Where Is Garden Of The Gods? See Its Map Location And Best Time To Visit - A-Z Animals
The state of Colorado abounds with astounding beauty. This is true in almost every part of the state – from its amazing deserts to its rocky mountains. The state is one of the “Rocky Mountain States“, and it plays host to several massive peaks. Today, we’ll will be exploring another set of sweeping views in Colorado. Colorado Springs rests at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains and has a lot to offer. It is home to a beautiful hiking area that is rich in red sandstone formations and beautiful views of nearby peaks. This hiking area is what we’ll be exploring today. The Garden of the Gods is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire state of Colorado. We’re going to help you find it and plan your trip.
Where is Garden of the Gods on a Map?
A beautiful view of the red rock formations at Garden of the Gods.
©Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com
The first thing we want to do is find out exactly where Garden of the Gods is. We’ll use a helpful and interactive map to help pinpoint the location and to show you how far it is from other cities and attractions.
As you can see, the Garden of the Gods is on the northwest side of Colorado Springs. It is only about an 11-minute drive to Garden of the Gods from downtown Colorado Springs. Let’s see how far Garden of the Gods is from other well-known cities in Colorado. Please note that the travel times are an estimate based on Google Maps data from the date and time of writing this article. Your travel times may vary slightly based on weather, traffic, and road closures.
| City | Distance | Estimated Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 95.9 miles | 1 hours and 38 minutes |
| Denver | 69.7 miles | 1 hour and 9 minutes |
| Pueblo | 46.6 miles | 46 minutes |
| Grand Junction | 308 miles | 4 hours and 44 minutes |
| Durango | 303 miles | 5 hours and 32 minutes |
You can see that some of these cities are just a quick drive away, while others are a bit farther. How far is Garden of the Gods from other popular attractions in Colorado? Let’s check it out.
| Attraction | Distance | Estimated Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cave of the Winds | 3 miles | 8 minutes |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 133 miles | 2 hours and 27 minutes |
| Royal Gorge Bridge & Park | 67.7 miles | 1 hour and 33 minutes |
| Pikes Peak | 25.3 miles | 59 minutes |
| Mesa Verde National Park | 337 miles | 6 hours and 6 minutes |
| Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre | 74.7 miles | 1 hour and 8 minutes |
What is Garden of the Gods?
Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. In the background you can see the Rocky Mountains, the Pikes Peak.
©iStock.com/Cristinatrif
Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark. The stunning views offered along several trails and from the visitor center show its unique beauty. The park itself spans 1,341.3 acres. 862 acres of this park are designated as a National Natural Landmark. This place was originally “Red Rock Corral”, but later renamed. Visitors can travel via the motorway through the park to see many of the attractions. A large number of short and long trails take you to see the natural formations that make the park so famous. Let’s look at a few of these formations now.
The Kissing Camels
The Kissing Camels is a tall rock formation. It has a shape that looks like two camels kissing one another. You can see these camels from many viewing points throughout the park. The best view of the Kissing Camels is from the visitor parking lot right below the formation.
The Siamese Twins
This is a very popular hiking location for visitors. A half-mile loop trail takes you to get up close and personal with this rock formation. A great view of Pikes Peak and a cool opportunity to interact with the rock formations. The Siamese Twins are named for the way these two red rock formations look nearly identical as they stand next to each other.
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock is, perhaps, the most popular rock formation in the park. You can see Balanced Rock from many locations around the park. There is also a very short hiking trail that will take you there. This rock is estimated to be 290 million years old. There is some suspicion that the fall of this rock is definite. The Denver Gazette claims it is only a matter time of time before it tumbles down the hillside.
Best Time to Visit and Cost of Entry
A window view of Pikes Peak from the Siamese Twins formation at Garden of the Gods.
©EQRoy/Shutterstock.com
Good news for anyone on a budget – the Garden of the Gods is completely free to visit. The lands that now make up the park were generously donated to the city of Colorado Springs – with one rule. The donors insisted that the owner loved the lands with a passion. They were happy to share the park with all visitors as long as it stayed free to visit in perpetuity.
The park is open every day from 5 am to 10pm from May 1st to October 31st, and 5 am to 9 pm from November 1st to April 30th, so there’s a large window of time that you can visit. If you want to see the park in solitude, your best bet is to visit early in the morning or later in the evening on a weekday. We also recommend going later in the year. October is a great time to visit because the weather is still temperate but the crowds will be thinner. April and May are also good times to visit.
Are Dogs Allowed at Garden of the Gods?
Garden of the Gods is dog-friendly, but be sure to keep your pet on a leash for the comfort and safety of other park-goers.
©Sarah Fields Photography/Shutterstock.com
Dogs are allowed in most parts of Garden of the Gods, but must be kept on leash. There is an off-leash running area near the overflow parking before you drive into the park. Please be advised that this off-leash area is not fenced in and that there is a road nearby. It is also close to a residential area. For the safety of your pet and the people around you, please ensure that your off-leash dog is well-behaved in this area.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © John Hoffman/Shutterstock.com
