Two large rock formations at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Sprigs, Colorado

Colorado’s Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods

One of the things we like to do is check out our country’s national parks. They are usually some of the best places around. As seniors we can enter most for free so it helps with the expenses of travel. It was with that in mind that we planned a trip to Colorado to check out three national parks along the southern corridor.

We left on a Saturday in late April. We checked Colorado’s weather the morning we left and were quite surprised to see that it was snowing. Snow in late April? Fortunately by the time our flight arrived in Denver, the snow had stopped. and there was only a little bit of rain. Rain we can handle although the temperature was still quite low when we arrived at our first destination, Manitou Springs.

Manitou Springs is a popular destination as it has a lot to offer. My daughter Andrea recommended we go there. She had gone there with a friend to do the Incline, a steep almost mile hike up a hill. We didn’t try it.

However, one of the popular activities is a visit to the Garden of the Gods, and that we did do. Sunday proved to be a beautiful day to visit with all signs of snow gone. It turned out that on that morning they were not allowing cars into the park until noon. One can visit the Garden of the Gods and just drive through in a car to see many of the sights. However, I wouldn’t recommend that.

We started in the Visitor’s Center to get our bearings. it’s a large building with some displays, a cafe and gift shop as well as the headquarters for some tours. The Garden of the Gods was given to the city of Colorado Springs with the stipulation that there would never be an entrance fee. One of the ways they generate income, then, is through the gift shop and other extras they can establish. With the morning sun shining on the rock formations, the view from the Visitor’s Center was amazing.

  • The Visitor Center for the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  • Display of animals that can be found in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • The view from the Visitor center of the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Morning light shining on a large red rock in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • View of large rock formation from the visitor center at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

At the Visitor’s Center they provide QR codes to scan which will give you WiFi access throughout the park. They also provide you with online maps of the park. They have apparently decided to no longer print paper maps as a way to conserve resources.

With a map at our disposal, we left the Visitor’s Center and walked down to the main trail which is the Gateway Trail. This trail is a nice wide, paved trail so it is easily accessible. There are two large red rock structures that visitors see from a distance, but as one gets closer, they discover there are a number of other smaller rocks around that are just as interesting.

  • Large rock sign for the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Trail crossing a creek at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Leafless trees along a trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Bicycles riding on the main road in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Close view of the major rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • White peaked rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Family walking the trail to a large rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Wooden fence along the trail with rocks in the background at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

The gateway Trail will eventually connect to the paved Central Garden Trail. The Garden considers it the main trail to see the sites in the park. It goes around behind the large rock structures and gives various views of the rocks. I found I was taking a lot of photos because around each turn I would see another interesting vista. The rocks would change as you looked at them from different angles.

  • Leafless tree in front of a large pointed rock formation at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Trail going near a tall rock formation at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Trees growing on small irregular rock formation at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Trees growing in front of two rock formations at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Irregular and jagged top of a rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Evergreen trees growing together with two red rock formations behind them at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Clouds scattered across the sky by some large red rock formations at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • People walking on a trail near a field toward large red rock formations in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

I found the rocks at the south end of these main rocks the more unique rocks. They were often quite thin looking, almost like slices of rock. They were quite interesting to see. At the south end off of the paved trail, we took a route called the Upper Loop Trail. We had to climb stairs going both up and down. At the top of the trail was an area where people could climb out on some of the rocks, and they definitely took advantage of that opportunity. We did not join them, but enjoyed watched those who did.

  • Leafless trees at the base of a flat red rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Three flat red rocks parallel to each other and going skyward at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Various rocks close together looking like on rock formation at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Clouds look menacing behind jagged red rock formations at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Various jagged peaks behind some green trees at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Stairs leading up to one of the many rock formations at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • People climbing up toward a rock formation at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Visitors climbing over an area of rocks at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Two narrow red rock peaks near each other at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

One can scale the rocks, but climbers need a special permit to do so. They also need to have the right kind of gear. We didn’t see anyone climbing while we were there.

We continued on the paved trail back to the Gateway Trail then walked another paved trail on the other side of the main rock. It offered some interesting views of the rocks which we had not seen from other directions. We then returned to the Visitor’s Center and our motel for lunch and a rest.

  • Dark clouds behind some jagged rocks in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Large red rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • People walking on the trail near the red rock formations in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Large red rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Leafless trees in front of one of the rock formations in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Three separate red rock formations lined up in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Wooden fence along the trail that points to the rock formations in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Multiple peaks on a red rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Later we returned to Garden of the Gods, but a different location. We came to see the Balanced Rock, a rock that seems to be balanced on a small corner. The road here is interesting as it is quite narrow as it goes between the rocks. This is a popular sight and kids seemed to love to climb around this rock as well.

  • A large red rock formation called the Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • People wandering around the base of the Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Car driving in front of the Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

From there we walked to the Trading Post which is another gift shop. It is huge with all manner of goods to sell from t-shirts to Native American art and jewelry to Colorado artists and tchotchkes of all kinds.

Near the Trading Post we began walking the Cabin Canyon Trail. It was a more challenging trail as it was not paved, in fact at times the terrain was rough. However, it offered some beautiful views and was definitely a good hike. One of the highlights is seeing the formation called the Siamese Twins which looks like two stacked rock piles side by side. There were a lot less people on this hike. There are a number of hikes throughout the garden so visitors who have time or the inclination can certainly find places to hike beyond the busy Garden Center Trail.

  • The Trading Post gift shop at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • A single tree next to a large rock near a trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • WOman walking on the Cabin Canyon Trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Rd rock layers next to a trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Tall lone tree stands above the red rock layers along a trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • SHort bushes around the red rocks near the Cabin Canyon Trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Family walking along the Cabin Canyon Trail in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Distant view of the Siamese Twins rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Dark clouds over the Siamese Twins rock formation in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Steps help make the trail easier in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Woman waking along a trail toward a tall tree on her left in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

After our hike in Garden of the Gods, we were ready to explore a little bit of the town of Manitou Springs. The first challenge is finding parking. They have some parking lots as well as street parking, but it’s not free. Visitors can pay with their phone or at a machine. It can be a little confusing. We did learn that parking is free after 6:00 although they won’t charge visitors after 5:30. We learned this from a parking monitor.

The town is actually much larger than we had expected. It has some older, historic buildings but is not focused on history. It offers a wide variety of activities. There are parks as well as an area for arcade activities. Of course there are a lot of restaurants for visitors to choose from. We enjoyed a meal at a hamburger joint.

The owner of our motel told me that in the summer time the area is really busy. It is often difficult to get reservations for some of the local activities. Since we were visiting on a weekend, it seemed quite busy to me but not overwhelming.

It had been a near perfect day for our visit to the Garden of the Gods. Fluffy clouds in the sky add to the photos we took. A light jacket was all we needed to keep warm. The rest of our Colorado stay is supposed to be generally warm so we are looking forward to a great trip. I hope you follow along as we explore the southern region of Colorado.

What is your next travel destination? With summer approaching, I’m sure some of you have some trips planned. I’d love to know where you are going. Feel free to share your plans in the comment box below.

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