Is Garden Of The Gods Worth Seeing

This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may receive a commission (at no cost to you) if you click a link and make a purchase.

How Did the Garden of the Gods Get Its Name?

Garden of the Gods Gateway Road Welcome Sign

As the legend goes, Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods got its name from some of the first explorers to the area. One explorer remarked that the area would be good for a beer garden, and the other's response was "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." I'm not exactly sure if I believe that story, but there's no denying that this place is definitely fit for the Gods. The major rock formations in the park are breathtaking and watching them appear over the horizon as you drive through Colorado Springs is frankly jaw-dropping with an equally impressive backdrop of the Rockies.

How Was the Garden of the Gods Formed?

According to the exhibits at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, the rock formations were created millions of years ago. The formation (and much of the Rockies) lies on a fault line that caused the slabs of rock to be tilted vertically into "fins" as the tectonic plates moved. The rocks get their red color from the hematite in the rock. Even knowing how they were made, seeing them for the first time is just so unbelievable it feels as if they were dropped from outer space.

Garden of the Gods Trails

Hiking is one of the best things to do in Colorado, and the Garden of the Gods doesn't disappoint. Now, we do a lot of hiking in Upstate New York which is beautiful, but it really can't be compared to landscapes like this. Here are a few options for a good Garden of the Gods hike.

Trail at Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak in the Background

Palmer Trail

There are 15 miles worth of trails in Garden of the Gods park. One of the guides at the visitor center who goes by the name "Boston Larry" hooked us up with some recommendations for visiting the park along with a map of the area. We started with the Palmer Trail that loops up and around the exterior of the park and converges eventually with the Siamese Twins Trail. The best place to park to do the Palmer Trail is in P2, which is the first parking lot to the left as you drive through the park. From the Palmer Trail you can get elevated views of the larger rock formations, along with a bit more strenuous exercise with fewer people. You can also get some beautiful views of Pikes Peak.

Perkins Central Garden Trail

The main section of the park features the Central Garden Trail which we were heading to next when a freak ice/sleet/rain storm started. This lasted all of about 40 minutes—enough for us to be completely frozen and wet. I had ice stuck all down the front of my jacket by the time it was done. Of course after that there were blue skies the rest of the day, but it pays to be prepared for any type of weather. I was especially happy I had my waterproof camera bag to protect my equipment from the rain (see all of my gear including my camera bag on my gear page).

The Central Garden Trail is a paved, flat walkway through the park which makes it easily wheelchair accessible. Most of the major rock formations can be seen from here, but sometimes the views of these imposing structures can be better appreciated from afar in my opinion. The walkways themselves are pretty quick to walk through as you weave among the different formations. Check out a map of the park online or at the visitor's center to see all the names of the different formations. I've included some of the more popular ones later on in this post.

Other Things to Do Besides Hiking

Garden of the Gods is a popular place to do numerous outdoor activities including mountain biking and horseback riding. Rock climbing is also allowed with the correct permit and gear. The climbing permits are free and good for one year; however you must have a copy of the permit with you each time you climb.

If you are interested in rock climbing in the park, you can access the Garden of the Gods Climbing Permit here. Companies such as Front Range Climbing Co. offer tours that teach you how to climb and can provide gear and an instructor. Always remember that you must have a buddy with you when climbing any of the formations here, and in general it is just good practice to never climb alone!

The second day we spent in Garden of the Gods we tackled the trails on the other side of the park. The Ute trail is a good option for mountain biking as it is flatter and designated for these trails especially. In the park, bikers are required to yield to pedestrians as well as those on horseback, so these are some of the better trails to avoid having to slow down or maneuver around others. Electric bike rentals are available through Amp'd Adventures and same day bike rentals are available from the visitor center. To see Garden of the Gods on horseback, check out Garden of the Gods Horseback Riding tours with Academy Riding Stables. Check out some of the other options for Garden of the Gods tours below.

Conservation Efforts and Park Rules

Because the red rock and surrounding vegetation is so fragile, there are several conservation efforts in the park. Everyone is encouraged to stay on the clearly marked paths in order to preserve the local habitat. In addition to conserving the local area, the rangers in the park are also looking out for your safety. Smoking is not permitted in the park. Bouldering or climbing above marked trails is also prohibited. Be sure to follow all posted rules when visiting the park.

Read: 2 Day Colorado Springs Itinerary

Garden of the Gods Rock Formations

The Garden of the Gods Rock Formations are the whole reason this park was founded. I couldn't help but want to try to capture the views with some photography. I'll start by saying I'm not sure that any photography can really capture the grandeur of this place, but here are some of the top photographed rock formations in the park!

Kissing Camels

The Garden of the Gods' Kissing Camels was one of the first things we noticed on our path along Palmer Trail as it is easily seen perched on top of one of the largest rock formations.

Siamese Twins

As we finished off the Palmer Trail and merged onto the Siamese Twins Trail, we were treated with this spectacular rock formation, the Siamese Twins, aptly named for the two nearly identical columns. The small space between the two pillars creates a perfect window to frame the snow-capped Pikes Peak.

Balanced Rock

Definitely the most popular attraction of the park has to be Balanced Rock. There were so many people around taking pictures that I had to snap this shot pretty quickly before the next group of people were lining up to get their photo taken. It looks fairly stable here, but depending on the angle you are looking at it from, it appears as if it will just topple over.

Park Wildlife

There are many species of birds and small mammals in the park, along with deer, big horn sheep, and rattlesnakes. Thankfully since it was a bit cooler out in November it wasn't likely that a snake would be crossing our path, but throughout the trip we were unable to find any big horn sheep, although Boston Larry assured us they were there, but a bit skittish around people.

On a nice day, plan to be at the park early as parking can fill up quickly. You are also more likely to find wildlife when the park is quieter with fewer visitors.

Planning Your Trip to Garden of the Gods

Park Hours: While Google says that the park is open 9am-5pm, the Garden of the Gods websites shows times from 5am-late depending on the season

Parking: There is limited parking within the Garden of the Gods park. Even on a Sunday afternoon in November it was difficult for us to find parking. The main parking area is located at P2, the first parking lot on your left as you enter the main section of the park. There are also many small pull-off points throughout the park, or if you are visiting during the summer there is a free shuttle that goes from the visitor center and overflow parking at Rock Ledge Ranch. The shuttle also has a lift to be more wheelchair accessible.

Cost: Free, and always will be free thanks to the generosity of Charles Elliott Perkins, who bequeathed the land to the city of Colorado Springs under the stipulation that it always remain free to the public. Parking is also free at the visitor center and in the park.

Things to bring: Extra layers of clothing including waterproof gear, water, snacks, camera, good walking/hiking shoes. Check out my Gear page for a list of things I use on hikes and other trips!

Time to Spend: 2-6 hours depending on if you are planning on just driving from spot to spot or participating in outdoor activities like a rock climbing session or a long hike.

Garden of the Gods Map: Check out a PDF version of the Garden of the Gods park map here or pick one up at the visitor center when you arrive!

Conclusion

Garden of the Gods was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Colorado. While all the views of the mountains were spectacular, there's just something special about this place. It's no wonder that it is one of the top national landmarks in the United States on TripAdvisor. I highly recommend planning a visit to this place, but please be mindful of the park rules and help keep this area as beautiful as it is today. A place this spectacular truly needs to be preserved.

Have you been to the Garden of the Gods or are you planning to go?