Manitou Incline Friends Launch Spring Trail Maintenance Season
The Friends of the Incline volunteer group kicked off its annual spring maintenance season this weekend, with over 80 volunteers turning out to repair winter damage along the Manitou Incline and Barr Trail. The steep railway-grade trail, which gains nearly 2,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile, requires regular upkeep to maintain safe conditions for the estimated 500,000 annual users.
Volunteer coordinator Dave Bunkers said this year's maintenance priority is replacing damaged railroad ties on the upper third of the Incline, where freeze-thaw cycles over the winter loosened several steps and created tripping hazards. Crews also cleared drainage channels to prevent erosion during spring snowmelt and installed new wayfinding markers at the Barr Trail junction where hikers frequently take wrong turns.
The Manitou Incline, originally built in 1907 as a funicular railway track, has become one of Colorado's most popular outdoor attractions since it was officially opened as a hiking trail in 2013. Its extreme grade, averaging 45 percent with sections reaching 68 percent, draws fitness enthusiasts, military personnel training for deployments, and tourists seeking a unique physical challenge.
The City of Manitou Springs implemented a reservation system in 2022 to manage overcrowding, limiting daily access to 2,400 hikers. Reservations are available through the city's website and cost $3 per person, with proceeds funding trail maintenance and emergency rescue operations. The Friends of the Incline meet for volunteer work days on the first Saturday of each month from March through November.