Note 1: Be careful you don't end up on this trail instead of the Manitou Incline. They start in different locations and I hiked a half-mile before realizing I was in the wrong place and had missed my permitted Incline window. Note 2: A little bottle of water is a mistake. Be smart, especially on a warm day. I met too many people making this mistake and had to share some of mine. Heck, you're at altitude and ascending quickly! Note 3: I didn't seal my hiking pants with my Dirty Girl gaiters until after I'd been stung many times by a single wasp who managed to work her way into a pant leg. Apparently, wasps are common in the area. This is a terrific training hike if you're a non-local seeking ascents at altitude. 13.1 miles with 3,500'+ of climbing up to an altitude of 10,000'+. It's tough only for the untrained. Nothing compared to the Incline in terms of effort, but still worth the trip if you have time. Also, there are snacks in camp. And... you can snatch a free snack if you're willing to haul a super-light trash bag down to the trailhead. Heck, carry two--they weigh less than the weight of the water you drank on the way up. read more

See all

Back in 2017 I hiked the Barr up to Pike's Peak. It is a bucket list for sure and I highly recommend everyone ( that can) should experience it. Spend the night at the Barr camp as it is really fun and a great experience. This time I hiked with CMC to the abandoned experimental camp that was abandoned in 1930. Very cool place to explore the relics that were left behind. We even made it to the Sam's grave. Parking is pricey and there are ways around that but for sheer convenience ...what the heck $25 bucks it is. The trail is in spectacular shape and the views are stunning. Go, Hike, Have fun. read more

See all

This trail was a life saver. It helped me not have to take the incline down. Knowing me I would have stumbled down the steep hill. The trail is well defined and is about 2 miles from top to bottom. There are signs posted telling you not to cut the trail. After climbing the incline, I was like yeah right. I need any shortcut I can get. The trail is very scenic and gives you some nice panoramic views of the town below. The trail feeds into other trails that can take you to Pikes Peak, which is over 13 miles . No thank you. Now the trail is not the most direct route to the base and is very windy. There is a commercial lot at the base where you can park. They check it often, so I suggest making sure you are paid up before you set off or you will come back not only with sore legs, but a ticket. The trail is very tranquil and peaceful and I enjoyed my trek down. It was much faster going down than it was going up as you would imagine. I made it safely down to the parking lot in about 45 minutes. It feeds out right across the street from the COG railway and free shuttle stop. Anyway, this is a very nice scenic nature trail. That is frequented by many visitors. It is not as strenuous as the incline, but also not as direct. You still need to prepare to take this hike. You should start by bringing water and wearing good shoes/boots. You also should be in fair shape if you are going to trek up the hill, as it still has some somewhat steep accents along the way. I recommend checking this trail out, and if you are adventurous enough to take the incline up, you should at least considering taking this trail down. read more

See all

Fantastic experience hiking this famous trail. Get up early, I started at 5 but wish I did an hour earlier. It's a long haul so think light packs. Take at least 4-5 quarts of water with a filter for the way down. I was trying for max pain last Wednesday and started on the Incline. Even though it's "closed" there were a few others hiking at 5am. It's tough but doable, and a good shortcut for the first three miles off the Barr Trail switchbacks. The stairs are a challenge, with some being a crawl up on your hands. Very steep and not recommend for people with mobility trouble. At the top of the stairs you'll go straight on a very well defined trail. I finished the in line at 6 am. In around .75 it links with the Barr trail and keeps going. Great rock formations and cool forest here, with some water and views to Pikes. The next few miles are easy, and there's Barr Camp after 6 miles. This was at 8 am for me. Great bathrooms and a big stream to filter. I saw a huge chipmunk lol. Three to four miles of steady uphill forest switchbacks and you'll hit tree line. It's very beautiful and serene, with a lot of cool rocks. Much prettier than other peaks. I got tree line at 10 am and started the ascent to the peak. The push is better described in journals but I will say it took me around 2 hours for the last four miles. The clouds will come very fast and you'll want to keep track of them. The trail is not exactly hard, but strenuous and a push. The summit is under construction and you'll want to walk around the fence for a faster, but ankle hurting route to the official sign. Retrace your steps, and get off the peak by noon thirty. I made it back to my car, knees stiff and feet hurtin, at 5pm. So, around 12 hours for the whole beast. Had a snack and relaxed. Ten dollars for parking. read more

See all

So glad we went! The trail was done so well! There were parts that we couldn't find the path- but overall so good! read more

Barr Trail - This trail was done so well! - Hiking Near Me - Manitou Springs, Colorado

So after doing the Incline you'd think the trail down wouldn't be nearly as difficult. Well, Barr Trail was tough. ++ Great views all along the trail of the Gog and Magog rock monoliths across Englemann Canyon, with Cameron's Cone in the background! ++ Def a more gentle grade than heading back down the Incline its self. ++ Lots of long switchbacks ease the descent. +/- It's four miles from the top of the Incline back to the parking lots. Ouch! After doing the Incline Barr Trail was VERY exhausting. +/- The trail is pretty narrow in spots. -- Trail-runners seem to be very impatient and dominate the downhill direction of the trail. My hiking companion and I found ourselves jumping out of the way quite frequently. Add Barr Trail to the Incline and you've got yourself one very full, satisfying, and exhausting morning! **Pro Tip: If you're into Geocaching, there are a few hidden along Barr Trail. Just makes sure your phone is charged! read more

