Garden of the Gods

Date Visited: July 9, 2026

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Type: Scenic Drive / Hike

Cost: Free

Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Time Required: 2-3 hours

Accessibility: Visitor center has accessible parking and restrooms, drive is fully accessible, many hiking trails are paved.

Dog Friendly: Yes - even in the visitor center!

Best For: Scenery, photography, hikers

What We Saw

Garden of the Gods is an amazing public park on the western edge of Colorado Springs, famous for its towering red sandstone formations set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. Whether you enjoy scenic drives, photography, or hiking, it's one of those places that deserves more than a single visit.

Best of all, admission is completely free. The park and its excellent Visitor & Nature Center are open to everyone thanks to a gift made to the City of Colorado Springs more than a century ago, with the condition that the park would always remain free for the public to enjoy.

The park offers miles of hiking trails for every ability level, and dogs are welcome throughout the park as long as they remain on a leash. The roads are well designed and traffic is generally well managed, although parking can become difficult during busy weekends and holidays.

Don't miss the historic Garden of the Gods Trading Post, located just outside the park. It is much more than a typical souvenir shop, with a restaurant, coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and one of the nicest collections of authentic Native American pottery, jewelry, and other Southwestern arts that you'll find in the area.

Garden of the Gods has been attracting visitors since the Victorian era, when Colorado Springs became a popular resort destination. Historic photographs displayed throughout the Visitor Center provide a fascinating glimpse of how generations of travelers have experienced the park.

Before leaving, be sure to step out onto the balcony at the Visitor & Nature Center. It offers one of the finest panoramic views of the entire park and is a perfect place to appreciate the scale of the rock formations.

One final tip: if your schedule allows, visit more than once. The changing angle of the sun transforms the color of the sandstone throughout the day—from soft pinks and oranges in the morning to rich reds and glowing golds near sunset—making each visit feel like a completely different experience.

Highlights

Very accessible and offers incredible views of the redrock formations.

Good To Know

Plan your visit around the time of day to avoid the midday heat and crowds. Bring plenty of water and sun protection. Restrooms are available at the Visitor & Nature Center and at the Trading Post.

Would We Go Again?

Yes. The park is a must-see for anyone visiting Colorado Springs and is a very short drive from the city center. In fact, we went back again a few days later because we had such a great time!