Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak is a massive mountain in North America. It is located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

This mountain sits within the Pike National Forest in Colorado. The base of the peak is near Manitou Springs. This town is 10 miles west of downtown Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is an ultra-prominent fourteener. This means its summit is more than 14,000 feet above sea level. It is a National Historic Landmark because of its significant history.

The mountain is formed from a specific type of rock.

This rock is called Pikes Peak granite. It has a distinct pink color. This color comes from a high amount of potassium feldspar. Scientists believe this granite was once hot magma. It crystallized beneath the Earth's surface about 1.05 billion years ago. This occurred during a geological event called the Grenville orogeny. Through uplifting, the hardened rock pushed through the Earth's crust. This created a dome-like shape. Over time, erosion and weathering removed the softer soil and rock. This process left the hard granite exposed.

Many different cultures have named this mountain. The Ute people lived in this region. They called the mountain Tava-Kaavi, or "Sun Mountain."

The Arapaho people called it "Long Mountain." The Pawnee people called it Tûs Pêh. This name means "Where the Heavens Touch the Earth." Early Spanish explorers called it El Capitán. This name means "The Leader." Later, American explorer Zebulon Pike visited in 1806. He called it "Highest Peak." Eventually, the name was simplified to Pikes Peak by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in 1890.

The history of the mountain includes many famous explorers. Zebulon Pike attempted to climb the peak in the winter of 1806. He had to stop because the weather was too cold. He recorded that the snow was middle deep. The temperature at the foot was 9 degrees above zero. However, it fell to 4 degrees below zero near the top. The first successful documented hike happened on July 15, 1820. A geologist and botanist named Edwin James led this climb. He was part of Stephen Harriman Long's expedition. James was also the first to describe the blue columbine. This is now the state flower of Colorado.

Gold played a major role in the mountain's popularity. During the gold rush, newspapers used the name "Pike's Peak." This helped the mountain become famous to people traveling west. People used the slogan "Pike's Peak or Bust." While gold was found near Denver, major deposits were later found in the Cripple Creek Mining District. In 1860, a company minted gold coins in Denver. These coins featured an image of the peak. In 1863, the U.S. Treasury bought their equipment. This helped open the Denver Mint.

In 1893, a poet named Katharine Lee Bates visited Colorado. She was a visiting professor teaching a summer course. She climbed to the summit of Pikes Peak. The view inspired her to write a famous song. The song was originally titled "Pikes Peak." It later became known as "America the Beautiful."

The song appeared in print in 1895. Today, a plaque for the song sits at the summit.

Today, many people visit the mountain for adventure. You can drive the Pikes Peak Highway to the top. This road has sharp turns called "The W's."

You can also ride the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway. This is the highest cog railroad in the world.

Hikers often use the Barr Trail to reach the summit. The mountain also hosts the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. This is a famous motor race that started in 1916. Scientists also use the summit for research. The U.S. Army runs a laboratory there. They study how high altitudes affect the human body.