For more than a quarter century, a bold idea has lived in the hearts of Pikes Peak outdoor advocates: a continuous trail that fully encircles America’s Mountain. Not just another path, but a true ring — connecting communities, opening new experiences, and giving people a way to experience the mountain from every side.
The vision first took formal shape in the 1999 Pikes Peak Multi-Use Plan. What started as a “Perimeter Loop Trail” recommendation quickly became something more personal when early champions at Friends of the Peak gave it a name with staying power: Ring the Peak. Volunteers began stitching together existing trails, roads, and new segments. Piece by piece, the ring began to form. By the mid-2010s, roughly 80 percent of the approximately 63-mile route was marked and usable, with portals offering access from Manitou Springs to the high country. But one stubborn gap remained — especially on the southwest side — and progress stalled under the weight of agency negotiations, private land issues, and complex jurisdictions.
That’s when the project needed a steady hand and relentless focus. Enter Mike Rigney.
As Ring the Peak Coordinator and Project Manager with the Trails and Open Space Coalition, Mike stepped in and refused to let the vision fade. He built a Leadership Team, secured a critical Great Outdoors Colorado planning grant, and guided a multi-year public process that produced the 2019 Ring the Peak Master Plan. That plan became the roadmap. Mike kept showing up — meeting with land managers, landowners, local governments, and partners across El Paso, Teller, and Fremont counties. He turned stalled conversations into renewed momentum and kept the long game alive when it would have been easier to walk away.
Today that persistence is paying off. Through the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative and the work of Pikes Peak Outdoors and our partners, Ring the Peak has new life. Funding is flowing. Collaborative management discussions are advancing. Sections are being improved, extended, and protected. The remaining gaps are no longer theoretical — they are projects with real pathways forward.
Ring the Peak is more than a trail. It is a multi-generational commitment to the mountain that defines our region. It is the result of early visionaries who refused to accept “almost,” and of leaders like Mike Rigney who treated “almost” as unacceptable.
The circle is closer than it has ever been. And when it finally closes, it will stand as one of the great outdoor achievements of the Pikes Peak region — a lasting gift to every hiker, rider, runner, and explorer who comes after us.
The ring is waiting. We’re finishing it.
