Garden of the Gods
One of the first things that pops up with the “colorado” google search is Garden of the Gods. Visited by what seems to be half of the world, Garden of the Gods is just a bit over an hour’s drive south from Denver in Colorado Springs. Entrance is free and although the park is closed for sunrise, the park and the rocks(i think they are technically rocks?) are visible from all around the park.
There are three large sections to the park.
- The center. There is a loop around the center of the park that allows you to see things at a quick pace from the outside.
You can also park at any of the parking lots (there is 1 large one and many smaller pull offs) and explore the park on foot from within. It’s possible to climb some of these rocks but a prearranged permit is required.
In this loop, arguably the best place to pull over is lot #3 for this view
2. The Mesa overlook. This is technically not a part of the park and is located across the street (and up the hill) from the park entrance. It’s a great way to see the park from higher up and a gorgeous spot for sunrises and sunsets.
- Garden drive shoots off from the side of the main loop and continues on to other formations that are a bit displaced from the center, like the Siamese Twins.
There is also a wide walking trail that passes along the front of the park that is open at all hours.
The park also has a visitor center but I totally forgot about it and did not visit!
Camping near the park is quite expensive ($70+ for some tent sites) so I found an airbnb cabin ~20 minutes from the park for cheaper than a tent site. I came to see the sunrise but there was a lot of cloud coverage and then I realized it was that one famous solstice anyway..
