Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

Pikes Peak - America's Mountain! The Pikes Peak Highway entrance is conveniently located 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24. The beauty of being so close to the city is that you can spend your time enjoying the mountain instead of getting to the mountains.  Plan for your round trip journey to the summit to take 2-3 hours.

The safe, scenic highway provides you the opportunity to enjoy Pikes Peak at your leisure. From the gateway at an elevation of 7,400 feet, you’ll encounter some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world as you wind your way through an alpine wonderland of scenic beauty, mountain reservoirs, beyond timberline, overtaking the clouds…all along the way to the 14,115 foot summit of America’s most famous mountain.

Pikes Peak - America's Mountain operates the Pikes Peak Highway under a term special use permit issued by the U.S. Forest Service. This includes the operation of three visitor facilities and the Pikes Peak Recreational Corridor for activities such as hiking, picnic grounds, and an interpretive trail.

Our Mission:

Create an unforgettable "Peak" experience by developing and enhancing first-class interpretive programs, world-class facilities, and safe, environmentally sensitive access to "America's Mountain" for the educational and recreational enjoyment of visitors.

Fishing

NORTH SLOPE RECREATION AREA

Come experience the breathtaking beauty of North Slope Recreation Area on Pikes Peak!  The area is along Pikes Peak Highway and is at over 9,200 feet in elevation.  There are three cold water reservoirs available for fishing that have an abundance of Brook, Brown, Cutbow, Cutthroat, Lake and Rainbow trout.   Purists can test their fly-fishing skills at secluded North Catamount Reservoir where only flies and lures are allowed.  Come and try out the great hiking and mountain biking trails too!

Directions: From Colorado Springs take Hwy 24 west or, from Woodland Park take Hwy 24 east, to the Pikes Peak Highway exit in Cascade. Follow the signs to the Pikes Peak Highway entry gate.  The fee is $5 per person (16 years and older), children under 16 are free. A Colorado fishing license is required for those 16 and older.

SOUTH SLOPE RECREATION AREA

Season and Hours
The South Slope Recreation Area is open Thursday – Saturday from 7:30am to 3:00pm, weather permitting. Recreation users must leave by the designated closing time. The gate will be locked at 3:00pm. The opening and closing day of each season are determined by current conditions in the recreation area. Annual targeted opening date is the end of May and the closing date the end of September.

Use of the area is by permit only
There is limited parking and no access to the area will be allowed without pre-registering, permits are not available on-site. There are a limited number of vehicles and users allowed each day to this secluded, high altitude recreation area.  The fee is $20 per vehicle, up to eight persons per vehicle.

McReynolds Reservoir
McReynolds Reservoir is very low at this time due to necessary repairs to the structure.  Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has informed us that the water level will remain low for this season-the depth is approximately 15’.   The quality of fishing in this reservoir may not be up to the standards that fishermen have come to expect.  We do not recommend that boats be used on this reservoir.

The fishing at Mason Reservoir is still very good.