Garden of the Gods in a nutshell
Garden of the Gods is a city park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has red sandstone fins and spires with Pikes Peak behind them, and it covers 1,341 acres (543 hectares). The park belongs to the city, entry is free, and it is not a national park or a state park. The free access goes back to 1909, when the children of Charles Elliott Perkins gave land to the city on the condition that the public would always be able to enter without paying.
A place with the same name exists in the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. This guide is only about the park in Colorado.
This is an independent site. It is not run by the City of Colorado Springs, the Visitor & Nature Center, the Garden of the Gods Resort and Club or any tour company. It covers the park itself, with trails, rock formations, parking, climbing and riding, and the tours you can book. It also covers the places nearby: Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs and its Incline, Cave of the Winds, Red Rock Canyon, Colorado Springs and the Royal Gorge. Prices are in US dollars, as listed in 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Garden of the Gods tours
A Jeep tour, an e-bike ride and a Segway tour through the red rocks.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Segway tour of Garden of the Gods
Ninety minutes with a guide, including the mandatory briefing, the Segway and a helmet. Tips are not included.
Check availability →Garden of the Gods and foothills Jeep tour
Two and a half hours in a Jeep with a guide, water included. Hotel transfer is not included.
Check availability →
Garden of the Gods e-bike tour from Manitou Springs
Two hours on an e-bike, with the bike, a helmet and water included. No exclusions are listed.
Check availability →Garden of the Gods tours and day trips
Jeep, Segway and e-bike tours in the park, plus trips to Pikes Peak and beyond, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Every page of this guide, grouped by what you want to do.
In the park
Things to do in the park
Twelve experiences, from the Central Garden walk to Segway and e-bike tours.
Garden of the Gods trails
Central Garden, Siamese Twins, Ridge and more, with lengths.
Kissing Camels and other formations
Cathedral Spires, Three Graces and how the red rocks formed.
Balanced Rock
Where to see it, how it formed and how to photograph it within the rules.
Visitor & Nature Center
Hours, exhibits, the Geo-Trekker film and the separate Trading Post.
Parking and park rules
Lots, the free summer shuttle and the road rules.
Rock climbing
The free city permit, equipment rules and seasonal route closures.
Horseback riding
One- and two-hour rides, minimum ages, hours and booking rules.
Tours compared
Trolley, jeep, Segway, e-bike and guided walks side by side.
Jeep tours
Three routes, 90 minutes to 2 hours, and what the price covers.
Around the park
Pikes Peak
Cog Railway from Manitou Springs, highway toll and altitude.
Manitou Springs
Mineral springs, a historic main street and the railway depot.
The Manitou Incline
A steep stair climb that needs a free reservation.
Cave of the Winds
Cave tours and outdoor rides at a private mountain park.
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
A city open space in Colorado Springs. Not the canyon near Las Vegas.
Things to do in Colorado Springs
Fifteen ideas beyond the park, from Seven Falls to the zoo.
Royal Gorge Bridge
A day trip of about 60 miles (97 km) each way.
Practical planning
Good to know
Where older guides and old photos of signs are out of date.
The park is free, the businesses around it are not
Entry to the park costs nothing. The Visitor & Nature Center is run by a foundation and is free too. The Trading Post, the resort and the tour companies are separate businesses. The guided nature walk costs $5 and needs a reservation, while the audio tour is free.
Visitor & Nature Center →The Visitor Center closes earlier than the park
The center is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. An older city map sheet still lists 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., which is not the operator's current schedule. The center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Hours and exhibits →The water line work is finished
The city completed the Garden of the Gods water line project in 2025. Closure reports from 2024 and 2025 do not describe the park today. Road and trail conditions can still change with weather.
Parking and roads →E-bike rules changed on 1 July 2025
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed only on selected city urban and regional trails. No e-bikes are allowed on city open space. A guided e-bike tour on park roads does not mean every trail is open to e-bikes.
Tours compared →No fires or smoking outdoors
Burn restrictions have applied since 17 February 2026. Campfires and smoking outdoors are banned in all city parks and open spaces. Stay on the marked trails, keep dogs on a leash and leave drones at home.
Trails →The Cog Railway does not start here
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway leaves from 515 Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs, not from Garden of the Gods. The Pikes Peak Highway is a separate toll road with its own timed-entry rule in 2026.
Pikes Peak →Garden of the Gods: frequently asked questions
Is Garden of the Gods free?
Yes. The park is owned by the city of Colorado Springs and entry is free. Paid extras are separate, such as the guided nature walk ($5), the Geo-Trekker film or any tour. Driving through the park yourself costs nothing.
Do I need a reservation to visit?
Not for a normal visit to the park. The guided nature walk does need a reservation, and so do horseback rides and the Manitou Incline, which are separate from the park visit. Check each page for the details.
Where do I park?
The Visitor Center lot has fewer than 200 spaces and can fill up in summer and on holidays. Overflow Lot 1 is across from the center on Gateway Road. Self-driving through the park is free, and further lots are near the Central Garden and Balanced Rock. See the parking page.
What is the easiest walk?
The Perkins Central Garden Trail is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop with less than 30 feet (9.1 m) of climbing. The Siamese Twins trail is 1 mile (1.6 km) out and back and gives a view of Pikes Peak through a rock window. Both are rated easy. See the trails page.
What about summer thunderstorms?
July and August are the wettest months in Colorado Springs, with a long-term average of about 3 inches (75 to 79 mm) of rain at the airport station. When you hear thunder, go into a solid building or a fully closed vehicle. There is no completely safe place outdoors near lightning. See the best time page.
Is this the official Garden of the Gods website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the City of Colorado Springs, the Visitor & Nature Center, the resort or any tour operator. Check the operators for current hours and closures before you go.