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. Colorado Springs area map with transportation and driving routes.
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 / Parking
Cog railway address: 515 Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 - Link to Cog Railway Directions
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 (traffic circle). 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 it 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.
- There is a designated parking lot at the trailhead. You may leave your car overnight and there are restrooms at this lot.
- The fee to park at the trailhead is $5 for 24 hours. Park in any open parking space and pay at the blue kiosk located at the base of Barr Trail. The kiosk only accepts credit cards. Display the payment receipt in your vehicle window. The kiosk will accept payment for multiple days for our overnight guests.
- All of Manitou Springs business district on-street parking is free of charge but has a 3 hour limit. Watch for the 3 hour limit signs. The general boundry within the 3 hour limit is: Ruxton Ave - between El Paso Blvd on the east side and Park Ave on the west side. Page two of this Parking Map shows area of 3 hour limit.
- Outside of the business district shown on the parking map, it is permissible to park on-street for 72 hours.
- Manitou Springs Parking Program - AND - Parking Map
- Another great option is the Mountain Metro Bus #3 - The pick-up / drop-off location is near the Ruxton Ave. traffic circle in Manitou Springs. The bus runs between Manitou Springs and downtown Colorado Springs, Monday - Saturday.
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.- How long will it take to hike from Mountain View to Barr Camp - There is no way for us to predict your hiking speed. You will need your own hiking experience to take a guess at your speed. See How Long?
- 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 on Highway 115, across from the main gate at Fort Carson.