Manitou Incline

Manitou Incline
View from the Barr Trail Bailout, approximately two-thirds up the incline
LengthApprox. 0.88 miles (1.42 km)
LocationManitou Springs, Colorado, US
TrailheadsBarr Trail
UseHiking
Highest pointPeak, 8,590 feet (2,620 m)
Lowest pointBase, 6,500 feet (2,000 m)
DifficultyExtreme
SeasonYear round
SightsPikes Peak

The Manitou Springs Incline, also known as the Manitou Incline or simply the Incline, is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. The Incline ascends on the east slope of Rocky Mountain which is itself on the eastern flank of Pikes Peak. The trail is the remains of a former 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge[1] funicular railway whose tracks washed out during a rock slide in 1990. The Incline is famous for its sweeping views and steep grade, with an average grade of 45% (24°) and as steep as 68% (34°) in places,[2] making it a fitness challenge for locals of the Colorado Springs area. The incline gains 2,011 feet (613 m) of elevation in 0.88 miles (1.42 km) horizontal. Currently the Incline has approximately 2,768 steps[3] from the bottom to the summit, although the top step is numbered "2768". The number of steps changes occasionally with trail maintenance and deterioration.

Free reservations are still currently required to hike the Manitou Incline which can be made at the Manitou Incline page[4] on the City of Colorado Springs website.

Incline boxcar in 1937
  1. ^ "Trams of the World 2017" (PDF). Blickpunkt Straßenbahn. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  2. ^ "Fight over Cog an uphill battle". www.inclineclub.com. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Manitou Springs Incline". Visit Colorado Springs. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Manitou Incline | City of Colorado Springs". coloradosprings.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2024.