Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods, Protected natural park in Colorado Springs, United States.
Garden of the Gods is a nature reserve in Colorado Springs featuring red sandstone formations set against Pikes Peak. The rocks form vertical walls and balanced stones across roughly 1300 acres (526 hectares).
Charles Elliott Perkins acquired the land in the late 19th century and his children gifted it to Colorado Springs in 1909. The donation included the condition that admission must always remain free.
The red formations held sacred meaning for Ute, Apache, and Comanche peoples who gathered here over many generations. Today some trails and interpretive signs recall this earlier connection and show how deep the bond between people and this land once was.
The visitor center opens at 9 in the morning and closes at 5 in winter, staying open until 6 during summer. The paths are partly paved and allow wheelchair or stroller access, though some sections are steeper than others.
Scientists discovered a new dinosaur species here in 2006 and named it Theiophytalia kerri after this geological site. The fossils lay in layers over 100 million years old and still leave visible traces in the rock today.
Location: El Paso County
Operator: City of Colorado Springs
Website: http://gardenofgods.com
GPS coordinates: 38.87780,-104.87077
Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:54
Photo license: CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo license: CC BY-SA 4.0
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