Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is one of the most dramatic free parks in America and the best reason to drive south from Denver. On the west edge of Colorado Springs, huge slabs and spires of red sandstone, the same Fountain Formation that forms Red Rocks, thrust up from the ground in vertical fins hundreds of feet tall, with snow-capped Pikes Peak rising behind them. The land was given to the city in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliott Perkins with the stipulation that it remain forever open and free to the public, and it still is: no entrance fee, and a free Visitor & Nature Center across from the park with exhibits, a film, a cafe and the classic view through its windows. Inside the park, the paved Perkins Central Garden Trail loops through the heart of the formations and is accessible to most visitors, while unpaved trails reach quieter corners. Look for famous formations including Balanced Rock, Kissing Camels and the Gateway Rocks. Technical rock climbing is allowed with a permit, and you will often see climbers on the walls. Guided nature walks are available for a small fee by reservation, and commercial operators run jeep, Segway, trolley and e-bike tours from the visitor center. Park hours are generous: from November through April the park is open from early morning until 9pm. Arrive early on weekends for parking, and pair the visit with the historic spa town of Manitou Springs next door.

The geology is the main event. The red rocks were once sand dunes and alluvial fans, laid down in layers and later tilted on end as the Rockies rose, then sculpted by erosion into the fins and pinnacles you see today. The park was designated a National Natural Landmark for its geology and its fossil record, and the visitor center's exhibits explain both. Human history goes back much further than the park: Indigenous peoples have known this place for thousands of years, and the visitor center and ranger programs cover that history too.

A good visit starts at the Visitor & Nature Center, where the large windows frame Pikes Peak behind the formations and you can pick up a map. Drive or walk across to the main parking lot and walk the paved Central Garden loop, which takes about an hour at an easy pace and passes beneath the largest formations. If you have more time, take an unpaved trail into the quieter areas of the park, or drive the one-way road past Balanced Rock for photos. Climbing is a big part of the park's culture; climbers must register for a permit, and some areas close periodically, including the east face of North Gateway Rock during current water-line construction. Wildlife sightings include mule deer and, in season, birds of prey nesting on the rocks.

The drive from Denver takes about an hour and a half on I-25, depending on traffic, so this is a full or half-day trip. Combine it with Manitou Springs, a historic spa town with mineral springs, shops and restaurants just west of the park, or with the drive or cog railway toward Pikes Peak. Come early or late in the day for the best light on the red rock and the easiest parking; sunsets here are spectacular. In winter, the park stays open with shorter hours and frequent sunny days, though trails can be icy after storms.