Seth A.
Yelp
Garden of the Gods! One of my favorite landmark attractions located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I just visited for the 3rd time and things never get old. I'm always in awe of the colorful geographical landscape this place offers. That's why the name..."Garden of the Gods" is perfectly titled. Coming here is like entering a world only the Gods could have created!
So...with that introduction, guess what else I have to relay which astonishes me every time, and hasn't changed since the beginning...it is FREE.
Yes, exploring around Garden of the Gods is free and I'm puzzled by that because if they charged $25 or $35 or $45 per vehicle, people would still pay those prices. It's so popular to come here, probably too touristy for a lot of folks. But that's how magical those red rocks and jagged peaks can appear.
I will say, Colorado is a beautiful state and I've had memorable experiences exploring the great outdoors here. But the colorful terrain puts Garden of the Gods on a top-notch level, quite possibly with Utah, and Utah offers some of the best sceneries in the United States.
I'll just relay this last thought before getting into details about the park...Colorado Springs is a big city, and yet I'm baffled that Garden of the Gods could be located so close by and still feature a terrific setting among nature.
It's free to visit, like I keep mentioning, lol. I'd suggest arriving early in the morning. This way you avoid the crowds, sun and rising heat temperatures. Plus, there'll be parking spaces. I showed up Sunday at 7:30am and got a spot in the main parking lot. Hours are like 5am - 10pm, pretty much for as long as there's daylight.
The most popular way of seeing the sights is hiking the Central Garden Pedestrian Walkway. It's a simple, paved path that's not elevated. I'm not exactly sure how far the hike is, but basically, it's walk at your leisure making a circular loop. Along the way there's playful opportunities to climb the rocks. You can be in and out of the Central Garden Trail within 2 hours and that's including taking your time and stopping for pictures.
I did recall connecting with the Upper Loop Trail which was worthwhile for getting a bird's eye view looking down on the incredible topographical surroundings.
Just to throw this in there...dogs are allowed on the trails so that's incentive to bring them along. Also, there were people rock climbing. I took a few minutes to watch climbers challenge themselves to their limits.
Another point...even though it can get packed with tourists, there's enough spacing not to feel bombarded by strangers. Would it be nice to have less people? Sure. But still, for a Sunday over the summertime, I didn't feel overwhelmed by the crowds.
After completing the Central Garden Walkway, I headed over to the Visitor Center which opens at 9am. Bought a few souvenirs, plus they have a theater film and a cafe if you'd like to grab a bite to eat.
Outside the cafe has an observation lookout offering panoramic 180-degree views of the distant landscape.
You can drive around Garden of the Gods. It's about a 5-mile loop, but parking can be limited at the pull-off points.
One of the popular stops is Balanced Rock, a rock that appears to be hanging onto the cliffside without falling over. There was a wait in line to get a picture with it around 1pm.
Finally, right near Balanced Rock is Garden of the Gods Trading Post. It's to the Visitor Center near the entrance. The Trading Post is much less crowded and has a better selection of souvenirs at cheaper prices. They also have a cafeteria and a charming garden with trees and protection from the sun to take a break and eat lunch.
In the end, Garden of the Gods is special. These enormous rock towers can have you speechless. When visiting Colorado Springs, I believe it's a MUST DO for everyone. Plus, nearby you have Pike's Peak, Seven Falls, Manitou Incline and Manitou Cliff Dwellings just to name a few of the amazing sightseeing attractions offered in this part of Colorado.