The Manitou Incline is not for the faint of heart… I grew up down the road from here and you wouldn’t believe people’s down right obsession with this ridiculously difficult hike. Why? It might hurt going up, but you forget the second you turn around to that view. Here are some mind blowing facts about one of Colorado’s most bragged about hikes:
Elevation gain: The Incline gains over 2,000 vertical feet in less than one mile.
Steepness: The Incline has an average grade of 45% and a steepest grade of 68%
Number of steps: The Incline has around 2,744 steps made of railroad ties
Length: The Incline is about 0.9 miles long
Summit elevation: The summit of the Incline is at 8,590 feet
Difficulty: The Incline is considered an extreme hike
Popularity: The Incline is one of the most popular hiking trails in Colorado
Location: The Incline is located in Manitou Springs, near the base of the Barr Trail… another incredible hike
History: The Incline was once a railroad track that lead to Cripple Creek
Parking and transportation
You can park in the free lot at 10 Old Man's Trail and take the free shuttle (#33) to the Incline/Barr Trail stop
You can also try to find a paid parking space on Ruxton Avenue
Records
Brandon Stapanowich holds the male record for completing 22 laps of the Incline in 24 hours
Andrea Sansone holds the female record for completing 19 laps of the Incline
On September 14, 2022, Remi Bonnet set the record for fastest Manitou Incline ascent making the climb in 17 minutes, 25 seconds. Allie McLaughlin holds the record for fastest woman to make the ascent, completing the climb in 20 minutes 7 seconds on July 19, 2010.
Location: Manitou Springs is located approximately 10 minutes from any Winnemucca Property. Manitou is a lively and unique town known for live music, off beat shopping and zesty tasting spring water.