Climbing the Legend: A Playful Guide to the Manitou Incline
If you’ve ever looked at a mountain and thought, “You know what this needs? Stairs.” — congratulations, you’re ready for the Manitou Incline.
Located in neighboring Manitou Springs just outside Colorado Springs, the Incline is less of a “hike” and more of a vertical life choice. It’s only about 0.9 miles long, which sounds adorable… until you realize you’ll gain roughly 2,000 feet of elevation in that stretch. Oh, and you’ll climb 2,768 railroad-tie steps at grades reaching up to 68%. Your calves will remember it forever.
Wait… Why Does This Exist?
The Incline wasn’t originally built to test your cardio. It dates back to 1907, when it served as a funicular railway to support a water pipeline project on Pikes Peak. Later, it became a scenic ride for tourists. After a rockslide shut it down in 1990, locals did what locals do, they started climbing it anyway. It became so popular that it was officially reopened as a recreational trail in 2013.
Sometimes the best attractions aren’t planned — they’re just stubborn.
How Many People Actually Do This?
You might think this is some secret punishment reserved for elite athletes. Nope. The Incline attracts around 250,000 people per year. That’s a quarter-million humans voluntarily choosing leg day.
Some are first-timers looking for bragging rights. Others are elite runners training at altitude. Most, at some point, questions their decision.
How Long Does It Take?
That depends on your relationship with oxygen.
Elite runners: Under 30 minutes
Very fit humans: 30–60 minutes
Most normal, selfie-taking, water-breaking hikers: 1–2+ hours
And remember — you don’t come down the stairs. Descending the Incline is not allowed (and your knees thank the city for that). You’ll take Barr Trail back down, which adds time but saves your joints.
The Speed Demons & Record Holders
If you’re wondering how fast a human can possibly sprint straight up 2,000 vertical feet, the answer is absurdly fast.
Swiss mountain runner Rémi Bonnet set the fastest known ascent at 17 minutes and 16 seconds. That’s barely enough time to warm up for most people.
On the women’s side, Allie McLaughlin crushed it in 20 minutes and 7 seconds.
Local legend Greg Cummings holds the record for the most ascents in a single year, an absolutely mind-blowing 1,825 climbs in 365 days. That’s basically five times a day. For a year. Straight. At that point, the Incline isn’t a workout, it’s a lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are counting steps in groups of ten and negotiating with ourselves.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Before you lace up your shoes and channel your inner mountain goat, here’s the important stuff:
Hours & Reservations
The Incline is open daily, with hours that vary slightly by season (generally early morning through evening).
Reservations are required. You must book a free time slot online before you go.
You’ll also need to complete a waiver.
The Rules
No pets allowed. (It’s steep. Your dog deserves better.)
No descending the Incline. Use Barr Trail on the way down.
No smoking or open flames.
Stay on the trail.
Bring water. More than you think you need.
Final Thoughts
The Manitou Incline is part fitness test, part community ritual, part “what did I sign up for?” moment. It’s a bucket-list climb that rewards you with panoramic views, serious bragging rights, and a humbling reminder that gravity is undefeated.
Will it challenge you? Absolutely.
Will you complain halfway up? Probably.
Will you secretly want to do it again?
Almost definitely.