Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO, is a popular destination for people of all ages! The gorgeous red rock formations draw tourists in from all over the world.
There are several easy hikes at Garden of the Gods that lead to unique rock formations and beautiful views. Even a trail that is wheelchair and stroller accessible!
If you’re thinking about visiting Garden of the Gods and are looking for some of the more easier trails, then the guide below has everything you need to know!
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Where is the Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about 1.5 hours south of Denver. Over 1300 acres, the park greets over 4 million visitors each year! It’s definitely a bucket list experience in Colorado.
The Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center is located at 1805 N 30th Street in Colorado Springs. From there, visitors can access the pedestrian tunnel leading to mountain biking trails and the Bretag/Palmer Trail.
You can drive through Gardens of the Gods to get closer to the rock formations and hiking trails. To do that, turn on to Gateway Road and make the right on to Juniper Way Loop to start your adventure!.
Prepare For Your Visit to Garden of the Gods
FREE Admission
Admission to Garden of the Gods is FREE, making it one of the best things to do in Colorado Springs.
Charles Elliott Perkins’ family followed through on their father’s dream to make Garden of the Gods a public park.
In 1909, they gave the City of Colorado Springs the land under the conditions that it “shall remain free to the public…”. To this day, there is NO entrance fee to the park or the visitor center!
Visiting Hours
Garden of the Gods is open year-round, opening at 5 am and closing at 9 pm . The Visitor and Nature Center has more limited hours (9 am – 5 pm) and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Parking
There are several parking areas throughout the park. Start at the Visitor Center to learn more about the park and pick up a map. From there, you can either drive or take the FREE shuttle (offered in summer months).
During summer and weekends, plan for the park to be busy. We visited the Friday of Labor Day weekend, and although the park was bustling, we were always able to find a parking spot at each of the famous formations.
There are also parking areas by most of the trailheads.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the trail at Garden of the Gods. They must be leashed at all times. Well-behaved dogs are also allowed inside the Visitor Center, except the dining and carpeted areas.
No Shade
There is little to no shade at Garden of the Gods, so don’t forget a hat and some sunscreen! Also, make sure you have plenty of water with you.
Be a Responsible Visitor
Places like Garden of the Gods are popular with visitors, but they can bring trash and other issues. We all need to do our part to keep our parks clean and enjoyable for all. Remember to pack out all trash (including those fruit peels), and leave behind what you found. Leave no trace so we all can enjoy these parks for years to come.
Three Easy Garden of the Gods Hikes
There are 21 miles of hiking trails at Garden of the Gods. Some are longer, like the Scotsman and Palmer trails. But there are a few that are perfect for families with younger kids or those who aren’t interested in a strenuous hike.
1. Siamese Twins Trail
| Trail Location: | The trailhead and parking area (P14) for the Siamese Twins Trail is off Spring Canyon Height Drive |
| Trail Length: | 1/2-mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 100 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
The Siamese Twins Trail is a short, half-mile loop that is relatively easy. It’s rocky at the top of the hill, next to the Siamese Twins rock formations, but otherwise, the trail is fairly clear with a slight elevation gain of 100 feet.
Take your time at the Siamese Trail formations to enjoy views of the park and Pikes Peak in the distance. There are some great photo opportunities, too.
The Siamese Twins trail has a dedicated parking lot (P14) on Spring Canyon Heights Drive. Follow the signs on Garden Drive to the lot, as the entrance is on a turn.
2. Ridge Trail
| Trail Location: | The Ridge Trail is across the street from South Garden Parking Lot (P10) |
| Trail Length: | 4/10 mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 75 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
At a 4/10 mile, the Ridge Trail is one of the park’s shortest hikes, but it still has a great payoff. The trail is very easy, with a slight elevation rise of 75 feet. The top of the loop gives you almost 360-degree views of the park, with the town and mountains beyond.
To access the Ridge Trail, park at the South Garden Parking Lot (P10) on Juniper Way Loop. The Ridge Trail trailhead is across the street from the parking lot.
3. Perkins Central Garden Trail
| Trail Location: | The Perkins Central Garden Trail can be access at the main parking lot (P2) or two smaller lots on Juniper Way Loop (P6 and P7) |
| Trail Length: | 1.5 mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy (Paved) |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | minimal |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Although the Perkins Central Garden Trail is 1.5 miles, it’s an easy, paved trail.
