Twelve ways to spend a day in the park
Garden of the Gods is a free city park in Colorado Springs, so a visit can cost nothing. You can walk the flat Central Garden loop, look at the named rock formations from the road or a parking lot, and see the exhibits in the Visitor & Nature Center. Paid options add a guide, a vehicle or a film.
The list below is an editorial selection, not a ranking. It starts with the free walks and rocks, moves on to the Visitor & Nature Center and ends with tours by vehicle. Climbing and horseback riding are possible too and are covered at the end.
On foot and by eye: free
Entries 1 to 4. All of them stay on the official trails and roads.
1. Walk the Perkins Central Garden Trail
The classic loop is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long with less than 30 feet (9.1 m) of climbing, and it is rated easy. From the Visitor Center you can reach it on the Gateway Trail through the pedestrian tunnel.
Trails →2. Hike to the Siamese Twins
This trail is 1 mile (1.6 km) out and back with less than 150 feet (45.7 m) of climbing, rated easy. You look through a window in the rock and see Pikes Peak.
Trails →3. Stop at Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock stands in the south of the park and can be photographed from its parking area. Softer layers at the base eroded faster, which left the rock that looks so precariously balanced. Do not climb it.
Balanced Rock →4. Spot the named rocks
The city map names Kissing Camels, Cathedral Spires, Three Graces, Sleeping Giant and Steamboat Rock. They are rock formations, not attractions with an entry fee. Look from the trails and the road, and keep to the marked paths for photos.
Rock formations →Our picks: things to do
Three ways to see the park with a guide: by e-bike, on a Segway or in a Jeep.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Segway tour of Garden of the Gods
Ninety minutes with a guide, including the mandatory briefing, the Segway and a helmet. Tips are not included.
Check availability →
Jeep tour via Manitou Springs and Old Stage Road
Three hours in a modern Jeep with a guide, with snacks and water on request. Tips are not included.
Check availability →
Garden of the Gods e-bike tour from Manitou Springs
Two hours on an e-bike, with the bike, a helmet and water included. No exclusions are listed.
Check availability →Garden of the Gods tours and experiences
Guided jeep, Segway and e-bike tours in the park and day trips from Colorado Springs, with live prices and availability.
At the Visitor & Nature Center
Entries 5 to 8. The center is run by a foundation and is free to enter.
5. See the exhibits
The exhibits cover interactive geology, plants and animals, people and history, and Theiophytalia kerri. The center is at 1805 N. 30th Street. It also has the Gateway Café and a gift shop, accessible facilities and refill stations for water bottles.
Visitor Center →6. Watch the Geo-Trekker film
"How Did Those Red Rocks Get There?" runs less than 15 minutes, with a show every 20 minutes. Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for children aged 5 to 12, and children under 5 are free. Tickets are sold at a kiosk or in the online shop. This is separate from the free exhibits.
Visitor Center →7. Join the guided nature walk
The walk starts at the Visitor Center every day at 10:30 a.m. and lasts 45 to 60 minutes. It costs $5 and needs a reservation. It follows the Gateway Trail to the Central Garden Trail.
Tours compared →8. Take the free audio tour
The self-guided audio tour plays through headphones or your car speakers and costs nothing. It is the free alternative to the guided nature walk.
Tours compared →By jeep, trolley, Segway and e-bike
Entries 9 to 12. Prices are per person as listed in 2026, and surcharges come on top.
9. Ride a jeep tour
Three jeep routes run 90 minutes to 2 hours and cost $55 to $90 per person plus a concession fee. One route adds Glen Eyrie admission.
Jeep tours →10. Take the 1909 trolley
The open trolley takes 35 to 45 minutes and costs $22 per person plus a concession fee. It does not stop along the way and is not a free park shuttle.
Tours compared →11. Book a Segway tour
The Adventure level lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and costs $105 per guest plus an 18 percent concession fee, about $123.90 in total. Children under 12 cannot take part, and a briefing and ride check come first. Start times are listed hourly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., subject to availability.
Tours compared →12. Join an e-bike tour
Tours last 1.5 to 2.5 hours and cover 5 to 13.5 miles (8 to 21.7 km). Rentals of e-bikes and mountain bikes are available too. Booking ahead is recommended. Since 1 July 2025 e-bikes are not allowed on city open space, and a tour on park roads is no proof that trails are open.
Tours compared →What each experience costs and takes
Prices as listed in 2026. Fees and taxes can add to them.
| Experience | Time | Price | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Garden Trail | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) loop | Free | No |
| Siamese Twins | 1 mile (1.6 km) out and back | Free | No |
| Geo-Trekker film | Under 15 minutes | $6 adults, $4 children 5 to 12 | Kiosk or online shop |
| Guided nature walk | 45 to 60 minutes | $5 | Required |
| Audio tour | Self-paced | Free | No |
| Jeep tour | 90 minutes to 2 hours | $55 to $90 plus fees | – |
| 1909 trolley | 35 to 45 minutes | $22 plus fee | – |
| Segway tour | 1.5 to 2 hours | $105 plus 18 percent | – |
| E-bike tour | 1.5 to 2.5 hours | – | Recommended |
Two more options: climbing and riding
Both are possible, with rules.
Rock climbing
Technical climbing needs a free annual city permit, and the permit does not open every route. Gray Rock and North Gateway have seasonal closures. Scrambling above 10 feet (3.05 m) without protection is banned, and chalk is not allowed.
Rock climbing →Horseback riding
Academy Riding Stables offers one-hour rides from $111.30 for ages 8 and up and two-hour rides from $172.78 for ages 11 and up. Riders must be at least 4 feet (1.22 m) tall and book online.
Horseback riding →Plan the rest of the day with the pages on parking, the best time to visit and Pikes Peak.
Things to do at Garden of the Gods: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do for a short visit?
The Central Garden Trail is the easiest start: 1.5 miles (2.4 km), flat and free. Add the Siamese Twins view of Pikes Peak if you have more time. There is no single best choice, because it depends on your time and the weather.
Can I do it for free?
Yes. Walking, the named rock formations, the Visitor & Nature Center exhibits and the audio tour are all free. Only the film, the guided nature walk and the vehicle tours cost money.
What can I do on a rainy day?
The exhibits at the Visitor & Nature Center and the Geo-Trekker film are indoors. Summer thunderstorms are possible, and July and August are the wettest months. When you hear thunder, go into a solid building or a fully closed vehicle.
Are the tours suitable for people with limited mobility?
The trolley is not accessible under the ADA. A lift jeep exists but needs a reservation in advance. Children under 12 cannot ride the Segway. Ask the operator about your needs before you book.
Is anything here an official park service?
The park is run by the city, and the Visitor & Nature Center by a foundation. This site is independent and has no link to either, nor to any tour operator.