The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Took this train ride in January during a winter storm. Though I would not advise going to the summit in a winter storm, this train goes to the summit of Pike’s Peak in all types of weather. The train is heated so the ride up and back is comfortable even in winter. The visitor’s center at the summit is fantastic. We ate the famous donuts (only so-so) with hot chocolate. There is a very nice gift shop and viewing area at the summit. You are allowed 40 minutes at the summit which is adequate in winter. We had no view as it was super snowy with high winds and uncomfortable to be outside. My advice would be to sit on the side of the train with three (3) seats. The view will be MUCH better from this side of the train. This is definitely a must do if in the area. I have driven to the summit and ridden the train to the summit. Both are great but I prefer the train ride as the driver misses a lot of scenery while driving.

This was so fun! The cog rail was very spacious, easy to board. We luckily went on a not so busy day so we weren’t cramped in the seats. The host (forgot his name but he was from Hawaii 🤙🏼) was very friendly and provided a lot of cool tidbits along the way. The sights were spectacular. We saw more on the 3-seat side but both sides had cool views. We weren’t able to get all the way to the top and they refund-discounted our tickets, but we still had an amazing time.

Absolutely worth every cent to come on this train. Make sure you get the side with the three seats or when you buy your tickets, on the left side for the most scenic views. I was lucky enough to have Janine as my conductor and to weave a wonderful storytelling narrative as we went up Pikes Peak. On the way down she checks in with everyone one and then shares a few more stories. When most of the experience is on a train, you want the best person for the job. I hope I get her again on a return visit. The summit itself is very cold so don't forget your gloves! This is easily the most accessible 14,000ft mountain in America and probably the world. Such a unique experience for everyone. Just be sure to grab pictures first when you get to the top because the 40 minutes you're up there goes fast!

You NEED to get tickets in advance for best experience and least waiting. You will be glad you did. This was a fantastic tour. We went in June, lots of snow on top of the peak. It was a beautiful ride up. We purchased the front row seat by driver and it was amazing. Our boys really learned a lot, worth the few extra dollars if those seats are open. It’s such an unobstructed view. Photos are like no other.

What can I say? This was the highlight of our too short Colorado trip! A perfect way to see the mountains while learning about the COG railway and its surrounding countryside. Our conductor was hilarious and informative. The views were spectacular! I’m already planning my return visit 💜

Great experience! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us highlights to look at on the way up, and down. Seating not very roomy but an opportunity to meet new people. The top,was amazing and was informed the song America the Beautiful was inspired and written based on the view. I could not agree more. The only downside to the trip was there was not enough time at the top before heading back down. The donuts were delicious.

Very fun experience. The views from the top are fantastic. Be sure to dress warm as the summit can be very cold and windy, and bring plenty of water. We were cutting it pretty close on time and the line for the bathroom was incredibly long, so give yourself plenty of time to get settled before departure time.

Great way to see pikes peak with lots of dramatic views. Tour guide was great and very informative. Only down side where that the train was pretty tight seating. If you are tall or pr plus sized it's going to be a rather uncomfortable ride. Also the views are much better from the 3 seat side than the 2, the train does not turn around the other direction so you ride on the same side coming back which was a bit disappointing as we didnt get quite as good a view as the other side. Still a great experience.

Donuts at PIKES PEAK at 14,115 feet elevation via the Broadmoor Manitou and COG RAILWAY! We were visiting from Las Vegas, NV, and had initially debated between driving our rental car up to Pikes Peak, or riding the Cog Railway for a 3-hr roundtrip ticket. We opted for the railway since we learned that the weather can turn in a heartbeat (think rain and large hail!). We purchased the seats online 1-week in advance. I liked that you could see the actual seat location between the various time slots. We decided to depart at 8:40am, which worked out great because it wasn't as busy by the time we reached the summit (it was crazy busy before we left the summit). The seats itself are pretty narrow and you're facing other people. I was thinking to select 2 seats across from each other, but I'm glad I didn't because otherwise I would've been knocking elbows with a stranger. Dress in layers because it does get chilly as you get closer to the summit and while you're walking around at the top. The travel time up to the summit was 58 minutes. Shout out to Owen (originally from Kailua!), who was our narrator and kept us engaged, highlighting landmarks on the way up. Coming down took a bit longer at 75 minutes, since we had to yield for trains on their way up. We ended up taking a nap (Hehe!). There are no restrooms on the ride. We had up to an hour at the summit, which was spent mostly at the gift shop and the donut line! We bought their original flavors, sugar and plain, plus the flavor of the day, which was the chocolate sprinkle. OMG, the chocolate sprinkle was the yummiest of all! So very soft and the dark chocolate was so smooth and creamy. To our surprise the regular flavors were kinda of hard...maybe due to the elevation?? All is know is gobble them up quick! We learned the hard way because we packed one chocolate donut for later. Unfortunately, it was rock hard and thrown away. Oh well! The experience at the summit was still amazing!! I just had to pause every now and then due to the elevation. I would recommend less time inside the visitor center and more time outside by visiting all of the observation decks. The America the Beautiful commemoration plaque is lovely. It was Pikes Peak that gave inspiration to Katharine Lee Bates when she wrote the song! We missed the Pikes Peak Summit marker, because before we knew it, the locomotive was about to depart. So, plan your visit wisely...we tag teamed between the souvenir shop and donut line. Plus you need your bathroom breaks!

