The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Riding the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak was breathtaking. Literally. My family of 4 enjoyed this ride! We booked the 2 seat side which was great but we would have loved the views more from the 3 seat side. Now I know for next time! The ride up was enjoyable & we enjoyed listening to all the fun facts & history on the way up! We almost got 1 of everything at the visitors center & Sat down & ate quickly. Walked even quicker through the gift shop as it was slightly pricy & enjoyed the rest of the time outside taking in the incredible views! This was truly a unique experience & would 100% recommend it for any age! We chose as early ride & enjoyed Manitou Springs the rest of the day!

Awesome experience, the train is comfortable and our tour guide was great, and some tour guides can be uncomfortable but she was great. The views are something else and 14000 feet is a real height, I recommend sitting on the two chair side, I got to sit both sides and that was the best in my opinion. We saw lots of marmots. It is definitely harder to breathe up there so be mindful. I really recommend doing this because it is a great price for the experience.

Awesome ~3 hour train ride and stop at the top to see the sights of Pike's Peak! You park across the street for $20 or along the road if you arrive early for a little cheaper and head to the station where they have bathrooms and tons of souvenirs for sale. They have assigned seats on your ticket and I recommend sitting on the left side if you can. The trip up the mountain is a little over an hour or so and you get a lot of views along the way as well as history. Our guide, Elvis, was almost brand new but very knowledgeable and walked around to talk to individuals and groups and answer questions. No one had any issues with altitude sickness so don't let the signs scare you. Along the ride you'll see waterfalls, animals, and old settlements while you learn about the history of the mountain and railway. We saw a few wolves (pics attached) as well as what we think were Arctic Ravens (also attached). At the top you'll be treated to unparalleled views and a welcome center famous for donuts. Walk around and take pics from all the lookout platforms first while it's not busy, then head inside for food. I got the donuts (they were alright) and coffee and finished a friend's cheeseburger. The gift shop has the usual souvenirs for people back home - my wife got a stuffed donut. Use the bathroom at the train station and then again at the top of the mountain because the train doesn't have one.

Very cool experience. We had good weather, only slightly hazy (unfortunately from wild fires many miles away), so we saw great views at the top. Definitely was much colder at the top, so bring layers. We definitely felt the altitude. Luckily, we had a small bottle of oxygen, which instantly helped. Tight seating, so be prepared to get cozy with strangers. Parking at the depot worked out well for us, but not sure it's that easy all day, as we arrived at 930am for our 10am ride. Conductor was very informative. Only downside was this very loud, inconsiderate, obnoxious family who talked over the conductor's presentation on the way up, then was simply annoying all the way down.

We did this on Father’s Day, it was packed but still really fun. They don’t offer a military discount. Seats are small, so if you are not, you are going to be uncomfortable. Up top, except to pay A LOT to buy souvenirs. It was very well organized, both getting on and reboarding. I was worried about experiencing terrifying heights going up and back down, but a lot of the ride was in forest, I wasn’t scared one bit. It was definitely a fun experience!

I LOVE doing this trip! The front 3 seats are worth the extra money because of the front-facing view all the way up the mountain. You will often see wildlife, and the views are incredible. The Engineer’s interactive quality depends on who you get - luck of the draw. I have had very informative and friendly, all the way to not talkative. So I would just expect to get most of your info answered by the Host/MC. It is about a 1 hour ride up, 1 hour at the top, and 1 hour ride down. You want the earliest departure time - you’ll have the best chance of good weather and visibility on Pike’s Peak that time of day.

Absolutely incredible experience with breathtaking views! Get your tickets in advance since they tend to book up fast. The best views are the seats opposite the gift shop (on the left facing up the mountain). Everyone races to the cafe for the donuts and snacks; however, it’s just wasting time in my opinion. You took an hour train ride to enjoy views at 14,115; don’t waste it inside eating since you only get about 40min to enjoy Mother Nature at its finest! You’re welcome!

Allow yourself ample time to get to the station before your train leaves. The free shuttle was about 30 minutes between trips and when we did get on our driver stopped for his mandatory break. Needless to say we showed up right as the train was pulling out. That being said, I suggest paying for more parking than you expect as we needed to ride back down to add more time.and ride back up to the station. Which brings me to the staff, a wonderful young woman at the ticket counter was very nice and patient with my family as she dealt with my wife as I needed to step out and get some fresh air due to my frustration. We were able to reschedule and return for another ride a few hours later. Parking staff...we heard and witnessed nothing but bad things. The system in place seems flawed in some manner AND the staff needs some training. We heard about and witnessed an older gentleman almost throw hands over letting/not letting People park. Z, our host for our train trip was great, can't say enough good things. The top has snacks and a gift shop as well as many photo opportunities. Sit on the 3 seat side for the best views and photo opportunities.

