The Incline

If this is the stairway to heaven, then God kicked my butt today. Luckily it isn’t so maybe I have a chance in heaven. I thought I heard my thighs scream and curse a few times but I fought on. My idea of exercise is a few thousand steps around the mall while toting goodies, but I was able to make it to the top of this monster stairmaster just under 2 hours. The trail is well maintained and steps are sturdy, so relatively safe unless icy. The first half has less grade, after the halfway point at the fence, it gets steep. Parking is $ 5 at the trailhead which can be paid via credit card. We took the Barr trail back down from the top which is easy in comparison due to the switchbacks.

The average time for newbies is about 2hrs. It’s a spectacular view along the way up and very intimidating on your drive there.
There are areas that are very easy, some that are narrow, others that are steep, some wide, and you will find yourself crawling on fours in certain sections.
If you have bad knees like myself, take the trail going down (roughly 4 miles) around the back and zig zag your way down.
If you are in Colorado and can swing by Manitou Springs, I highly recommend making this trip. My friend had her 8 month baby strapped to her and still managed to make it to the top. You can too!

If you don’t mind being run over by Lululemon lunatics and drill sergeant dad’s trying to torture their kids, then this might be enjoyable for you. Just lots and lots of people dripping buckets of sweat and talking about how miserable they are. I don’t mind stairs, and the view at the top is nice. But it’s just a wee bit too crowded for my liking. It’s just one of those things that you do to say that you did it, and that’s probably enough.

This workout is awesome! It’s a definite must if you like extreme pumps — feel the burn. The only done side is during tourist season it can get crazy busy.

I dont have 500 climbs yet but got few down and few steps closer. Haha.
My recent climb was Jan 2 2016 and 1^st timer for the winter climb. It was projected to be 40s but was very cold in Denver so we all bundled up good including thermal.
As soon as we hit the few steps, started to heat up and took the hat off… then came off the gloves… then the jacket. wished I could take the pants off but was not prepared. From then on, it was long climb with two layers of pants. Minor over sight but was manageable.
Good thing I took pair of hiking poles bcz the upper section was very slippery with my hiking shoes. It was too dangerous to take the incline down and ended up using the bar trail. With only half dozen slips, made down safely.
Next time. leave everything behind except water and traction for your shoes. Wear tights or hiking pants and will be ok.
$ 5 parking using CC was very convinient. All of the free parking space is all gone now. Dont forget to stop by the iron mineral springs and get some water.

This incline is simply insane. You can actually see how steep it is from the road driving into town. The altitude coupled with the incline and number of steps kicked my ass. After hitting the connector to the Barr trail (which was around ²⁄₃ of the way to the top), we were encouraged by some veterans that the end was in sight; however, this was before hitting an even steeper grade prior to reaching the peak. I found myself stopping every 20 or so steps to rest. However, it felt pretty good to hit the top before sunset. I don’t recommend going down during the winter months when it’s icy without strap-​on ice cleats. Even going down the switchback trail, I fell a couple of times due to extremely slippery and icy conditions. Regardless, this was a fun and challenging hike. Half the difficulty was mental.

Seriously — how can you not love a giant staircase to the sky!
I’ve managed to move my bootie up this thing 2 times now and it’s been hard as heck on the way, but definitely awesome to get to the top!
Glad it is now wholy non-​private property!
Go, try it!
Pro tip — skip the summer, and skip the weekends if you can!

Parking is difficult here so be aware that it’s street parking and you need to pay. We luckily didn’t have trouble finding a spot and came during a Broncos game which probably caused it to not be super busy. This is not an easy hike. My heart was pounding the whole time and the altitude change is also no joke. Bring water and sunscreen because there is no shade. It also gets chillier towards the top. I don’t recommend taking the incline back down since its slippery. It was our only option because we had to be somewhere and needed to get down as fast as we could.
This is a great workout and challenge both mentally and physically. I highly recommend doing it to prove to yourself you can get to the top. Challenge yourself not to stop and see how fast you can do it!

while traveling to the incline, the parking lot was full. A local told me to park at the nearby Memorial Park and take the shuttle (both free) and save the $ 5 parking fee.
things to remember while climbing this for the first time
1. bring plenty of water– its important to stay hydrated
2. wear lose fitting light colored clothing (shorts and t-​shirt)
3.wear lightweight and comfortable shoes (no flip flops, sandals or boots)
4. bring a clean handkerchief or bandanna to wipe your forehead from the sweat
5.take many breaks and only traverse 2 to 5 steps at a time at higher elevations
with these steps in mind, first timers will reach the top in about 1 to 2 hours and another 1 to 2 hours going back down, remember to be safe and take lots of pictures!

