The Manitou Incline is an infamous climb/hike whose base is in Manitou Springs, and connects a few miles up to Barr Trail (see below). When an old railroad's tracks got washed out from a flood in 1990, the city of Manitou Springs decided to turn it into a trail. At an average upwards grade of about 42% (maximum grade of 68%), it is really more like a giant, outdoor staircase. The trail gains just over 2,000 feet in under a mile, and attracts about 70,000 visitors a year. The strenuous 2,768 steps have become a point of pride for those who have conquered the trail!

Barr Trail, a 13 mile trail from base to summit, is the only established trail up Pikes Peak. The path has an elevation of nearly 7,900 feet in the 13 mile climb up. As purists will assert, a true "summit" requires you to hike up AND down all 26 total miles, a feat which is typically accomplished over the course of two days. A classic overnight spot is Barr Camp, a rudimentary camp site just below tree line near 11,000 feet.

Another part of Barr Trail's history is the AdAmAn hike on December 31st. A group of mountaineers makes the climb in the deep snow to set off fireworks from the summit for the New Year. Since 1922, this has been a big part of celebrating the New Year in Colorado Springs, as the fireworks can be seen across the entire city.