We wanted to see Pikes Peak without driving to the top, and this was the perfect way to do it. One I absolutely loved Manitou Springs which is the town leading up to the Cograil. The train was 3 hours round trips and in my opinion the perfect amount of time. We tried the cinnamon sugar donuts at the top which were raved about. Honestly I didn't se ether hype, it was ordinary. Overall I loved going in this trip and seeing the scenic view and I didn't even have the window seat. Got to meet a bunch of cool people.

Overpriced and boring ride. Conductor had an excessive amount of dad jokes and little actual information. Seats on the railway are small and you sit face to face with strangers. The windows on our train were tinted and when open you couldn't see very well bc you then had a double pain of tinted glass in your way. Once you get to the top you only have 30ish minutes before you turn around and go back down. If you do decide to go, sit on the side with 3 chairs!!! You will sit in the same seat on the way back and they have a way better view. I would also recommend sitting facing forward to save your neck. Bring water and a sweatshirt!

We had such a fantastic time on the Cog Railway! The entire experience was seamless from start to finish -- well-organized, comfortable, and truly memorable. Jim and Jeff were outstanding. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging, making the journey both informative and fun. Their professionalism and enthusiasm really elevated the trip, and it was clear they genuinely care about creating a great experience for every guest.

This was a fun ride, & certainly less stressful for me than driving, coming from flat Florida. Though a bit pricey, I am happy with the overall value. That said, I have critiques. First of all, we were running late because our lunch took forever. So we were pleased to find parking in the lot right across from the depot. But the signage wasn't clear to pay upon exit so I tried to ask our train conductor about parking payment before we boarded. Though most passengers were already seated, and no one was queued behind us, she was rather brusque with me & claimed to have no info about parking nor when/where we needed to pay. Later, she told the entire train that she'd worked for the railway for 4 years and could answer any passengers' questions. But I had to run back up the stairs to ask in the ticket office and receive excellent guidance THEN that we'd pay when exiting the parking lot. I later learned that the parking lot was not affiliated with the Broadmoor Railway which was somehow satisfying. And we did pay upon exit with no issues. As others have stated, time at the summit was very limited. The queue for those famed doughnuts was egregiously long, and we were rather winded from the altitude. So after a few photos outside, hubs & I relaxed in the dining area where I was able to charge my phone, and we took turns going to the restroom & refilling our water bottles. Unfortunately, I'll have to confirm the deliciousness of that doughnut on another trip because of that line. We didn't even have time to shop for souvenirs. I want to note that we visited in early August and the summit weather was VERY cold for this Floridian! It was heavily misting and quite windy at the summit, and we saw lightning in the clouds near the peak on the way up & back down. Weather at the depot & nearby was hot & humid, so the stark difference was quite interesting. I loved this experience; I'd definitely do it again, now knowing what to expect. The repeated Broadmoor endorsements were a bit much, but I enjoyed most of the geographical & historical commentary. I do wish there was an option to stay at the summit longer because it just didn't seem like enough time for photos & doughnuts, even in perfect weather.

Bad: Parking is tough and limited. I went to the off site 33rd street parking lot - the 40 something Sméagol- looking attendant was rude. Cramped space: the seats face each other and even average height people need to contort themselves to avoid knocking knees. Time on summit: 40 minutes is all you get, and it's not nearly enough time. The good The employees, other than the Sméagol looking guy, are very nice and friendly The ride: it's a cool experience, it last an hour going up. Summit:! Is great, even though time is limited. Verdict: worth going once

A great way to make your way to Pikes Peak. Took just over an hour each way. On the way up the conductor points out different sights along the way. When you are at the top pay attention to the time, the train leaves on time and they did leave a couple people behind.

What a fantastic experience! We booked two tickets for the Pikes Peak Cog Rail, which takes you to the summit at 14,115 feet. Parking can be tricky since there are very few spots near the train station, and there's a parking fee of $15-$20. Fortunately, we managed to find a spot, but there is also a free shuttle from the town. The train station is small but charming, making it a great spot for photos. It features a gift shop and a stand selling roasted peanuts. The trains are modern and clean! I highly recommend spending a little extra to choose your seats. Be sure to sit on the left side of the train (the three-seat side) while going up the mountain for the best views, as you'll have the same seat for both the ascent and descent. The trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the summit and is fully narrated. Our conductor, Quinn, was fantastic! While the train ride was enjoyable, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't see more scenery. The train ascends the mountain at a steady incline, which wasn't quite what I expected; I had imagined a more gradual ascent with curves around lakes and other sights. Traveler tip: There are no restrooms on the trains! I regretted drinking a 16-ounce beverage right before boarding!

