Getting Here - Via Barr Trail
Barr Camp is located on the Barr Trail. Hiking up from the trailhead in Manitou Springs is the most common route to the camp. For a description of the hike up Barr Trail see our hiking page.
Public Transportation - See this page for information on public transport to Barr Trail.
The trailhead is located on Hydro Drive, Manitou Springs, Colorado. Manitou Springs is a few miles west of Colorado Springs. The easiest way to find the trailhead to follow all traffic signs toward the COG Railway.
Please email us if you have further questions.
Driving to the Trailhead
The Cog Railway Depot address is 515 Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
From I-25 in Colorado Springs, take exit #141 (US 24) off I-25, go west (toward mountains) on US 24 for four miles to Manitou Avenue (Manitou Springs) exit. Go west on Manitou Avenue one and one-half miles to Ruxton Avenue. Turn left and go to the top of Ruxton Avenue, three-quarters of a mile. You will come to the Cog Railway Depot.
Please DO NOT park in the Cog Railway parking lot; they do not have public parking. Continue straight past the depot; drive with care here as is can be very busy with pedestrian traffic. About 200 yards past the depot, notice the big brick hydro-electric plant on the right. Turn right on Hydro Street, just past the brick building. Hydro Street is a narrow steep climb of about 200 yards to the top where you will find the trailhead parking lot.
If the lot is full there is parking available on Ruxton Avenue below the COG Depot.
Map
This map is to the Trailhead, not the camp. After parking at the trailhead you have a 6.5 mile hike to camp.
Other options of getting to Barr Camp
There are a few other ways to get here, but all of them involve hiking. There are no roads (not even forest service roads) to Barr Camp.
- Cog Railway Ride to Mountain View
This option requires the least amount of hiking. Mountain View is a stop along the Cog Railway. This option requires coordination and ticket purchase with the Cog Railway. After departing the train it is a 1.5 mile hike to the camp. The trail is well travelled with some rolling hills. It is not a terribly difficult hike but it is at 10,000 feet over a rocky trail.- CAUTION: In winter, the trail is not often travelled and is normally very deep in snow. The trail becomes difficult to locate when snow covered. We do not recommend hiking it in the winter unless you are confident of finding the trail.
- Cog Railway or Vehicle Ride to the Summit, then Hike DOWN Barr Trail.
You cannot leave a vehicle on the summit. The Cog Railway requires a ticket to ride, and the vehicle drive to the top is via Pikes Peak Toll Road.
Barr Trail goes all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak. It is possible to get a ride to the top then hike down.- CAUTION: It can be very demanding to hike downhill for twelve miles. Some people find that downhill hiking is more difficult than uphill hiking due to the stress it puts on knees and joints.
- Vehicle Ride to Elk Park Knoll, and Hike DOWN to Barr Camp.
This trail head is also on the Pikes Peak Toll Road. Overnight parking is NOT allowed so you must make it a day hike with plenty of time to depart the toll gate, or be dropped off at the Elk Park Trailhead. The trail is located along the Toll Road just above Glen Cove. It is about 6 miles to Barr Camp and it is a mostly down hill hike.
Lodging and Camping in the Colorado Springs area
Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs have many hotels, bed & breakfast, and RV parks to choose from. Both Chamber of Commerce links are on our Links page.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a good place for tent camping away from the RV's. It is located on the south side of Colorado Springs.