Complete Guide to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

The Garden of the Gods is a public park and natural wonder located in Colorado Springs, CO.

Famous for its large sandstone rocks and ease of visit for tourists, you may wonder if the site is as spectacular as its name suggests.

I’m here to tell you the Garden of the Gods is absolutely breathtaking and a must-see while in Colorado!

Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about visiting the Colorado’s the Garden of the Gods.

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Where is Garden of the Gods?

The Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The park is about a fifteen minutes drive northwest of the downtown area.

The Garden of the Gods is a popular day trip from Denver as well, especially if you are flying into the state at the Denver International Airport (DEN). It is about an hour and ten minutes drive in light traffic from Denver.

Whether you are in the Colorado Springs area or coming from Denver, you will need to rent a car to access the park due to lack of public transportation.

Ample parking is available, and we recommend parking at the large lot near the visitor’s center for general visits. If you are interested in a particular trailhead, you will find smaller lots near these areas as well.

The main address for the park is 1805 N. 30th Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904

When Should I Visit?

Anytime you are near Colorado Springs is a great time to visit! The park is accessible seven days a week, opening at 5AM and closing at either 9PM or 10PM, depending on the time of the year. Note however, that the visitor center does not open until 9AM.

We highly recommend visiting as early in the morning as possible. This is an extremely busy park, so you’ll want to arrive as early as possible to beat the crowds.

The park is open year round. Spring and fall are the best times to visit due to milder temperatures and plentiful options for outdoor activities. Summer will have heavy tourist traffic, and winters will have less visitors but also be less pleasant weather-wise.

Over 2 million people visit the Garden of the Gods each year, mostly in summer time.

Is Garden of the Gods Free?

With entry fees now the norm at popular natural sites, you may be wondering if the Garden of the Gods is free.

Luckily, the visiting the site remains completely free to visit as it is public land rather than a National Park site.

Things to Do at the Garden of the Gods

The primary activity at the Garden of the Gods is of course simply marveling at the ancient sandstone and limestone cliffs!

Spend some time wandering around the 1,367 acre park, taking photos of nature’s magnificence. The main trail is paved and easy to traverse, and also wheelchair friendly.

Guided nature walks are available with an official representative for only $5, though we think you can easily navigate the park on your own. Additionally, a number of guided tours are available if you prefer to join a group:

There are over 21 miles of trails throughout the park for those who enjoy hiking. Rock climbing, mountain biking, and even horseback riding are popular activities for the more adventurous visitors.

Rock climbing enthusiast a permit is needed for rock climbing.

You also won’t want to leave without doing a scenic drive of the area.

We recommend planning to spend about two hours at the park for the casual visitor and hiker, and longer if you plan on exploring more of the site.

Garden of the Gods Trails

There are many different Garden of the Gods hiking trails to choose from, with something for every level. All of the trail options are located on the Garden of the Gods website, and paper maps are available for free at the visitor’s center.

Popular Trails

Perkins Central Garden Trail: 1.5 miles, paved (easy)
Siamese Twins Trail: 1 mile, 150 ft elevation (easy)
Scotsman Trail: 1 mile, 120 ft elevation (easy)
Ridge Trail: .5 mile loop, 100 ft elevation (moderate)
Garden of the Gods: 4 miles, 400 ft elevation (moderate)

We suggest doing the Perkins Central Garden Trail at the minimum, as it goes through the heart of the park and has many of the top rock formations along its route.

Garden of the Gods Rock Formations

One fun activity is to try to spot as many of the rock formations as possible. Here are some you won’t want to miss:

Popular Rock Formations

Balanced Rock: Along the main road/parking area.
White Rock: On your left at the beginning of Juniper Way.
North and South Gateway Rocks: Two large rocks you will walk through on the Central Garden Trail.
Kissing Camels: Located on the top of the North Gateway Rock on Central Garden Trail or drive on Juniper Way for another angle.
Sentinel Spires, Cathedral Spires & Three Graces – Along the Central Garden Trail.

Garden of Gods Elevation

The Garden of the Gods is set at 6,400ft above sea level. This high altitude can really take you by surprised if you are not used to it. We highly recommend drinking plenty of water, supplementing with electrolytes, and taking plenty of breaks. And of course wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from the harsh rays.