Visit This Colorado City Park For Stunning Red Rock Views
By Kristin Conard
VACATIONS
The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is a park that's free to explore. It is known for its incredible geological formations carved over millions of years by wind and water.
Highlights include the 35-foot-tall, 700-ton Balanced Rock at the southern end and the spectacular Steamboat Rock. Towards the northern end of the park are the Kissing Camels.
While you can see many of the formations from your car, it's worth exploring on foot. The park has a total of 21 miles of hiking trails with a mix of paved and natural surfaces.
The park also has fun rock-climbing routes; you can get a free permit from the Visitor and Nature Center. There, you can also see exhibits and sign up for a guided park tour.
Garden of the Gods is open year-round, between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. from November 1 to April 30 and until 10 p.m. from May 1 to October 31. It gets crowded on weekends and holidays.