Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs that is free to enter and enjoy. There is 1,341 acres in the public park, with trails and driving paths throughout. This is one of those strange attractions that can really take as little as 45 minutes to navigate or spend the whole day in the park, from sunrise to sunset. The first time we went to Garden of the Gods it was on our family vacation, before moving to Colorado. Our kids loved climbing all over rocks and mountains as we visited different spots on the Eastern Slope, it was a novelty for Florida children. We drove through the park, getting out only at Balance Rock for some photos and climbing and then had a picnic lunch before continuing on our vacation itinerary. We live about an hour north of Garden of the Gods and now have spent time there in many different capacities and during all the Colorado seasons. This is our go to park to take friends and family when they visit Colorado for the first time, especially when we can’t get up to Rocky Mountain National Park for weather or time restraints.
History Behind Garden of the Gods
The geological features of the park are highly visible sedimentary rock formations, formed over millions of years of erosion and deposition. Ancient sand dunes have been compacted into rock formations made of red, pink and white sandstone and limestone layers. These Red Rock formations set against Pikes Peak served as a Native American crossroads, where tribes gathered in peace. The immense formations were considered sacred ground and tribes would lay down their weapons when entering.
In the late 1800’s General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs and convinced his friend Charles Elliot Perkins to bring his Railroad plans out west. He bought over 200 acres of Garden of the Gods for a summer home and later added more land to an eventual 480 acres. After his death in 1907, his children gave the park to the City of Colorado Springs where the park was to stay free to the public and only have structures on it to maintain and preserve it.
Today the park can be visited in two seasons, summer (May-Oct) and winter (Nov-April) with the park open from 5:00 am- 9:00/10:00 pm depending on the season. There are 5 parking areas inside the park, with a fully handicapped lot located in the center of the park. The Visitor and Nature Center is open from 9:00-5:00/6:00 pm and is the epicenter of learning about the geology, nature and history of the area and should not be missed, especially if you have children and teens or for homeschool learning.
Visitor and Nature Center
The visitors center is a large building with its own parking lot and overflow lot at the entrance of the Garden of the Gods Park. Inside there are great activities and exhibits to learn about the geology and nature in the area. The Trekker Theater shows a 15 minute show (with a new one starting every 20 minutes) called How Did Those Red Rocks Get There? It explains the history and geology behind the rocks and how they were formed into what we see today in the park. There are a few additional exhibits that do a deep dive into specific areas popular at Garden of the Gods including the Geology exhibits, flora & fauna as well as people and history for a well developed overview of the park and the mountain chain in this area of Colorado.
If you have young children, be sure to ask about the Junior Ranger program. For a nominal fee, your child will be asked to complete an activity booklet during their visit to Garden of the Gods throughout the park and visitors center. Upon completion, your child has learned a lot more about the importance of park preservations and will receive a patch and certificate. They can also be congratulated through the announcements for an extra special congratulation. The biggest attraction for children of all ages is Theio, the Theiophytalia kerri Dinosaur fossil that has been determined to be a new species of dinosaur and the only one known in the world and its name means “belonging to Garden of the Gods.” Come learn the hidden history of this mis-identified fossil’s true identity and its travel and misplacement on the east coast and back. Great for dinosaur enthusiasts young or wise.
The Gateway Cafe is also located in the Visitor & Nature Center to feed hungry visitors at any time of day and with a decent selection of offerings and a beautiful glass observation window to enjoy the scenery while enjoying your coffee. There is a full coffee bar offering caribou coffee products, a grill with snacks, pizza and sandwiches, some breakfast items as well as Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Josh & John’s ice cream and Denver Pops. In addition, a souvenir & gift shop is also located in the Visitors Center.
Ways to Explore the Park
Driving through with your own car or rental car is the best way to see the park and the Garden of the Gods free audio tour from the park’s website is the perfect way to pop in headphone or play through the car so the whole family can learn about these amazing feets of erosion. Drive through Juniper Way Loop, pulling off to the left for photos if parking is available. If not, don’t worry you’ll make an extra pass at this spot again. When you come to the fork in the path, go to the left the first time, to see all of the park’s rock formations. Then bare left again to pick the loop back up at the beginning of the path and get another chance to park for some great pictures. Try to catch as many of these sights in the park as possible, see the Garden of the Gods website for a detailed map if needed. Formations to see:
- Tower of Babel
- North Gateway Rock
- Kissing Camels
- Signature Rock
- White Rock
- Sequential Spirers
- Pulpit Rock
- Giant Footprints
- Three Graces
- Cathedral Spires
- South Gateway Rock
- Gary Rock
- Sleeping Giant
When you encounter the fork in the loop again, go to the right, the second time, toward Balance Rock. This is a great spot to park and get out of the car or even climb if your group is interested in some light climbing. Be sure to wear hiking boots or shoes, the rocks are slippery in areas and this is a real nature train, not just a tourist attraction. I’ve seen people fall and slip many times in their flip flops and crocs. There are trails that you can pick up after climbing up to the west of Balance Rock or just boulder around discovering your own path and photo opportunities.
There are numerous tours in Garden of the Gods that are popular with tourists and visitors alike, even segway tours are possible. The 1909 Trolley Tours you will see around on the paths. Additionally there is a 50/50 hike & ride tour that operates guided hikes through the park as well as parts in a safari vehicle. There is a guided nature tour that shares some of the 21 miles of trails from beginner friendly to advanced. Adventure Challenges is like an outdoor escape room in team events for those 16+. There is also a family friendly version called Perkins Challenge suitable for kids 8 and up, but younger kids can still participate with help from adults. There are tours for mountain bike riding, rock climbing (for 2, 4 and 6 hour trips available) or horseback riding trail rides. You can also rent E-bikes or mountain bikes if you are visiting or if you live in Colorado bring your own bikes or horses for that matter.
