Red Rocks, Blue Skies - yeah, I think the gods would like this place!
Written: Oct 09 '08 (Updated Oct 17 '08)
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Pros: Beautiful rock formations, no entrance fee
Cons: a bit crowded. Visitors Center too commercial with 2 gift shops.
The Bottom Line: Great scenery! A good place to visit and see Colorado's other famous rocks - that is Red Lyons Sandstone.
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| pilarzmom's Full Review: Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center |
When most people think of Colorado, they think of the Rocky Mountains. But just as spectacular and not to be overlooked are the colorful red Lyons sandstone formations known as Hogbacks. Don't be swayed by this less than glamorous term as these rocks are a photographers dream and are even more awe-inspiring in person. These formations can be seen in several places along the Front Range of Colorado, including those at the aptly named Garden of the Gods just west of Colorado Springs and not far from Pikes Peak.
Our visit
Luck was on our side on our visit. I usually try to plan to visit scenic destinations in Colorado earlier in the day as thunderclouds typically roll in later in the day during the summer months and into early fall. But bad traffic in Colorado Springs due to an Air Force Academy football game kept us from getting there until mid-afternoon. However, the skies were perfectly blue and provided an outstanding backdrop for the red sandstone formations.
I was a bit surprised and pleased to learn that there was no park entrance fee. The original 480-acre parcel of land was gifted to the city of Colorado Springs by the children of Charles Perkins (head of Burlington Railroad) back in the early 1900s and thus remains a city park which unlike state parks in Colorado, doesn't charge visitors. The park now encompasses over 1300 acres and is a registered National Natural Landmark.
We started our visit at the Visitors Center on the east side of the park. Nestled away in a rocky outcropping, it faces west toward the main rock formations and offers a great panoramic view of the surrounding mountains as well, including Pikes Peak. You can eat out side at the cafe as well as peruse the gift shop and nature center with a variety of interactive displays focusing on the geology, native people and wildlife of the region, as well as fossils unearthed in the area. These exhibits are very kid friendly and hands-on, but my older kids seemed more interested in trying to get me to buy them souvenirs from the gift shops (yeah, there are actually 2 shops!)
Since we were on a tight schedule, we only spent about half an hour in the Visitors Center, mainly stopping there to get a trail map. We thought about seeing the short HD movie, "How Did Those Red Rocks Get There?' But on seeing that they charged admission ($5 adults, $2 kids), we changed our minds.
Seeing the park
Besides hiking, you can see the park by simply driving on the one-way road (which also has a marked bike lane). Tour Guides are also available during the summer months for motor couch tour buses. There is also a 24-seat tour bus that can take you on a tour of the park complete with tour guide narration ($5 adults, $2 kids).
Horseback riding is allowed on designated trails as is mountain biking. Technical climbing and bouldering are permitted, but rock scrambling and sport rappelling are not permitted. Climbers must first register at the Vistiors Center.
Our hike through the Garden of the Gods
We drove a short distance from the Visitiors Center to the trail head for Perkins Central Garden Trail. It was quite full and a quick glance at license plates revealed many out of state visitors. The trail here takes you around the main rock formations. What immediately struck me and my husband was the similarity of the rock formations here to those up in Roxborough State Park up near Denver. However, this seemed to be a much more "touristy" destination. The main trail here is paved and has disabled access, but didn't quite have that same feeling as Roxborough, which seemed a little more remote and scenic. However, there are other trails within the park that are more off the beaten path - for more serious hikers I would definitely suggest checking them out as this main loop takes under an hour (allowing time for pictures) as it's only about 1.5 miles long.
Nonetheless, we enjoyed our walk and checking out the Sandstone formations. They have interesting names, such as Kissing Camels, Sleeping Giant, and Pulpit Rock. My favorite was Sleeping Giant. Even without knowing its name, I could definitely make out the "face" in this interesting rock formation.
This park is also a great place for a natural outdoor wedding with its beautiful backdrop. We witnessed one couple getting married near the Three Graces which has a small plaza on the south side.
Balanced Rock
After our walk, we got in the car and headed up the road to see two last rock formations, those being Balanced Rock and Steamboat Rock. You definitely won't want to miss these two. Balanced Rock is truly amazing as it really appears to sitting precariously on one corner. Although most people take pictures on the north side, go around to the south side of the rock for the better angle.
Final Thoughts
Garden of the Gods is close and convenient to Colorado Springs and only about 10 minutes or so from 1-25. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth your while to come here, even it's only to spend a little time at the Visitors Center. So many scenic attractions charge an entrance fee, so to find one that didn't made our family quite happy. My only objection is that it seemed a bit more crowded than Roxborough State Park and perhaps a tad too commercial in the Visitors Center, but other than that, I found it to be a very beautiful park.
Park hours
May 1 - Oct 31 5am - 11pm
Nov 1 - Apr 31 5am - 9pm
Other local attractions: Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: June-August
Recommended for: Familes
Review Topic: Hiking & Trails
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