We are traveling to Co. Springs on Sept. 10th and plan to visit Pikes Peak. Question: Is there a significant difference between riding on the Cog Railway or driving up the mountain to Pikes Peak? What would we miss by driving?

We saw Big Horn sheep when we went up the cog and there was snow on the ground -- it was early October, so the snow may not be around.

Both my SIL and myself had a very bad case of altitude sickness when we got to the top. We could barely move and after a visit to the restroom and a look out, we were back on the cog to get down. The symptoms subsided some, but we felt terrible for several hours.

Headache, our legs felt like they weighed 100 lbs. each, nauseaus.. really miserable. If you are coming from lower altitude, take a few days to acclamate.

Debit, you should have hit the oxygen bar in the gift shop. It was packed when we visited.

I enjoyed the Cog Train. It was a nice way to enjoy the scenery, inside of watching the road. We went in July and started with rain at the bottom and snow at the top - along with lightning & hail. The cloud layer was low so visibility was poor. Several people who drove up were waiting for a ranger to arrive so they could follow him down the mountain.

The cog railway is quaint, and different. For the first half of the trip on the cog you see really nothing but the forest around you. It isn't until you start getting above treeline that the scenery engulfs you. It's better than driving only in that you don't have to have someone constantly watching the road and thus missing out on some of the scenery. Seats on the left hand side of the train (when you're facing forward) are better for viewing the scenery for the most part on the way up; and on the right side for the way down.

It will also be MUCH colder at the summit than at the station down in town. Bring warm clothing (you may even start to put it on as you break above treeline, as the windows on the train are usually down). To combat altitude sickness, take water with you, remain hydrated, and you may even want to take some tylenol pre-emptively before getting on the train.

Consider driving, take a picnic lunch, look for Big Horn Sheep. There are many things to see, stop and marvel at the changes as the elevation increases.. If you are not squeamish with mountain road driving you will have no problems.