We were planning on driving up to Pikes Peak but at the last minute decided to buy tickets for the train and we are so glad we did!! We loved our conductor and the information he shared and were extremely lucky with lots of wildlife sighting on our trip. We took the earliest train which I recommend as it was fairly empty at the top other than the passengers on our train. We did park at the Hiawatha Gardens lot in Manitou Springs since we were planning on spending some time on the main street afterwards and it was a bit cheaper than the Railway lot. The free shuttle was continent and easy to navigate.

The purpose of our trip was to see Rocky Mountain National Park. I had set aside two days at the end of the trip to enjoy the Denver area. We settled on Pike's Peak. My wife wanted the morning bookings, but I wanted to sleep in, so we got the 2:40 train. All-in-all, we liked the time slot because the conductor said we just missed the lunch rush at the summit. Tip #1: When choosing seats on the website, select the odd-numbered seats. They face forward. The even-numbered seats face backwards. As with anything tour-related, the window seats are the best seats. Tip #2: It's colder at the summit, about 30 degrees difference. The change is gradual, since the train itself is moving only at 10 mph. I recommend at least three layers, depending on your hardiness. There are generally two places to sit and wait: outside on the platform (where it's hot and muggy in July) or in the Waiting Room (where it's not so bad). The Waiting Room has restrooms, but smaller than the ones at the end of the platform. You have only 45 minutes at the summit. Your conductor will ask you to set your alarms and the train whistle will blow for you to return. The train will leave you behind, and it will cost you $500 to have a ranger drive you back down later. With only 40-45 minutes to enjoy the summit, you need to prioritize. If you need to use the restroom, you may want to wait if you can. It depends if you want to waste 5-10 minutes of your time in line for five urinals and five stalls. (Most people want/need to go right away.) Tip #4: I shopped in the gift shop for about 10-15 before using the restroom. I walked right in, no waiting. Tip #5: Buy oxygen if there's any possibility that someone in your group will encounter altitude sickness. It's cheap and available in the gift shop. We saw people young and old experiencing problems, but not us. We bought a can AND USED IT. Everyone talks about the donuts (see pics). They're just donuts. If you like donuts, get donuts. (They are sold in pairs.) If you love donuts, you may be disappointed. On the way back, many people are tired and just take a nap for an hour. Do it. I stayed awake and saw marmots sitting on rocks. Unless you reserved at a time when you might see deer and elk and moose, just take the nap. Final note: It's pricey, $80 a seat. Park across the street for $20. It's the best place to park.

The train ride is fine, but the time given on the top is 30 minutes at best. With the amount of money you pay per ticket to ride up and then it's rush, rush and you can't even do or see anything. They encourage off site parking but then they continue to tell you that if you don't rush right back they will lock your car in. I mean come on, I spent a lot of money for this and it would've been better just to drive up and enjoy the trip instead of using the cog train. Don't waste your time and money.

Definitely make your reservations before arrival. They sound angry about walk up ticket purchases on their website. I got a bad vibe about the way it was worded. But once here, all of the staff is super friendly. They have been in business for 131 years. If you've already got your ticket, you can walk straight down stairs. There are two train rails. But either it's coming or going. So it's not that hard to figure out which one to go to. It's a cute area. They have a convenience store with a. Few food options, sweatshirts (incase you forgot yours. Can't say I didn't warn you), and souvenirs. It's a 1.5 hour rail ride to the top. So use the bathroom before you leave. And there are two sets of bathrooms downstairs. Tickets were $72 each to pick your seat assignment and $59 for an unassigned seats. I saw no discounts of any kind. They have coveted seats in car 1, row 1, A,B,C. But they sell out early. So I didn't get to see how much they went for. The seats are small and it is almost always packed. (So I'm told). So it will be warm and cramped at the start. (At least in the summer time) and cold and cramped at the top.

We were at the train 5 min early, there were people ahead of us that pushed the yellow button, the doors closed let one person then closed befroe the 2nd person could get on and at 3 min befor train left and we stood there for 3 min watching asking to get on train and was refused, were stuck at the viistor center for over an hour before the next train came.

