Pikes Peak shuttle service open for season

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — With the warmer temperatures comes more people getting out to explore our area. Pikes Peak has a way that you can see and learn more about America’s Mountain with their shuttle service that offers a guided tour.

“Yeah, the purpose of the shuttle system is to provide people, you know, our guests that come up a different opportunity. Something new, something different,” said Skyler Rorabaugh, Manager for Pikes Peak America’s Mountain. “If they don’t want to drive all the way to the summit in their personal vehicle or their rented vehicle, then they have the option to jump on one of our shuttles and they get an interpretive tour.”

The service starts at the mile 7 lot and takes you all the way to the Summit House at the top. The shuttles arrive every 30 minutes at both stops. The trip lasts 40 minutes long one way and 80 minutes round trip. Each shuttle is driven by a guide who knows everything about the mountain and gives you insight the entire trip up and down the mountain.

“I get to meet people from all around the world and everybody’s got a story, a dig. I could talk for weeks about different people that I’ve had on here,” said Don, a guide for the shuttle service.

The shuttles are ADA compliant and all types of visitors are welcome. The shuttle drivers say some kids even bring tools they can learn from as they head up the mountain.

“I brought a science experiment up today because I am a scientist,” said Henry, a 9-year-old aspiring scientist visiting with his family from Texas.

And if the science and stories aren’t for you, let’s face it, some will be very interested in the famous donuts that only work at 14,115 feet.

“Yeah, it’s that special secret recipe that’s been locked in a vault for over a century. Right? Very few people have the access, the code to get into that safe. I’m not going to tell you who does have that access, but it’s the taste, right? It’s the taste at the summit. It’s the altitude. It’s that special recipe that makes it taste that much better,” said Rorabaugh.

FOX21 Storm Team Meteorologist Megan Montero even tried the donuts for this story and says the legend is true. According to Montero, the donuts taste crisp and flavorful when you are at the top. However, as she traveled down to the entrance of the mountain, she said the donuts became mushy and lost some of their flavor.

The Mountain will be hosting a special donut event for National Donut Day on Friday, June 7 where visitors can enjoy games and the famous donuts.

You can find out more about the shuttle service here.

The Pikes Peak Shuttle Service is open now through Aug. 11. Prices are $23 for adults and $7 for kids.

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