maintenance
Manitou Incline Closure 2017
After uncertainty about funding for the 3rd phase of repairs for the Manitou Incline, Colorado Springs has announced that the Incline will be closing this fall. The City of Colorado Springs, in conjunction with the City of Manitou Springs, will start phase 3 improvements to the Mt. Manitou Incline on August 21.
The Incline will close for the Pikes Peak Ascent Marathon on August 19 and 20 and will remain closed for the repairs and renovations which are set to begin on Monday, August 21 and is expected to last into December. Construction will take place between Tie 2137 and Tie 2741, at the upper third of the Incline above the false summit. For more information on the construction project, visit www.coloradosprings.gov/incline.
The Incline project has four major goals: improved safety, enhanced user experience, long-term sustainability of the trail and increased accessibility. Work will include repairing and replacing damaged retaining walls, cleaning up the exposed rebar and loose debris, adding additional drainage structures, anchoring the existing ties, and stabilizing the surrounding slopes. Currently, there are several failed drainage structures. During construction, the failed infrastructure will be removed and new drainage structures will be installed. The increase in drainage structures will greatly help reduce the velocity of water, a critical factor in reducing erosion and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Incline.
Funding
The project cost is estimated to be $2 million. Funding is made possible by a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. The grant money allocated is provided as reimbursement for documented eligible costs. The City of Colorado Springs is responsible for the general oversight, trail enhancements, general maintenance of the Incline and to apply for grants to fund improvements, per the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Manitou Springs. For more information on the construction project, visit www.coloradosprings.gov/incline.
Manitou Incline Reopening After Phase 2 Repairs
Click here for 2017 Manitou Incline wall calendars
The Manitou Incline reopens on December 2nd, 2016 after a celebration ceremony and ribbon cutting with Olympic athletes at 8:30 AM. The Incline has been closed since August 22nd for a second phase of repairs. This time work was done from the bottom of the Incline up to where the repairs were made in the fall of 2014.
There are a few specials for the reopening. The Starbucks at 3104 W. Colorado Avenue will be offering ANY grande beverage for only $2.00 from Friday Dec. 2nd through Sunday Dec. 4th. Manitou Springs will be handing out free bottled water to riders of the free shuttle from the free Hiawatha Gardens Parking Lot on Saturday from 7 until 10 AM. Also on Saturday, the first 300 riders of the shuttle will a gluten free mini-donut and coffee from The Market.
While the Incline was closed, Manitou Springs drastically increased parking fees and fines close to the Incline. Upper Ruxton has also become part of the Residential Parking so parking is only allowed Monday – Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Parking on Ruxton when allowed is $10 PER HOUR. Letting your meter expire or parking outside of allowed hours will result in a $70 fine for first offense, $100 for 2nd and $150 for 3rd.
Parking in the Barr Parking lot is only available with a reservation from parkbarrtrail.com (redirects to the paid parking company’s website). Although the Manitou Springs mayor, Nicole Nicoletta, has mentioned a few times that reservations were coming, it was announced late Thursday afternoon that it’ll be effect on Friday for reopening. Details on how it works are not clear at this point other than it costs $20 (plus $2.40 fee) for a day or a 4 hour period. A $15 refund is supposed to be available at Barr Camp. Fines are also $70 for first offense, $100 for 2nd and $150 for 3rd.
Ok, it’s pretty clear the Manitou doesn’t want people parking near the Incline. They want everyone parking at the free Hiawatha Gardens Parking Lot at 10 Old Mans Trail. The free shuttle stop is across the street on the east side of Manitou’s Memorial Park. The shuttle runs about every 20 minutes from 6 AM until 6 PM this time of year.
If you’re under a time crunch and want to park close, Iron Springs Chateau is your best option. It’s $5 to park for the day until 5 PM. The next best option is to park at the Pikes Peak Cog. Their parking is $10 for up to 3 hours from dawn to dusk if they don’t need all the parking for cog customers.