What to bring: Its cold at the top...bring a sweatshirt and some jogger pants you can easily throw on over your shorts. I went in July where it was 95 degrees at the bottom/in town. Sunglasses are a good idea. Money for gift shop/donuts. Tip money if you choose to tip the train attendant. Phone and internet service was nonexistent at a certain point up the mountain. Wear good shoes if you want to walk on the rocks. Obviously, bring a camera/phone with camera. Parking/shuttle: Parking was no issue but it will cost you. $20 for the first 4.5 hrs, $5 each add'l hour. Street parking costs the same. I did not see any free parking anywhere...even down in the town of Manitou Springs. Down in the town, all parking is paid and certain areas cost more than others. The street spots downtown say on the parking machine 'you will be charged premium rates here.' We parked in a lot in town and took the #33 shuttle up to the train. I rode the shuttle 3 times...one time it was waiting for me, another time was about a 13 minute wait and after I got off the train, I waited about 10 minutes for the shuttle. What else is there to do here? There's a gift shop (that does not sell water in plastic bottles; you'd have to buy a $40 metal water bottle that they've prefilled for you), a waiting area (that has a water refill station; bring your own bottle to fill), and a bathroom. So not much to do here! We arrived very early. Pro tip...if there's a line for the bathroom in the waiting area...go down to the end of the tracks where there are nicer bathroom and a lot fewer people! There are no bathrooms on the train. What if you know you're going to miss your train? Call and ask to rebook. There's a $20 fee (total) to reschedule. The people who sat across from us had done this. Since I had arrived early, I asked if we could board the earlier train that was sitting in front of me with empty seats and was told no. On our train, we met 4 people within a row of us who had missed their train the hour before. Our train attendant, Owen, was fantastic! He talked the whole way up the mountain, telling us historical facts and stories. He was so full of energy and was simply great! On the way back down the mountain, he walked around talking to everyone and answering questions. We learned he only just got done training a month ago! He was very impressive! At the top of Pike's Peak, we had 40 minutes. Options were buying donuts from the café, going to the gift shop, using the restroom, and looking at the views. I rushed to buy donuts first and learned that the café was basically closed. Pro tip: don't take the last train of the day (4:40pm). No donuts and a lot of our photos have shadows due to the setting sun (6pm). We definitely would have appreciated more time at the top. There's a good amt of area to cover, signs to read, and views to take in. We hurried along and made due but most definitely could have used more time at the top.

Fun train ride! Be sure to get there early and dress warm! It is cold at the top of the mountain. Breathing will get shallow. Comfortable seating, and the views will not disappoint. Friendly, informative staff. The cinnamon donuts are no joke amazing. It's about a bit over 3 hours. The gift shop is expensive like most, but military discount is 20%! Overall lovely tour.

Terrible customer service. Bought tickets online costing $262. They sent a text sending us to a car lot miles from the train which was locked and unattended. Then they refused to refund us even though we are from the east coast and visiting for a few days. Do not give them your money. They are dishonest.

We visited Colorado Springs for our sister's graduation event. On Thursday, our group of 10 decided to book this train up Pikes Peak. Many of the time slots were pretty booked, but the 8am train had room for all 10 to sit together. Booking was easy, we chose the option where we pay a bit more and pick our seats. I received the tickets via email in moments. I meant to print them, but scanning the barcodes from my phone worked perfectly. They were very communicative and send several reminder and instruction texts. The trip was amazing. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Amazing sights! No one had any real problem with altitude, but I was VERY happy to have the canned oxygen (our brother bought several cans to share) because I lost my breath 4 or 5 times up there. canned oxygen from Walmart is a pro tip). Lastly, parking is tight at the station. So, plan for a little time to park, pay for parking, and walk to the train station. We lucked out and were directed to a spot on the street right by the front! But, several people who parked in front of me on the street found themselves less lucky when they found that not paying meant their car was booted. So, second pro tip, $20 to park is better than the boot!

I don't understand why anyone would give this less than 5 stars. Look up the weather before you go. Everyone has a weather app or Google. It's not the responsibility of the railway to keep you updated on the weather, it's actually out of their control. Do not go up here for the gift shop or cafe. Lots of folks and you only have 40 mins. Take in the view. The website was very clear on directions and parking. Parking close was $20. The ride was beautiful. It was so clear we could see all 5 other states I think. The seats are a night tight. We purchased 3 seats because we did don't want to risk someone else sitting with us. Was perfect for us as a plus size couple. You will also touch the knees of whomever is across from you. You will be facing the same way up as the way down. The Conductor was friendly and funny. Did you know the rocks on Pikes Peak are deadly? One drop and your dead. The Engineer was kind enough to pose for me. Highly recommend!

Since the Broadmor Hotel took over, it's changed and not for the better. Used to be fun, and adventure, now it's none of those things.

I debated on whether to give three or four stars, the experience at the top was pretty spectacular but the train ride up the mountain was definitely not worth the 189 bucks for two people. I'm sure the sights are beautiful but the are very hard to see sitting down going through a valley on your way up and down. I think the "two seat" side probably had some of the best views. It's very hard to take pictures through tinted glass and the windows only come down about a foot from the top, my wife is a photographer and that was pretty disappointing for her. Once you get to the summit, you get 45 minutes and that's not quite enough time to grab some of the famous donuts, which are pretty darn good, and walk through the gift shop. We were there during peak season so the gift shop was almost bare, pretty disappointing as we would have like to pick up a couple items for our kids and grandkids. I'm grateful for the experience but not sure it's worth the money.

