Garden of the Gods: Amazing 1 Day Adventure

The Garden of the Gods, a natural wonder nestled in Colorado Springs, is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking breathtaking beauty and outdoor adventure.

This was the first stop of many on our 10-day road trip from Arkansas to Utah.

Here’s a quick glance at what the park has to offer and what our trip looked like to help you plan your visit!

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Garden of the Gods Basic Info

1805 N. 30th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Phone: 719-634-6666

Park Hours:
Open Daily
➤ 5:00 am – 9:00 pm (Nov 1 – April 30)
➤ 5:00 am – 10:00 pm (May 1 – Oct 31)

Visitor & Nature Center Hours: Open Daily
➤ Winter Months 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
➤ Summer Months 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
(Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day Weekend)
➤ Closed – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

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Garden of the Gods Visitor’s Center

The first stop to always make is the visitor’s center!

We arrived a few hours later than expected due to an unexpected glitch with my camera that forced us to stop for repair. We pulled in to the Garden of the Gods on an early afternoon Saturday (on a holiday weekend). This is, of course, one of the busiest times for the park.

We were able to find parking at the visitor’s center without issue.

The Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center offers a theater, gift shop, cafe, exhibits, and galleries. Their animal display was one of my favorites!

The park does not have paper maps to offer, but instead has a QR code that links to maps of Garden of the Gods. We downloaded one of these before taking off on our adventure.

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Garden of the Gods Loop

Due to our late arrival, the crowds, and the heat, we opted to skip the hike to Central Garden, and instead drive the loop around the Central Garden.

This loop offers beautiful views and multiple small parking areas should you want to pull over and trek into the garden. However, every parking lot we passed was full on this Saturday.

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Siamese Twins Hiking @ Garden of the Gods

I had 2 hiking trails on my list for this day. We passed on the first trail. But the second trail promised to be a little shorter and much less crowded. We easily found the trailhead for the Siamese Twins Trail and parked for our first Colorado hike!

This is an easy 1-mile roundtrip, with less than a 150-foot rise with spectacular views, and plenty of rocks to climb on and play!

Although this hike was a little warm and had mild elevation gain, it was definitely doable for a couple of out-of-towners unaccustomed to Colorado’s elevation.

Other Hiking Trails @ Garden of the Gods

We are hikers. So our list of things usually includes hikes. Other hikes available at Garden of the Gods-

PERKINS CENTRAL GARDEN TRAIL-This is an easy, 1.5-mile roundtrip path, with less than a 30-foot rise.

RIDGE TRAIL– A moderate, 1/2 mile loop, with less than a 100-foot rise in elevation.

GATEWAY / CENTRAL GARDEN TRAILS– An easy, low-grade, 2.5-mile hike from the naturally surfaced Overflow Parking Lot (located at the main entrance).

SCOTSMAN/BUCKSKIN CHARLIE TRAIL– A moderate trail that loops through the Park.

High Point Overlook at Garden of the Gods

One quick stop we made on the way out was at the High Point Overlook. I highly recommend this stop for any adventurer. You are able to climb on and over rocks for an amazing panoramic view of the gardens and surrounding areas.

Other Things to Do

Although we stuck to the free activities (exploring the visitor’s center, driving the loop, and hiking), Garden of the Gods offers many paid tours and activities as well: vehicle tours, segway tours, bicycle tours, horseback riding, guided tours, and adventure challenges.

Final Thoughts on Garden of the Gods

I enjoyed my trip. BUT, I would have done a couple of things differently…

#1 In the summer, arrive EARLY.

#2 Hike to the Central Garden (ideally from a parking spot on the loop).

#3 Know the layout of the place before you go to save time and get there quicker.

#4 Don’t go on a weekend, and especially a holiday weekend.

Luckily we travel in a fully stocked camper van. But for those who don’t, be sure to pack- sunscreen, water, snacks, sun hat, and hiking boots.

The Garden of the Gods is definitely worth the stop and the 3 hours we spent exploring the area!

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Take a moment to visit…

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