Food only gets 3 stars cause they didn't have much. Not their fault since they were hit with a natural disaster. The Buffalo chicken wrap we ended up eating was tasteless without the ranch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
lewmac12
First the good news….the view was great. Frigid on top, but visitors center was comfortable with great views from inside. The rides up and back were very uncomfortable…..way too crowded. About masks…we were told mask use was required and there was stern warnings to use masks at the beginning. After we left the station, lots of people took off their masks and staff said nothing. The biggest problem was getting to the station. We counted on the shuttle from Hiawatha Gardens. We got there and paid for our parking and got on the bus and after a very long delay was told that the bus couldn’t get up Ruxton because of construction and there most likely no parking up there. We got back in our car and drove up Ruxton (saw maybe 4 traffic cones and no construction) and got the last parking space. Very frustrating and added a lot of tension to our day. The Achilles heel of the whole PP Cog Railway is getting to the station and park your car. I’m not at all sure I can recommend this experience.
rochelleforster
We took this 1 hour railway to Pikes Peak. Is a lovely train ride up. I am note giving this a better rating but it was TOO CROWDED and the row facing us had 4 people for 2 seats (children on the laps of parents). There is not enough room for this and they should not be allowed to do this. The views were fantastic. Even with mandated masks there were too many people too close together (given covid). Saw arctic gull and mule deer during the ride. Conductor gave us details about the area, train history and the views.
Janice T
Our party of ten had planned a wonderful day with friends and family. We were very excited to ride the cog railway and to see Pike’s Peak. As soon as we stepped foot on the train the female conductor was extremely rude, arrogant, and extremely unprofessional. One of our party didn’t have his mask pulled up as high as the conductor wanted it to be. Being berated and being threatened more than once was a terrible experience. She threatened to throw us off the train because she didn’t like the way she was looked at. Unbelievable. There is no excuse for her actions. One of our party was so upset that she stepped off the train to compose herself. My 9 year old granddaughter was extremely upset. Having this experience ruined our day.
773kelseyn
This was an amazing experience- worth every cent. Parking in the area is limited. Park in the town (such as Hawthorne Park) and a shuttle (route 33 city bus) will pick you up and drop you off at the cog. The pickup/drop offs are clearly marked. When you arrive at the depot there are restroom and a gift shop where you can get food and drink and can be consumed while on the trip up/down. Take water!! The seats are small but does not distract from the experience. There are views from both the 2 and 3 seat sides (I was on the 2 and if I were to go again, I would chose the 3 seat side as you get to look "out"). The ride up is about an hour- the train moves at approx. 8 mph. History and fun facts are provided along the way. Once reaching the top there is a small café, restrooms, gift shop and exhibit inside. There are 360 degree breath taking views. After about 40 mins, the train loads up (same seats) and it takes about 45 mins- approx 10 mph. to reach the bottom. Take a coat, gloves and hat. It was about 50F degrees in Manitou Springs however the summit was 19F degrees with a wind-chill of 11 and windy.
Neal B
Park in the city lot and prepay at least four hours of parking. Take the free shuttle bus to the station--it's only a 10 minute ride. Very limited parking at the station. When you book your seats online try to reserve car 1 row 1 seats ABC on the three seat side of the train. This will give you the best view out of the giant front window. If you can't get row 1 book row 3,5,7 and so on so that you'll be facing forward on the ascent and will have the very best views up and down. Seats are narrow wiith limited padding so if you have a giant butt you'll be uncomfortable--it's ok comfortable if you are normal sized. Try to go as early as possible as weather can move in on the peak afternoon. Even if the temperature at the summit is mild it is often windy so make sure you have some warm clothing!
frenchi23
Despite the published requirements, our conductor told everyone masks were optional. About 50% of our train took them off on the way up, and hardly anyone wore won on the way down. Honestly, given how crammed in people were, if we had been told before we got on that the conductor would tell people they don't have to wear one if they don't want to, we would have cancelled the whole thing. This train trip wasn't worth risking my family's health. When I spoke to a representative of the company about this, the response i got was along the lines of: "management doesn't care about the mask requirement. We know the conductor tells everyone to take their masks off, and we aren't going to do anything about it." You are crammed in on a train with people lots of people who audibly don't think COVID is a thing and brag about how they don't need masks. Social distancing isn't possible. So, if you don't think COVID is a thing, this is the trip for you. If you are worried about COVID exposure, this company doesn't take it seriously. It's not a trip to risk your life for.
Kristin109
We loved this trip! The only downside was that they notified us one day ahead to say that our trip had been changed from 9 am to noon on Sunday. It turned out just fine, but we had intentionally booked the morning to avoid the rain. Thankfully, the rain held off until we were back down the mountain! The ride is beautiful, and the narration by the guide was really interesting. My advice would be to book on the 3-seat side (or the left side as you are facing up the mountain) as I think the views were much more interesting. The other side mostly faced the side of the mountain, whereas we had an expansive view off the mountain. Parking and driving in the area looked crazy, so we were happy we parked at the Hiawatha parking lot and took the free shuttle. It worked great - but the parking there is NOT free. It is $1 per hour, which should still be cheaper than the $10 they charge at the Cog parking lot.