Loved our visit to Pikes peak, this is our second visit to peak after more than 10 years! We booked and reserved the seats well ahead and it was drizzling the way we went to the station. We parked at free parking and took a bus to station based on the website that parking lot gets full. Contrary to the website the parking was empty by the time we got there. It was drizzling and we got to track 2 to board after a quick announcement. The guide was amazing and funny with her puns! We had a good ride going up. Last quarter of distance it started snowing and plenty of accumulation at the peak! I just wish they communicate the weather conditions better to travelers. Nevertheless we took a quick bio break and went to cafe to grab warm drinks. This was my most annoyed part of the trip! Cashier at the cafe is rude and has zero hospitality. We took hot chocolate and coffee and realized that hot chocolate was warm at best, we informed the same to cashier he just said "It is hot, I just made it!" Even-though took a sip in-front of him to show and did nothing about it. Ride down was good as well

Very disappointing, the train ride itself was nice but the conductor talked incessantly! Even worse, the sound system is not very good so most of what he was saying was incomprehensible. When we got to the top it was snowing. We barely got into the building when there was an announcement that because of the snow they were closing the building, everyone had to leave. No time to get a snack or use the restroom. Okay, stuff happens. But then we sat on the train for over 30 minutes just waiting. At the very least they could have let us stay in the building until our train could start back down. Overall not worth the price. We are a party of 6 and paid nearly $500.

Ok we did the train yesterday. Advice. Reserve the left side seating. You see more face forward. The right side has 2 seats the left side has 3 seats. The seats are TINY. Seriously small. I would have paid for three seats. Just to have some comfort. The ride up was nice we had beautiful weather blue skies and no wind. They don't give much time when you're on the top. 1/2 hour NO MORE. And don't miss the train. $500 penalty fee. Each person. So when you get to the top you barely have enough time to go to bathroom grab a STALE donut and see the views. Oh and you have to use the bathrooms so you really don't have much time up there. Next time we go. We will drive. Or go on a jeep ride to the top. Parking is a bit tight and takes a while to get out $20parking fee fyi

Really fun! Would def say it was worth the ticket price. It's really cold up at the top so take warm clothes!

Absolutely a must for anyone traveling through the area! I would highly suggest buying your tickets in advance. The staff seem a little irritated if you don't. Bring something warm to put on at the top, and don't bring outside drinks or water bottles. They will make you throw it away or take it back to your vehicle. If you want water on the train you have to buy a water bottle ($10+) at the depot. They don't allow food on the train either. Our conductor was great. Stern but extremely knowledgeable and fun to listen to. The seats are fairly small, so larger customers might want to buy two seats. I'd highly suggest asking for the 3 seat side of the train. Again. HIGHLY suggest this attraction! It was amazing!

Absolutely stunning trip from top to bottom. The best way to relax on your way up to 14000 feet. Stunning views! Flowers that bloom only in July that only grow 1 inch every 100 years. Amazing wildlife including bighorn sheep and other ground squirrels and such. Lovely rest stop at the top. Gosh my only complaint was maybe getting 15 more minutes at the top before we had to board and return down the hill.

Take the train! Get a seat on the 3 person side since that's where all the good stuff is. You can stand up and look out the window, but it's not the same. Staff was excellent. Really got the group going. It's expensive. But, saves your brakes. You get to ride up the train, you stay there about an hour and then you take the same train back down. We really enjoyed our time.

Since driving up the mountainside scared the bejeesus out of me, the railway definitely seemed the way to go. We loved Sophie, our conductor. She gave us interesting facts, stories and a few silly jokes. We met some nice people as well. I followed the advice from another Yelper and sat in the odd numbered row. Though I enjoyed my views, it seemed that the three seat side had more vistas on their side. We were given about 35-40 minutes on top. After walking around the entire edge and going inside the visitor center for the restroom, our time was sadly up, not allowing for us to see any of the museum. The gentleman across from me said he got to see very little as he was with children and they all wanted to eat. Please don't waste time there. Many nice places in Manitou Springs to eat. When on top of the Peak, just enjoy the views.

My friends and I took the round trip train ride up to Pikes Peak on the Cog Railway. We purchased tickets online prior to our visit. Due to the weather, the bus wasn't running from the free lot, so we had to park in the paid lot ($20- card only). The train ride was about an hour each way. We had about 45 min at Pikes Peak to take photos, use the restrooms, look at the gift shop, and try the doughnuts. It went by very quickly, but it was still beautiful (and cold!) up there. The experience overall was very easy and the train was comfortable. This is a must do activity if you're visiting Colorado Springs!

