City of Colorado Springs / Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services / Trails, Open Space, Parks & Recreational Areas / Parks / Regional Park Facilities & Maps / Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods General Information
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Saturday, October 17, 2009, the final 100-year Celebration Event will conclude with a Parade to the Garden of the Gods Park, beginning at 9 am Click for more information: Garden of the Gods Centennial Event
The towering red rock formations of the Garden of the Gods Park come alive when you visit the free Visitor and Nature Center and explore the geology, plants, animals and people of this amazing 1319.12-acre regional park, located at 1805 North 30th Street in Colorado Springs.
This incredible city-owned park is truly one of a kind. The site is a National Natural Landmark, having been recognized by the Department of the Interior as "a nationally-significant natural area." It offers towering sandstone formations, a wonderful view of Pikes Peak, paved and unpaved hiking paths, the historic Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, a living history museum, placed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1979, and many other amenities.
The park was given to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins, in fulfillment of his wish that it be kept forever open and free to the public. As a result, this amazing park can be enjoyed free of charge.
Some activities and features include guided nature walks, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, road biking and technical rock climbing.
Park Hours:
November 1 - April 30: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.
May 1 - October 31: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
For the photographer, there's the most spectacular scenery in Colorado Springs. You can take great photos of Gateway and Balanced Rocks from their respective parking lots. Or, try the Siamese Twins trail for a unique view of Pikes Peak framed by a beautiful rock formation.
For active folks, there are miles of trails to explore. Start at the main parking lot for easy, concrete 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, hiking or horseback riding. In addition, all one-way roads in the park have paved bike lanes.
If you like a more personal touch, you can enjoy free naturalist-led walks, daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., that present fascinating lore about wildflowers, rattlesnakes, gold-seekers and many other topics. Call the Visitor and Nature Center at (719) 219-0108 for a schedule of additional walks led by City of Colorado Springs interpreters. Special programs may be arranged for school and scout groups to include a Junior Ranger Program.
Garden of the Gods Nature Presentations also take place on a daily basis at the Visitor Center. They are free, last about 20 minutes, and explore a wide variety of topics, including the geology, ecology, wildlife and the cultural history of the Park. For more information call (719) 219-0108.
Rock climbers must first register at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. Technical climbing is permitted on established routes, in groups of two or more. Proper climbing equipment is mandatory, and the use of Eco Chalk is recommended. All other climbing or rock scrambling is illegal.
Weddings in Garden of the Gods are free, however you must fill out a "Minor Event" form to reserve the area. To obtain one, you can stop by our offices on Recreation Way, or you can call us or click here: Permit for Weddings in Garden of the Gods Park. You can print out this form and mail it back to us or fill it out, copy it and e-mail it back to us here. e-mail form. Our phone number is 385-5940 for more information.
Click here for an 8.5"x11" Garden Of The Gods Park Map, page 1 of 2 (Adobe Acrobat)
Click here for an 8.5"x11" Garden Of The Gods Park Map, page 2 of 2 (Adobe Acrobat)
Click Here to launch interactive maps of Garden Of The Gods Park
Notice: Scattering of human cremation remains in Garden of the Gods or any City Park is strictly forbidden.
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