Manitou Incline

The Manitou Incline is quite well-traveled, so I won’t go into a lot of detail. I wanted to visit the Incline in Manitou Springs for a while, but it never rose to the top of my list for whatever reason. After seeing the new(ish) Challenge hill in Castle Rock the day before, I was inspired to head down. The Challenge hill is located in Philip S. Miller park and is a 200 step hill climbing 178ft.. I didn’t count the number of steps, but the Manitou incline gains almost 2,000ft of elevation in a mile.

I found the incline itself enjoyable, but it lacked a certain wow factor for me. It is a great fitness test and gives Incliners quality views of the surrounding area. However, the main highlight is the massive string of steps of the incline itself. I was glad I visited the Incline, but it honestly isn’t high on my list to visit again. That said, if you’re in the area and haven’t tried it; well, you should definitely check it out! I know maybe people that are big fans of the Incline, so perhaps I’m in the minority with my relative lack of enthusiasm.

The part of my day that I enjoyed the most was the extension I did off the top of the Incline actually. If you still have energy left after finishing the incline, I strongly encourage venturing a little further for some awesome Pike’s Peak sightings. Pike’s Peak is a good looking mountain and is a dominate presence in the area. Pike’s Peak was the final mountain in my quest to summit the Colorado 14ers, so it will always hold a special place in my heart as well.

Ok, here are some pictures of my day:

The Start

A little snow as I got up higher; no traction needed though.
Taking a breather to look back down at the parking lot and Manitou Springs
Step by step
Down from the last step!
Pike’s Peak from just a little bit up from the Incline
I headed down the path and then up in search of better views.
Enjoying a break and Pike’s Peak from under a balanced rock arch.
Layers
Now without a rock roof
A retired Incline step?
The Barr Trail was very icy heading back down. Given its relative lack of sunshine, I’d guess bringing traction is a good choice for a lot of the winter.

2 thoughts on “Manitou Incline”

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