Ascending Hikes – Mt. Manitou and Rocky Mountain

Please meet in Golden @ 5:50 AM in the CMC parking lot to arrange car pools to the trailhead (NOTE: There is limited parking at the trailhead) ... We will leave prompty @ 6:00 AM to drive to the trailhead (Directions from the CMC).

NOTE: The Denver Group allows carpool drivers to charge each passenger a mileage rate to defray expenses. It is suggested that carpool trips follow these Denver Group guidelines in reimbursing drivers for car expenses.  This is a guideline, not a policy, meaning that this is a recommended, but not required, method of sharing costs.

ASCENDING HIKES 

AHS helps members improve their personal hiking speed, strength, and stamina. No cost or big commitment. You can jump in or out anytime since all AHS hikes are posted as regular trips on the calendar.  Information about the Ascending Hikes Section can be found on the Section webpage here.  If you still have questions, write CMCAscendingHikes@gmail.com

If this is your first Ascending Hike, please review the below items:

• 2023 Member’s Guide to Ascending Hikes
• 2023 CMC Etiquette and Related Suggestions 

Alert!  This is a popular program.  If there is a standby list, join it.  Standby lists almost always clear.  Your Trip Leader and AHS Coordinators put a lot of effort into planning section activities.  Last minute cancellations and no-shows are very discouraging and insufficient numbers may jeopardize the program.  We realize that “things happen,” however PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AN AHS TRIP UNLESS YOU FULLY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE ON TRIP DAY.  

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

8.3 miles, +- 2,739 ft.: The hike will begin at the Manitou Incline Trailhead.  After a very short distance we will turn right onto the Ute Indian Trail. We will follow the Ute Indian Trail to the Northern Return Trail.  At the intersection we will turn left and follow the Northern Return Trail to the Manitou Incline. At the intersection with the Manitou Incline we turn right and climb the Manitou Incline a short distance to the Barr Trail.  We will turn left on the Barr Trail and follow it as it climbs to the Eagles Nest/Mt. Crest Trail.  At the intersection we will turn right and follow the Eagles Nest/Mt. Crest Trail past the top of the Manitou Incline to the intersection with the Longs Ranch Trail.  At the intersection we will turn left onto the Longs Ranch Trail and follow it to the west side of Rocky Mountain.  At this point we will leave the trail and head east to the summit of Rocky Mountain. After enjoying the views fromt he summit, we return to the trailhead via the Barr Trail.