Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs plan study of four possible Manitou Incline trailhead sites
The proposed 10- to 12-week study would rank four unnamed locations and estimate costs for restrooms, water, signage, trail connections and utilities.
Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs plan to study four potential locations for a future trailhead at the Manitou Incline, where recorded use totaled more than 144,000 uphill users from January through August 2026.
A presentation prepared for the Manitou Springs City Council says Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services is pursuing the study with Kimley-Horn Consultants. The presentation is included in the city’s Incline Trail update presentation, scheduled as an informational item rather than a request for council action.
The four locations are described as adjacent sites, but the presentation does not name them. The study would compare options for a medium-capacity, multiple-stall restroom; public handwashing and drinking water; an information, regulation and signage hub; improved connections between the trail and trailhead; and water, sewer and electrical utilities.
Kimley-Horn’s work also is expected to examine environmental and regulatory constraints, grading, materials, facility type and size, and overall constructability. Planned deliverables include a ranked evaluation of the sites, high-level construction and utility cost estimates, projected operations and maintenance costs, and documentation that could support later design, grant applications and stakeholder investment.
The presentation anticipates executing the study contract in October 2026. The study is expected to take about 10 to 12 weeks after the contract is executed. It does not disclose the contract amount, procurement method or which city or organization would pay for the study.
After the study, staff are expected to prioritize one location, coordinate with property owners and pursue funding for design and construction. The presentation does not identify a selected site or approved construction funding.
The presentation lists 117,146 reservations and 144,274 recorded uphill users from January through August. Reservations come from the Aluvii reservation system, while uphill users are recorded by an Eco-Counter system. The presentation notes that the counter’s directional readings can be inaccurate when users do not step on both rows of its slabs. The counter failed in 2023, and new slabs were installed in January 2024.
A Sept. 15 City Council memorandum identifies the Incline update as a 45-minute informational presentation and does not identify a fiscal impact, workload impact or council approval of the study.