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Pike National Forest
Pike National Forest.

Pike National Forest – by Woodland Park

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Pike National Forest is comprised of 1,729 square miles of land in the front range of the Rocky Mountains. It contains most of the forest going west from Colorado Springs and is one of the closest national forests to Denver.

Highlights include the Deckers region southwest of Denver, the Lost Creek Wilderness, Pikes Peak area, Continental Divide, and the southern half of Mount Evans Wilderness. There are many mountain passes within the forest, such as Kenosha Pass and the southern side of both Guanella and Hoosier Pass.

Main Attractions

From Colorado Springs west, the Pike National Forest looms large. There are many marvelous things to do in this heavily wooded region and many easy-to-reach areas from the Front Range. Great regional basecamps include Woodland Park, Bailey, Fairplay, Cripple Creek, Manitou Springs, and Colorado Springs.

Antero Reservoir Colorado Collegiate Peaks

Antero Reservoir – Hartsel

Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Snow Tracks Colorado

Buffalo Peaks Wilderness – by Leadville

Top of Cheesman Dam Colorado

Cheesman Lake – Deckers

Image of the Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area in Colorado

Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area – Lake George

Georgia Pass, Colorado

Georgia Pass – Jefferson-Breckenridge

Gold Belt Tour Shelf Road Colorado

Gold Belt Tour Byway – Florissant-Florence

Lower Gold Camp Road Tunnel, North Cheyenne Canyon Park west of Colorado Springs

Gold Camp Road Tunnels – Colorado Springs-Cripple Creek

Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass Byway – Georgetown-Grant

Jefferson Lake, CO

Jefferson Lake Recreation Area – Jefferson

Kenosha Pass, Colorado

Kenosha Pass – Grant-Jefferson

Kite Lake, CO

Kite Lake – Alma

Lost Creek Scenic Area National Natural Landmark

Lost Creek Scenic Area – Bailey

Lost Creek Wilderness Colorado

Lost Creek Wilderness – Fairplay

Mount Bierstadt, CO

Mount Bierstadt – near Georgetown

Image of Mount Bross in the Mosquito Range of Colorado

Mount Bross – near Alma

Mt. Cameron, CO

Mount Cameron – near Alma

Mount Democrat, CO

Mount Democrat – near Alma

Mount Evans, Colorado

Mount Evans – near Idaho Springs

Mt. Lincoln, CO

Mount Lincoln – near Alma

Mount Sherman, CO

Mount Sherman – near Leadville

Pikes Peak via cogs, CO

Pikes Peak – near Manitou Springs

Rampart Reservoirs Boulder Shoreline Woodland Park Colorado

Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area – Woodland Park

Red Cone Pass Colorado

Red Cone Pass – Grant-Montezuma

Tennessee Pass Road, CO Autumn Colors

Tennessee Pass – Leadville-Red Cliff

Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway Colorado

Top of the Rockies Byway – Aspen-Minturn-Leadville-Copper Mountain

Image of the ghost town of Webster in Colorado during autumn

Webster, CO Ghost Town – by Grant

Weston Pass, Colorado

Weston Pass – Fairplay-Leadville

Image of Pike's Peak National Forest near Breckenridge, Colorado

Wheeler Lake – Alma-Breckenridge

A view of the top of Wilkerson Pass in Park County, Colorado

Wilkerson Pass – Hartsel-Lake George

Map of Pike National Forest

National Forests Grasslands Map                                                  Map of 11 national forests and 2 grasslands.

Biking

There are a few different paved mountain passes for the road cyclist to take advantage of in Pike National Forest. One of the most scenic is Hoosier Pass Road, connecting South Park to the Breckenridge area. Kenosha Pass on 285 is also a good grind, along with the southern portion of Guanella Pass.

