Though there are thirty taller mountains in Colorado alone, Pikes Peak , just west of Colorado Springs, is probably the best known - largely because the view from its summit inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write the words to America The Beautiful . The 14,110ft peak was first mapped by Zebulon Pike in 1806, who never climbed it himself. By the end of the century gondola trails had been built to carry rich tourists like Ms Bates to the top. In 1929 it took Bill Williams, a Texan, twenty days and 170 changes of trousers to scale the mountain, pushing a peanut with his nose.

You can reach the top by a long hike , or by a difficult toll road (summer 7am-7pm, rest of year 9am-3pm; $10 per person or $35 per car; tel 719/385-7325 or 1-800/318-9505, ). The thrilling Pikes Peak Cog Railway grinds its way up an average of 847ft per mile on its ninety-minute journey to the summit; from 11,500ft onward it crosses a barren expanse of tundra, scarred by giant scree flows. From the bleak and windswept top, it's possible to see Denver seventy miles north, and the endless prairie to the east, while to the west mile upon mile of giant snowcapped peaks rise into the distance. The train leaves from 515 Ruxton Ave in Manitou Springs , six miles west of Colorado Springs (mid-May to Nov; $22, reservations advised; tel 719/685-5401, ).

Pikes Peak

• Pikes Peak

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