Garden of the Gods

This is an awesome place to visit, and it's free! Nicely paved trail and it's accessible. Rock climbing can be arranged from what I saw on signs but you have to make contact with the location first. This is a great place for pictures of the Red rocks. Definitely worth the stop and visiting multiple times. This was my second trip and I enjoyed the rocks just as much.

This place is amazing. You just keep saying "wow" at every turn. There's a central part that's easy to walk and has sidewalks, and if you go early and are quiet - you can spot deer and other wildlife. You may even see permitted climbers working their way up a rock face. There is a lot to see in the center loop; howeverrrrr, if you got your grippy shoes, water, and some snacks... then adventure off into any of the outer trails. They are all a "little to a lot" different from each other (terrain, elevation gain and difficulty, vegetation, etc) buttttttttttttt on any trail you take you will be meandering along when out of nowhere ROCK FORMATION!👁👄👁 The colors of the rocks are mostly red (those are sandstone that used to be dunes) and remind me of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, but there are also beautiful quartz that look glittery in the sun, obsidian (I think) that looks like black glass, and stones/ rocks that look like someone painted them layer by layer. Sooo many different types of trees and plants. Watch out for the cacti; they're everywhere to the sides of the trails and are no joke (even though they look small). Overall, pretty easy hike on any trail - but you need good shoes or it will get slippery in some spots. Kids could do some of the trails, maybe all - just depends on your kid's endurance and balance. Just the last mile or so can be tough and that was because it was an incline with deep sand... but you can probably exit off of the trail to the main road before that and go a different way. Highly recommend.

Absolutely gorgeous. It is a free park with well paved trails that offer guided tours for free. You can also walk around at your own leisure. Pictures Absolutely do it no justice. We'll worth the time spent there

The park and visitor center are free, although there are donation kiosks available to support the park. You will need to purchase tickets for the film at a kiosk. Garden of the God's is an amazing natural site owned and managed by the city. The natural formations are fantastic to see, and it is easy to see why it was called a garden. The facilities, trails, roads, and signs were all well designed and maintained. Stop at the Visitor Center first for orientation and to obtain an understanding for how the park was formed and gifted to the city. The volunteers at the information desk can provide guidance on how best to spend your time at the park. We suggest a combination of stopping at the visitor center, hiking the trails, and taking the scenic drive. The trails are all well marked and easy to moderate. If you can, it is definitely worth the time to hike the trails away from the Central Garden area.

THIS IS A MUST SEE. And the awesome thing about this park. IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE. Drive through. Hike. Walk about. There is all kinds of wildlife. Every spot is picturesque. Hike. Bring water. Be prepared. Some hikes are easy but being prepared is just as easy. Be courteous to other hikers. Caution when driving do to wildlife and deer. Amazing views from the top of Palmer Trail. Hiking sticks are a plus. Loose rocks and gravel.

The rocks and landscape are really unique, and you won’t regret a visit. Be sure to take the scenic drive and stop at the main overlook (P3). If you only have a few hours, you can also visit the Trading Post, Balanced Rock, and do the entire loop through the Central Garden Trail. You can add on additional trails to the main loop as well. Then, finish at the visitors center and grab a bite a the cafe (or bring you own picnic lunch). The entire park is free, but that means it can get very busy, just be patient and you can usually get a parking spot, and then enjoy taking in the natural beauty.

I had an amazing experience here. I just have to say, hydrate yourself and wear sunblock, then get ready for the adventure. Also want to thank Ponderosa for the trolley toor. He really enjoys his job and is very friendly and educative. This has been one of the most wonderful adventures of my vacations. Will return, hopefully soon.

Pros: this is a fairly easy hike/view point. My small children did it wearing dresses and flip flops and we had no water or other supplies. Clearly under prepared for this impromptu hike lol! There is a bathroom and water fountain with decent tasting water at the main walkway. Stroller friendly and handicap friendly (drive past the first parking lot if you would like handicap only parking that is closer to the view point). The only "difficult" part on the main loop is the .2 mile upper loop that takes you up stairs, a few rocks and a small incline, to the top to see a full view. You can then climb higher if you are capable. Just know your limits. Biker, dog, runner friendly. RV and large van friendly but I only saw two dedicated spots. Make sure you go all the way to stop 15 to see the balance rocks and trading post for fun trinkets. Cons: Limited resting spots and hot during high sun in the summer. Limited parking on busy days. 8/10 recommend.