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This may be a bit arcane but what is the best route? Can you follow the cog ? A route map would help. Thanks.

Piper14er,

I'm at work right now, but when I get home I can send you detailed instructions, pics, and .gpx tracks for your GPS if you like.

There's a side trail near the midpoint of the Palmer-Redrock loop that goes to Crystal Park. The Pikes Peak Atlas shows this continuing past the houses and up Camerons Cone. Has anybody ever tried this route? Would the homeowners arrest and/or shoot you if you tried it? (Probably, since I think there's a No Trespassing sign at the end of the side trail, but I thought I'd ask anyway...)

The CMC guide mentions that you can traverse from the Garfield-Arthur saddle two miles to Camerons, but I think they call it "uninteresting", besides which the Bear Creek and Cheyenne Canyon approaches to that area are currently closed. Maybe next summer this would work.

edit: I just found this excellent TR/route description from IHikeLikeAGirl - this might be the best route of all.
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=13483" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's a topo of the route we used in 2009. It avoids private property except for a brief crossing of the Cog Railway.

I should have checked trip reports, who knew. Thanks for the map and info, KB, Hoot and Jim. I have a few peaks just there that I have wanted to get and this helps.

Piper14er,

The Trip Report by IHikeLikeAGirl and the path Hoot provided is essentially the same path I took (up the Englemann Trail). There are places where the trail gets a little difficult to follow, but it does avoid private property if done correctly. If you'd like .gpx tracks to upload to your GPS, send me a private message with your e-mail address and I'll be happy to send them to you.

There is a similar but alternative route I saw someone do once that takes you up the Barr Trail, then on a spur (Trail 706) over to Ruxton Park where you can approach Cameron Cone from the NW. I can give you more specifics on that route if you like as well (we used it to climb Sheep Mountain, Marys Mountain, and Grandview Rock).

Any other routes would involve private property issues (Palmer Trail) or closures as Jim Davies mentioned above.

I joined IHikeLikeAGirl earlier this year for a hike up Cameron Cone via her route description. I'd highly recommend it. Lots of elevation gain in a quick hurry with some interesting scenery. Good workout alternative to the crowds on the Incline.

Thanks KB I will send a message.
mtgirl I read I hilelikeagirl's report, looks good thanks.