Cheyenne-Mountain-Resort

An Escape for Every Outdoor Adventurer

When it comes to hiking in Colorado Springs, there are a few spots that stand out to the crowds: Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the Manitou Incline. But sitting among the many peaks of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, there are plenty of trails to explore beyond the expected. Did you know that we have more than 50 mountains over 14,000 feet tall? Strengthen your hiking skills on the 4-mile round trip route up Mount Cutler. Enjoy the journey as you gain a new perspective with the view of Colorado Springs far below. Or, take on one of the bucket list 14ers with a trek up Barr Trail toward the summit of Pikes Peak. The 26.2-mile round trip hike will test your limits, but the trail shows hikers a wide range of the area’s beauty from the trailhead in Manitou Springs to the ecosystem above tree line. This spot is worth a day-trip for any adventurers looking for a more challenging hike or to check a fourteener off their list!

Embrace the Elevation on the Manitou Incline

There are adventures galore when it comes to exploring the mountains of Colorado Springs. But you don’t have to go deep into the backcountry to experience the adrenaline rush of the Rockies’ elevations and trails. In the nearby town of Manitou, the Incline — considered Colorado’s Holy Grail of cardio, perhaps the most challenging trail in the country, and a physical push even for pro athletes — is a bucket list, bragging rights draw for locals, visitors, and Olympians alike. The former cable car railroad once used to cart materials up Pikes Peak for pipelines, is now a trail made up of the remaining railroad ties. In other words, the one-mile trail consists of 2,744 steps that carry its hikers up a 2,000-foot elevation gain with an average (keyword!) incline of 41%. Don’t let the numbers make you nervous though, the views from the top and the satisfaction of seeing where your body can take you is a reward well worth earning!

What is the Manitou Incline? (And How to Survive It)

Visit any Colorado Springs hiking website or travel guide and you’ll find one place mentioned over and over: the Manitou Incline. It’s TripAdvisor’s #1 “Thing to Do” in the nearby town of Manitou Springs and rates 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google. So, what is this mysterious hotspot?

The short answer is that it’s a popular hiking trail. It’s located about 11 miles from Colorado Springs, and is one of the most frequent day trips for guests at nearby Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

How It Began

The Manitou Incline started out as a cable car track to help carry building materials for a new pipeline on Pike’s Peak. After work was complete, the cable car continued as a tourist attraction. Visitors were transported to the top for breathtaking panoramic views of the Peak and the surrounding mountains.

In 1990, a landslide damaged a section of the railway, forcing officials to remove the track and its cars. The railroad ties were left behind. Local hikers started using the mountain path as a workout trail, climbing up its railroad tie “steps” to get to the summit and back down – despite the fact they were on private land. Eventually, the trail opened for public use.

The Basics

At just one mile long, the Manitou Incline isn’t a long haul. The difficult part is ascending a staircase that rises 2,000 vertical feet in elevation. It’s tricky, tiring, and literally takes your breath away. According to Competitor Running, Mt. Washington Road Race Joe Gray broke the record for fastest ascent of the Incline in 2015, with a time of 17 minutes and 45 seconds. For most tourists, that time is more like 1.5-2 hours round trip.

Manitou, Step-by-Step

Arizona resident Nick Christensen, who conquered Manitou for the first time during a summer stay at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, recommends creating checkpoints or milestones during the hike. “Things seem to move much slower when you're going up an incline,” he says. “Choose a shady spot or large rock up the trail and focus on making it to that point. Catch your breath. Then find another area up the trail and do it again. Keep doing that and eventually you'll make it to the top!”

Other tips for hiking Manitou Incline include:

1. Bring sunblock. Reapply often when sweating heavily.
2. Start early in the day, especially during summer months.
3. Drink LOTS of water.
4. Bring high-protein snacks.
5. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. This isn’t the time to break in your new Converse.
6. Don’t walk back down the incline. Take the separate “bailout” trail 2/3 of the way up or the Barr Trail at the top.

Closed for Renovations

Hikers looking to climb the Incline during a visit to Colorado Springs will have to wait a few months, as the path is temporarily closed for restoration in fall 2017. Officials expect Manitou Incline to reopen by December – though it’s far less visited in the snowy winter months.

The good news is that fall travelers have plenty of things to do in town and at nearby Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. Visit Garden of the Gods, go hiking on our 200+ acres, or relax with a massage at Cheyenne’s Alluvia Spa & Wellness Retreat. Contact us today to get the fall fun started.