Pikes Peak Sees A Record Number Of Visitors

<p>Associated Press</p>
<p>The sun breaks through the clouds to highlight the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.</p>
Photo: Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Garden Of The Gods
The sun breaks through the clouds to highlight the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.

Pikes Peak has received more than half a million visitors so far this year, beating 2017's annual record.

Last year, 498,722 visitors made it to the top of the famous 14er. Through Sept. 30 of this year, 527,696 have stopped by.

The 103-year-old Pikes Peak Highway has seen year-over-year traffic growth since 2013, according to Colorado Springs officials.

"Not only is this the most traffic the highway has ever seen, but hundreds of thousands of visitors reached the peak via shuttle, which launched in early June," said Jack Glavan, manager of Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak officials say they anticipated the increase of visitors. The number had been steadily growing over the last few years, plus Manitou Springs' Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been closed.

The historic railway also transported visitors up the mountain. It closed in March because of aging infrastructure. Manitou Springs and the owners of the Cog Railway are still determining whether the tourist attraction should be rebuilt and who would pay for the renovation.