Mountain bikers have quite a few options to choose from, and a lot of the trails are well-marked, well-loved, and well-traveled. The Buffalo Creek network is a Front Range favorite and can get very full on summer weekends. Riding the Colorado Trail from Kenosha to Georgia Pass is a beautiful high-elevation stretch of singletrack. In the Colorado Springs area, Captain Jack’s and the moderate loop around Rampart Reservoir are sought-after adventures.

Two mountain bikers taking a break atop Georgia Pass on the Colorado Trail.
The Kenosha to Georgia Pass section of the Colorado Trail makes for a memorable ride. Photo by: crosby_cj

Boating

Boating is a popular summer activity on several lakes in Pike National Forest. Rampart Reservoir, located between Woodland Park and Colorado Springs, is a perfect place to launch motorized boats. Tarryall Reservoir, Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir, and Spinney Mountain Reservoir are all adjacent to the national forest and allow motorized boating. Antero Reservoir is also a great place for boating.

Dozens more lakes allow non-motorized access, like Crystal Creek Reservoir near Pikes Peak. Other suitable options include Manitou Park Lake and Jefferson Lake, with the latter allowing both electric-powered and non-motorized boats. Many additional alpine lakes require a few miles of trail to reach but would be perfect for a collapsable kayak or inner tube.

Crystal clear waters and looming mountains on a warm summer day.
The clear waters of Crystal Creek Reservoir with Pikes Peak looming behind. Photo by: CorkySandpiper

Camping

With great proximity to both Denver and Colorado Springs, camping in Pike National Forest is convenient and exceptional. There are a lot of USFS Pike Campgrounds to choose from.

  • Read about the camping near Bailey, Pine, and Conifer.
  • Read about the camping near Deckers and Sedalia.
  • Read about the camping near Woodland Park, around Rampart Reservoir.
  • Read about the camping near Divide, Cripple Creek, and Victor.
  • Read about the camping near Lake George, around Eleven Mile Reservoir.
  • Read about the camping near Fairplay, around South Park.

Cabins: These private cabins aren’t managed by the Forest Service, however, they provide the perfect retreat for exploring the nearby Pike National Forest. They range from cozy primitive camper cabins to upscale and spacious mountain getaways.

  • Read about the cabins to rent near Colorado Springs.
A mountain campground with car access, sparse trees, and slanted rocks.
Burning Bear Campground in Pike National Forest. Photo by: Tony Webster

Fishing

Well known for beautiful streams and lakes, Pike National Forest has a lot to offer the angler, though solitude may be harder to find than in other parts of the state. Some popular bodies of water for fishing include Nichols Reservoir, Rampart Reservoir, the Goose Creek Arm of Cheesman Lake, and Antero Reservoir.

Spinney Mountain & Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir are two other popular places to boat and fish, with access to the well-known ‘Dream Stream’, part of the South Platte River. The options continue on, with a high concentration of fishing spots near the towns of Bailey and Fairplay. Whether your fishing fancy, Pike National Forest has you covered.

A fly fishing line and a rainbow trout, caught in Pike National Forest, Colorado.
Rainbow trout, caught in Nichols Reservoir near Colorado Springs in the Pike National Forest. Photo by: brian gautreau

Hiking

There are hundreds of excellent hiking trails to choose from, with the Manitou Incline possibly being the most famous, though it may share that title with the Barr Trail, a 25 mile out and back journey up the 14er Pikes Peak. For mere mortals, the Crags Trail up Pikes is less demanding. Northwest of Pikes Peak, the Lost Creek Wilderness is an underutilized and magnificent area with standout trails like McCurdy Park and Bison Peak.

On the western fringes of the forest, the remote and beautiful Buffalo Peaks Wilderness provides a much-appreciated escape from reality. Outside of Fairplay, you can rope together four 14ers in one demanding challenge known as the Decalibron or take a more leisurely route up the solo 14er, Mt. Sherman. The southern half of Mt. Evans Wilderness is also fair game, with Beartracks Lake coming in as a popular route.