Dogs are allowed at the park, as long as they are on a leash and cleaned up after. They are even allowed in the visitors center, other than the restaurant area. Events are held in Garden of the Gods from field trips to business conferences with lots of options both in the park and at Garden of the Gods Resort & Spa. Weddings are very popular in the park and all free of cost! There is a beautiful spot located behind the Trading post and a few others available throughout the park that do need to be reserved for the date and time. There is even a live web cam to view the famous park, in real time, in the upper right hand corner of the website. It is a great view after a fresh snow of the season, the white against the red is a gorgeous contrast.
Garden of the Gods: Resort, Wellness & Spa
Just west of the park lies the Garden of the Gods Resort, Wellness & Spa with the most amazing views looking out over the mesa. The Hill family purchased the property in 1949 and built a private club, luxury resort and residential community in the most beautiful natural setting. Today, there are lodge rooms, suites, cottages and casitas available for accommodations at the resort. The resort boasts 5 star amenities including a spa, salon, kids club and resort style pool as well as activities like golf, tennis, pickleball and all of the hiking, biking and climbing the park holds. Weddings held in the Garden of the Gods park are free, however the Resort hosts weddings with private views of the splendor in addition to all-in-one reception and accommodations.
Glen Eyrie Castle
There are two castles in Colorado Springs, from very different periods, that can be visited, toured and high tea enjoyed for both visitors and locals alike. Glen Eyrie Castle is located behind Garden of the Gods park and shares the same grounds and range with many of their own trails and Red Rock scenery to be enjoyed by only property guests. There are a few different ways to visit Glen Eyrie Castle and gain access to the ground; as a hotel guest, attending a meeting, for a castle tour or to enjoy high tea in the castle music room.
The hotel is located throughout the property, with 17 original rooms in the castle and 95 rooms total, with retreats and conference rooms found throughout the grounds. Everyone starts at the Carriage House once they pass the security gate and will park here or use the short-term for parking during check in. Once checked in, guests will either drive to their lodge or be taken in a golf cart to the castle. An overnight package is available that includes breakfast in the morning in the castle dining room. There is a great page on the Glen Eyrie Castle site that includes things to do and places to eat in the area to make easy decisions once leaving the property.
Castle tours also gather in the Carriage House, back near the bathrooms, cafe & gift shop, past the reception desk. The guide starts off with a short video about the property that has recently been updated with detailed drone footage. The TV that is used is way too small for the group or footage and hope they update that as well. Then the guide takes the group outside to discuss the grounds, tunnel access and the exterior of the castle. It is incredible to think this place changed owners and renovators for between $300k-500k (which was valued a lot more during its history) most famously to General William Jackson Palmer. Once inside, the tour takes guests to see the 1st and 2nd floors of the castle, including bedrooms that are not occupied by guests. Only Palmer’s room has original furniture, since it had all been sold and refurbished with period pieces. Palmer was scared of fire, after one almost ruined the castle at one time and had the most state of the art fire hose system in both floors and wired through the walls. Downstairs, you see the former library, now used for high tea service and visit Palmer’s den with a private bathroom that still has the German blue cracked tiles from the era. Finally, the tour ends out on the terrace with views for days and a ring of the pure silver bell on the roof, also from Germany.
I recently found out the origin of the name High Tea when talking about a proper British or Irish afternoon tea served with scones, pastries and tea sandwiches. It’s called high tea, because the high tables are needed to serve food with the tea service, rather than just serving tea or tea with a biscuit or cookie, because then a lower coffee or side table can be used. It’s a bit anticlimactic, but that’s the secret behind the name. The tea room has 5 themed menus per year, for each season plus a special Christmas season tea. The tea service includes a flavor of tea and a 3-tiered presentation dish with 3 small sandwiches at the bottom, 2 scones served with clotted cream and a few pastries on the top plate for dessert. Children’s tea is served with a tea choice, chicken fingers & fries with a sugar cookie for dessert. I love the idea of bringing my daughter for a Christmas tea, so she can get all dressed up to have chicken fingers & fries in a castle.
There is lots of room to book meeting spaces or attend a meeting or retreat being held at the property. This property was originally founded by the Navigators (a Bill Graham) a non-denominational Christian association that still has religious overtones today. The Navigators joined forces with General Palmer, who made most of his fortune in the railroad business in Colorado Springs. His personal rail car (affectionately called Nomad) can be viewed in the Durango Museum, along with some of his firefighting interests. If you decide to go hiking throughout the grounds, it is free and encouraged for any day or overnight guest, but do stop at the front desk in the Carriage House to sign a waiver and get a map. Keep an eye out for wild animals, elk, deer, long horned sheep and more are known to be spotted on the grounds.
On my most recent trip to Colorado Springs to visit Glen Eyrie Castle, I learned that this land with such an amazing history of American Royalty almost never happened. Originally the area was slated to be turned into a German Biergarten. Thankfully Palmer saw its potential and proximity to Garden of the Gods and had a vision. Otherwise it would’ve been the Biergarten with the world’s best view!
Next week’s blog is a 3-day itinerary when visiting Colorado Springs, but I wanted to lead with Garden of the Gods. If you ever find yourself near Colorado Springs or with an opportunity to fly into Colorado Springs small airport, take it, just for the opportunity to see Garden of the Gods. When we first visited Colorado to see if we wanted to live here, some places like Red Rocks Amphitheater, Vail Mountain and especially Garden of the Gods spoke to us. Having locations like these, just a little over an hour from our home has been an amazing gift and opportunity to really understand the west after all living out whole lives on the East Coast.
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