Leave the trailhead, cross Fourmile Creek on a wood bridge and start up the trail -
1. After 1/2 mile, pass a junction where a spur from the Crags Campground intersects the Crags trail -
2. Walk 30 yards to reach another junction and turn right onto the Devil's Playground trail -
3. Cross a stream on a log bridge and follow the well-defined trail. At 10,400', cross another stream -
4. Continue east for about 1 mile to reach a small clearing near 11,000' -
5. Near 11,050', swing left and ascend a long, rugged stretch of trail to reach a corner, near 11,400' -
6. Stay right. Zig zag up the steep hillside (
7) and exit the trees, near 11,900' -
8. Follow the trail east up a slope.
When you reach top of the slope, at 12,750', the summit comes into view -
9. Continue east on the broad trail. Hike through a strip of rocks (
10) to reach the Devils Playground area -
11. Cross to the east side of the Pikes Peak road and continue on the marked trail -
12 and
13. You are still more than 2 miles from the summit. Continue south around a point, descend a bit, and pass a corner of the road, at 12,900' -
14. Near 13,150', reach an overlook on the left side of 13er point "Little Pikes Peak" where you can see the remaining route -
15. Continue to another road corner (
16) and ascend to a flat area, beneath the final pitch -
17. Above 13,600', you'll reach the crux of the route - approx. 350 feet of easy Class 2 rock-hopping -
18. The route is well-cairned and the rock is mostly stable. Take your time and zig zag higher -
19. Pop out on the top of the ridge, walk past a final corner of the road and over to the summit -
20 and
21.