I’d venture to guess that 90% of the people clicking into this article knew exactly what hike this piece was about prior to diving in. That’s how notable and recognizable the Manitou Incline is – both in Colorado and nationwide.
Climbing about 2,000 feet up a Colorado Springs-area mountainside found among the foothills of Pikes Peak, the route is less than a mile long, but it’s often referred to as one of the most difficult and most physically demanding hikes to be found in the United States. But is it worthy of the hype?
A series of 2,768 irregular steps that’s become an exercise staple for locals and a coveted achievement of those from afar, the Manitou Incline’s history dates back to 1907 with the creation of a mountainside railway. This railway was initially built to help with the construction of a hydroelectric plant, per Visit Colorado Springs, but was later sold and renovated to become a scenic ride. Serving as a tourist attraction that delivered riders to Mount Manitou Park over the course of about 16 minutes, the railway stuck around until 1990 when it was closed due to high maintenance costs (and some serious damages caused by a rockslide). Train cars and much of the railway infrastructure was removed, but the railroad ties were left behind…