Manitou Springs Incline

Manitou Springs Incline is one of the most unique and most popular trails in the area. Originally this was a cable car that took tourists up the side of Rocky Mountain until it was closed in 1990. Since then the rails have been removed but the wooden ties remained to prevent erosion of the hill creating a steep trail that appears from the bottom as an endless stairway to heaven. Since parts of Incline are owned by the city of Colorado Springs and Cog Railway it is technically illegal to climb the incline. Despite this, huge numbers of hikers climb Incline every day ignoring the "No trespassing" sign on the way up. Fortunately progress is being made on making Incline legal to hike.

Most people start the hike from the Barr Trail parking lot. A short and steep trail climbs up to join the Incline although the actual start of the Incline is a little bit further down at the Cog Railway parking lot. Hiking up is pretty straightforward since the Incline is a perfectly straight line up the hill at an average grade of 40%. Even though it is only about one mile to the top this is definitely not an easy trail. At about 0.6 miles you will arrive to the so called Bailout point, here the Barr trail is passing the Incline by just few yards and you can take it down if you don't feel like you can make it to the top. This section is also the steepest and most technical part of the Incline. If you look up the end seems near but this is only the false summit. Fortunately, once you get over it you will see the the top not too far ahead. The views from the top and along the Incline are outstanding and well worth the effort. Most people chose to come down on Barr trail which is much longer but also easier on your knees. There are number of other trails that you can continue on from the top as well.

Directions: Exit from US-24 to Manitou Avenue and drive to downtown Manitou Springs. On the roundabout turn on to Ruxton Avenue. Drive all the way up past the Cog rail train station and turn right on Hydro St. This is the parking lot for Barr trail. Unfortunately it is full most of the time and you might have to park somewhere along the Ruxton Avenue. Make sure you are not parking on private property. Under no circumstances park in the Cog parking lot or you will be towed.