I've been up to the peak on many occassions. Today my husband and I decided to take the 12pm train. The woman doing the "conducting" was extremely rude and agressive towards the patrons on board. I realize safety is important but treating patrons with contempt is not appropriate. Other patrons witnessed her less than professional behavior. Most of her time was telling stories but then she would snap and start screaming at a patron. She also bragged about the fact she was a coach and she could become very loud. She also stated that she normally is the engineer. I felt this is not how you want your employees viewed. Ńext because we had to wait for a train to pass us it caused our arrival to leave us only approx 40 min at the top. It did not leave us time to amply enjoy the peak. We paid good money to ride the railway and expected more time up there. We were rushed back on the railway. I realize you have time guidelines butI thought this was quite disappointing. Hope this information is useful. Thanks

I moved to Colorado a year ago and put this on my bucket list. It's too expensive over the summer so I waited until the fall to go. Good thing I only wasted $160 on 2 tickets and not $139 each. $20 to park in a parking lot that is a cluster$%@! That was how it started and should have been a sign of things to come. The train ride itself is SO BORING. it's just trees up and the same view down with what they call waterfalls but there's drainage pipes that feed the area along with a creek. That creek wasn't creating those falls. The "guide" if you will told a bunch of stupid dad jokes and seemed to have a power trip even thought it was his first day on his own. At the top, you have very little time. Unfortunately it was very cold, windy, snowy, rainy, and cloudy so we didn't see much from the actual top. The line for food was really long and sucked up most of our time. But since you can't eat or drink on the train, we were hungry and thirsty so had no choice. Everyone raves about the donuts but they were cold a nothing special. We waited for a burger because they were "bringing fresh ones out". They were not hot at all and the cheese was cold too. The hot dog was lukewarm at best. Back down the mountain we go. Then the train comes to an abrupt halt and the little girl across from me flew out of her seat. There are no seatbelts. This seems really dangerous. The seats are super small and you're touching legs and butts with the people on each side. I'm a small person too and I was crowded in those seats. I guess this is what happens when corporate greed takes over and makes things overpriced tourist traps. I'm so disappointed.

I was thrilled to visit this place recommended by a friend. It looked stunning, and I was eager to experience it. However, our visit turned out to be the worst we've ever had, especially since we were coming from Florida. Upon arrival, we parked our car and purchased our tickets. We had our pet with us, so we had informed the staff before buying the tickets that they allowed pets. However, we were informed that we had to leave the train because of our pet. We had been told that we were supposed to board the train 15 minutes later, but when we got on, we were told that we had to get off because of our pet. We had given our pet to the staff, who had confirmed that it was well-trained and on a harness. The embarrassment was unbearable. To make matters worse, they informed us that there were no refunds. I demanded a refund for the poor service and the inconvenience!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

The ride was beautiful, and informative. Lovely trip to take with family or friends of any age.

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.

This summer we showed up to ride the cog railway for the first time ever. We've been looking forward to it for quite some time. I had it in my mind that our tickets were for 10:20am. We pulled up to the parking lot at 9:40am and were immediately met by a very cranky older gentleman who was manning the gate. He asked what time our tickets were for. We said 10:20am. He immediately went on a tirade that there was no 10:20am train and started yelling at us and told us to find our tickets and figure out what the right time was. Then approximately 5 seconds later started screaming at us that we were holding up traffic. Im scrambling to find our confirmation email. When I did, I discovered to my horror that our tickets were for 9:20am not 10:20am. And well that just completely set him off. He had the nerve to say to us "we tell you 7 different ways how to get here and what time to get here". I can't even repeat everything he was saying, I was so upset that he was being so rude, on top of the fact I was feeling horrible that I screwed up the time. The situation could have been handled much differently. He made a bad situation 100 times worse. We will never spend another dime there. We lost our $200 - which was 100% my fault obviously - but the way it was handled was inexcusable.

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.

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.

This 100 year old operation is run so smoothly by the nicest people that they should open a new enterprise - how to run a small tour business. The train ride was smooth and perfectly narrated by Janine. She didn't interrupt too often and was basically silent on the way down. She was great. At the top most people were woozy and dizzy at 14,000 feet. The view was worth it! We were warned and the fabulous mountaintop donut shop had plenty of space to sit and recover after scrambling among the rocks. Chinese trinkets and sweatshirts were sold in the gift shop. Piece of advice: bring a water bottle and a sweatshirt! The temperature differential is 30-40 degrees.

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

The parking staff was very rude and seemed annoyed that they had to do their job. The train ride itself was cool though.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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