A Short but Challenging Trail: The Manitou Incline

Not all trails are equal. Most are great. Some are terrible. And a handful stick out and give you a memorable experience. These trails don’t need to be long or complicated, but interesting enough for adventure and hiking enthusiasts to put on their hiking lists.

One such hike is the infamous Manitou Incline.

Located in Manitou Springs, just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Incline is just shy of a mile, starting at the dizzying elevation of 6,500 feet. Climbing the incline adds an additional 2,000 feet in elevation by taking a whopping 2,768 steps (or 2,744 according to some sources) that go in one direction: up.

After I parked my car, I took a shuttle to the trail. As I approached the trailhead, I crossed paths with a couple girls who had flown in from out of town the day prior. They were reading the warnings that were posted on the sign at the start and were exhibiting signs of concern, mostly regarding the altitude. I was living in Albuquerque at the time, which also sits at an altitude of 5,300 feet, so I was used to the elevation and didn’t need much preparation. Without any acclimation however, it’s very easy to feel the effects of high altitude, such as fatigue, dizziness, and dehydration. I explained to them some of the symptoms they’ll likely encounter, and that they should probably take their time, drink plenty of water, and to use the few “bailout” exits if it becomes too much.

It was a cold, foggy September morning. When I started the climb, I was worried it was going to rain, which would have made the trail even more difficult, given the fact that the steps were made of wood and could become slippery. The first step has a metal marker and markers are placed every 100 steps. It was a good gauge to see how quickly, or slowly, one ascended up those stairs. The views were unfortunately lackluster due to the heavy fog, but made the climb somewhat ominous because the summit was hidden by the mist.

Same with the trailhead when looking down.

Not gonna lie…I struggled! Typically when hiking on inclined trails, I take small steps, one foot in front of the other. It doesn’t require as much energy as actually lifting my foot to step up on stairs or boulders. Much less 2,768 steps. This was very much a glute and leg workout. The altitude increase didn’t help at all and with every 100 steps or so, I had this huge feeling of accomplishment. It didn’t help that there were locals that were doing their weekly run up the trail passing me and other hikers with ease.

Finally, about an hour and 22 minutes later, I reached the summit. I was exhilarated! And exhausted! And took my time taking in the view…pondering about how long it was going to take for me to hike back down. To me, reaching the summit during a hike is more about the journey than the destination. I did the thing and now I’m ready to move on. One day I’ll stop and sit there a bit and enjoy the view and appreciate the accomplishment, but on this day, I was ready to descend and breathe some oxygen.

Hiking down the Incline is highly discouraged, with some sources stating it’s prohibited, due to its steep nature and the much higher risk of falling and suffering from severe injuries. That morning it was also very wet and the steps were slippery. An adjacent trail, the Barr Trail, is the preferred route down. The entirety of Barr Trail is actually over 13 miles in length with a 7,800 foot elevation gain from Manitou Springs to to the summit of Pike’s Peak (14,115 feet), but it’s a welcoming and scenic 3-mile downhill hike back to the trailhead after the Incline. Since it’s still a relatively steep decline, it was still a bit challenging and painful on my knees.

If you’re hiking the Incline and realize at some point, “Yea, this isn’t for me,” there is no shame in stopping, taking a break, and utilizing one of the three “Bail Out” points: one at around step 395, the second around step 1,300 (the halfway mark), and the third at around step 1,800. Each of these points access Barr Trail and are recommended as opposed to forcing yourself to make a summit push.

The next time I happen to be in the Springs, I definitely plan on climbing the Incline again.

Some things to consider:

• A reservation, and a waiver, is required. It’s free and they open on the 1st of the month each month.
• Parking can be a bit challenging and it’s recommended to arrive early enough to find a spot. A couple options include the Dillon Mobility Hub and the Hiawatha Gardens Lot, with free shuttles to the incline. The Manitou Springs website provides up-to-date parking information.
• Altitude sickness is no joke. Take time to acclimate, approximately 1-3 days, drink plenty of water with electrolytes, and avoid alcohol.
• Bring snacks and plenty of water.
• Wear sturdy hiking shoes. I’m a fan of the Merrell Women’s Speed Solo Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots. If hiking downhill is hard on your knees, bring trekking poles for the descent on Barr Trail.
• It’s not an easy location for Emergency Services to reach in case of an illness or injury. Due to the difficulty of the trail, make sure you’re in good shape and accustomed to hiking and the altitude prior to attempting.

Quick Summary:

Length: < 1 mile, with a 3-mile descent on Barr Trail
Elevation: 6,530 ft (2,000 ft elevation gain)
Difficulty: Hard
Reservation required
Website: https://manitousprings.org/where-to-play/manitou-incline/
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-manitou-incline

Post Hike Flight:

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