Time to Hike the Manitou Incline

Hiking the Manitou Incline

The Manitou Incline is just under a mile but climbs 2,000 vertical feet. So how long does it take people to hike up it?

Times of under 20 minutes for world class athletes pass around the local hiking community and in news articles. I have some friends that can hike the Manitou Incline in the low 20 minutes. My best time over 10 years ago was 29 1/2 minutes. I’m much slower than that now.

Colorado Springs has many very fit athletes so there are plenty of people hiking the Manitou Incline in under 30 minutes but from what I’ve seen the average Incline hiker is making it to the top in 40 – 60 minutes. Many first timers and people from lower elevations are taking well over an hour.

The accepted spot to time yourself is from the bottom tie right above the Pikes Peak Cog Railway parking lot. Stop timing at the last tie at the top.

Don’t be fooled by these times. These times and the times people talk about are just for going up the Incline. There’s no way to magically end up back at the bottom so you need to factor coming back down into your hiking plans.

Although the rules for using the Incline stop short of prohibiting coming back down the Incline, they recommend one way up for safety. The most popular way and recommended way to get back down is to go to the left (when facing uphill) and then down the connector trail to the Barr Trail. Going this way down takes about 45-50 minutes at a quick walking pace with no stops.

There are a few places with Manitou Incline times listed. Pikes Peak Sports has a Manitou Incline honor roll. The Incline Club has more official times from when they used to “run” the Incline before the No Trespassing sign was put up in June of 2000 (scroll down page to see the times).

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Comments

    • Sheryl
    • December 2, 2016

    My first time! I am 57 and did it in 55 minutes. First snow of the season and it was amazing! I will do it again and again. I love Co Springs and what it has to offer for fitness!~

    • Miguel Hernandez
    • March 5, 2017

    Today was my first time at the prime age of 58 and it took me 50 minutes. I’m coming back!!

    • Sheila
    • May 23, 2017

    Thank you Sheryl! I’m going to try hiking it on my 58th birthday!!!i was worried about being the Oder no trying it out.

    • Betty
    • July 20, 2017

    Last year we were here visiting..I was 67..the altitude was hard…I did it in 49 minutes…Today ( July 20, 2017)back here visiting again and I was 5 weeks out of toe surgery..got out of my “boot” a week and a half ago and tried it…tough…I was disappointed that it took me 67 minutes!! No endurance training for some time …At 68 though I am happy I can do this 🙂

    • Mike
    • November 28, 2017

    63 minutes. 61 years old. Came from sea level 2 days prior. 13 weeks post quadruple bypass.

    • Gia
    • December 4, 2017

    The “average” incline hiker does not take 40-50 min. That’s very misleading. It takes an hour or more for an average hiker to do the incline. A lot of people in Colorado are in great shape so their incline time is right around 40 min and less if they are in awesome shape. If you take an average person from out of state or even someone from Colorado, I guarantee you they will not be able to do it in the 40-50 min range you’re talking about. I climb mountains all the time and I can’t get any better than my record of 45 min. For my age, however, 45 min is great.

    • Ken
    • April 20, 2018

    I’m very nearly 56 and completed the incline in 45 minutes. VERY challenging!!!

    • SS
    • April 25, 2018

    Agree with Gia’s comments… 40-50 min is definitely not “average”. I’m in above average shape and have done the incline a few times, and staying in the mid-to-upper 40 min range is a challenge. Of the people I’ve watched around me, the majority aren’t making it up in under an hour. But I do agree that the locals are in better shape on average than much of the country, and being acclimated to the altitude DOES matter. Regardless of time, the Incline is one of my favorite Colorado activities!

    • Dane Steil
    • May 17, 2018

    I just finished my first time up and finished in 34:34. Now that I know what expect I’m hoping to drop into the 20’s

    • Ray Leslie
    • May 27, 2018

    the incline is tough, for any time , you do it in

    • Hub Duranski
    • August 13, 2018

    My daughter (20) and I (51) finished in 80 minutes. We are from Lincoln Nebraska. It was a blast completing it my my daughter , something we will never forget! We will be back next August to get the time down to 50/60 minutes next time!

    • Brian Floyd
    • August 25, 2018

    I live in California at sea level. I hiked the incline for the first time in August of 2017 in a little over 46 minutes when I was just getting ready to turn 60. I hiked it again this August, 3 weeks before by 61 st Birthday and did it in 45 minutes. My goal is to break 40 minutes but I would be happy just beating my tone each year.