Manitou Incline regulars are excited to have the Incline open again so it’ll probably be quite busy this weekend. If you go, please be safe and enjoy yourself.
Incline Closure Coming Late Summer 2016
The Manitou Incline will once again be closing for repairs late summer of 2016. It will be closed from August 22 until early December, 2016 (Photo above is from 2014). In 2014 it was closed from August 18th through December 5th.
This time the repair work will address the bottom portion of the Incline. Colorado Springs Parks and Rec is saying it’s from Tie 1 to Tie 1525. I believe those tie numbers are from the study before the Manitou Incline was legalized in 2013. Since then several more ties have come loose and rolled into the bushes.
Work will include repairing and replacing damaged retaining walls, cleaning up the mess of rebar and loose debris, adding additional drainage structures, stabilizing the existing ties, and stabilizing the surrounding slopes. Currently, there are several failed drainage structures.
The project cost is one million dollars. Funding is made possible by a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant and Trail, Open Space and Parks Funding (TOPS).The City of Colorado Springs is responsible for the general oversight, trail enhancements, and maintenance of the Incline and to apply for grants for fund improvements, per the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Manitou Springs.
The official Colorado Springs Park and Rec page for the Manitou Incline has a FAQ on the closure. It also has general information on the Incline.
Incline Work Day October 25, 2015
The City of Colorado Springs and the Incline Friends are organizing an Incline work day for October 25th, 2015. Work during the volunteer project will include closing existing social trails and fixing portions of the Incline/Barr connector trail.
Participants must be 16 years or older, anyone under 18 must have a guardian accompany them during the workday. Check-in/late registration the morning of will begin at 8:00 AM in the Barr Parking Lot. The project will begin at 8:00 AM and end at 3:30 PM. Please come prepared to work the entire day and hike 3 miles up Barr Trail to the project work site. Tools will be provided; however, bring your own gloves, water, hat, sunscreen and lunch.
Register online for the Incline work day to help them with planning.
Can’t make the work day? You can always help by picking up trash as you hike the Incline. Also always stay on the trail. It’s sad how much destruction is being caused by people cutting the switchbacks on the Incline/Barr connector trail.
Manitou Incline Before and After Repairs
I was at the bottom of the Manitou Incline for the reopening on Friday. There were hundreds of people lined up to take their first trip up the Incline after the repairs. Only about 20% of the Incline that was in the worst condition was worked on so more work will be needed in the future.
I’ll share more photos and my thoughts on the changes in another post. For now here’s a before and after photo. Those that had the 2014 Manitou Incline calendar will probably recognize the before photo as the June photo. 2015 Manitou Incline calendars are now available for order here.
Manitou Incline Repair
Timberline Landscaping has been working since August 18th to make the Manitou Incline safer and more sustainable. Tomorrow, Friday December 5th, the Incline will reopen to the public after a ceremony at the base of the Incline at 10 AM.
According to an Out There Colorado article, the helicopter made 90 trips with materials. 900 tons of gravel and 1,800 ties were used. The ties were used for steps, retaining walls and timber chases to divert water
KOAA has a nice preview of the work that was done. The workers were carrying packs with up to 100 pounds. Worker Antonio Benitez said, “At the end of the day you’re legs are just crumbling. You’re ready to get to couch and get a nap right away.” The Out There Colorado article says Benitez lost 25 pounds while working on the Incline.
Some businesses are offering specials for the Incline reopening. SALUS Natural Body Care (906 Manitou Avenue) is offering a free bath bomb Friday and Saturday to those that go in and show a photo of them on the Incline. Through December 31st, Amanda’s Fonda (3625 W. Colorado location) is offering an All Day Happy Hour for anyone that shows either a picture from the top of the incline or a parking stub.
Below is an interview at the top of the Incline on Thursday morning with Incline Friends president Sandi Yukman.
