An after-work climb on the Incline is off the table until spring. Since November 1 the trail has been on winter hours, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it stays on that schedule through April 30. During summer, from May 1 to October 31, you could start any time until 6 p.m.
The Incline, the shuttle, the parking lots and the mountain road each switch to their own off-season schedule, and none of them ends at the same hour. That's why an Incline climb in winter takes more planning than it did in August. The 3 p.m. trail cutoff is the first deadline of the day. After that, the free bus and the main parking hub run for three more hours, and the bus comes every 30 minutes instead of every 10 to 15.
The 3 p.m. cutoff sets your start time
The City of Colorado Springs Incline page says access is "not permitted outside of the above posted hours." The free online reservation and signed waiver are still required, and you need a new waiver every time you book. Capacity stays at 45 reservations per half hour all year.
Your 30-minute slot is only an arrival window. The city says "there is no time limit to complete your climb." In winter, that means a 2:30 p.m. slot is the last one of the day. It also means you'll be heading down as the short afternoon light starts to fade. You don't need to cancel a reservation you can't use. The city says no action is required, so just book another time.
Booking runs on a monthly cycle: "Reservations for the upcoming month become available on the 1st of each month." The Parks department posts occasional closures for special events or maintenance on its Facebook page.
The shuttle is still free, and it comes every 30 minutes
Here's a correction many people will need. The city's Incline page still lists Route 33, the Manitou Springs Shuttle, as zero fare "effective March 29, 2026 through October 24, 2026." But Mountain Metro's winter schedule for THE ZEB Manitou Ride took effect October 25 and runs through March 27, 2027, and it still calls the route "zero fare service." The schedule says the route is "paid for in part by Manitou Springs."
Weekday service runs half as often as it did in summer, and weekend service a third as often.
| Route 33 | Summer schedule | Winter schedule, Oct. 25, 2026 to Mar. 27, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Every 15 minutes, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; every 30 minutes until 8 p.m. | Every 30 minutes, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Weekends | Every 10 minutes, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; every 30 minutes until 8 p.m. | Every 30 minutes, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Fare | Zero | Zero |
On a summer Saturday, a bus you missed came back in 10 minutes. This winter, you'll wait up to half an hour, and the evening service that ran until 8 p.m. is gone. Mountain Metro also runs no buses on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
The bigger winter change involves Ruxton Avenue itself. The schedule says: "During snowy and/or icy weather, Route 33 may not be able to service Ruxton Ave. including the COG and Incline. Service will resume as conditions allow." On a snowy morning, the shuttle can still run while skipping the stop you need most.
Where you park decides how much of the clock you get
Because the bus may not get up Ruxton, where you park matters more in winter. Each of the three lots the city lists works differently.
- Dillon Mobility Hub, 134 Manitou Ave. The city calls this the preferred option. It has 91 spaces, including four ADA-accessible spots, and it's open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. That's the same hour the winter shuttle stops. The City of Manitou Springs parking page lists rates and reservations.
- Hiawatha Gardens lot, "the Duck Stop," 10 Old Man's Trail. Parking is by meter. Keep the top of your ticket on the dash and take the bottom half with you as proof of parking. The shuttle stop is just south of the lot, at Old Man's Trail and Manitou Avenue.
- Iron Springs Chateau, 444 Ruxton Ave. This is the closest of the three to the trailhead. Parking is $15 per car for four hours, cash only, first come, first served. The lot may close early when a show is scheduled, and closures are posted on its Facebook page.
From the Duck Stop you can also walk. The city publishes a walking map from parking to the Incline and suggests the walk as a way to "add to your hike" if you don't want to wait. With the bus every 30 minutes, the walk can sometimes beat the wait. On days when the bus isn't going up Ruxton, it's the only way to the trailhead from that lot.
