Garden of the Gods is full of incredible rock formations that look like they belong in Utah. But Garden of the Gods is not in Utah, it’s in Colorado. Specifically, it’s in Colorado Springs and it’s a must do on any visit to the area.
Despite it being a top sight in Colorado Springs, I found information to be lacking. I wanted some details about what the best things to do at Garden of the Gods, and I didn’t find a lot. There was some, but not what I had expected to find. So, I created this guide. It has all of the information I wish I had when I made my visit to Garden of the Gods.
What Is Garden of the Gods?
Prior to Garden of the Gods becoming a public park, it was owned by Charles Elliot Perkins. Upon his death left his land to the city of Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods became the park we have today. It features some absolutely amazing rock formations, some stunning hikes, epic rock climbing, scenic drives, and so much more.
Things to Do at Garden of the Gods
This is not an exhaustive list of all of the things to do at Garden of the Gods, but is rather a list of what I consider the highlights to be.
Hiking
One of the best things to do at Garden of the Gods is to get out on one of the many hiking trails.
For the most iconic views, you’ll want to focus on the Central Gardens Trails. This area contains several pathways that technically are hiking trails. However, it didn’t seem like anyone was following one particular direction. It seemed more like a free for all, if I’m completely honest.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t visit, but rather, don’t expect a proper trail. Just focus on getting to the Central Garden Trails and then follow your map to visit all of the cool rock formations.
Because the Central Gardens have some of the best views, this will be the most crowded area of the park. Even with all of the people, I still think it’s worth a visit. I recommend starting here because if you visit other places in the park later, it’ll feel delightfully uncrowded.
To escape the crowds, you can go almost anywhere outside the Central Gardens. I really enjoyed hiking by the Siamese Twins.
Scenic Drive
For non-hikers, this is likely the best thing to do at Garden of the Gods. This loop takes you past some of the best rock formations in the park, without much effort. You’ll see some of the rocks from the Central Gardens, but not all. For the best views, do both the scenic drive and some hiking around the Central Gardens.
Rock Climbing
You’re in a park full of amazing rock formations, so of course there will be opportunities for rock climbing.
I’m not a rock climber (I could barely handle some rock scrambling on a trail), so I don’t have any first hand experience. However, the Garden of the God’s website provides information specifically for people who are interested in rock climbing.
Take a Tour
If you’re looking for more to do beyond the scenic drive, or want to learn more about the park, take a tour. At Garden of the Gods, you’ll find bike tours, segway tours, jeep tours, trolley tours, and many more options. While the park itself is free, these tours do cost an additional fee. But for the right traveler, this may be the best thing to do at Garden of the Gods.
I ran out of time to do any tours. However, if it’s something you’re interested in, there’s loads of information on the Garden of the Gods website.
How Long Do You Need at Garden of the Gods?
It really depends on how much you want to do. I did some hiking (in the Central Gardens and at the Siamese Twins), drove the scenic loop, and stopped at the Visitor Center. My visit lasted about three and a half hours and I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. Plus I didn’t feel rushed.
As a good base line, a half day is the perfect amount of time. This allows you more time to experience some other sights around Colorado Springs, such as Pike’s Peak.
However, if you plan to do tours or rock climbing, you may want to budget more time. There are so many things to do at Garden of the Gods that you could easily spend an entire day here.
How Do You Plan Your Time?
I recommend going to the Visitor Center first and pick up a map. There’s a large parking lot and from here you can walk to the Central Gardens and explore there. Once you’re finished at the Central Gardens, return to the Visitor Center and pick up your car.
From the Visitor Center, head back toward the Central Gardens, taking a right in the roundabout. This takes you onto a one way road and starts the first part of scenic drive. You can make the entire one way loop, but if you’re still feeling good, follow the signs to Parking Lot 14 and hike out to Siamese Twins.
From Siamese Twins, take a quick detour to Balanced Rock before returning to the one way scenic drive and looping your way back to the Visitor Center.
Is Altitude a Concern?
It can be. It depends on the individual person, but Garden of the Gods sets at about 6,400 feet. If you’re coming from somewhere much lower than that (like me!), you may need some time to adjust.
I visited Garden of the Gods on my first full day in Colorado. I had arrived in Denver the night before and spent the night at an airport hotel. The next morning, I picked up a rental car and arrived at Garden of the Gods shortly after 10:00 am. I didn’t think too much of the altitude because it was “only 6,400 feet”.
The altitude kicked my butt and I felt like I was constantly out of breath. It was kind of miserable and I had to question if I was really that out of shape. Nope! Turns out I had underestimated the altitude and I felt fine at higher altitudes later in the week. Part of me wishes I could have visited again, after I was properly acclimated to the Colorado elevation. I’m sure it would have made a huge difference.
My advice is to go slow, drink plenty of water, and know your limits. If you do those three things, you should be fine.
When Should I Visit Garden of the Gods?
On your visit to Colorado! Garden of the Gods is open year round (although is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day), so technically you can visit at any point during the year.
I visited the first weekend in September and it was hot! I’d imagine in peak summer, it’s even hotter and also busier. A free shuttle runs during the busy summer months to help avoid some of the parking issues.
Late spring and early fall seem like they would be ideal times to visit. On weekends, you can expect a lot of people, so if you can, try to visit during the week to minimize crowds.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Garden of the Gods?
Nothing! Garden of the Gods is open to the public for free.
How Do You Get to Garden of the Gods?
Getting to Garden of the Gods is pretty simple. It’s an hour and a half from the Denver Airport and sits in northwestern Colorado Springs. I recommend navigating to the “Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center” on Google Maps. Once at the Visitor Center, stop in to pick up a free map.
A Map
For whatever reason, it is impossible to find a map of Garden of the Gods on their website. When you’re trying to plan, this is incredibly frustrating. So here’s a map of Garden of the Gods, so you can plan your trip efficiently.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in Colorado Springs, a visit to Garden of the Gods is a must. The rock formations are incredible and it’s just a fun place to explore. Whether you have a few hours or an entire day, you’ll find plenty of things to do at Garden of the Gods.
Continue Your Adventure
Colorado Springs: If you’re already visiting Colorado Springs, you should add a visit to the top of Pike’s Peak to your itinerary.
Colorado National Parks: Colorado has four national parks and all are worth a visit. Ride a sandboard at Great Sand Dunes, tour cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, see the deepest canyon in the U.S. at Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and do some epic hiking at Rocky Mountain.
Colorado Itineraries: For an epic road trip through Colorado, check out this 10 day itinerary. Or if you don’t have ten days, try one of these 5 day Colorado itineraries.
Colorado: One of my favorite things about Colorado is all of the scenic drives. Here’s some of my favorites.