BMunkel
The train we were booked on has been down for several days - ZERO NOTICE of cancellation or potential for it even though they have our email and phone number…only told that our trip time was cancelled upon walking up to the ticket booth. This was meant to be the culmination of our CO trip and all logistics around the last two days were built around it. A respectful offer for a refund (within 7 days) but nothing else, no manager available to speak to, no offer to reschedule, no offer for compensation, etc. - totally disappointing and unacceptable…
PatriciaW234
We got a hotel in Manitou Springs for the express purpose of taking the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak. We booked weeks in advance and arrived at the station the required half hour before our 3:20 scheduled departure (last train of the day). After waiting a full half hour, we were informed, via text, that a train was stuck on the tracks somewhere up the mountain. Our train was canceled; we would get a refund. Nothing about rescheduling, nothing about...anything. This was the sole purpose we were in town. To say this was a huge disappointment is an understatement. I don't know how often this kind of thing happens there, but if you're thinking of buying the (very expensive) tickets for this train ride to the top, know that this is a possibility.
Awesome views and a fun ride to the top of America's mountain. The renovated cars are nice, but they are still a bit cramped. Definitely recommend trying this out!
O8059TAamandaa
For someone who has limited exposure outside of the mid-west this was a beautifully scenic experience. I drove my 2 young kids up Pike's Peak Highway and their oohing and aweing and telling me they felt that they were in a dream made the price more than worth it. We stopped along all of the pull-outs, enjoyed the views, and explored when we could. Being early April there was still snow on the ground and it covered Devil's Playground (the summit was closed for construction). We paid $15 for myself, a 7 year-old and a 5 year-old to drive up the mountain and back. Also, I'd suggest April as a great time to visit because there were other sight-seers but it was not crowded and many times we were the only ones at the observation areas.
C1114RMamyc
The drive up and down Pikes Peak was incredible. I am glad that my husband did the driving because it was extremely tricky for most of the drive. There are no guard rails or shoulders and lots and lots of switchbacks. You really need a lot of focus, patience and ability to drive in lower gears to save your brakes. It was beautiful but definitely a challenging drive. Be prepared.
fmaker
We couldn’t go to the top the day we went. It was a nice view but nothing special. I would give it three stars but we paid $30 for not much.
68yendic
The ride up the mountains was amazing. Such beautiful views among the way. The only thing that disappointed us was all the construction going on at the top of the mountain. They are making a new cafe/store. I feel like they should of kept the old one open until the née one was built because I am one of those people that like to get souvenirs to save for memories . Over all it was a great experience.
Food only gets 3 stars cause they didn't have much. Not their fault since they were hit with a natural disaster. The Buffalo chicken wrap we ended up eating was tasteless without the ranch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
First the good news….the view was great. Frigid on top, but visitors center was comfortable with great views from inside. The rides up and back were very uncomfortable…..way too crowded. About masks…we were told mask use was required and there was stern warnings to use masks at the beginning. After we left the station, lots of people took off their masks and staff said nothing. The biggest problem was getting to the station. We counted on the shuttle from Hiawatha Gardens. We got there and paid for our parking and got on the bus and after a very long delay was told that the bus couldn’t get up Ruxton because of construction and there most likely no parking up there. We got back in our car and drove up Ruxton (saw maybe 4 traffic cones and no construction) and got the last parking space. Very frustrating and added a lot of tension to our day. The Achilles heel of the whole PP Cog Railway is getting to the station and park your car. I’m not at all sure I can recommend this experience.
We took this 1 hour railway to Pikes Peak. Is a lovely train ride up. I am note giving this a better rating but it was TOO CROWDED and the row facing us had 4 people for 2 seats (children on the laps of parents). There is not enough room for this and they should not be allowed to do this. The views were fantastic. Even with mandated masks there were too many people too close together (given covid). Saw arctic gull and mule deer during the ride. Conductor gave us details about the area, train history and the views.
Our party of ten had planned a wonderful day with friends and family. We were very excited to ride the cog railway and to see Pike’s Peak. As soon as we stepped foot on the train the female conductor was extremely rude, arrogant, and extremely unprofessional. One of our party didn’t have his mask pulled up as high as the conductor wanted it to be. Being berated and being threatened more than once was a terrible experience. She threatened to throw us off the train because she didn’t like the way she was looked at. Unbelievable. There is no excuse for her actions. One of our party was so upset that she stepped off the train to compose herself. My 9 year old granddaughter was extremely upset. Having this experience ruined our day.
This was an amazing experience- worth every cent. Parking in the area is limited. Park in the town (such as Hawthorne Park) and a shuttle (route 33 city bus) will pick you up and drop you off at the cog. The pickup/drop offs are clearly marked. When you arrive at the depot there are restroom and a gift shop where you can get food and drink and can be consumed while on the trip up/down. Take water!! The seats are small but does not distract from the experience. There are views from both the 2 and 3 seat sides (I was on the 2 and if I were to go again, I would chose the 3 seat side as you get to look "out"). The ride up is about an hour- the train moves at approx. 8 mph. History and fun facts are provided along the way. Once reaching the top there is a small café, restrooms, gift shop and exhibit inside. There are 360 degree breath taking views. After about 40 mins, the train loads up (same seats) and it takes about 45 mins- approx 10 mph. to reach the bottom. Take a coat, gloves and hat. It was about 50F degrees in Manitou Springs however the summit was 19F degrees with a wind-chill of 11 and windy.
