audio experience takes approximately one to two hours. Extra time is needed for photos, breaks, and walks.

Does the tour work without cellular service?

Yes. Download the tour while you have strong Wi-Fi or cellular service, and it will work offline afterward.

How does the audio begin?

Open the Action audio tour app at the starting point and enter the first story location. The audio begins automatically as you reach the correct location, and later stories play based on your position.

Where does the tour start and end?

The listed starting point is 5050 Pikes Peak Highway in Cascade, Colorado. The listed end point is near the Pikes Peak Cog Railway Station and Barr Trail.

Is the tour available in languages other than English?

No. The tour is offered in English.

Can I use the tour again later?

Yes. The tour has lifetime access with no expiration, so you can use it on another trip or return to sections later.