How can you guarantee the best experience when exploring the towering red rock formations of Garden of the Gods? Start your journey at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center.
As the official gateway, the Center features museum-quality exhibits on the park’s history and unique geology, a café, a gift shop, and the premier activity desk in the West. From here, choose your adventure by booking Adventures Out West Jeep, Segway, or E-bike tours, or hop on the free shuttle dropping you into the heart of the park.
A Gift to the Public
Charles Elliott Perkins, railroad mogul, friends of General Palmer
Before 1909, Garden of the Gods was privately owned by the railroad-wealthy Perkins family. Charles Elliott Perkins donated the land to Colorado Springs with a strict caveat: the park must remain free to all visitors forever.
Today, the park welcomes 4.5 to 6 million visitors annually, ranking it among the top 20 most visited city parks in the U.S. If classified as a national park, it would be the second or third most-visited in the country! TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards even rank it as the #2 best attraction in the U.S. and #9 in the world.
Preserving the Park
To support this massive influx of travelers and provide education, the volunteer-led Friends of the Garden of the Gods formed in 1991. Recognizing the need for modern amenities and public learning, they opened the Visitor Center in 1995.
The center operates with a deep purpose: profits from the gift shop, café, and outdoor tours go directly to the Garden of the Gods Foundation. These funds provide critical capital for park upkeep, preservation, and education programs. Over the last 30 years, this partnership has returned more than $7.6 million to Colorado Springs to keep the park pristine.
The Brains Behind the Exhibits
With cutting-edge education in mind, the Center underwent a major overhaul in 2019, introducing interactive galleries, time-travel simulations, and the immersive Geo-Trekker theater experience.
The exhibits were designed with vital input from park staff, local citizens, and scientific donors to accurately showcase the Pikes Peak region’s paleontology, flora, fauna, and geology. Dinosaur enthusiasts can view a replica of the Theiophytalia kerri—a species unique to the park. Staff also partnered with regional historians and the Ute people, the area’s historical indigenous visitors, to guarantee the absolute cultural accuracy of the exhibits.
Upcoming Events & Adventures
Planning your trip? Check out the full Garden of the Gods Event Calendar to see what’s happening during your stay. To secure your spot on an excursion, visit the Activity Desk to book your Adventures Out West Tours. A specially designed, wheelchair-accessible Jeep ensures everyone can enjoy the park. If you visit during the summer, view the Free Summer Shuttle Schedule to plan your transit seamlessly. There is no better time to experience the majesty of the Rockies.
Come on, there’s no better time to visit than right NOW!
Sassafras / Tammila K. Wright
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