Senate approves Manitou Incline legalization bill

The U.S. Senate approved a bill that clarifies the legal status of the popular Manitou Incline hiking trail late Sunday night.

The legislation addresses a right-of-way issue with the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway Company. It allows for the U.S. Forest Service to accept the railway’s relinquishment of its right-of-way. This is necessary based on an 1875 federal law.

The legislation will ensure that the Forest Service can manage and maintain the trail, Representative Doug Lamborn said.

The bill now heads to President Barack Obama’s desk for a signature before becoming law.

Lamborn led the effort in the House, where the bill passed in July.

“The passage of this bill formalizes what hundreds of Coloradans already know – how incredibly challenging yet beautiful the Manitou Incline hike is. The ‘vertical mile’ is a source of great local pride for residents of Manitou and Colorado Springs, and I’m glad that we can finally make it official,” Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said.