Hike up the Manitou Incline with friends on a great Saturday morning.

by MJ
(Colorado Springs)

I have hiked many places before but this is definitely the most challenging so far given the incline and higher altitude.

When my friend told me I will take you to the incline next weekend I said shoots. So today we started out at around 730.

As we were heading closer to the place, mind you, this is my first time in this hike place, my friend told me to look to the left and look for the scar in the mountain. She said, "that's the Manitou Incline and we will go to the top."

My excitement then became more of an anxiety and in my mind what the hell was I thinking! I was anxious thinking if I could actually get up to the top. My friend has hiked up this incline many times and in fact she comes here at least once a week if not twice.

The view to the top was very intimidating of course but I was driven to do it and see what the view is like from there. It took me a while but I did it. It was very beautiful and it was definitely a good workout.

The trail going down was longer but it did not feel as challenging as getting up the incline. It was definitely a great experience and I am definitely going to hike there again.


EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you, MJ, for sharing your awesome adventure on the Manitou Incline! Your description of looking up the trail from the bottom was right on--the angle and height of the Incline is very intimidating when you first encounter it in person. It feels more like a stunt than a hiking trail. But then ambition usually kicks in and after many steps you are looking back down. Congratulations!