What a fabulous activity to celebrate our anniversary! I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this - holy cow! The views are spectacular! Starting with the bad news: - if you are a couple and inadvertently book seats in the 3-seat side, while you'll have better views than the 2-seat side, you will be paired with a stranger - the seats face each other so not only are you paired with a stranger, you also get to face three other strangers the whole way (neither of these things are romantic if that's what you're looking for) - if you know you experience motion or altitude sickness, plan ahead and bring oxygen and something for your motion sickness - they ran out of food at the top, which was a bummer because we were hungry and ready for a snack - especially the donuts everyone raved about The good news: - everything else about the journey - the views, the stunning rides up and down, the upgraded (and therefore more comfortable) trains, the staff who are knowledgeable and funny, the local town you can explore before and after the ride Get a seat on one of the ends if you can do your views are unobstructed!

We did receive a message that our train would not be going to the top, so no doughnuts for us. Still, despite the close seating and no restrooms, it was a decent trip up to 12,500 feet. It got snowing and colder and the views got better as we ascended. Park for $20 right across the street and save the hassle. Nice giftshop also.

Pikes Peak and cog railway had been on my wife's bucket list for a long time. Finally she got a chance to cross those two items off the list. She reserved two tickets at $59 each on line. Seats were assigned by the railway. Unfortunately, we were assigned to the right side of the cart. More on that later. Parking on site costed $20. But we chose to do Manitou City parking with free shuttle to the cog railway station. The cost was $13.50 for 5 hours. Added bonus was a free sightseeing tour of downtown Manitou via a shuttle with free off and on. The cog ride was about 1 hour and 10 minutes each way. The scenic view was mostly trees and granites for 2/3 of the trip. The magnificent view of mountains, meadow, and lakes occurred with the last third of the ride. But only the left side of the cog cart get the best view. No one on the right side of the cart was allowed to cross over to the left side for viewing or picture taking. The conductor was funny and informative. Once the cog railway carts got to the Pikes Peak summit, cog railway visitors were allowed about 45 minutes to roam around. 45 minutes were not enough time to explore, picture taking, snack break, drink break, and restrooms break. My wife wanted to try the famous donut, but the line was too long. Missing the return trip would cost a lot of money, in the hundreds. It would had been better to drive up to the summit. The view would've been better. There wouldn't be any time constraint at the summit. We enjoyed the cog railway trip and Pikes Peak summit. We had a good time conversing with fellow travelers. But if we go again, we will drive instead. We just didn't get enough time at the summit with the cog railway.

Loved the Cog Railway experience! Absolutely breathtaking from start to finish, I highly recommend a trip to the Summit on the cog. Space on the train itself is tight but the views and experience are worth it. Once at the top of Pikes Peak, try a high-altitude donut! The museum, stunning views, warm chicken noodle soup and smooth ride is a solid 5 star activity everyone visiting the springs must do!

This was one of our favorite activities during our Colorado trip! It was really high, but worth the breathtaking views. The narrator had cute jokes on the way up, and since we reserved seats up front, we also had the conductor to chat with :)

This is a fun way to see Pike's Peak and ride on an engineering marvel: one of only 3 cog railways in the USA! Let me talk about seating since I wasn't able to find much info prior to booking: First book your seats online via their website in advance as far in advance as you can. The train consists of 2 to 4 cars depending on demand/time of year/day. Each car consists of 3 seats on the left side and 2 seats on the right side. Some seats face forward and some face backwards. If you can, book the front row 3 seats next to the driver in the front train car: those are the best seats on the train with the best view. On your downhill trip the train reverses backwards so if you were riding forwards on the way up you'll be riding backwards on the way down and of you were riding backwards on the way up the mountain then you'll be riding forwards on the way down the mountain. On our train the back row in the back car did NOT have a forwards view on the test ride down the mountain but maybe that is different on different trains. I booked the 3 front row seats in the front car by the driver and they were indeed the best view in the entire train. However, we are a family of 4 so I booked the window seat on the second row however I wished I had booked the window seat or aisle seat facing forwards. The seats are really narrow so if you have the bad luck of sitting next to wide/big people who aren't your family you will be squished so maybe the aisle is preferable. *The side of the train with 3 seats is more scenic than the side with 2 seats! So pick the 3 seat side if you want better views! Since the train goes up then reversed back down the 3 seat side will always be the one with the best views. The train windows are open during the summer and you can stand up to take photos out of the open windows so your photos dont have glare from the windows. There are zero bathrooms on board the train so go before you board and then again at the visitors center at the top of the mountain before you head back down. Bring warm sweatshirts/layers since it can be up to 40 degrees colder at the top of the mountain versus the base. We went the end of June and there was still a ton of snow and ice at the top of the mountain and it was only 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Also bring some water because the mountain is 14,115 feet in elevation so even if you're not thirsty it's still good to drink some water to help cope with the elevation. They even tell you to drink water at one point on the train ride. Arrive 30min early to park. Parking is $20 (or park on the street and walk up the hill) Then board 20min early Ride to top takes about 1 hour You get 40min-1hr free time at the top Boars your train for the little less than 1hr train ride back down The largest gift shop is at the top of the mountain in the visitor's center but I'd still visit the gift shop at the bottom of the hill train station because they have a better selection of magnets and also they sell fresh-made cinnamon coated nuts. We got the cashews and they were delicious! They do sell food at the cafe at the top of the mountain too. We got donuts up there which were good. Overall this was a super fun tourist experience!

