Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center

What a great place for a fairly easy hike with your family or friends. It really is an all ages area to enjoy and we loved being able to also bring our dogs on leash. Reading about the rock formations and history of the Garden of the Gods was interesting and educational.There is currently construction going on so some areas are closed off. The scenery is rich in color and views of Pikes Peak in the background are breathtaking.It's a shame that some rocks appear to have initials carved on them, but this area is well maintained and there are bear proof garbage bins along the path. Check out the unique areas for fun photo opportunities. The parking lot fills up fast so definitely recommend coming as early as you can if you want to park near the entrance of the path.

My son was at work and I was dilly dallying around town. I'd been wanting to check out Garden of the Gods and decided to drive over for a peek. I was solo and it was pretty chilly out so I didn't stay out for an extended length of time seeing as though even in some borrowed Winter essentials I was still pretty cold. The pro to visiting in this temp, zero crowds.Garden of the Gods was magical and serene. It was snowing while I was there and I checked out a few key points on the map, after stopping at the Visitor Center to ask a couple of questions about highlights, etc.I drove through and made occasional stops at points I wanted to see, while getting out of the car for short periods of time. I can see how this is a great spot for some light hiking in different temps. I can't wait to hike some local 14kers in coming months and return to GOTG. I love spending time alone and I can see where Garden of the Gods is a great option for that.If you're a National Parks pass holder, this will remind you a tiny bit of Zion and Bryce or even Sedona, on a much, much smaller scale. Pretty nonetheless and close enough to town to make it a destination outdoor activity.Had a very yummy London Fog oat latte from the Trade Post, definitely worth a stop.

This park/ preserve area is gorgeous! I didn't get to see the most famous areas because the roads were closed, but we were able to drive part of it and walk the gateway trail to enjoy the views. We saw a bunch of deer, a mountain goat, turkeys, and various birds. The views and photo ops are stunning. This area is definitely a must if you're in the area. I would like to go back if I get the chance to see the rest of the area.

Beautiful mountains and wonderful visitor center. A great place to stop before or after your hike around (and through) the Garden of the Gods. There are a lot of informative displays, videos, and fossils. There is also a cafe and an extensive gift shop with plenty of stuffed animals and shirts. There is a nice second floor viewing deck to take in the mountains while sipping a coffee/hot cocoa/refreshing cold drink (depending on the season you go).I went in to the Garden of the Gods in the fall and it was a great way to enjoy the views at a great temperature and with less crowds.

As a kid I went here and as an adult it's just as cool, back in the day i got to meet the climber that got stuck on the kissing camels rock formation. The roads were clear and the wildlife was everywhere, a great place to take kids.

A beautiful free outdoor park with walking trails and scenic sights galore!There is not a lot of parking so your best bet is to come early in the morning or late at night close to sunset. We arrived 30 minutes prior to sunset and still had difficulty finding a parking spot, and had to loop several times in the main parking lot before we were finally able to park our car.

When in Colorado, everyone definitely recommends to visit this place and I can see why! The park is completely free and there are a good number of spots to park in at the visitor center. They have clean bathrooms, a cafe and restaurant, some information about the history and a gift shop. Downstairs, you can go book guided tours on jeeps, Segway's, and other vehicles. We ended up booking a tour and highly recommend it as our tour guide pointed out the different formations and was able to get us in and out in 30min. The cafe is really nice and features views of the nearby mountains including Pikes Peak. They serve Caribou Coffee and have a wide assortment of beverages and food items at a reasonable price.

Garden of Gods is such a beautiful landmark, surrounded by huge red rock peaks, covered with layer of green trees. It really feels godly in the park. Many different trails along the rocky hills. The main area has several designated parking zones. It's difficult to find a spot in the main one which is P4. But you can easily go around by parking in P6 or P7. The park is maintained very well. No trash, no eye sore. Roads are mainly one way. Markings are pretty good to find different spots.

Beautiful park here, the nature center opens later, but you can go at the crack of dawn (5am) and walk around yourself, drive through and park. Lots of fresh air and great views. Totally free park to visit and walk around in, lovely in the summer, closed in winter, I believe.Three biomes connect here, red cliff rocks, white rocks, a desert and coniferous tree forest all connect in the park. Stony fingers rising up to the sky and lots of birds and animals in the park.The single main lane looping throughout the park is a one-way, and you have some great views and viewpoints. The parking lot close to the main rocks can fill up quickly, the lower parking lots are big but farther from the rocks and hiking trails. You need to get a permit to climb the rocks. The walkways are well-paved and there are plenty of lookout areas.The park itself, well-put together, a lot of families, dogs, and joggers and walkers in the morning. Bathrooms, and lots of trash cans. Biking trails, as well. ATV and horseback and jeep tours, as well.Gift shop, info desk, cafe, and tours from the visitor center. Gets very crowded in the day, so go early or late, otherwise parking and traffic become problematic.

Kissing Carmel is amazing, we love to walk around the central garden, most of the trails were well maintained, easy walk. There's also a balancing rock which is awesome but you'll have to drive a bit more.