    • Suzanne Bermudez
    • September 6, 2018

    A group of family from Colorado and I met in Manitou Springs for this adventure. What a great experience!

    I live in Southern California, below sea level (Imperial Valley) and am 51. My overall time was 66 minutes with several stops along the way. I will definitely be back next Labor Day and try to beat my time.

    • Justin
    • January 1, 2019

    I started this trail by headlamp at 5:30am and completed it in 2 hours almost exactly. Went up the incline and down Barr Trail. Encountered some slippery steps near the top which slowed me down due to accumulated snow. I’m 38 years old and 40 pounds overweight but I hike a good bit.

    • GS
    • April 4, 2019

    I just did the incline. Drove from Kansas, was in town for two hours, and then did it in 52 minutes. This wasn’t me pushing it hard, just checking it out since it was my first time. Next time I’ll be in the 40s for sure. Great trainer! 40-50 minutes is not “average” BTW. I’m almost 33 and run around 15+ miles per week.

    • Rebecca E Messerle
    • April 14, 2019

    Thank you Ray Leslie!! Being honest helps!
    I’ve lived here 15 years (Montrose) and still having some breathing problems going uphill.

    • JASON A HOFFMAN
    • May 9, 2019

    I was here in 2013 and at the time was training for a half marathon. It took me 35 minutes to hike and I was moving as fast as I could (I ran my half marathon in 1:47 for context). My buddy, who was training for a marathon took 39 minutes. So I’d say the “average” time is probably closer to 60+ minutes just to make it up. Much easier coming down!

    • anne bossman
    • June 9, 2019

    I am 60 years young and my hubby is 63. He had open heart last August and I’m the proud recipient of bi-lateral total knees and a fused lumbar spine, diagnosed with Parkinson’s July ’18. We live at 8300ft and have since ’92. Honestly we adore the incline but all this boasting is unfair. The incline is spectacular and a superb challenge and only for people accustomed to regular exercise but we have gone 4 times and have yet to make to the top. In December many spots were icy which adds to the mental aspect of points at a 68% incline. Often it is steeper higher up, but having nothing to prove and thoroughly enjoying the view, people and nature we have turned back down as high as 2000 steps. If not taking the Barr trail down one must consider the strain downhill presents especially on the knees. Don’t time it enjoy it and what you accomplished!

    • Smoking joe
    • June 11, 2019

    I’m a smoker. Overweight and I love weed. I’m here for the weed. I did it in 2 hours. Although I didn’t smoke on the way up I did have 2 cigarettes at the top which I found out rather quickly it’s highly frowned upon.

    • Janine
    • July 14, 2019

    This incline is not for the faint of heart! I go down every weekend in the summer and get there by 6:30 AM-even then it is ridiculously busy. This is one of the hardest workouts I have ever done, it’s very challenging. From bottom to top (with zero stops), I can do this in just under 38 minutes (I’m 40 yo). Most people take multiple breaks, lasting 2-10 minutes if I had to guess. So my take is-the average time is 60-90 minutes. Probably closer to 90, start to finish. I wish more people would NOT run down this. My friend got checked so hard she almost had the wind knocked out of her! People hiking up this are not looking up, so those of you who hike/run down, please step to the side when it’s crowded. This is an accident waiting to happen!

    • Robert
    • August 5, 2019

    I’m 35 and in decent shape – it took me 62 minutes to get to the top. I feel like 60-90 minutes is a good target for someone who does not hike often and is from a low elevation area (I’m from Houston).

    • Candace Chapman
    • August 6, 2019

    I will be there next weekend. I’m 33 and about 120 pounds and workout at least two times a week about an hour or so. I live in Texas.. So, should I be worried that I can’t complete this? Do people give up? I really want to try this.

    • QZLA
    • September 18, 2019

    I love the incline and surrounding Manitou area. My best times were when I did 2 consecutive laps. Finished in 38 minutes for my first lap and 44 for the second lap.

    Whether you’re doing it in 20 minutes or 2 hours, your legs will be fried, make sure to stretch before and after.

    • Ken
    • September 30, 2019

    Unless you are a regular climber, if you are a local and can do it in less time than your age, then you have really accomplished something. Coming from sea level expect an hour plus unless you are a competitive endurance athlete. I did it in 48:10 in cool conditions this September (I’m 53) on my 3rd time up and glad to have “climbed my age”. The Incline has a good spirit about it — people in a shared suffering encouraging each other.

