Manitou Incline

Skip to content

Take a hike... it's only 2,768 steps!

Manitou Incline

Incline facts

parking

about the incline

Worth noting

More Hiking

Plan ahead with these future closure dates:For Closure information check out Colorado Springs Park and Rec website.

Get the facts

Difficulty level: Extreme (we promise we’re not kidding)

Total stairs: 2,768

Annual visitors: An estimated 250,000 annual visitors ranging from 7-70 years old.

Average time: Seasoned Incliners and Olympic athletes may summit in under 30 minutes, but most hikers complete the roundtrip Incline hike in approximately 3 hours.

Reservations Required: The Manitou Incline is owned and operated by Colorado Springs Park and Rec, and reservations are required through their website.

On January 11, 2020, Greg Cummings completed his record-breaking ascent up the Manitou Incline.

• Length: About 1 mile / 1.4 km (plus nearly 3 miles / 4.8 km down Barr Trail)
• Elevation Gain: 2,020 ft / 615 m
• Base Elevation: 6,530 ft / 2012 m
• Summit Elevation: 8,550 ft / 2606 m
• Average Grade: 41%
• Steepest Grade: 68%

Incline parking

Plan to arrive in time to find parking and allow plenty of time to get to the base of the Incline. Parking is available at the following locations.

Dillon Mobility Hub

LOCATION: 134 Manitou Ave

• 91 parking spaces, including four ADA-accessible spots 
• Paid parking 5am-6pm at $5 daily parking fee for the duration of a vehicle’s stay (no overnight parking is permitted)
• PikeRide bike share station

The FREE #36 Shuttle picks up near the Dillon Parking Lot and will take you near 10 Old Mans Trail, where you can transfer to the FREE #33 Shuttle, which goes up to the Cog Depot and Manitou Incline area.

• More info
• View parking map

Hiawatha Gardens Parking Lot

LOCATION: 10 OLD MAN’S TRAIL​

Plan for a 1.3-mile walk from the Hiawatha Gardens parking lot to the base of the Incline or ride the free #33 Shuttle, that picks up on the sidewalk next to Hiawatha Gardens.  Shuttle #33 will not run up Ruxton Avenue in inclement weather.

• More info
• View parking map

Iron Springs Chateau Parking

Location: 444 Ruxton Ave.

Cost is $15 for 4 hours – cash only.  Parking available from 4:30am – sunset.  First come first serve.

• More info

It's like a StairMaster, but outside

Referred to by locals as simply ‘the Incline’, this popular but strenuous hike is not for the faint of heart. After climbing the 2,000 vertical feet, you’ll finally reach the summit. At the top, the Incline Trail connects to Barr Trail, which offers a steep but scenic 3-mile path back down to the base.

The Bailout: A false summit ⅔ of the way to the top is the closest some come to tackling the Incline. Here, the Incline Trail meets up with Barr Trail for the first time and offers exhausted hikers a reprieve. If you think you need to bail, we won’t tell anyone. But if you can muster enough energy, you’re almost to the top!

This incredible hike is free to use, but please consider making a donation to Incline Friends to help keep the Incline in good condition for years to come.

Parking at the base of the Incline is not free, though the free Rt. 33 shuttle runs from downtown Manitou Springs to the base of the trail (and if you work up an appetite it will drop you off downtown to grab drinks or a bite to eat on your way back!).

Casual hikers be warned

The Manitou Incline climbs over 2,000 vertical feet in less than a mile and has sections as steep as 68% grade. Don’t forget to watch your step; they range in size and height to keep you on–or knock you off–your toes. 

Downhill use of the Incline is not allowed (can you imagine tripping down 2,768 steps?).

If you are planning to hike the Incline, keep in mind it could take 3-4 hours for first responders to reach you in the event of a medical emergency. 

Know before you go

General info

• The Incline is currently open.
• The Incline is accessible from 6am to 6pm. (And local neighbors thank you for not starting earlier.)
• No pets allowed on the trail. Your dog definitely did not sign up for this so leave your pets at home. Trust us, Rover will thank you for it. But really, we mean it: no dogs.

