Mount Herman is the closest summit to Monument and the obvious half-day outing for anyone wanting to climb something. The trailhead is reached by Mount Herman Road, a Forest Service road that branches off Highway 105 north of Palmer Lake. The road is rough — high clearance is helpful and four-wheel drive is not a bad idea in shoulder seasons.
From the trailhead it is a short, steep mile to the summit. The trail switchbacks through Ponderosa pine and gains around 800 feet, ending on the rocky cap. The views are excellent: Pikes Peak fills the southern horizon, Colorado Springs spreads out on the plains, and on a clear day you can see the Spanish Peaks more than a hundred miles away.
The peak is exposed and lightning is a real risk on summer afternoons. Start early and be off the top by noon if storms are forecast.