Great work out! Physically and mentally! Try to come early to beat the heat and crowds, summer during the weekends is like grand central station.
Bring lots of water, like LOTS! Sunscreen and maybe an energy booster like a granola bar to reward yourself at the top. Did I mention water?

Let’s see… it has been 3 days since I checked in and hiked the incline… and my calves are STILL hurting! Hahaha
What an amazing experience. My sister and I did this together, and reaching the summit, seeing that Colorado view, was definitely worth the breathlessness and burning thighs/​calves. To avoid heat exhaustion and terrible altitude-​grade sunburns: Only stop for breaks when you’re in the shade. This also helps with motivation to keep moving haha.
Once you reach the top there are plenty places to sit and soak in your accomplishment.
My friends in Jax and anyone else living at sea level: Slow and steady… Long, deep breaths. Your lungs will thank you lol
Parking looked like a headache, so I’m happy we had someone drop us off. Afterwards, walk down to little Manitou Springs’ main square for some local favs. There’s pizza, pubs, icecream… etc. You earned it!

Not for the faint of heart and definitely one of the hardest workout of my life! This is basically an intense stairmaster that seems never ending!
It took me two years of living in Colorado to finally give this a try. My group of friends and I left at 6am so we could get to the incline by 8am and beat the heat. I am so glad we did that because by the time we finished at 11, you could really feel the heat and it was becoming uncomfortable. The stairs look so daunting but you just gotta conquer it one step at a time and it’s all a mental game! I took so many breaks but I didn’t care the point is I made it to the top! Bring sunscreen, lots of water, snacks, wear light clothing because you will be dripping with sweat! People of all ages and levels of physical activity do this incline. I see elderly people walking with sticks and I’m so amazed they are able to finish and super fit people straight up run the entire way! This incline must also hold a lot of meaning for some people because a guy proposed to his girlfriend on top! It was the sweetest thing ever!!! And the level of rapport and camaraderie on the incline is just amazing. All of a sudden, we aren’t strangers anymore but rather united and cheering each other on to get to the top. I loved the energy!
Now, you will probably hate yourself as you’re climbing the incline but trust me, when you reach the end, it is an amazing feeling like you’re able to accomplish anything! Going down via the back is super fun. I pretty much jogged down since it was all down hill, very shaded, and super scenic. Total workout time was about 3 hours! I loved it and will come back once my body recovers. Right now everything hurts but it’s a good thing!
Oh parking is limited and costs $ 5.

Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Manitou Springs
Length: 3 total miles
Elevation Gain: 2,011 feet
Trail Type: Loop
Skill Level: Very Strenuous
Duration: 2.0 hours
Season: May through October
Trailhead Elevation: 6,570 feet
Top Elevation: 8,595 feet
Local Contacts: No Contact currently available
I must admit my first impression of the chaotic traffic to get to the parking lot almost made me go back. I was so sure that I won’t find a space to park. As luck had it I pulled in right after a family left. $ 5 all day. Easy parking instructions. Type in your license plate and indicate how much time you need. They charge you by the day not by minutes/​hours. Other people go up and do stay in the Barr Camp so that explains why the meter will ask you how many days you need your car parked.
The beginning of the trail is to the right of the lot as you pull in. It says Future Incline Trailhead. Ignore the word «Future» it is Now. It’s a short walk to the foot of the incline.
My second time to almost turn around was when I laid eyes on the very intimidating sheer height of the steps. I’m not a fan of stairs or steps. This ascent is all steps.
A railroad line was constructed on this slope in 1907 to aid in construction of a hydroelectric plant, and later used to take visitors to an overlook of the town. Today, these are proving grounds for competitive souls. I heard thirty minutes (30) is the official bragging number! It took me 2.0 hrs to get up to the top. Yes the false top is quite frustrating but to me it just fuelled my desire to make it over.
The halfway point (where there is a bench) will figure out what you’re made of. This is where you will decide to go back or go forward. This trail will take you back to that $ 5 parking lot.(Barr Trail) if you decide to go back down I highly advice taking this route and not the Incline itself. See the steps are slanted down. Best for going up but really dangerous for going down. Slippery, gravel strewn steps=a big fall. Someone took a tumble when I was there yesterday and it wasn’t a nice picture. Almost impossible to stop when you start the fall.
The reason why I treated this as Very Strenuous is because you will gain 2025 feet total from the trailhead to the top. I’m a hiker/​backpacker but steps are much harder than just a regular trail.
This is truly one for the books!
#lovingCO #TheIncline #ManitouSprings #stairwaytoheaven?

We did it!!!
I felt so accomplished after reaching the top, and then the bottom, of this thing. It’s a 2,000ft incline in less than a mile (great pictures from the bottom of the stairs) and about a 4mi trail back down to the bottom, which took us about 3.5 hours to complete. My legs were definitely shaking by the time we got to the top! Well, way before then, to be honest. Eat a good breakfast beforehand, but not too much or you’ll probably feel nauseous, and bring snacks. I had a small breakfast wrap and started to get really hungry about ²⁄₃ of the way up, and even more so on the way down. This isn’t an easy hike, but there are kids and older folks doing it, so it’s not impossible. There are definitely plenty of spots to take breaks on the way up and down. Make sure to take pictures at each of your rest stops, and the views are just amazing.

This is one difficult hike, even though its just stairs. I wouldn’t call it complicated, you don’t have to figure a way up or find a best route, it’s just a straight shot up but perseverence will get you there. Kind of sad that i saw kids around 7 – 10 years old still running around with energy up there while i pant for air.
The parking situation is pretty scattered, it is nice that they have a shuttle to drop you off if you end up parking too far away. There was a woman with short hair taking peoples money for parking in that area, it was near where the shuttle drops you off near the base of the incline, she was mean.
This would have been 4 stars had it not been for her poor attitude that gave us a general look at how the locals act, which is rude and unkind. We stopped to let a car exit and she tells us we have to keep moving, sorry for being courteous? Then we try to ask some questions and again she tells us to keep moving, there was only 1 car behind us and it had just gotten there. A man then comes down and says «hey you can have my spot, I’m parked right there» and it was a car length ahead of us so we waited for maybe 20 seconds while he backed out. The lady again tells us to keep moving and we told her that we were waiting for this spot that just opened up and she tells us the car behind us is paying for it, does not give us a chance to pay her when we were there first and just walks over to the other car to get their payment.
The hike itself was a good experience, the trail back down was pretty relaxed, you can easily run down it all the way. My experience would have been better had it not been for that lady taking payments for that one parking area being such a sour and poor human being with no manners.

This thing is no joke and not for the out-​of-​shape crowd. Weekend warriors can complete it and may enjoy it — and they should absolutely try it — but they will be sore afterwards for a few days!
Getting to the Manitou Incline is a nice drive; you will go through the small town of Manitou Springs which is up against the front range of the Rockies. The only costs associated with this adventure are $ 5 for parking, burning lungs, and maybe some sore ankles and thighs afterwards (depending upon how you come down the mountain… Walking or running down Barr Trail, which amounts to about a 5k in and of itself, albeit going down nearly the entire way).
Parking will tell you how busy the incline is; I did it in April on a semi-​cloudy day and there wasn’t too much of a crowd. More folks will be there in the summer of it’s cloudy; avoid going on a sunny day as you’ll get baked on the mountainside. Partly cloudy is best.
As long as you keep the mentality of «just one step, just keep going,» you will finish and enjoy it (afterwards). Be sure to get a picture at the top and beware the «false» summit… You will still a few hundred yards to go!

