Covid-19 Update: Garden of the Gods Park is still open. The Visitor’s Center is temporarily closed. Make sure to check the Garden of the Gods website for updates, openings and closings.
Colorado Springs is a one of a kind town in Colorado. Home to Pikes Peak, the Olympic Training Center, Seven Falls and so much more. But perhaps the most popular attraction in CO Springs is the Garden of the Gods. And for good reason too! If you’ve never been to the Garden of the Gods, go! I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s quite the wonder that everyone should experience. And the best part… it’s free!
The park opens at 5 AM and closes at 9 PM, but hours vary in between the Summer and Winter seasons. Garden of the Gods is a great place to go during good weather. But they are open year round. Make sure to dress accordingly if you plan to go in the Winter. Also, if you go after it snows, make sure to watch for ice and slippery parts on the trail.
Start at the Visitor’s Center. The first time I visited the park with my husband and friend from Texas, our GPS took us through the back part of the park and we got completely lost. It’s a large park! So make sure you punch in “Garden of the Gods Visitor’s Center” into your GPS and it’ll bring you right to it. And you can’t miss it either once you see it.
Once you’re in the Visitor’s Center, you’ll be able to pick up a map. The workers can explain the trails to you if you need. There are a few exhibits in the center to look at.There’s also a coffee shop, gift shop and it’s a good place to stop at the restroom before you start the trail. There is a bathroom at the beginning of the main trail, also. But the best part of the center is the view from the balcony. From the balcony, you can see the entrance to the park along with the iconic view of the park. Totally worth a quick stop before you hit the trails.
Don’t stay parked at the Visitor’s Center. After you check out the center, move your car to another lot that’s closer to the park. That also allows other people to be able to park at the center as well. It’s easiest to park in the main parking lot, which is connected to the main trail. This is not the lot across from the Visitor’s Center. Drive down Gateway Road towards the park and keep going until you reach Lot P2. If this lot is full, don’t worry. Each parking lot in the park connects to a trail. We even parked in the lot across from the Visitor’s Center and walked to the main lot since it was full. It was a little far, but we were going for a hike anyways, so we didn’t mind.
Here is a link to the park map for reference.
The park is really big! According to the Garden of the Gods website, there are over 21 miles of trail to explore. So you won’t be able to do every trail in one visit. I recommend the main trail for your first visit. The main trail starts at the main parking lot and leads to the Central Garden Trail, which is basically one big circle. If you take the same trail you started on after you complete the circle, it will lead you back to the parking lot where you started. On this trail, you’ll see some of the most popular rock formations of the park like the “Kissing Camels”, “Tower of Babel”, and “White Rock”. Make sure you take the smaller loop also, so you don’t miss the “Three Graces” or the “Cathedral Spires”. If you’re not a hiker, do not be intimidated by this “trail” at all. It’s not really even a trail, more like a really long paved sidewalk. Super easy to walk and accessible for everyone. I’ve seen both strollers and wheelchairs on the trail.
Another popular exhibit is Balanced Rock near the back of the park. You will need to drive there since it is all the way across the park. There is a parking lot if you want to get out and look. But you can also just drive under it and see it too. There’s a trading post near the back of the park also, with a gift shop and snacks.
As you’ve probably figured out by now from the pictures, dogs are allowed in the park, they just have to remain on a leash. In fact, Colorado Springs as a whole is very dog friendly. If you’re looking for other things to do with your pups, check out Seven Falls, Pub Dog and Manitou Cave Dwellings.
Since Garden of the Gods is free, it’s a place you can visit again and again. Everytime we have friends or family in town, we always try to take them here. It’s such a magnificent park with great views and something for everyone to enjoy. I can’t wait for our next visit to enjoy even more that the park has to offer.
There are way more adventures at Garden of the Gods than just hiking. There are all kinds of tours, both self-guided and tour guided, including Jeep, Trolley and Segway tours. There lots of rock climbing available and you can even rent a bike for the park as well. Make sure to check out Garden of the Gods website for more details and to start booking your adventure!