Garden of the Gods Trails
The trails on the official map
The lengths below are the segment lengths printed on the city’s 2020 park map. A segment is one stretch of trail between junctions, so a walk that joins several segments, or returns the same way, will be longer. The descriptions come from the park’s hiking trails page where the park gives one.
| Trail | Map length | Park description |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins Central Garden | 1.56 mi | 1.5 mi round trip, paved, less than 30 ft of rise; wheelchair and stroller accessible |
| Palmer | 1.89 mi | About 1.9 mi on the map |
| Rock Ledge Ranch | 1.88 mi | Not described |
| Scotsman | 1.58 mi | Moderate and rocky, with Buckskin Charlie |
| Strausenback | 1.58 mi | Not described |
| Niobrara | 1.43 mi | Not described |
| Buckskin Charlie | 0.98 mi | Moderate and rocky, with Scotsman |
| Ute | 0.96 mi | Not described |
| Siamese Twins | 0.93 mi | 1 mi round trip, less than 150 ft, easy; Pikes Peak through a rock window |
| Cabin Canyon | 0.69 mi | Not described |
| Chambers | 0.47 mi | Not described |
| Susan G. Bretag | 0.45 mi | Not described |
| Galloway Homestead | 0.45 mi | Not described |
| Balanced Rock | 0.44 mi | Not described |
| Dakota | 0.44 mi | Not described |
| Gateway | 0.31 mi | 2.5 mi, easy, with the Central Garden from the overflow lot |
| Ridge | 0.25 mi | 0.5 mi loop, less than 100 ft, moderate |
Short hikes
For a visit of an hour or two, the park’s own descriptions point to four walks:
- Perkins Central Garden Trail: 1.5 miles round trip, paved, with less than 30 ft of rise. It runs through the Central Garden and suits wheelchairs and strollers.
- Ridge Trail: a 0.5-mile loop with less than 100 ft of rise, rated moderate by the park.
- Siamese Twins Trail: 1 mile round trip with less than 150 ft of rise, rated easy, ending at a natural rock window that frames Pikes Peak.
- Gateway and Central Garden: 2.5 miles, rated easy, starting from the overflow lot across Gateway Road.
Longer and rockier trails
The park rates the Scotsman and Buckskin Charlie trails as a moderate, rocky pairing. The Palmer Trail runs about 1.9 miles on the official map. For a long walk, AllTrails lists an "Outer Loop" of about 6.5 miles that joins several trails; it is a third-party route, not an official one. The city says about 5 miles of trail reached from the South Garden lot are open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The how hard is it page covers difficulty, and how long is the hike gives times.
Trails with a history
Several trail names carry the park’s past. The Ute Trail passes through the park: the Ute people used Camp Creek Valley as a base camp before they were removed to reservations in the 1870s. The Galloway Homestead and Rock Ledge Ranch trails share names with Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site next door, where the Galloway Homestead Cabin interprets the years 1867 to 1874. The Niobrara and Dakota trails share their names with rock layers listed in the city’s geology packet.
Rules on the trail
- Off-trail travel is prohibited, per the park rules page.
- Dogs are allowed on a leash of 6 ft at most; waste must be picked up. See the dogs page.
- Mountain bikes and horses stay on their designated trails.
- Bouldering or scrambling above 10 ft without proper equipment is illegal.
- Nothing may be taken from the park.
The park lists bighorn sheep, mule deer, prairie rattlesnakes, black bears and coyotes among its animals. The animals page has more.
The guided nature walk
A short guided nature walk leaves daily at 10:30 am and lasts 45 to 60 minutes, according to the park. A fee applies and reservations are required.
Conditions
The park sits at about 6,400 ft. Its summer safety advice warns that afternoon storms can form within minutes and drop temperatures by 20 degrees or more, and suggests carrying about half a liter of water per hour of hiking. Winter brings snow on the red rocks and icy trails. The best time to visit page covers the seasons.
The Siamese Twins Trail gives the park’s framed view of Pikes Peak for about a mile of walking. Early morning, before about 8 am, is the quieter time the park suggests.
A guided walk by jeep
None of the six GetYourGuide products on this site is a guided hike. The closest fit is the Garden of the Gods Luxury Jeep Tour: its listing describes a 2-hour drive through the park with photo stops and walking along hiking trails, with private or small-group options. The listing states it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walking trail at Garden of the Gods?
The main paved walk, the Perkins Central Garden Trail, is 1.5 miles round trip with less than 30 ft of rise. See the Perkins trail page.
What are the best short hikes at Garden of the Gods?
The park’s short walks are the paved Perkins Central Garden Trail (1.5 mi), the Ridge Trail (0.5 mi loop), the Siamese Twins Trail (1 mi) and the Gateway and Central Garden walk (2.5 mi).
How many miles of trails are there?
More than 20. The park says 22-plus miles and Visit COS says 21.
Can you hike off the trails?
No. Off-trail travel is prohibited under the park rules, and scrambling above 10 ft without proper equipment is illegal.
Can you bike the trails?
Mountain bikes are allowed on designated trails only; the park roads carry paved bike lanes.