A One-Day Route Through Colorado Springs from the North Side

Garden of the Gods is a strong first stop for this north-to-downtown Colorado Springs itinerary, with sandstone formations, paved and unpaved paths, and views of Pikes Peak.

The 1,341.3-acre park is at 1805 North 30th Street and is free to enter. Its children gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, fulfilling their father Charles Elliot Perkins’s wish that it remain open and free to the public.

For a manageable first visit, head toward the Central Garden Area. The park map identifies the north-end main parking lot as the best place to park for it; a paved path runs between the Gateway Rock formations into the area.

If you want to extend the stop, the park also has hiking, mountain biking, horseback-riding trails, road biking, technical rock climbing and guided nature walks.

The free Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center has interactive exhibits on the park’s history, geology, plants and animals.

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site is inside the park entrance at 30th Street and Gateway Road, with interpretive areas representing several periods, including a restored 1907 Orchard House. For route and access details, see how to plan a Garden of the Gods visit.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum gives your Colorado Springs day a downtown stop after the park.

The museum is in downtown Colorado Springs. Its ticket sales stop one hour before closing, so leave enough room in your day for the visit and check its official site for current opening information before setting out. The Zeb, a free downtown shuttle, serves the museum as well as downtown Tejon Street, Ed Robson Arena and Weidner Field.

If you want to make the museum the main downtown activity, allow for its ticket cutoff when deciding how long to spend at the park. The museum visit guide covers planning details for that stop.

For this itinerary, a car can connect the north-side start, Garden of the Gods and downtown, while transit can help with movement around the city centre.

Mountain Metropolitan Transit lists The Zeb as a free shuttle through downtown, including service to the museum. Its general operating hours are approximately Monday–Friday 5 a.m.–10:15 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.–10:15 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

The city advises checking specific service hours for The Zeb. Transit routes 2 and 14 run between Downtown Terminal and the El Paso County Citizens Service Center; Route 34 connects the Citizens Service Center, UCCS and Morning Sun Avenue.

For downtown parking, metered spaces closest to the city centre start at $1.50 per hour, with rates increasing for longer stays. ParkMobile can be used to pay for meters downtown and in Old Colorado City. Vehicles may not remain in a parking lot for more than 72 hours.

From the hotel, Colorado Springs city centre is about 19 minutes by car. If you are arriving by air, how to get from Colorado Springs Airport to the hotel can help you plan that separate leg of your trip.

Before you go: Check the City of Colorado Springs’ official site before you go for current park hours and transit details.

Is Garden of the Gods free to enter?

Yes. Garden of the Gods Park is free to enter, and the Visitor and Nature Center is also free.

What can you do at Garden of the Gods?

The park has hiking and biking options, horseback-riding trails, technical rock climbing and guided nature walks. Its paths include both paved and unpaved routes.

Does public transit serve the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum?

Yes. The Zeb is a free downtown shuttle that serves the museum, along with downtown Tejon Street, Ed Robson Arena and Weidner Field.