Hiawatha Gardens is a better winter base than it was a year ago
The Duck Stop lot works well in winter because of this summer's rebuild. In the July 17, 2026 City News, the city reported that the first phase of Hiawatha Gardens was complete "ahead of schedule and under budget." The finished phase includes public restrooms, an electric vehicle charging station, secure bike lockers and a water filling station. The city scheduled a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting for July 20.
That's useful in winter. With a 30-minute wait between buses, having restrooms and a water station at the stop makes the wait easier, before and after a climb.
The Ruxton end has a hiker stop too. The Gazette reported that IncliNation Café held its grand opening May 8 at 124 Ruxton Ave., at the base of the Incline, with plans for post-hike recovery services. FOX21 later reported that the owners were planning the Bailout Spa and Groove Lounge next to the café. Its posted hours have changed since it opened, so check the current schedule before a cold-morning coffee run.
Ruxton itself stays as it is for now. In its April newsletter, the City of Manitou Springs said it expects Ruxton Avenue construction in 2027. The city's 2026 work plan calls for final design of the asphalt, curb, gutter and sidewalk work this quarter.
The mountain has its own 3 p.m. cutoff
The 3 p.m. Incline cutoff matches another winter cutoff at the top of town. The Pikes Peak Highway has been on seasonal hours since October 1. The uphill gate opens at 9 a.m., the last entry is at 3 p.m., the summit closes at 4 p.m. and the downhill gate closes at 5 p.m. If you're showing visitors the summit by car, you have to be through the gate by the time the Incline closes.
The Cog Railway, whose depot is on Ruxton next to the Incline, runs year-round. Departures are listed on its schedule page. Its FAQ warns that severe weather or heavy snow can block summit access, and that trains already on the way up may be told not to continue. Barr Trail, which starts off Ruxton above the Cog depot, is listed by the U.S. Forest Service as a year-round trail. The agency's current conditions guidance warns of sudden weather changes, mountain storms and extreme temperatures.
Down the road, Cave of the Winds stays open all year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. From November through February, its above-ground attractions and the Terror-Dactyl are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with extra openings during holiday weeks.
The holiday calendar brings evenings back to Manitou Avenue
Winter shortens the day on Ruxton, but the holiday events are mostly held downtown in the evening. Visit Manitou's holiday schedule and event calendar list these dates:
- Nov. 6 to Dec. 27: Commonwheel Artists Co-op Holiday Market.
- Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Blood drive at Memorial Hall, 606 Manitou Ave., listed in the city's October 23 newsletter.
- Nov. 14: The Manitou Music Foundation's Bids, Beats, and Brews at the Manitou Art Center.
- Nov. 25, 5 to 7 p.m.: Town Clock tree lighting with Santa.
- Nov. 27 to 29: Miramont Castle Victorian Christmas.
- Nov. 28: Small Business Saturday.
- Dec. 6, 6 p.m.: Manitou Avenue Christmas Parade.
- Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa.
- Dec. 24: Santa at the Town Clock.
- Dec. 31: AdAmAn fireworks.
The parade organizers list a route on Manitou Avenue from Ruxton Avenue to El Paso Boulevard. They ask spectators to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. The parade starts at 6 p.m., the same hour the winter shuttle and the Dillon Mobility Hub stop running. Plan your parking and your ride home before you go. The tree lighting on November 25 runs 5 to 7 p.m., so it also continues after the bus stops.
A few dates are worth adding to your calendar. On Thanksgiving Day, there's no Mountain Metro bus service and Cave of the Winds is closed. Christmas Day and New Year's Day have no bus service either, and the city's Incline page says the shuttle from the Duck Stop doesn't run on any of those three days.
If you're coming to the Pikes Peak region this winter on a PCS move or a job change and want to know how daily routines like these work in Manitou Springs, the team at Colorado's Choice Homes is happy to walk you through it, on evenings and weekends too. Ask us for a free relocation plan, and we'll build it around your real schedule, including the 3 p.m. Incline cutoff.
