Cross Fourmile Creek on a great bridge and start up the trail -
1. After 1/2 mile, pass three pipes coming up out of the ground on your right -
2. They only stick out of the ground a few feet and are easy to miss. Walk 30 yards past the pipes to a trail junction - the Crags trail goes left and your trail (#664A) goes down to the right -
3. Turn right, cross a stream
on the log bridge (
4) and hike a short distance to see a sign on the right that confirms that you're on the trail to Devils Playground. Hike through the forest to 10,400' and cross another small stream.
Continue east for almost 1 mile to reach a small clearing near 10,900' -
5. Turn left near 11,050' and ascend a long, straight stretch to 11,300' -
6. Zigzag up the steep hillside and exit the trees
near 11,900'. Once above tree line, hike southeast and east up an easy slope -
7.
When you reach top of the slope
(12,750'), the summit comes into view to the southeast. Follow the trail northeast and then east (
8) toward the Pikes road. Hike through a strip of rocks (
9) to reach the Devils Playground area. Cross to the east side of the Pikes Peak road
-
10, step over a cable, turn right and hike on the trail that parallels the Pikes road.
11 looks back at Devils Playground. You're more than 2.25 miles from the summit.
Continue south around a point on your left -
12. Descend slightly to a corner of the road at 12,900' (
13) and pass another point on your left. Continue to the left side of Point 13,363
(
14) where the remaining hike comes into full view -
15. Hike down to the road and continue up to reach a flat area below the final pitch
.
16,
17 and
18 are views of the remaining route. Follow cairns up through the rocks as the route swings slightly right away from the ridge. At 13,500' the slope gets a bit steeper - continue 500 feet to reach a corner of the road
(
19) below the northwest side of the summit
. Walk up and over to the buildings, cars, and people -
20.
