The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is one of those places where the name doesn’t disappoint. On the contrary, it’s easy to understand why this National Natural Landmark with its towering sandstone rock formations got the name Garden of the Gods.

Exploring the Garden of the Gods Trails or learning some interesting facts in the Visitor & Nature Centre is an absolute delight for nature lovers who also happen to love photography, history, and geology.

The 300 million years of the geological history of the Garden of the Gods in Colorado paints a picture of the earth’s history like no other place in the United States. It is a true geological wonder where prehistoric people found shelter around 1330 BC and Native American people camped around 250 BC.

This post is about visiting the Garden of the Gods Park in the 21st century. Read on for more interesting facts and inspiration to plan a visit. Finally, we’ll make you want to stay over at the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club and answer some frequently asked questions.

The Visitor & Nature Center is the perfect place to start and end your visit. Before exploring on foot on one of the many Garden of the Gods trails, the Geo-Trekker theater experience will help you understand what you are seeing. There’s a show every 20 minutes that lets you travel through a billion years in 15 minutes. It’s well worth the entry fee of $6 for adults and $4 for kids over 5.

After working up a hunger and a thirst, the Bean Sprouts café is the ideal place to end your visit. As the name implies, there are many healthy choices to choose from for a nutritious, but delicious meal.

It’s really easy to understand why this is Trip Advisor’s #1 park in the US!

Over 21 miles of trails crisscross the 1,367 acres Colorado Springs park. You can choose to explore on your own or join a free guided walk offered by the Visitor & Nature Center. If you choose the former, pick up a free map of the Garden of the Gods trails at the information desk to help you decide where to go and to stay on track.

If your time is limited, the Perkins central garden trail that passes the base of the highest rock formations is a good choice. The route is 1.5 miles long with a difference in elevation of only 30 feet.

For a better impression of the entire park, the slightly longer Chambers/Bretag/Palmer trail is highly recommended. It’s 3 miles long and a bit more strenuous, but still moderate, with a rise of just under 250 feet. However, it circles almost the entire park and is less busy than the shorter, easier Garden of the Gods trails.

The Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado isn’t only free for anyone to enter, but some of the best viewpoints are also easily accessible by road. That means even people who are physically challenged can explore and enjoy this national natural monument to the fullest.

You can take the Garden of the Gods scenic drive of around 5.6 miles in your own car, join a short 1909 trolley tour, a longer Jeep tour, or an adventurous Segway tour.

There are parking lots along the roads to make it easy for visitors to stop and take short hikes to viewpoints. And don’t forget to pack a picnic basket to enjoy at the Scotsman picnic area.

Points of interest to look out for on the scenic drive include Balanced Rock, Montezuma Tower, High Point, Siamese Twins, North and South Gateway Rocks, and Steamboat Rock. Remember to keep to the speed limit of 20 mph!

Staying at the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club is an excellent way to prolong your enjoyment of the Colorado Springs park. Who doesn’t want to end their day soaking in an infinity spa pool overlooking the red rock spires bathed in golden light?

The pool with the best view in Colorado Springs is only one of the good reasons to stay at the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club. Here are a few more:

The park opens its gates at 5 am year-round. Closing time is 9 pm from November to April and 10 pm from May to October. The Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center is generally open daily from 9 am to 5 pm in winter and 8 am to 5 pm in summer.

Both the park and Visitor & Nature Center are free to the public. However, tickets for the Geo-Trekker theater experience that tells you how the red rocks got there cost $6 for adults and $4 for kids from 5 to 12.

The GPS address for the main entrance of the Garden of the Gods Park is: 1805 N. 30th St. Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Allow at least 2 hours to visit the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center and to drive the perimeter of the park. Add another hour or 2 if you want to hike some of the trails.

Have you visited the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs? What did you love the most about the park? Let us know in the comments below!