Picnicking
Pikes Peak State Park offers excellent picnicking opportunities. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely outdoor meal and, at the same time, enjoy some of the finest views in the upper Midwest from the overlooks and trail viewing platforms. A rustic stone shelter is located in the main picnic and overlook area as well as two open gazebo shelters. A playground located near the stone shelter offers fun for younger visitors. The sidewalk and shelter in the picnic-overlook area are fully accessible, as are several of the overlook structures and one of the effigy bear mounds.
Pikes Peak State Park offers excellent picnicking opportunities. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely outdoor meal and, at the same time, enjoy some of the finest views in the upper Midwest from the overlooks and trail viewing platforms. A rustic stone shelter is located in the main picnic and overlook area as well as two open gazebo shelters. A playground located near the stone shelter offers fun for younger visitors. The sidewalk and shelter in the picnic-overlook area are fully accessible, as are several of the overlook structures and one of the effigy bear mounds.
Hiking
On our trails, hikers can explore beautiful wooded bluffs and valleys. The main trail from the overlook begins as a boardwalk that takes visitors to Bridal Veil Falls and up to Hickory Ridge and can be followed four miles all the way to Point Ann, which overlooks the town of McGregor. Take water and bug spray if you intend on doing this eight mile round-trip to Point Ann! In all there are 11.5 miles of hiking trails in the park consisting of dirt, grass, or crushed rock. Most of the trails are shaded and lead visitors through old-growth forests of oak-hickory and maple-basswood stands. Trail Map
Biking
Mountain bikes are allowed on a portion of the trail system.
The Northeast State Park Bike Route is a 130 mile route which connects Pikes Peak State Park, Wapsipinicon State Park, and Backbone State Park
Water Recreation
While Pikes Peak itself has no direct river access, there are several nearby launching sites.
