COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Pikes Peak is America's Mountain, the closest 14,000-foot mountain to Interstate 25, but many locals have never been to the summit.
The summit, once considered unreachable by Zebulon Pike, is now accessible by the Cog Railway, hiking trails and the famous Pikes Peak Highway.
The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway is the focus of this week's 1-Tank Road Trip.
Despite the steep grade, any vehicle can make the trip. The road is mostly paved, and there is a lot more to do than just explore the summit.
Crystal Reservoir is just a few miles into the trip. It is stocked with fish, and there are miles of hiking trails around the area. The Catamount Reservoirs, when open, are also available to anglers.
There are many areas to picnic along the way, but the most inspiring part of the journey are the views along the way. Every month of the year will give travelers a new perspective of the wilderness and elevation. But at the top, one thing visitors can count on any time of the year is the cold.
The summit can have freezing temperatures any day of the year. Oftentimes it is cold and windy. That is part of the thrill, especially to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come every year.
The highway is host to the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which is held every year. It is the nation's second oldest auto race. Despite the cliff-hugging roads laden with switchbacks, the autos have reached average speeds of 60 miles per hour!
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