Incline reopens

After being closed since Monday, August 18, the Incline reopened Friday, Dec. 5, about 11 a.m. with scores lined up to take a look at just what is involved in a $ 1,586,486 expenditure (and nearly four months of repairs) related to the trail improvement project.

The project, according to officials had four major goals: improved safety, enhanced user experience, long-term sustainability of the trail and increased accessibility.

Work on the Incline included repair and replacement of damaged retaining walls, cleanup of rebar and loose debris, construction of additional drainage structures, stabilization of existing ties and stabilization of surrounding slopes. The new drainage structures will significantly reduce the velocity of water, a critical factor in reducing erosion and ensuring the Incline’s long-term sustainability.

Funding for the project came from the following sources:

• FEMA -$ 556,486

• Great Outdoors Colorado Grant – $ 350,000

• Colorado Springs Utilities – $ 250,000

• State Trails Grant – $ 200,000

• Colorado Springs CTF Program – $ 80,000

• Incline Friends – $ 60,000

• Colorado Springs TOPS Program -$ 50,000

• Manitou springs Barr Parking Lot Fund – $ 40,000

During construction, Barr Trail, Ute Indian Trail, Interman Trail, Red Mountain Trail, and the COG Railway remained open in their entirety.

“These facilities are within walking distance of the Incline and utilize the community shuttle stop as the incline. Manitou springs will continue to operate its free community shuttle with a drop off location at the Iron Springs Chateau,” says a joint release from Manitou springs and Colorado Springs.

Hiking the Incline during construction was prohibited for safety reasons.

“The Incline will be closed while the the trail is under construction. While the construction is underway, equipment will be in use and the hiking surface will be impacted. Staging of materials will be located at the base of the Incline. Please give construction crews a break and resit the urge to to sneak up the Incline while no one is looking,” releases from the city say.

“Citations will be issued for anyone trespassing on the Incline during construction. The citation will be $ 100. Please adhere to the closure or you will be ticketed,” city officials said.

History of the Mt. Manitou Incline

Under the ownership of Dr. Newton Brumback, the Manitou Incline was originally constructed as a one-mile cable tram for the purpose of providing access to water tanks at the top of the mountain that would provide gravity-fed water pressure to the cities of Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. Shortly after its completion in 1907, the tram was opened as a tourist attraction. The Incline boasted a 16-minute ride to “scenic splendors” and ten miles of hiking trails in Mt. Manitou Park, and claimed to be the “longest and highest incline on the globe.”

The Incline’s 2,741 steps make up one of the most challenging and popular recreation sites in the nation. The trail is a one-mile ascent with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet, and the average grade is 43%, reaching 68% at the steepest point.Nearly 20 years of unmanaged trespass and use of the Incline have resulted in significant erosion on the mountainside and dangerous trail conditions.

In 2010, the three property owners – Colorado Springs Utilities, the COG Railway, and the US Forest Service – together with the cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, agreed that serious safety and liability concerns, including the trail’s condition and impact on nearby neighborhoods, called for development of a Site Development and Management Plan to address these issues, allow the Incline to open for legal use and to capitalize on the Incline’s benefits. The Incline is now officially open and legal for recreational use.

RULES TO INCLINE BY:

After being closed for 3 ½ months the Incline reopened on Friday, Dec. 5 after a reopening celebration.

In case you forgot over the last couple of months, there are rules to the Incline. Please refresh your memory of these rules before you head on up:

WARNING: This is an EXTREME trail.

Use at your own risk

Do not attempt this trail if you are not used to hiking at altitude or have trouble climbing a standard flight of stairs

Consult with your doctor before adding the Incline to your exercise routine

If you need medical attention on the Incline, it could take First Responders over an hour to get to you

Incline hours are DAWN to DUSK

Be respectful of the neighbors who live on Ruxton Ave.- would you like to be woken up with beeping and slamming of car doors?

If you trip in the dark, a First Responder could as well

NO DOGS ALLOWED:

We love hiking with our pets, but dogs off leash or dogs on long leashes become hazards to other hikers and to themselves.

The excessive amount of dog waste that has been left behind is becoming a health issue.

Recommended: UPHILL ONLY! Please use Barr Trail for your descent.

Please be RESPECTFUL of all hikers:

Stay on the designated trail corridor, don’t blaze your own trail to get down faster

Slower hikers stay to the right

Pack out your trash

Utilize the port-a-lets before you start your hike

These rules and regulations were vetted during the master plan process and are required by the property owners. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in permits and agreements being revoked. If you enjoy using the Incline please respect the rules and regulations, other hikers and the property owners…the Incline is on public and private land.

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