Elk Park Trail to Pikes Peak (Suggestion)

[overthe59hill]

I realize the toll road is forbidden for hikers. There's not a trail heading directly to Pikes from Elk Park Trail Head, but cutting one adjacent to the toll road can make a 10 or 11 mile roundtrip hike to Pikes Peak, when it connects with the Crags Trail at Devil's Playground. With one option of 24 miles and another option that is currently 14 miles with the expectation of becoming 16 to 18 miles after the trail work this summer, I just thought another route could be good. I don't know about the parking lot at Elk Park Trail Head, but people are paying a toll to drive and park there, so there might be sufficient funds to work on it. Maybe the idea has been proposed and rejected in the past.
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Elk Park Trail head to Pikes Peak b.jpg

[Jim Davies]

Coincidentally, we hiked from Elk Park Knoll to the Oil Creek Tunnel on Tuesday. Offhand, I don't see a good way to make a route from there to the summit (or even to Devil's Playground). From the trail down to the tunnel, you'd be cutting up steep talus slopes at best, with the highway blocking your way at many spots. Once you reach the area of the tunnel (about a 700' drop), you're looking up at the big cliffs and couloirs of the north face - not a hike by any means. On the other side of the highway, you're into the Little Italy area, with more cliffs and couloirs. I don't really see it. And besides, Elk Park Knoll isn't even 3000' below the summit.

[overthe59hill]

Thanks, Jim. I hoped someone would have information about that stretch.