Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Springs

We had a fabulous experience aboard the Manitou & Pike’s Peak Cog Railway. I did my research and knew to pick the three seat side and the front to for the best views both up and down the mountain. We had no trouble with parking and the station was easy to find. The trains are shiny on the outside and clean on the inside. And, our conductors provided us with clear and enjoyable narration throughout our journey. Leave the driving to the train operators and enjoy the ride. You may even be lucky enough to spot some wildlife along the way!

I recommend this trip to the top of Pikes Peak. The narration was informative, entertaining, and interesting. Kudos to the tour guide on our trip. The facilities are old (original?) but very well maintained and attractive. There is a water bottle filling station at the restrooms which is convenient for bottle holding visitors to stay hydrated, especially at high altitude. Restrooms are clean and very well maintained. There is a gift shop and Cog Railway ticket office and no other amenities. I was expecting a place to eat, but you must go down to Manitou Springs. The ride up was fun. It is interesting to see and feel the train climb the mountain. it was not very loud and I could hear the amplified narration very well. Everyone has assigned seats making boarding easy and less stressful. The entire trip is beautiful with wonderful views. The windows can be lowered or raised depending temperature comfort or for clear picture taking. There is not much time at the top (about 40 minutes?) and there is hardly enough time to walk around everywhere. Since there was no food at the base, we spent most of our time getting something small to eat at the summit. Having assigned seats, you will experience facing direction of travel and opposite, but you'll always be facing upward or downward, so consider that when choosing seats. There is parking at the base. i arrived on a chartered bus, but I did see fees for parking and it looked limited. Perhaps park in Manitou Springs and take the free shuttle to the station as another option? Overall, this was a great experience. I highly recommend it.