An intense 0.9 mile hike up with 1800 feet gain (total elevation 8000 something) with a 3.8 mile hike down the Barr Trail (very scenic with a lot of gravel). Estimated 2,741 steps with some @ at a grade as steep as 68. This hike was not legalized until 2013 and was a former spot for a cable car to run up to bring materials to build the pipeline for Pike’s Peak.
Dogs aren’t allowed! Apparently dogs have died on this hike. I am assuming exhaustion & dehydration.
Bring PLENTY of H20 to stay hydrated because there’s barely any shade on this hike. It’ll likely be sunny/​hot & you’ll likely need lots of H20 breaks. Also bring a snack in case you feel faint or hypoglycemic.
It took me 2 hours to get to the top on my 1^st attempt. I felt so out of shape. I had to stop every 10 steps at some point. But after completion of the hike, you feel rewarded by a great workout and you feel accomplished! That makes this hike worthwhile. Definitely don’t go on this hike if you’re not looking for strenuous workout. It is not a casual scenic stroll by no means.

Whew, what an INCLINE!
Before I get into the actual hike, parking is HORRENDOUS! We made the mistake of going around noon on an Easter Sunday. There is a small parking lot above the parking lot for the cog railway and by small I mean one lane to go in and out. We were sitting on the hill for about 15 minutes in the same spot until someone got out of their car to help direct traffic. Your best bet for parking is to find street ‘pay to park’ stalls and walk up.
Before you do the actual incline, there’s a little shop that you can buy souvenirs, snacks before or after you hike, and a clean bathroom. There’s also porta potties right before you hit the trail.
Okay now the incline, it looks super daunting! I’ve done a hike similar to this in hawaii (koko head trail). But this trail is longer and the altitude is higher. In that sense, this was harder!
In all honesty, anyone at any fitness level can conquer this B! I saw little kids, small dogs (even though dogs aren’t allowed), and people not wearing athletic wear like pants climbing these stairs. All you gotta remember is take it slow, take breaks, and bring plenty of water and prolly snacks to refuel.
They just redid the tracks so the stairs look nicer and the gravel is a little more loose. Although I’m not sure how the trail looked before since this was my first time.
Anyways, we made it up the incline in about 2 hours with taking an inordinate amount of breaks (traveling with a non-​avid hiker will do that). But hey we still made it to the top!
So there’s a summit a little more than halfway up that you can take to go back down on the Barr trail if you don’t think you can make it all the way to the top. Before you hit this summit though, it is fairly steep and there’s more steep stairs as you go pass that summit.
Once you reach the top, the view was quite amazing even though I’ve seen better. But it is still an accomplishment. There’s not much to see at the top so majority of people take a breather, pictures, and eat then head back down via the stairs or the Barr trail. The Barr trail is a lot longer than taking the stairs down but it’s safer as it loops its way back down.
If you plan on doing this hike, just remember to come prepared with water and the mindset that you can do it!
GO GET EM!!!

Wow what a hike! This is something people should train for. The hike is straight up and it will kick your butt. My body and legs felt like they were broken for days afterwards! Bring lots of water and a snack. The only negative thing I have to say is the people hired to work at the bottom of the incline are absolutely terrible at their job. They are not helpful at all and steer you in the wrong direction when asking where to park and how to get to the start of the incline.
Tip: Stretch and eat bananas.

Dear boyfriend who recommended my sister and I climb The Incline while in Colorado Springs, I almost died up there. I looked around every 50 or so steps and thought «that sonofab****» — (kidding, you know I love you).
Seriously though, the views are amazing and how often do you go on a «hike» of sorts that consists of an extreme staircase made of railway ties? Visually: it’s part Mayan monument and part Trail of Tears.
For those who are unfamiliar with the infamous Incline (as was I), here are a few handy numbers:
2,000 ft. incline gain in less than one mile
2,000 — number of steps to the top
234 — estimated # of swear words I dropped along the way
Excellent challenge and serious opportunity to work up a sweat. Don’t be a fool like me and forget sunscreen and a hat. There is zero coverage on the way to the top.