The Central Garden trail is paved and has less than a 30-foot rise, making it both a stroller-friendly and accessible trail for those using wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
Take your time wandering around the Central Garden Trail. You’ll get up-close views of the Kissing Camels and some of the tallest rock formations in the park.
This area is the most popular area of the park, so plan for crowds. You might need to circle the parking lot once or twice until a space opens up.
For easy access to the Perkins Central Garden Trail, park at either the Main Parking Lot (P2) on Juniper Way Loop or one of the two smaller lots on the other side of the central gardens on Juniper Way Loop (P6 and P7).
4. Upper Loop Trail
| Trail Location: | The Upper Loop can be accessed from the Central Garden Trail or from the parking area on Juniper Way Loop (P7) |
| Trail Length: | 3/10 mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 60 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Another fun short easy hike at Garden of the Gods is the Upper Loop Trail. This loop is about 3/10 mile and leads to the side of the Sleeping Giant, where hikers can climb up some of the rocks for a 360-view of the park.
The Upper Loop Trail is easily accessed from the Central Garden Trail or from parking lot P7 on Juinper Way Loop.
5. Ute Trail
| Trail Location: | The Ute Trail can be accessed from the South Garden Parking Lot (P10) |
| Trail Length: | 1.1 mile |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 120 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
The Ute Trail is a an easy, longer loop on the eastern side of the park. Just over 1 mile, it’s one of the longer easy hikes in the Garden of the Gods, but shouldn’t take you too long to complete. You’ll have pretty views of the rock formations and might even see some wild animals along the trail.
To access the Ute Trail, park at the South Garden Parking lot (P10) on Juniper Way Loop.
Other Things to Do at Garden of the Gods
Enjoy the Visitor and Nature Center
The Visitor and Nature Center at the Garden of the Gods is like a mini natural history museum.
There are fun dioramas and displays where you canlearn more about the kinds of animals and vegetation found within the park. And, of course, lots of information about the geological history of the park in the Geo Trekker Theater.
The Visitor Center also has a cafe and gift shop.
Visit the Rock Formations
This should go without saying, but driving around the park to view the rock formations is what makes Garden of the Gods memorable and fun! Our favorite stops were the Kissing Camels and Balanced Rock.
You can even climb on the rocks at Garden of the Gods which will give you the opportunity to take a funny photo or two.
Sign Up For One of the Daily Activities
Every day, the Garden of the Gods offers multiple activities. Most require a small fee, but others are FREE. They range from yoga to guided nature walks and even painting! Check out their calendar of events for more information.
Go On a Bike Ride
You can either bring your own bike or rent one an e-bikes or mountain bike at the visitor center.
Garden of the Goads also offers e-bike tours that last about 1.5-2.5 hours. It’s a great way to see the beautiful rocks and formations.
Tips for Visiting Garden of the Gods
Visit During the Week and Off-Season
As mentioned above, Garden of the Gods receives over 4 million visitors each year. The majority of those visitors are coming during school breaks, weekends, and the summer season.
If you can plan your visit during a less busy time, do that! It’ll make it a better experience for you and your family.
Wear Appropriate Shoes
If you only plan on walking the Perkins Central Garden trail, any comfortable footwear will do well.
However, if you choose to do the other Garden of the Gods hikes we mentioned, sneakers or hiking boots with grippy soles will be best.
The sandstone rocks are smooth enough that even foam-soled sneakers can slip on them. I wore trail running sneakers and had plenty of grip and support without the bulk of a hiking boot.
Do Your “Must-Dos” First
Garden of the Gods is a large park. You could spend an entire day there and still not see and do everything that you’d like to do.
Make a plan and pick out the things you really want to do. If you have time after that, great! You can do something else. If not, at least you got to see and do the things that were most important to you.
Other Hikes Near Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs and the surrounding region have tons of hiking trails! It all depends on how challenging you want it to be.
One of the most popular hikes is the Manitou Incline, a one-mile hike encompasses 2744 steps! This is not for the weary.
If you’d like to challenge yourself, but with fewer steps, consider visiting Seven Falls. There you’ll climb up *only* 224 steps past seven beautiful waterfalls. At the top, you can hike to Midnight Falls or Inspiration Point.
Another great hiking area is Cheyenne Mountain State Park. With 29 miles of trails, you’ll have no problem the perfect hike for you.
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