    • ARV
    • October 14, 2019

    The guy who wrote this article is making a lot of people disappointed. No way the average is time is 40 minutes, yes if you ‘re an athlete, regular runner, fitness trainer or avid cyclist etc. My husband is in great shape and it took him 50 minutes. My friend who hikes 4 to 5 times a week along with doing various other fitness classes took 70 minutes to complete it and I took longer because I’m not in the best cardio shape right now. There is a sign that says 1000 steps to go to the top and the approximate time from here is an hour. So please don’t give people false hopes or make them feel like failures if they don’t get this done in less thank 50 to 60 minutes.

    • Ari
    • October 29, 2019

    I’m 24 and visiting from Baltimore for a week. Yesterday I did it after the snow twice in a row. 1st time was 35:30 and 2nd time 42:10 (stopped for pictures the 2nd time around).

    • Mike
    • November 27, 2019

    Turned 59 on the day I did it. Took 64 minutes. Key was to hit my pacing to stay at my limit but not over.

    From Pennsylvania, had two days to acclimate. I ruck with a 50 LB backpack back home, that helped a *lot*.

    Wonderful day!

    • Linda Green
    • December 16, 2019

    Don’t know why everyone is in such a hurry to get a fast time… the view is breathtaking!!! Stop, breathe, and enjoy the awesome scenery.❤️😍

    • Ting
    • July 3, 2020

    I was 48 when I did last year. It took 47min. My knee hurtled quiet bit when I reached top. I might be able to go a little faster had no knee problem. View is amazing. But I will not do it again. I still need my knee to go distance.

    • Jim
    • August 28, 2020

    I am 70 and made my first climb at 6:00 AM this morning. I am from Albuquerque, NM (6000ft altitude) and have been training in the Sandia Mountains for this hike since the first of the year. I completed the hike in 44 minutes. It was more challenging than I expected!
    I was very impressed with the professional manner in which this activity was organized by the city of Manitou Springs given the challenges of COVID 19.

    • Craig Mooney
    • October 5, 2020

    I’m 45 and run about 15-20 miles per week. It took me an hour and 15 minutes. It was very challenging. This is not for everyone. I am happy with my accomplishment.

    • Robert Chandler
    • October 6, 2020

    Moved to Springs and 73. Chugged up in 55 minutes. my heart rate averaged 145. Will do every week now to get my time & heart rate down

  1. Pingback: The Manitou Incline - TinyFoxLab

    • Jason
    • October 21, 2021

    An average fit person should be pleased with any time under an hour to complete the hike. My kids in 8th & 10th grade did it in 35 minutes, but they are on the athletic side. If you’re out of shape and overweight like I am, you’ll be in the neighborhood of 75 to 90 minutes. Fun to watch and appreciate the more athletic and fit folks that fly by you on the incline. Their hard work has paid dividends for sure.

    • Emily
    • February 8, 2022

    I do the incline 2-3 times a week since the first of year and I have improved my time from 1:15 a month ago to 51 minutes this morning. My goal is to get under 50 minutes in the next month but no matter how fast or slow you go, it’s a flatliner!

    • CT
    • March 16, 2022

    I have asthma and walk 4 hours a day. I had to take a lot of stops to check oxygen and breath. It took me about six hours to round trip up the incline and down Barr trail. I stopped and visited with some chipmunks and deer as well in April 2020. This is not a competition but a shared joy in life. I am glad I did it. I will most likely never do it again at 60 and living in Georgia.

  2. A flatlander from Lincoln, NE. Pretty amazing site to see the first time. Day 1, 41:00 took a few photos along the way and didn’t know what to expect. Have to sign up now in 2022, so found another open slot and decided to do a second run and got down to 36:30 (no photos this time 🙂 Ran into current world record holder Greg Cummins at the top so that was a fun chat.
    My only trick, short of getting to CO early to acclimate is drinking lots and lots of water 2 weeks out.

    • David
    • August 9, 2022

    I was glad for the opportunity to take on the challenge of going up the incline. I am 69 years old from north Georgia with plenty of hilly roads on run on. I was able to finish the climb in 43:31. Fortunately, my breathing was not affected by the elevation.

    • Susan
    • October 22, 2022

    I’m 69…live at sea level. Took me 3 hours in August! Ultimate stress test! I drank a whole camelback skin of water. Also wore Chaco sandles…wearing sneakers next time…ha!

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