Tips for climbing the Manitou Incline
Tips to help you rock 2,000 feet of elevation
Colorado gets me. And I get Colorado. We share the same love for the great outdoors and extreme adventure. During my last trip to Colorado Springs visiting my family, I was thrilled to finally climb the Manitou Incline. I’ve heard so many stories about the Incline from my Uncle Terry who lives in the Springs. He’s an avid Incline climber and outdoor adventurer. I knew if he recommended it, it had to be good… and challenging!
The Manitou Incline is considered an extreme trail and most certainly is an advanced hike. It’s a true Colorado workout! The Incline is 2,000 feet of elevation and runs about 1 mile. Let’s just say, it’s not for the faint of heart, but people from all different ages and fitness backgrounds are seen climbing the incline. I saw one extremely fit woman coming down from the mountain who had to have been in her 70s. She would have blown my doors off! The manitou incline attracts olympic athletes, military personnel, runners, and cyclists from all over the world.
Coming from the flat city of Chicago, we made sure that we adjusted to the high altitude of Colorado Springs for a few days before we set out to climb the incline. Terry advised us to take the Barr Trail back down the mountain, since it was our first time undertaking the incline. The Barr Trail intersects about three-quarters of the way up. By the time we reached the Barr Trail, I got a second wind and thought “We can keep going! Let’s climb to the top!” I’m sure glad we didn’t keep going because even though it looked like we had almost reached the top, there were still about 300 steps to go! Don’t be fooled by the false summit like I was. Make sure you take the Barr Trail down if it's your first time experiencing the incline. It took us about 30 minutes from the Barr Trail to hike down the mountain.
After the hike, we rewarded ourselves with a hearty breakfast and hot coffee at Adam’s Mountain Cafe. We later took a relaxing ride up to Pike’s Peak via the Cog Railway, which I highly recommend as a fun and historic excursion.
Tips for climbing the manitou incline:
Get adjusted to the high altitude before attempting to climb
Hydrate and fuel up in advance
Pace yourself and know your limits
Take breaks and enjoy the gorgeous views
Dress appropriately for different seasons
Don’t be fooled by false summit
Take the Barr Trail back down the mountain
Track your time and rank against others using the Incline App
