A Visit To The Garden of the Gods

Amazing rock formations are one of the things that you will find at the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can explore geology, plants, and animals in the 1334+ acre park. It is a National Natural Landmark with so much to see and do. If you’re looking for an amazing view of nature, this is definitely something to check out!

Park Activities

There is so much to do here!

Hiking- The park has 25 miles of trails. This includes a 1 ½ mile paved trail, Perkins Central Garden Trail, that is wheelchair and stroller accessible. There is a unique hiking tour, Garden of the Gods Walkabout as well. You can learn about wildlife, vegetation, geology and history from one of the parks trained professionals.

Biking- There are guided electric bike tours (by Amp’d Aventures), as well as rentable e-Bikes and standard mountain bikes if you don’t have your own. There are select trails in the park for biking and all of the one-way roads have paved bike lanes.

Horseback Riding- Another option to see the park is a guided horseback tour by Academy Riding Stables.

Rock Climbing- You are required to fill out a free registration form and must abide by all rules. The Visit Colorado site has a link for some outfitters who can teach you how to rock climb if you want to learn (scroll just past the halfway mark).

Bird Viewing- There are a variety of birds that can be seen in the Garden of the Gods Park. You can check out Birds of the Park to see what types are there.

Junior Ranger Program– This is open to kids 7 to 12 years old. There is an activity booklet available for $2.00 from the information desk in the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.

Exhibits in the Visitor and Nature Center– This has hands on interactive exhibits and you can learn about the complex geology, ecology and cultural history of the park.

Visiting Garden of the Gods with Little Ones

While rock climbing and biking sound like lots of fun, you may be wondering what you can do if you have little ones. This is where Perkins Garden Trail comes in. It’s wheelchair and stroller friendly so it’s easy to both walk around with your little ones or push them in the stroller. You’ll see amazing rock formations where kids can imagine what it would be like to climb some of these amazing rocks as well as try and figure out what some of the formations look like.

There isn’t a lot of shade here so you’ll want to keep that in mind and dress accordingly. There are benches located sporadically on the trail where you can take a break.

There are places throughout the park where you can have a picnic, but again, keep in mind there’s not any shade so it can turn miserable on a hot day. It may be a good idea to bring an umbrella or canopy if you’re planning on a picnic.

If your little one gets hot or cranky you can still see some amazing sites driving the trail.

Driving Through Garden of the Gods

If your little one isn’t feeling it or if it’s just too hot you don’t have to miss out on these amazing rock formations and natural beauty. There is a one way loop that is about seven miles where you can drive and see the formations. The speed limit is 20mph so you have time to take in the sites and there are many places to stop and park so that you can get out and look around or snap a picture.

Tips For Visiting Garden of the Gods with Young Kids

A few essentials you will want to remember if you are visiting the Garden of the Gods with young kids:

Water

Snacks

Sunscreen

Stroller (even if you think they will walk the whole time, it’s still a good idea to have just in case. Since the Perkins Garden Trail is paved the stroller will be easy to push.)

How did the red rocks form?

The park’s famous red rocks formed millions of years ago due to upheavals in the earth’s surface and erosion. The rocks are conglomerates of red, pink, and white sandstones and limestone. You can travel back in time to learn more about the history of these rock formations by watching an entertaining 15-minute film during your visit to the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center.

How did it get its name?

Probably not the way you would guess. In 1859, two railroad surveyors, Melancthon Beach and Rufus Cable, who were sent out to locate and establish Colorado City happened upon the rock formations and thought it would make a great beer garden because they felt it would be the perfect place that was fit for gods to assemble.

Cost of Admission to Garden of the Gods Park

Admission to the park is free, and it will always be free. You can thank railroad mogul Charles Elliott Perkins for that. He bought the portion of the land that contained many of the formations and he wanted to property to be open to the public for everyone to enjoy. When he died in 1907, his family deeded the property to the City of Colorado Springs under several stipulations, one of which was that the park remain “forever free” and open to the public.

Parking is limited and it can get busy on weekends as well as during the summer when it fills up fast so it is a good idea to plan either an early morning visit or an evening visit.

Dinosaurs in Garden of the Gods

In 1878 a Colorado College professor names James Kerr found the only known Theiophytalia kerri in the Garden. It was more than a century later that he was honored for the discovery. The dinosaur was names after him and the place that it was found. Theios is Greek for “belonging to the gods” and phtalia means “garden.” You can read the story of A Case of Mistaken Identity on how Dr. Kerr’s dinosaur fossil discovery was forgotten for over one hundred years.

Are dogs allowed in Garden of the Gods Park?

Yes, dogs are allowed on a leash throughout the park. An off-leash area is south of Gateway Road near the main entrance and Rock Ledge Ranch. Please pick up after your pet, it is the law.