Garden of the Gods | Colorado » A Travelers Secrets

Colorado is home to some incredibly unique sites. One of my favorites is Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods has over 20 miles of hiking trails, and some awesome rock formations.

Garden of the Gods is only a short, 15 minute drive from Colorado Springs. It takes slightly longer to visit from Denver – about an hour and 15 minute drive. The sights are definitely worth it, and it’s a great place to spend the day!

Currently, the park is open 5:00am-10:00pm all week. The visitor center is open 8am-7pm all week. Check their official website before your visit for the most accurate hours of operation.

Hiking in Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is home to a plethora of hiking trails, and is open to visitors year round!

For those of you wondering if you can bring your furry friends, dog are allowed, but must be kept on a leash.

Be prepared to see some amazing sandstone formations, lots of greenery, and native wildlife. There are signs posted to beware of rattle snakes.

Trained rock climbers with professional gear & proper licenses can climb the sides of the sandstone in certain areas of the trails. If you’re lucky, you might see a rock climber in action!

Be sure to stop by the visitors center and grab a map of the trails. The trials vary in length, and difficulty. Some trails may be steeper than others; prepare yourself with good hiking shoes and water in advance.

One of my favorite trails is the Siamese Twins Trail. It is home to one of the parks most visited sites, the Siamese Twin Rocks. It’s a one mile long looped trail.

The Siamese Twin Rocks are two rocks that have been weathered away into pillars that strongly resemble one another. The rocks lean together and form a small hole, which is perfect for taking photos in.

Another great hike to go on is the Central Garden Trail. This trail is easy, with paved walkways, and minimal inclines. It is surrounded by some of the highest rock formations in the park.

The Central Garden Trail is one of their most used trails, so be prepared to be around other people.

Rock Formations

Along their hiking trails, Garden of the Gods has some sandstone formations you won’t want to miss. Here’s some of my favorites.

Balanced Rock

Balanced rock is a large piece of sandstone thats been weathered away to look like it is defying gravity. It sits “balanced” (hence the name) on top of another large piece. It is another popular sight at Garden of the Gods, and it may be crowded.

Sleeping Giant

Sleeping giant is one of the largest sandstone formations at Garden of the Gods. It can be seen from the Central Garden Trail, as well as when you are driving around the park.

I’ve heard the easiest time to “see” the giant is in the early afternoon.