The Garden of the Gods Park is a registered National Natural Landmark in Colorado Springs. Both the Park and Visitor & Nature Center are
FREE
and open to the public.
Is Garden of the Gods drivable?
Yes, you can drive through the Garden of the Gods
and there are several parking areas. There is no charge to visit the Garden. It is a great place to visit!
Why is Garden of the Gods free?
Charles could have kept Garden of the Gods to himself
Perkins left the Garden of the Gods open to the public, choosing to leave the land in its natural state. Two years after his death, in 1909,
Perkins's children gave his acreage to the city of Colorado Springs provided the city keep it as a free park
.
Do you need a permit for Garden of the Gods?
I am a commercial bus tour company bringing a single group tour though the Garden of the Gods Park, do I need a permit?
Yes
. We welcome all group tours to enjoy an unforgettable visit to the iconic Garden of the Gods Park.
Is Garden of the Gods worth seeing?
Garden of the Gods is
a nice day trip for families
. It has pretty views and represents what Colorado is all about. It's a short drive from downtown Denver and the drive to the attraction is also nice.
How long does it take to drive through Garden of the Gods?
Drive a car
Driving yourself through Garden of the Gods is free and only takes
about 20 minutes
(depending on how fast the car in front of you is going!) We still recommend you stop by the Trading Post for a map, but the loop is pretty easy to follow and most of the main formations are visible from the road.
Can you drive through Garden of the Gods at night?
Not open at night
. Note there are no gates to the park. But, there are gates at the Visitor Center parking lot.
Are the trails at Garden of the Gods paved?
Miles of Trails to Explore!
Begin at the North Garden parking lot for easy,
paved foot paths
through the heart of the red rock formations. From the South Garden parking lot there are approximately 5 miles of trails for mountain biking and hiking. In addition, all one-way roads in the park have paved bike lanes.
How much does it cost to drive up Pikes Peak?
December 1 to April 30 | Adults (16 and Over) $10 per person | Children (6 to 15) $5 per person | Carload Discount Rate (Up to 5 passengers) $35 per car | Carload Rate Additional Adults $7 per adult |
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Can you camp in the Garden of the Gods?
One of the most photographed locations in the state, Garden of the Gods' scenic beauty is extraordinary.
In the recreation area you can hike, camp, nature watch or picnic
.
How do I get to Garden of the Gods?
Garden of the Gods can be accessed
from multiple entrances by car, and even more on foot
. The official entrance is on the east side of park at the Visitor and Nature Center.
Can you picnic at Garden of the Gods?
There are two uncovered picnic areas in Garden of the Gods Park; SCOTSMAN PICNIC AREA with 11 picnic tables AND THE SOUTH SPRING CANYON PICNIC AREA with 13 picnic tables
. The picnic areas are used on a first come-first serve basis, and reservations are not taken for picnic areas.
Can you take pictures at Garden of the Gods?
You can take great photos from:
The Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center terrace
. The North Main or Balanced Rock parking lots. Try the Siamese Twins Trail for a unique view of Pikes Peak framed by this beautiful rock formation.
Can you bring food into Garden of the Gods?
There is no place at the Visitor & Nature Center for you to bring in your own food
. Picnic areas are available in the Park. CLICK HERE for menu for the Café at the Garden.
What is better Pikes Peak or Garden of the Gods?
Both Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak Cog Railway are highly recommended by expert reviewers. On balance,
Garden of the Gods scores significantly higher than Pikes Peak Cog Railway
.
Is Garden of the Gods crowded?
Anytime is good but
it will be more crowded in the middle of the day
, so early or later in the day is probably better if you want it a little less crowded. Enjoy! over a year ago.
Can you see Royal Gorge without paying?
Visiting most of the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is not free
. You can view the bridge and surrounding acreage from the parking lot or hang out inside the Visitor Center for free. But if you want to cross the bridge, take the Gondola, or ride any of the attractions, there is a cost.
Is Garden of Gods a lot of walking?
For active folks who love hiking,
there are 21 miles of trails to explore in the Garden of the Gods
. For a complete list of trails in the Park, pick up a FREE full color map at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.
Is the drive to Garden of the Gods scary?
If you mean just the drive at Garden of the Gods
it is not scary at all
. The hardest part is that you want to look around at everything but you can't really look when you're driving!
Is Pikes Peak worth the drive?
Driving up Pikes Peak Highway is definitely more of an adventure than taking the railway
. The 19-mile highway is lots of fun and you may even feel a little bit of an adrenaline rush driving up the steep curvy mountain roads with death drops on both sides. Or at the very least it will get your heart pounding.
Why are the rocks red at Garden of the Gods?
The Utes' oral traditions tell of their creation at the Garden of the Gods, and petroglyphs have been found in the park that are typical of early Utes. The Utes found red rocks
to have a spiritual connection
and camped near Manitou Springs and the creek near Rock Ledge Ranch bordering Garden of the Gods.
Can dogs go to Garden of the Gods?
Dogs on a 6-foot leash are allowed in the Garden of the Gods Park
. There is one designated area where dogs can run unleashed; south of Gateway Road, West of 30th Street, and east of Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.
Why is it called Garden of the Gods?
Back in 1859, when a surveyor named Rufus Cable first saw the towering fins of rock jutting over 300 feet into the air near Pikes Peak, he enthusiastically declared that it was “a fit place for the gods to assemble!” From this excited outburst came the name Garden of the Gods, by which we know this beautiful Colorado …
Is Garden of the Gods a difficult hike?
Before you head out to explore or hike Garden of the Gods, it's important to be prepared. It's true that this park is small and
most of the trails are quite easy
. But, Garden of the Gods is at an elevation of around 6,400 feet. That is more than a mile above sea-level.
Can you do Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak in one day?
Yes you can visit both Garden of the Gods Park and Pikes Peak in one day
. The trip up Pikes Peak via the Cog Railway or the Pikes Peak highway takes approx. 3 hours round trip.