The people getting on the train in front of us had a baby, no more than maybe 6 months old. The conductor stopped them and informed them that the baby needed a ticket. They were stunned, as were the rest of us witnessing this. They literally had to go back down to the ticket office and spend $50 on a ticket for a lap BABY who is not even forming memories of this trip. They couldn't just decide not to go because there are no refunds on tickets (you can have the balance put on a gift card minus a $20 BS fee, though). The ride up was nice, and experiencing the summit was pretty fantastic. The gift shop and doughnuts were good. We all could've done without a few of the groaner jokes the conductor told (the one about the donkey that got blown up was horrible). Note: you are not allowed to bring "outside" food or drink with you except water (which you should definitely bring). If you have money to burn, the cog train is better than driving up yourself (which we have also done) since everyone gets to look at the scenery instead of trying to stay on the road. That incident with the baby really put me off, though.

Great train, great views, great conductor. My kids thought it was a little long. One hour each way. The top was freezing.

This was by far the highlight of my trip to Colorado. I was hesitant to go after reading many negative reviews, but I have no complaints - although maybe I am biased because there was an empty seat next to me They definitely pack people in the train, but all the more reason to pay extra and reserve your ticket. Definitely worth it to pay extra for a window seat on the left side. I would have been upset if I didn't have those. I thought there was plenty of time at the top - personally I felt kind of sick at the top so I was fine not staying up there for too long. The food up there smelled like cafeteria food, so I'd definitely skip it or bring your own snacks. They didn't check bags or anything, so I brought some snacks and ate them on a bench at the top. I am only taking off a star because I had originally wanted a seat on the last car of the train so I'd be able to have the best view (in my opinion). I changed my date and time to accommodate my request, and they reassigned my seat to something else. We saw the road to get to pikes peak if you'd rather drive, but it looked extremely scary. Very curvy and no guardrails. Definitely the best views I've ever seen in my life.

Everything went well and today was my first time on the cog train and the conductor was very nice and helpful and it was nice trip up and down

If I could rate this 4.5 stars , I really would! I HIGHLY recommend taking this if you get the chance. I bought tickets in advance and was able to pick my own seats. I know some fellow Yelpers say that the side you side on doesn't matter but kinda does. I sat on the right side and it seemed as if the left side had the best and most of the views. You definitely are cramped into a small car, smaller than the room you're allotted in an airplane. The ride to the summit was about an hour and 15 minutes and the descent was just about an hour long. Only reason why i'm rating 4 (really 4.5 stars) is because you're only allotted maybe 30 minutes at the summit, wish there was a little more time. They do have a cafe at the top of the summit but just know that's it's ridiculously overpriced and not worth it. They tell you they do not allow outside food and drinks on board but they really didn't seem to care as most of the passengers aboard brought outside food and drinks. This is a MUST if you are in Manitou!

This was actually a great experience overall just because I really wanted to get to pikes peak and the view was amazing and I'm not willing to hike it. So I'm thankful that I could use the train and avoid the treacherous car drive. I only give it three stars because of: 1. the expense. They tell you that you're not going to be able to sit together because the train might fill up, which was a complete lie. My train car had one other couple in it so there were four people with capacity for 25 or 30 I'm guessing. But the girl selling me the ticket was quick with that up sell (you have to pay to sit together). Also you'll bleed through the nose to park there. 2. The service. the guy on the train scolded me like a child when I did not understand his unclear instructions.

I wanted to love this, I really did! Service was great and so were the facilities BUT they only give you 30 minutes at the top, which was barely enough time to get off the train and use the restroom. I would give this 5 if they gave an hour, but for now, it seems they destroyed the soul of this once-awesome experience. A very corporate feeling experience overall.

