Overview
Runs-Down-Fast Mountain is a small eleven thousand foot peak two miles north of the more prominent
Mount Rosa and just east of the higher and much larger
Almagre Mountain. A two to four mile hike in depending on the trailhead gives you a nice 600 foot scrambling bushwack to the summit. It can be seen from the
Broadmoor a five star hotel on the western edge of Colorado Springs, Colorado for those who know where to look.
Getting There
Position of Runs-down-fast Mountain relative to Pikes Peak and Almagre Mountain from the summit of Cookstove Mountain First, find your Pikes Peak Atlas by Robert Ormes and Robert Houdek or buy one at any area outdoor store.
Standard Frosty Park Route: From Colorado Springs take Old Stage/Gold Camp Road approximately 12.5 miles to 379 (close to the Penrose-Rosemont Reservoir). Turn north on 379 and travel on the 4WD road to Frosty Park for another 1.5 miles. This is a large clearing on the right with no apparent signs other than the tracks of many mud rides. travel another quarter mile to a pull off. There are two trails starting here and a sign announcing that you are at the top of Captain Jacks a well know multi-use trail leading in to Colorado Springs. Credit to Shanricky for some of this information.
The Four way: Seven Bridges (from Gold Camp / High Drive). Trailhead elevation: About 7500'. From US 24 in Colorado Springs, go southwest on 26th Street. Follow this until it dead ends at High Drive, and turn left up Gold Camp Road. Gold Camp turns into a 2WD dirt road and is a fun drive. Take this road to a large parking lot at High Drive. If you reach pavement on Gold Camp Road, you went too far. Credit to mmoerk for this information.
Red Tape
Motorized Vehicles are allowed on portions of the trail
Need a higher-clearance vehicle to get to Frosty's Park trailhead unless you hike an extra 1.5 miles from Gold Camp Road. There is a one hundred yard section of very chewed up road about half a mile in from Old Stage Road.
For more information, contact the Forest Service at:
Pikes Peak Ranger District
601 South Weber
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 636-1602
Camping
Frosty's Park has a very large area for camping. On the South slope of the peak is a great sandy area that is level and excellent for camping.
When to climb
The Mountain can be climbed year round, but Old Stage road can be treacherous in winter. The four way lot is accessible year round.
Mountain Conditions
Colorado Springs Weather Links and Nearby peaks
Lists of John page for Runs-down-fast
Tuckaway Mountain
Mount Rosa
Almagre Mountain
Mount Big Chief
chromo - Aug 30, 2009 3:05 pm - Hasn't voted
Lat/LonCoordinates should be West instead of East. The map has your mountain somewhere in China :-) Nice job on the page, though!
skorpeo - Sep 13, 2009 9:41 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Lat/LonWhen I put W in it still comes out E. Any suggestion?
csmcgranahan - Sep 29, 2009 1:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Lat/LonIt's been awhile since I put up a new page but I seem to remember you need to put a negative sign in front of the coordinate.
skorpeo - Oct 4, 2009 8:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Lat/LonThanks Chris, that did it.
Sarah Simon - Aug 30, 2010 8:02 pm - Hasn't voted
4x4Hi Skorpeo, Just a courtesy conditions update for your page -- Regarding the getting there section: "Need a higher-clearance vehicle to get to Frosty's Park trailhead." You can go so far as to say "high clearance 4x4." This road has never been in good shape since I've known it. In wet conditions (primarily spring snow melt) it can be impassible without a mud bogger. Now, thanks to the heavy monsoon conditions this summer, the road is pretty challenging in places even in dry conditions. Cheers, Sarah