Pink, orange and purple skies at sunset in the Lost Creek Wilderness with a lone trail and a deep green meadow between treed hillsides.
Warm summer sunset in the Lost Creek Wilderness. Photo by: Ryan Fonkert

OHV

Some fantastic off-roading trails to consider include Mount Baldy, Gold Camp Road, Mount Rosa, and the 200-mile Rampart Range Trail System near Colorado Springs. The easier Boreas and Weston Pass roads can be traversed by 2wd cars but can also be used to access some more challenging forest service roads. The difficult Slaughterhouse Gulch trail is a fun area for ATVs and offroading rigs.

The most famous off-roading trail in the region is probably Red Cone Pass. This incredibly beautiful, challenging, and inspiring drive takes users to incredible heights along the Continental Divide northeast of Fairplay. Another moderate option if Red Cone is a bit too challenging is the China Wall area southwest of Lost Creek Wilderness.

A panorama of high alpine OHV glory on Red Cone Pass Road.
The demanding and spectacular Red Cone Pass. Photo by: LuceroPhotos

Scenic Drives

With such varied terrain, it should come as no surprise that scenic drives abound in Pike National Forest. Hoosier Pass, Guanella Pass, and Kenosha Pass are beautiful mountain roads that can be combined for a longer loop of the area. The standout drive is the Pikes Peak Highway, a toll road that ascends to the top of arguably the most famous mountain in the state.

The Gold Belt Tour, a state scenic byway, passes through many areas surrounded by the national forest and makes for a great regional tour while touching on Colorado’s mining history. The gentle Wilkerson Pass road (US 24) is another understated drive with rolling views towards Pikes Peak in one direction and expansive views of South Park, the largest (and highest) of Colorado’s three high elevation grasslands in the other.

Fall foliage and a light dusting of mountain snow, seen from Kenosha Pass, Colorado.
Fall foliage and a light dusting of mountain snow, seen from Kenosha Pass. Photo by: Michael Kirsh

Winter Recreation

Pike National Forest doesn’t contain any established downhill ski or ride resorts, but the area still offers up plenty to do in the winter. Take a shot at climbing a winter 14er via the Crags Trail up Pikes Peak or Mt. Sherman, which is also frequently used as a backcountry skiing destination.

Ice-climbing is popular, conditions permitting, in the North Cheyenne Canyon or Stanely Canyon near the Air Force Academy outside of Colorado Springs. The Cripple Creek Ice Festival is a terrific way to have fun and celebrate winter artistry and is usually held in February. Additionally, ice fishing is common on some of the higher elevation lakes like Eleven Mile, Antero, and Spinney Mountain Reservoirs.

Beauitful and intricate ice sculptures line the streets of the Cripple Creek Ice Festival.
An elaborate sculpture takes shape during the Cripple Creek Ice Festival. Photo by: Scrubhiker (USCdyer)

Popular and easily accessible, Pike National Forest is often one of the first areas visited by tourists and recent Colorado residents. With a cornucopia of things to do, it’s not hard to understand why this part of the centennial state is such a hit with new and old visitors alike.

Places like Cripple Creek and Woodland Park make great bases for exploring the nearby Colorado wilderness.

A beautiful overlook.
Pike National Forest Visitor Center on Highway 24.
Arkansas River Valley.
More valley views.
Pike NF near Deckers.
Manitou Lake near Deckers.

Details

Nearby Towns:

  • Colorado Springs
  • Deckers
  • Divide
  • Fairplay
  • Florissant
  • Hartsel
  • Lake George
  • Woodland Park

Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

  • Pikes Peak (PDF) – Monument, Colorado Springs
  • South Platte – West (PDF) – Grant
  • South Platte – East (PDF) – Bailey, Deckers
  • South Platte – East Inset (PDF) – Deckers
  • South Park – West (PDF) – Alma, Fairplay, Hartsel
  • South Park – East (PDF) – Lake George

Recreation: Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV, Scenic Drives, Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing

Pike Campgrounds: Reservations

Website: fs.usda.gov/psicc

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