Park in the city lot and prepay at least four hours of parking. Take the free shuttle bus to the station--it's only a 10 minute ride. Very limited parking at the station. When you book your seats online try to reserve car 1 row 1 seats ABC on the three seat side of the train. This will give you the best view out of the giant front window. If you can't get row 1 book row 3,5,7 and so on so that you'll be facing forward on the ascent and will have the very best views up and down. Seats are narrow wiith limited padding so if you have a giant butt you'll be uncomfortable--it's ok comfortable if you are normal sized. Try to go as early as possible as weather can move in on the peak afternoon. Even if the temperature at the summit is mild it is often windy so make sure you have some warm clothing!
Despite the published requirements, our conductor told everyone masks were optional. About 50% of our train took them off on the way up, and hardly anyone wore won on the way down. Honestly, given how crammed in people were, if we had been told before we got on that the conductor would tell people they don't have to wear one if they don't want to, we would have cancelled the whole thing. This train trip wasn't worth risking my family's health. When I spoke to a representative of the company about this, the response i got was along the lines of: "management doesn't care about the mask requirement. We know the conductor tells everyone to take their masks off, and we aren't going to do anything about it." You are crammed in on a train with people lots of people who audibly don't think COVID is a thing and brag about how they don't need masks. Social distancing isn't possible. So, if you don't think COVID is a thing, this is the trip for you. If you are worried about COVID exposure, this company doesn't take it seriously. It's not a trip to risk your life for.
We loved this trip! The only downside was that they notified us one day ahead to say that our trip had been changed from 9 am to noon on Sunday. It turned out just fine, but we had intentionally booked the morning to avoid the rain. Thankfully, the rain held off until we were back down the mountain! The ride is beautiful, and the narration by the guide was really interesting. My advice would be to book on the 3-seat side (or the left side as you are facing up the mountain) as I think the views were much more interesting. The other side mostly faced the side of the mountain, whereas we had an expansive view off the mountain. Parking and driving in the area looked crazy, so we were happy we parked at the Hiawatha parking lot and took the free shuttle. It worked great - but the parking there is NOT free. It is $1 per hour, which should still be cheaper than the $10 they charge at the Cog parking lot.
The train we were booked on has been down for several days - ZERO NOTICE of cancellation or potential for it even though they have our email and phone number…only told that our trip time was cancelled upon walking up to the ticket booth. This was meant to be the culmination of our CO trip and all logistics around the last two days were built around it. A respectful offer for a refund (within 7 days) but nothing else, no manager available to speak to, no offer to reschedule, no offer for compensation, etc. - totally disappointing and unacceptable…
We got a hotel in Manitou Springs for the express purpose of taking the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak. We booked weeks in advance and arrived at the station the required half hour before our 3:20 scheduled departure (last train of the day). After waiting a full half hour, we were informed, via text, that a train was stuck on the tracks somewhere up the mountain. Our train was canceled; we would get a refund. Nothing about rescheduling, nothing about...anything. This was the sole purpose we were in town. To say this was a huge disappointment is an understatement. I don't know how often this kind of thing happens there, but if you're thinking of buying the (very expensive) tickets for this train ride to the top, know that this is a possibility.
Restaurantji Recommends
Awesome views and a fun ride to the top of America's mountain. The renovated cars are nice, but they are still a bit cramped. Definitely recommend trying this out!
For someone who has limited exposure outside of the mid-west this was a beautifully scenic experience. I drove my 2 young kids up Pike's Peak Highway and their oohing and aweing and telling me they felt that they were in a dream made the price more than worth it. We stopped along all of the pull-outs, enjoyed the views, and explored when we could. Being early April there was still snow on the ground and it covered Devil's Playground (the summit was closed for construction). We paid $15 for myself, a 7 year-old and a 5 year-old to drive up the mountain and back. Also, I'd suggest April as a great time to visit because there were other sight-seers but it was not crowded and many times we were the only ones at the observation areas.
The drive up and down Pikes Peak was incredible. I am glad that my husband did the driving because it was extremely tricky for most of the drive. There are no guard rails or shoulders and lots and lots of switchbacks. You really need a lot of focus, patience and ability to drive in lower gears to save your brakes. It was beautiful but definitely a challenging drive. Be prepared.
We couldn’t go to the top the day we went. It was a nice view but nothing special. I would give it three stars but we paid $30 for not much.
The ride up the mountains was amazing. Such beautiful views among the way. The only thing that disappointed us was all the construction going on at the top of the mountain. They are making a new cafe/store. I feel like they should of kept the old one open until the née one was built because I am one of those people that like to get souvenirs to save for memories . Over all it was a great experience.
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