Manitou Incline Reopening Friday, December 5
The Manitou Incline will reopen on Friday, December 5th, 2014. It has been closed since August 18th for repairs. An update with photos of the Incline repair work is here and more info on the Manitou Incline repair project is here.
Press release from City of Colorado Springs.
Join us for a reopening celebration of the Manitou Incline on Friday, December 5 at 10 AM at the base of the Incline. Please park in the COG parking lot, 515 Ruxton Av, 80829.
The Manitou Incline will be reopened to the public after being closed for repairs for the past three months. Phase 1 construction has been completed to repair the steepest sections of the Incline and protect it from further erosion and damage due to future storm events and public use.
Goals of the Manitou Incline Trail Enhancement Project
The Incline project’s four major goals are 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.
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.
Manitou Incline Repairs Update
Update 12/1/14: The Manitou Incline will reopen at 10 AM on Friday, December 5th.
A lot of work has been done on the Incline over the last couple months. Much of it has been to reduce the erosion issues along the side of the ties. On the steep section where the ties were in the worst condition, a section has been replaced with new timbers. The new timbers are anchored into the mountain side to reduce the chance they’ll slide down the slope.
Below you can see photos of some of the work done around the Barr bail trail. Note: these photos are courtesy of the Colorado Springs Park and Rec department and the Incline is still closed to the public during repairs.
The cold and snow last week slowed progress on the repairs. Not only does bad weather make it hard for the crews to work on the Incline but it affects scheduling of the helicopter that is being used to lift gravel and supplies up to the work site. The helicopter is only available when it’s not being used on its primary contracts with other companies.
I spoke with the project manager, Sarah Bryarly, last week. She said the crew from Timberline Landscaping is working hard to stay on schedule. However, she thought that it’s unlikely the Incline will open on December 1st but she expects that it’ll still be sometime the first week of December.
Want to be one of the first few up the Incline to see the repairs? The Incline Friends are offering an opportunity to the first 30 people who donate $250 or more to the Incline through the Indy Give! campaign to get to climb the Incline a day early, before the official re-opening! Giving through Indy Give! also makes your donation go farther through matching funds.
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Manitou Incline to be Closed for Repairs
Update 12/1/14: The Manitou Incline will reopen at 10 AM this Friday, December 5th.
Update November 17th, 2014 It’s currently like the Manitou Incline will re-open the first week of December but not on the 1st. More Incline repair details here.
Update August 5th, 2014 Colorado Springs Park and Rec has confirmed that the Incline will be closing August 18th at 6 AM. The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon are on final weekend the Incline is open. Find info about the effects of the races on the Incline here.
The Incline has slowly been eroding since the cable car quit operating in 1990. Volunteers pounded in rebar and made other repairs over the years or the Incline would be in worse shape. Last fall’s heavy rains did considerable damage.
If hikers are caught trespassing during the closure, they could receive a $100 fine. According to project manager Sarah Bryarly, Manitou Springs police will enforce the closure.
While the long-term sustainability of the trail is critical, I’m not sure how the user experience is going to be enhanced. One of the key things users wanted during public input meetings during the legalization process was for the Incline retain it’s rough character.
The conceptual drawing on the left that was provided by the City of Colorado Springs doesn’t seem to leave it so rugged. Of course looking at the photos above that compare a section in 1996 to it’s current condition, it appears it could be at least as rough as back then. I started hiking the Incline in 1998 and have noticed it changing over the years but didn’t realize how much.
The project is expected to cost nearly $1.6 million. About half a million will come from FEMA because of the rain damage. The remainder will come from the Great Outdoors Colorado Grant, Colorado Springs Utilities, the State Trails Grant, the Colorado Springs CTF Program, Incline Friends, Colorado Springs TOPS Program and the Manitou Springs Barr Parking Lot Fund.
In the excellent video below, engineer Don Jacobs talks about some of the challenges of working to stabilize the Incline.