This freshly renovated Cog train is a must experience attraction. The atmosphere of sitting in a train going up the largest mountain in the area is a unique life experience. The scenery of the train journey is an evolving experience of forrest into a rocky landscape. In the distance is the Rockies. This is only beat by the views at the top of Pikes Peak, a mere 14k feet above Sea Level. It wasn't a perfect day for distance seeing, however the cloud layers added another level of beauty. Plus you could still see a long ways, including Colorado Springs. The Views are something I'll always remember. I wish you had more than 40 minutes at the top. You should be able to select your trip time down. Especially for $68/person. Plus you do feel a little sardine-ish stuffed together on the train. For those that don't know what a cog train is: A rack railway (also rack-and-pinion railway, cog railway, or cogwheel railway) is a steep grade railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail. This allows the trains to operate on steep grades above 10%, which is the maximum for friction-based rail. Overall a Great Life Experience and I highly recommend it to everyone. A 5 star review. Would I ride Again? I very much hope that I do get to do this again.

Buy your tickets online and in advance. I would suggest picking your seats (a bit more expensive) but worth it. When picking your seats STRONGLY suggest sitting on the 3 seat side. It's worth all of views!! Bring WATER. Bring a COAT or sweatshirt...doesn't matter how warm it's on the bottom you are headed high into the sky and it's windy. The ride up takes ~1 hour and you get about an hour of views when you hit the summitt. So round trip you are looking at about a 3 hour adventure. The conductor on the way up has so many fun facts about what you get to see. This is sooo much better than the drive up..less stress and no switch backs, and getting to see the views. The donuts (cinnamon and sugar) is part of the experience. They are a bit over cooked and about $8 for two. They help with the coldness ;) Parking - get there early. There is street parking (not free you pay) but those are limited spots. There is a parking lot straight across from the railway runs about $20 or more depends on your length of stay. Well worth it!!

Really interesting journey with incredible views. The air is thin (and really cold) at 14,000 feet, but despite leaving 80 degrees at the base and having it snow at the summit, the trip was well worth it! Special recognition to "Quinn" our moderator and guide on our trip up the mountain. She really made it fun!!!

There's a bit of a catch 22 with this train. The issue is that driving up to pikes peak is just a steep drive for many and not necessarily worth the potential stresses to your car. However, at nearly $60/ticket, the train itself is just quite steep of a price. Nevertheless we booked the train and paid a premium to get assigned seats. While the overall cost ballooned to more than $70/person, it was worth it for the views. The earlier trains are probably the best, but it's often hard to predict weather in and around manitou springs. We got the 9:20am train which was a perfect balance for us. The biggest mistake the owners of broadmoor made here was limiting the amount of time in the summit to just 40 mins. It seems to directly compete with the visitors center in that people are often in a bind for actually shopping because they are afraid to miss the train. I think that's a mistake and should be fixed. However, it's hard to ignore the overall ambiance and service provided in the train. I'd probably tell people to take the train instead of driving, even though the price is steep.

Nice ride but I'm not sure if I would recommend it unless you just really want to go. When they say you are packed like sardines it is true. Thankfully we went on a day where a lot of ppl canceled due to weather (it got really snowy on our time of trail). The seats where tight and pretty sure that is why they make you wear masks because you can't social distance. The views are pretty but I honestly was so uncomfortable I couldn't enjoy it fully. As mentioned it got snowy so bad so we weren't able to make it to the top all the way so they offered a partial refund due to this. If this happens you don't have another stop so you go 2/3rds of the way for pictures via the cog railway. Beautiful scenery but I do believe there is room for improvements.

The train ride itself was really fun on the whole and we enjoyed seeing all of the trees, animals and changes of terrains. The unfortunate piece is that you only get 30 minutes or so at the top, which is not nearly enough time at all to explore around and cover all of the fun that there is to be had at the top. This would be way more fun in the winter I would imagine and would rather drive or bike/hike to the top in the summer going forward.

We truly enjoyed our train ride up to Pike's Peak. We had a wonderful attendant. The weather was perfect. The text messages updating us about parking, etc was very helpful. The only reason I give it 4 stars is I wish we had about 20 more minutes at the summit. You don't have enough time to shop, get delicious donuts, and take in the beautiful scenery.

The Cog Railway was located in Manitou Springs and offered a ride up to Pikes Peak. The ride took about an hour and 15 minutes because the railway only went about 8.5-10mph. Better safe than sorry though. The conductor was informative and entertaining. His endless Dad jokes were hilariously horrendous. During the ride, we were able to see mountain goats, waterfalls and several animal tracks. It was scenic; absolutely beautiful. Once we arrived at the peak, we were able to walk around and play in the snow for about 45 minutes. They had a visitor center with a gift and snack shop as well as bathrooms. Some of the passengers got altitude sickness. Prepare for this by bringing water and snacks. Coffee is not recommended. It's a little harder to breathe at the top so take it slow as well. We loved everything except how close passengers were to one another and that there was no air circulation in the railway. Passengers were allowed to open the windows, but this didn't provide enough air flow. We paid $214.65 and it was worth it.