Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Pikes Peak
Length
19.99km
Elevation
4,301m at summit (Pikes Peak)
Hairpins
156 turns
156 corners. 4,301 metres. No runoff. No mercy.
The Map
Pikes Peak rises from Colorado Springs at 1,839 metres to its summit at 4,301 metres over 19.99km of switchbacks, cliff-edge traverses, and high-alpine tundra. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb route — which follows sections of the public toll road — is one of the oldest motorsport events in America, held since 1916. The road was fully paved in 2012; before then, the upper sections were unpaved gravel and dirt, and drivers like Ari Vatanen and Loeb competed on different roads entirely from the one that exists today.
The Approach
From the Pike's Peak Highway toll plaza at the base, the road begins its ascent through montane forest. The first miles through the trees are deceiving — the gradient is moderate, the curves gentle, the road wide. Then the treeline ends, the road narrows, and the character of the mountain reveals itself. At 3,500 metres the air visibly thins: engines lose power, tyres require different pressures, and human judgment becomes physiologically affected by altitude. The summit, at 4,301 metres, is above the clouds on most summer mornings.
The Ascent
The upper section — above the treeline, on open tundra and bare rock — is where Pikes Peak separates itself from every other hill climb in the world. There are no barriers on much of the route. The rock face is on one side; the void is on the other. The 156 corners are classified by racing drivers as varying from 9/10 commitment requiring to 10/10 commitment requiring. On race day, Sébastien Loeb descended the mountain in 8 minutes 13 seconds — an average speed of 142.5 kph including 156 corners and 1,440 metres of elevation gain. This is a number that should stop conversation.
“The mountain does not care how fast you are. Only how committed.”
— Pikes Peak competitors' briefing, traditional closing line
History
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was first run in 1916, organised by Spencer Penrose. For 96 of its years the upper section was unpaved — making it one of the world's great mixed-surface hill climbs. Ari Vatanen's 1988 run in a Peugeot 405 T16 — filmed in the iconic documentary "Climb Dance" — remains perhaps the most cinematic driving footage ever recorded. Sébastien Loeb's 2013 overall record of 8:13 in a Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak special has not been approached. The electric vehicle era has accelerated: Volkswagen's IDR in 2018 ran 7:57, becoming the first sub-8-minute run.
What to Drive Here
Practical Notes
Public driving on the Pikes Peak Highway (different from race route on event weekends) is available daily in summer. The highway charges approximately $20 per vehicle. Summit facilities include a gift shop and the highest Dunkin' Donuts in the world. Altitude sickness is real at 4,300m — take it seriously, ascend slowly, hydrate. Engine performance drops dramatically above 3,000m: turbocharged cars notice it least. The weather at summit-level can be violent regardless of conditions at the base.
Best Season
June (race day); summer for driving
Access
Open Memorial Day – October (weather permitting)
Surface
Fully paved since 2012
Country
United States, El Paso County, Colorado