Garden of the Gods
Red sandstone fins with Pikes Peak behind them. It is a city park and a National Natural Landmark, and it is free: entry was made "forever free" when the land was given to Colorado Springs in 1909. The city counts about 4.5 million visitors a year.
Which trail should you walk?
Tell us how long you have and who is coming. We suggest one of the park's named trails, with its length, surface and a walking time.
How we pick: walking time at 2 mph on paved trails and 1.5 mph on gravel and dirt. These speeds are our assumptions, not park figures; add time for photos and stops. "Away from the busiest area" means outside the Central Garden, where the main formations, the paved loop, the daily guided walk and a shuttle stop all are. That is our rule, not an official crowd ranking. Trail names, lengths and surfaces come from the park's own site, Visit Colorado Springs and the state's COTREX trail map.
Trails at a glance
The park has 21 to 22+ miles of trails, paved and dirt. Free digital trail maps are at the information desk on the 2nd level of the Visitor & Nature Center.
| Trail | Length | Level | Surface | Our walking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perkins Central Garden Trail | 1.5 mi | Easy | Paved (concrete), wheelchair and stroller friendly | about 45 min |
| Gateway and Central Garden trails from the Overflow Lot | 2.5 mi | Easy | Paved and wide; some stair sections you can skip | about 75 min |
| Ridge Trail | 0.5 mi | Moderate | Rocky, uneven gravel, some stairs | about 20 min |
| Siamese Twins Trail | 1 mi | Easy | Mostly gravel, narrow in places, some stairs | about 40 min |
| Balanced Rock Trail | 1.2 mi | Moderate | Rocky gravel and dirt, often narrow and steep | about 50 min |
| Scotsman and Buckskin Charlie trails | 2 mi | Moderate | Sandy and rocky | about 80 min |
| Bretag and Palmer trails | 2.5 mi | Moderate | Mostly gravel, uneven and narrow in places; shared with bikes and horses | about 100 min |
Lengths are round trips or loops as published. The state's COTREX map draws its Perkins featured route at 1.1 mi; the park says 1.5 mi. Visit Colorado Springs gives about half an hour for the Balanced Rock Trail; our slower dirt-trail pace gives more.
With a stroller or wheelchair
The Perkins Central Garden Trail is paved with concrete and rated easy for all ages and abilities. In 2025 the city built a fully accessible parking lot at Parking Lot #4 and an ADA-compliant concrete trail from it into the Central Garden. The Gateway and Foothills trails from the Overflow Lot are wide and paved too, with some stair sections you do not have to climb.
Hours
| Nov 1 to Apr 30 | May 1 to Oct 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Park | 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM | 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Visitor & Nature Center | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends |
Visitor & Nature Center
The Visitor & Nature Center (1805 N. 30th Street) is free. It has exhibits, a film theater, a cafe, a gift shop and an information desk, and it is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. A pedestrian tunnel leads from it into the park.
A guided nature walk leaves the center daily at 10:30 AM. It takes 45 to 60 minutes along the Gateway Trail to the Central Garden Trail, costs $5 and needs a reservation.
Parking and the summer shuttle
The Visitor Center lot has fewer than 200 spaces. The park says it can easily reach capacity during peak hours in summer and on holidays. The park does not publish a time of day when it fills. Its advice is to use the overflow lot across the street, off Gateway Road, and then ride the shuttle or walk through the pedestrian tunnel. Buses, trailers and campers drop off at the Visitor Center and park on the outer edge of the overflow lot.
In summer 2026 a free shuttle ran about every 15 minutes, 9 AM to 5 PM, between the overflow lot, the Visitor Center, Rock Ledge Ranch and the Central Garden (May 23 to 25, June 5 to August 23, and Labor Day weekend). The vans are ADA compliant. 2027 dates are not out yet.
Driving the loop
You can drive through the park in your own vehicle for free. The roads inside are one-way, and the speed limit is 20 mph for all traffic, bikes included. Do not stop or park in the pedestrian and bike lane. The main loop (Garden Drive and Juniper Way) is about 6 miles. Lot 1 (Overflow) and Lot 16 (near Balanced Rock and the Trading Post) are the only lots built for large vehicles and trailers.
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock is one of the park's best-known formations and a popular spot for photos (Wikipedia). Parking Lot 16 is next to it. The Balanced Rock Trail is 1.2 miles with 137 ft of climb on rocky, often steep ground.
Bikes, dogs and climbing
- Bikes: the one-way roads have paved bike lanes. The 6-mile loop has hills up to a 15% grade, and the park sits at 6,400 ft. Mountain bikes are allowed only on designated trails, shared with horses and hikers. Stop at the Visitor Center activities desk for maps first.
- Dogs: welcome on a leash of at least 6 ft at all times. Pick up all waste; bags are at the Visitor Center pet area.
- Rock climbing: every climber needs a free climbing permit from the city. Technical climbing only, in parties of two or more with proper equipment. Scrambling more than 10 ft up without equipment is illegal. No chalk, and no climbing on wet sandstone. Some routes close for the season; closed routes are signed.
Pairing it with Pikes Peak
Garden of the Gods sits between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, so it fits before or after the Cog Railway or the Highway. In summer the classic order is the summit in the morning, before the afternoon storms, and Garden of the Gods in the afternoon light. The park is open until 9 PM in winter and 10 PM in summer, so a late walk still fits. If you want a workout instead, the Manitou Incline is in Manitou Springs. Many tours combine the Garden and the summit; see Pikes Peak tours.
Guided tours of Garden of the Gods
The park is free and you can walk or drive it on your own. A guided tour adds a driver, the geology and history, and often the back roads around Manitou Springs. Prices and durations as listed on GetYourGuide on November 3, 2026; check the listing for pickup and what is included.
| Tour | Starts in | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden of the Gods and Foothills Jeep Tour | Colorado Springs | 2.5 hours | $135 per person |
| Garden of the Gods Luxury Jeep Tour | Manitou Springs | 2 hours | $129 per person |
| Garden of the Gods Guided Jeep Tour | Colorado Springs | 3 hours | $120 per person |
| Garden of the Gods & Historic Town Tour | Colorado Springs | 2 hours | $125 per person |
| Garden of the Gods Segway Tour | Colorado Springs | 1.5 hours | $155 per person |
| Garden of the Gods E-Bike Tour | Manitou Springs | 2 hours | $110 per person |
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Sources (11)· checked 2026-11-03
- City of Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods accessible lot and trail
- COTREX (Colorado trail map): Perkins Central Garden route
- Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
- Garden of the Gods: free summer shuttle
- Garden of the Gods: hiking trails
- Garden of the Gods: hours and directions
- Garden of the Gods: park info
- Garden of the Gods: park rules
- Garden of the Gods: plan your visit
- Visit Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods trails
- Wikipedia: Garden of the Gods
Every figure with its exact source: Garden of the Gods on the facts page.
Facts on this page last checked 2026-11-03 by the pikespeak.info editor. Rules and prices change; confirm with the operator before you travel. See every figure with its source.