When runners in the 60^th Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon make their way up and down the tricky switchbacks knows as the “W’s” on Barr Trail, they’ll have the course largely to themselves this year.

The City of Colorado Springs will close the Incline, the popular trail near the Ascent and Marathon course, on Saturday until 11 a.m., and Sunday until 2 p.m.

Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. President Ron Ilgen said safety concerns for all trail users should always be a top priority in such large-scale backcountry events.

“Due primarily to safety concerns, but also for overall enjoyment, the closing of the Incline on both race days is in the best interest for both the Incline hikers and the marathon runners,” Ilgen said.

Some 1,800 runners will line up in Manitou Springs for the 7 a.m. start of the Pikes Peak Ascent on Saturday, and race to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. About 800 will run in Sunday’s marathon, ascending 13.32 miles up Barr Trail to tag the summit, then turn back and make a wild down-hill scramble to finish in Manitou Springs.

The Incline, a mile-long abandoned railway bed that ascents nearly 2,000 feet, has become one of the most popular outdoor activities along Colorado’s Front Range. It’s common for more than 2,000 hikers to make the trip on a weekend day. Though the Incline is not part of the race course, all Incline users are encouraged to return via Barr Trail. City and marathon officials agreed that the additional foot traffic from the Incline, mixed with runners traveling at higher speeds on Barr Trail, creates the possibility for accidents.

Roger Austin, who climbs the Incline nearly every day, and who will also compete in the Pikes Peak double, the Ascent and Marathon, said closing the Incline, at least for a few hours each day, is the right thing to do.

“It's no secret I love the Incline and do it a lot, and I also run the Pikes Peak races,” he said. “In the interest of safety, this was a very smart move and I applaud race officials for requesting the closure and Incline decision makers for honoring that request. With nearly 3,000 racers and probably as many Incliners, this was a smart move.”

The Incline will return to normal hours, dawn to dusk, on Monday.