If you go

The Manitou Incline starts at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. It is open dawn to dusk. Dogs are not allowed. A free shuttle takes visitors from Manitou Springs’ Memorial Park, where parking is ample, to the Incline. Hikers must take the Pikes Peak Barr Trail back down, a roughly 4-mile round-trip. On weekends, the Incline is packed (1-800-888-4748; VisitCOS.com).

Melanie Radzicki McManus