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Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Jul 19, 2017 10:45am
Thread (disabled) Board
Hi CO boxers! I'm planning a visit to CO in a few weeks and am looking forward to meeting some of you at the Event on Aug 19! Our daughter, Tigerlilly(trail name, not REAL name, LOL!) is moving to the Denver area and we are spending a week together beginning Aug. 12. I'm looking into visiting many of the mountain passes and hoping to collect some letterboxes planted by The Woodshed, and have just stumbled upon a website for the Pikes Peak area. I can't believe my eyes and keep rubbing them....is it REALLY true that if we want to take the Pikes Peak Highway, that it costs $15 per person or $50 for a carload of 5 adults?!?! WHAT?? I am from Chciago and we have high tolls on our highway system, but not like this! I guess America is not the "land of the free" anymore...Pikes Peak is one of the most famous and popular natural landmarks in America, and I am just in shock that it would cost so much just to drive to the top of it! I am all about supporting the tourism and economy of the area, by patronizing restaurants, gift shops, etc. or even making donations to conserve the area....but, this fee to simply drive on the road is really surprising. So, thanks for the ranting time, but can someone set me straight in case I have somehow misunderstood this? I just can't believe it's true!
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948773 by Gypsy Fiddler
Jul 19, 2017 11:28am
Thread (disabled) Board
Hey there! I'm planning on being at the August 19th event so we probably will meet!

Is it REALLY true that if we want to take the Pikes Peak Highway, that it costs $15 per person or $50 for a carload of 5 adults?!?! WHAT??

Anyway, yes, that is the cost to get up the mountain BUT you can find a $2.00 off coupon at http://www.pikes-peak.com/discounts/ and a free doughnut coupon at http://jaredstark.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pikespeakdounutcoupon_2.pdf. The latter is an older coupon but I have never heard of it being rejected. If you are military/fire/EMS they will also give you a discount, I don't recall the exact amount.

And even better, it's cheaper than the cog (although I recommend that at least once) and there are at least 6 letterboxes along the highway. Plus you'll be in the tri-pass area so you can go and snag some of my boxes :)
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948778 by Johnsosaurus
Jul 19, 2017 11:44am
Thread (disabled) Board
Ha! Well, that DOES make me feel a little bit better, to be able to get some of your boxes along the way! And I am looking forward to meeting you too-so excited! Still can't believe that highway fee though....but it is what it is!
See you soon!
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948773 by Gypsy Fiddler
Jul 20, 2017 5:30am
Thread (disabled) Board
is it REALLY true that if we want to take the Pikes Peak Highway, that it costs $15 per person or $50 for a carload of 5 adults?!?!

Think of it not so much as a highway, but as a tourist attraction, and you'll understand the pricing.
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948783 by Gypsy Fiddler
Jul 20, 2017 10:18am
Thread (disabled) Board
The Mount Washington Auto road up the mountain has a fee too. But just like Pikes Peak it is more of an attraction then just a means for going from one place to another.

Car and driver is $29 and most every passenger is an additional $9 each.
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948773 by Gypsy Fiddler
Jul 20, 2017 10:52am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'd suggest driving up Mount Evans. It's $10 per car load, up to 12 people or free if you don't stop to use the bathroom or anything. Mt. Evans is 14,264 ft.

Rhianna
DaSportsBabe
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948844 by DaSportsBabe
Jul 20, 2017 11:45am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks for all this perspective and updates, guys....It really helps in planning so that you know how much money needs to fly out of your wallet while you are driving to all these mountain peaks! When I was growing up and we would go to Colorado every single summer for vacation, we could drive to all these summits for free.
Re: Admission fee to a Highway?
Board: State: Colorado
Reply to: #948773 by Gypsy Fiddler
Aug 2, 2017 9:25pm
Thread (disabled) Board
If you decide to go up Mt. Evans instead, you can go up for free if you have a National Parks Pass. I have a lifetime National Parks Pass as I'm 62 or over. If you have the yearly pass, you can use that, too. Anybody who has the pass can get the carload in for free. Doesn't have to be the driver.

The fee used to be cheaper. When they finished paving the road all the way to the top, it went up - drastically. It is worth the trip up, especially if you've never been there.

Also, if you are only going up to the lake, you can get that far for free. You just tell the Entrance gate that you are only going to the lake. If you change your mind and want to go all the way, you can pay the fee at that point. There is another check point there.