See all

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Manitou Springs Length: 26 total miles (R/T) to Pikes Peak Elevation Gain: 7,100 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: Difficult Duration: 7 hours Season: Best in Summer This popular trail offers year-round hiking, great views, and the option to stay overnight at Barr Camp without hauling your tent or camp stove. Early on, the trail has views of Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs (including downtown), and the Garden of the Gods, and later peeks of Pikes. Thousands of people hike, run, and mountain bike the trail every year. I used Barr trail to reach Pikes Peak and back. Total 26 miles round trip from the bottom where the parking lot is. If you're only interested in getting to Barr Camp then total is 7 miles. Or round trip 14 miles. The Barr Trail is an easy way to get down from The Incline. From the half way point or from the very top. You see hikers run down from both points simply because it's easy to do. It's well maintained thanks to the Friends of the Peak (FTOP) who back In 2006, some 132 FOTP volunteers dedicated the equivalent of 252 days to maintaining and improving the Barr Trail. The trail is well marked and is travelled often providing packed dirt and rocks and an easy trail to follow. This trail is busy but it thins out to almost zero fellow hikers when you pass the halfway point where you can bail out from The Incline. This trail therefore can offer you solitude past the two exit areas mentioned above. It is well maintained and wide. You will be walking next to a stream that you can hear but not see when you reach the 5 mile marker or so. I did enjoy my hike here. The solitude was the main attraction for me and of course bagging the awesome Pikes Peak. read more

See all

Amazing trail hike, i was not expecting to go their, was going to Buena Vista but Fortunately life bought me here, With two big luggage and meeting amazing people around the world was one time amazing experience of life. Had camped for 18 days in Cold 0 degree for 2 days where my tent was full of snow. Camped at 1 mile for a day, 2mile for a day, 3/half for 2 days, 5 mile for a day and Barr camp with my tent. If you wanna reach to peak top nothing can be better. read more

Barr Trail was the route I selected for my first "14er" back in 2006 when I was a flatlander. Twenty four miles to the summit and back to the parking lot. It was an amazing trip and, at the time, felt like a fabulous accomplishment. The first day, I arrived at Barr Camp on a wonderfully warm and sunny day. I camped overnight and tagged the summit the next day. The summit donuts are spectacular, especially after the hike up. After arriving back at Barr Camp, I decided to break camp and hike all the way back down on summit day. Wow, the hike back down really killed my calves. The hike down from Barr Camp to the parking lot seemed to go on, and on and on. Since then, I've moved back to Colorado Springs and have hiked Barr Trail up to the camp about three more times. I've also done the Incline many times and jogged back down Barr. Some of the things I love about Barr Trail are: -Refilling my water bottle at the stream at Barr Camp -Getting above the Incline and away from the majority of the people on the Barr Trail -Taking a break under the massive boulder that leans over the trail -Taking the split to the "experimental forest" -The A-frame -The "16 Golden Stairs", maybe not at the time I'm slogging up but afterward. . . -The feeling of being "above the clouds" -The camp and the wonderful, welcoming people who run it. Having a massive mountain and convenient access to it in your backyard is a genuine luxury! read more

See all

Make a two day trip and stay at Barr Camp. The first 3 miles and last 3 miles are the hardest. My backpack was about 30lbs, and I would say that was probably the most you will want to carry. Bring a jacket for the top of Pikes Peak as is is usually 30 degrees colder. The day we went it rained the whole first day. read more

Barr Trail - Barr Trail 15JUL17 - Hiking Near Me - Manitou Springs, Colorado

We hiked the Barr Trail down from the Incline. The weather was beautiful with sun and about 65 degrees. The trail itself offers plenty of shade vs sun and winds through beautiful wooded areas. It is a great cool down after climbing the Incline. Very clean and well kept. read more

See all

Backpacked this lil diddy several times in my youth and it's one of my all time fAvorite trails.. if your looking for a good physical challenge the barr from manitou to pikes peak is great and the Barr camp is a gear place to chill at the halfway point!!! read more

Barr Trail begins off of a parking lot in west Manitou Springs, off Ruxton Avenue, up Hydro Street. It is clearly marked by a sign and also has a little outhouse with helpful maps and guides nailed to the exterior. One sign indicates that Barr Trail takes about eight hours to maneuver for people who walk briskly. It is a little over 12 miles and about 7,800 feet of altitude. I am from Chicagoland and am not used to any kind of altitude. Going up elevators is enough to make my ears pop. Going up three flights of stairs in Denver was enough to leave me breathless. I am physically fit. I workout five days a week. Oh - and I have asthma but it never bothers me. I completed Barr Trail in nine hours while carrying a heavy backpack filled with water, clothes, and snacks. I was miserable. It was difficult for me to move one foot in front of the other (especially near the top) and I stumbled a lot because I didn't have the energy to lift my feet high enough. Our friends who live in Colorado Springs completed Barr trail in eight hours. We hiked together until the last hour or so. The trail was very clear and kept up. There were only a few parts near the top (in the rocky terrain) where the path was not obvious, but we still navigated it with ease. We saw some guys come down the trail on bikes. I think they were crazy. The trail was good for walking, but not wheels... In fact, I don't think there was room for a helicopter to land. I wanted a helicopter to come and get me off of the mountain multiple times, but realized the easiest way off the mountain was at the top where the train stopped. We stopped partway up the mountain at Barr Camp. People can make reservations and stay there overnight and eat, but we didn't. We just used the stream to replenish our water supplies (sanitizing it of course). We took the Cog Train down the mountain once we got to the top, which was probably the best part of the whole excursion. Unfortunately, we had to buy our tickets ahead of time and we missed our train. The conductor was kind enough to let us on the next train after all of the ticketed people were seated. read more

Fun and beautiful trail. And significantly less dog poop than I remember from when I used to hike it years ago. Always a great workout and everyone I run into is so friendly. My favorite trail in Colorado. read more

Always a great hike. A little crowded at times but beautiful and scenic and challenging. #1 most used trail in the USA.