Parking

• The FREE #33 shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 6 am to 8 pm daily
• Parking in Hiawatha Gardens Parking Lot starts at $1.75/hour.

Be prepared

• Bring plenty of water. Dehydration and altitude sickness is not fun. If you forgot your water, stop in any number of shops in town to grab a water bottle. We don’t want to rescue you unless it’s a real emergency.
• Wear proper footwear. The nearest ocean is 1000 miles away, so leave your flip-flops at home.
• The Incline is physically strenuous. Think of the Incline like leg day at the gym; if you skip leg day, you might skip this hike. If you decide this hike isn’t for you, there are plenty of other options to get outside.

Use caution

• We’re saying it again just in case: The Incline is physically strenuous. What goes up must come down, including you. Every week, firefighters have to trudge up the stairs to rescue ill-prepared hikers. If you are unsure of your ability, please give our firefighters a break and start on a friendlier trail.
• Downhill use of the Incline is not allowed. Please descend on Barr Trail. Your knees and uphill hikers will thank you.
• Be prepared, conditions may vary! Weather in Colorado is unpredictable and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. Colorado ties for 4th place in the number of lightning-related fatalities, so start early and get off the mountain if in doubt. In fall, winter, and spring, check the forecast and be prepared for snow. Even if the steps appear dry, bring hiking spikes to help maintain traction on the shadier downhill portion.

If you regularly skip leg day,

Skip the Incline

The difficulty of the Incline isn’t for everyone! There are a number of mountain trails that are better suited for casual hikers.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Easy to Moderate: There are 11 marked trails in Red Rock Canyon Open Space ranging from 1.7 to 5.4 miles and from 6,141 to 6,866 feet above sea level.

The Intemann Trail

Moderate: A 4.81-mile popular trail for all level of hikers. It connects Manitou Springs to Section 16 and Bear Creek Regional Park.

Columbine Trail

Moderate: A 6.52 mile following North Cheyenne Creek, passing through towering ponderosa pines and steep cliffs and mountains.

Cookie Consent

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.

PreferencesRejectAccept AllPowered by (opens in a new window)

Cookie Preferences

×

Manage your cookie preferences below:

Toggle EssentialEssential

Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.

NameDescriptionDurationCookie PreferencesThis cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.30 daysToggle CommentsComments

These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.

NameDescriptionDurationcomment_author_emailUsed to track the user across multiple sessions.Sessioncomment_author_urlUsed to track the user across multiple sessions.Sessioncomment_authorUsed to track the user across multiple sessions.SessionToggle Google reCAPTCHAGoogle reCAPTCHA

Google reCAPTCHA helps protect websites from spam and abuse by verifying user interactions through challenges.

NameDescriptionDuration_GRECAPTCHAGoogle reCAPTCHA sets a necessary cookie (_GRECAPTCHA) when executed for the purpose of providing its risk analysis.179 daysToggle Google Tag ManagerGoogle Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager simplifies the management of marketing tags on your website without code changes.

NameDescriptionDurationcookiePreferencesRegisters cookie preferences of a user2 yearstdRegisters statistical data on users' behaviour on the website. Used for internal analytics by the website operator.sessionToggle LoginLogin

These cookies are used for managing login functionality on this website.

NameDescriptionDurationwordpress_logged_inUsed to store logged-in users.Persistentwordpress_secUsed to track the user across multiple sessions.15 dayswordpress_test_cookieUsed to determine if cookies are enabled.SessionToggle StatisticsStatistics

Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.

Toggle Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.

Service URL: policies.google.com (opens in a new window)

NameDescriptionDuration_gatUsed to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager1 minute_gac_Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.90 days__utmaID used to identify users and sessions2 years after last activity__utmtUsed to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests10 minutes__utmbUsed to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.30 minutes after last activity__utmcUsed only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.End of session (browser)__utmzContains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server6 months after last activity__utmvContains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.2 years after last activity__utmxUsed to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.18 months_gaID used to identify users2 years_galiUsed by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked30 seconds_ga_ID used to identify users2 years_gidID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity24 hoursAccept AllCloseSave and ClosePowered by (opens in a new window) Scroll to Top