1239: “The Manitou Springs Incline”
Interesting Things with JC, Episode #1239: “The Manitou Springs Incline” — Once a cog railway, now a near-vertical climb of 2,744 steps. It's not just a hike. It's a test.
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Episode Title: The Manitou Springs Incline
Episode Number: 1239
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: History, Geography, Physical Education, Human Endurance Studies
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By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Define the historical and modern uses of the Manitou Incline.
Compare the incline's original industrial function with its current recreational purpose.
Analyze how physical landmarks can evolve in meaning and societal role over time.
Explain the symbolic and physical challenges the incline represents in contemporary culture.
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Incline (ˈɪnˌklaɪn) — A slope or slanted surface; in the episode, it refers to a nearly vertical staircase up a mountain.
Cog Railway (kɒg ˈreɪlˌweɪ) — A train system using gear-like wheels to move up steep slopes; the Manitou Incline originally used this system in 1907.
False Summit (fɔːls ˈsʌmɪt) — A point that appears to be the peak but isn’t; many hikers misjudge this part of the climb.
Hydroelectric (ˌhaɪdroʊɪˈlɛktrɪk) — Related to generating electricity through water movement; the incline supported pipeline construction for such a system.
Grade (ɡreɪd) — The steepness or slope of a surface; the incline’s average grade is 45%, with peaks of 68%.
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Open – The episode opens with the deceptive simplicity of “just a mile,” only to reveal a brutal vertical challenge.
Info – Historical background on the incline’s origin as a cog railway in 1907 and its role in pipeline construction.
Details – Transformation from industrial track to illegal climbing path to a legalized, iconic fitness trail by 2013.
Reflection – The incline as a metaphor for struggle, resilience, and seeking discomfort in a world that often avoids it.
Closing – These are interesting things, with JC.
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They say it’s just a mile.
But that’s a lie.
Because what starts in the touristy charm of Manitou Springs turns into a near-vertical march through thin air, burning legs, and personal limits. The Manitou Incline isn't just a hike—it's a 2,744-step stairway that climbs higher than most downtown skyscrapers in less than a mile of horizontal ground. Hikers show up thinking they’re going for a walk. Most leave humbled.
But here’s the twist—this beast of a trail was never built for people.
Back in 1907, this scar up the mountainside was a cog railway. Not for fun, not for fitness—its only purpose was to haul materials up the slopes during the construction of a hydroelectric pipeline. Once the work was done, entrepreneurs turned it into a tourist ride. Riders would ascend in a rail car to a scenic overlook above the valley. That is, until a rockslide wiped out part of the track in 1990. Rather than rebuild it, they tore up the rails and left it to time.
But by the mid-1990s, something unexpected happened. Military cadets, athletes, trail runners, and people chasing their limits began climbing what was left. The wooden cross ties—exactly 2,744 of them, each about 8 inches high—became a makeshift staircase into the sky. It was illegal. People did it anyway.
It wasn’t until 2013—more than two decades later—that the trail was finally legalized. Since then, it’s become one of the most iconic climbs in the United States. Just 0.88 miles long, or 1.42 kilometers, but it rises 1,912 feet—583 meters—straight up. That’s a 45% average grade, with sections as steep as 68%.
Some athletes sprint it in under 17 minutes. Others take hours. Some quit halfway. Many stop at what looks like the top—only to realize it was a false summit. The steepest part still lies ahead.
At that upper stretch, the air feels thinner, but what really hits is the silence—no chatter, no music, just labored breath and the rhythm of footfalls on sunbaked timber.
And in a world that often seeks comfort and shortcuts, the Manitou Incline stands as a monument to choosing the harder path. It’s become a kind of self-imposed rite in a society that increasingly avoids discomfort—an old track that now measures something new: your willingness to suffer for perspective.
People come here to lose excuses. And find something else. Perspective, peace, pain, or pride.
So when they say it’s just a mile… now you know why it never is.
These are interesting things, with JC.
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What was the original purpose of the Manitou Incline in 1907?
How many steps make up the current incline trail, and how high does it climb?
Why was it illegal to hike the incline before 2013?
Describe the concept of a “false summit” and its impact on hikers.
What broader human value does the incline come to represent, according to the episode?
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Estimated Time: 1–2 class periods (45–90 minutes)
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use image prompts and diagrams to demonstrate "incline," "cog railway," and "grade."
Show short video clips of steep trails to contextualize physical difficulty.
Anticipated Misconceptions:
Students may believe it’s just a fitness trail and overlook its industrial history.
Some may not grasp what a 45–68% incline feels like in real-world terms.
Discussion Prompts:
Why do people voluntarily seek difficult challenges like the Manitou Incline?
What are modern equivalents of the “false summit” in daily life or education?
How does this story reflect changing uses of land and infrastructure?
Differentiation Strategies:
ESL – Provide translated vocabulary and visual aids.
IEP – Allow oral instead of written responses; use tactile models.
Gifted – Assign a comparative research task on other industrial sites repurposed for recreation.
Extension Activities:
Research and present on other iconic trails (e.g., Half Dome, Appalachian Trail).
Calculate incline and distance using trigonometry or physics formulas.
Write a personal essay about overcoming a physical or mental challenge.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Physics – Study of gravitational potential energy and incline planes.
Geography – Map reading and elevation studies.
History – Evolution of transportation systems and land use.
Physical Education – Discussion on endurance and fitness strategies.
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Q1. What was the Manitou Incline originally built for?
A. A hiking trail
B. A ski lift
C. A cog railway for material transport
D. A cable car for tourists
Answer: CQ2. When was the trail officially legalized for public use?
A. 2000
B. 1990
C. 2020
D. 2013
Answer: DQ3. How many steps are on the Manitou Incline?
A. 1,912
B. 2,744
C. 583
D. 880
Answer: BQ4. What physical phenomenon is experienced near the top of the incline?
A. Sudden rainstorms
B. Loose rockfalls
C. Thinner air and silence
D. Snow year-round
Answer: CQ5. What does the incline metaphorically represent, according to JC?
A. A playground for athletes
B. An outdated mode of transport
C. A test of political will
D. A challenge that offers perspective and personal growth
Answer: D -
In your own words, explain how the Manitou Incline changed from an industrial structure to a symbol of personal endurance.
Do you think physical challenges like the incline are important in today’s society?
Why or why not?
3–2–1 Rubric
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
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Common Core (ELA-Literacy):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1 — Initiate and participate in a range of collaborative discussions.
C3 (Social Studies):
D2.Geo.5.9-12 — Evaluate how political and economic decisions influence cultural and environmental characteristics of various places.
CTE (Engineering and Technology):
ENG09.01.01 — Investigate the evolution of transportation and industrial infrastructure.
IB MYP Individuals and Societies:
C1.2 Use of Sources — Students analyze source material for historical development and continuity.
UK National Curriculum (Geography):
KS4 Physical Landscapes in the UK — Understand the formation, use, and management of mountainous terrain.
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In this episode, JC explores the transformation of the Manitou Incline—from a cog railway built to support a hydroelectric pipeline, to a nearly vertical, 2,744-step endurance challenge. Students learn how historical infrastructure can be reimagined and how physical hardship can offer deeper perspective in an increasingly comfort-seeking world. This episode provides rich ground for cross-disciplinary discussion in geography, history, physics, and mental resilience.
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. (n.d.). Manitou Incline. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/manitou-incline/
