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Introduction
The Barr Camp Trail is a long, hard trail and the weather is beautiful. Barr Camp is an actual camp grounds, marking the approximate half-way point to the summit of Pikes Peak, one of Colorado's fourteeners. Barr Camp has outhouses, hut lean-tos for camping, and for some reason, lots of dogs. I hike Barr Camp when I am struggling with a problem and need to think. This was my first winter attempt. It is 7 miles to the camp, so double the mileage for a round trip hike. It takes me around 5 hours to do the round trip hike. I recommend children older than eight for this hike if they are experienced hikers and can handle the length. Plan extra time if the children are coming along. Be sure to layer their clothes and pack snacks. What to Bring As always, what you bring depends on the weather. This is a long hike, so layer your clothing well (look for a future article on this subject). Warm socks, decent boots, and gloves are necessary in the winter. The temperature will increase in the afternoon, and you will remove one of your layers temporarily, but you will pull it back on later. If you stay to play at Barr Camp for some time, your return may be pushed toward dusk when it gets chilly. I do not recommend attempting this trail without snacks. I pack apples, carrots, raisins, and chocolate. (My theory is, if you eat the good stuff, you can have the bad stuff.) Pack plenty of snacks for each person and take as much water as you can carry. In most cases, hiking is a low-cost sport when it comes to gear, but I highly recommend a roomy day pack with water bottles. These can be found anywhere outdoor gear is sold and generally cost around $30. See the Gear links for information. If you hike this trail in the summer, use the above precautions, but take a light jacket and be prepared for rain storms. I find it helpful in any season to leave a large bottle of water in the car which I can drink upon returning. How to Get There The trail head I use is located just behind the Pikes Peak Cog Railway Station. From Colorado Springs, take Colorado Avenue into Manitou Springs. Turn left at Ruxton Avenue and follow the signs to the cog railway. Travel just past the railway station and turn right into a small, marked parking lot. If the lot is full, you will have to turn around and park on the side of the street below the railway station. This can require some fancy maneuvering. On nice weather days, I recommend getting arriving early (before 7 a.m.) to park in the lot.
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The copyright of the article Barr Camp Trail in Hiking in Colorado is owned by Virginia O'Connor. Permission to republish Barr Camp Trail in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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