If you are looking for the best Garden of the Gods hikes, you are in the right place!

Garden of the Gods is one of the most beautiful places near Denver, and it should be on every bucket list. It is one of the most popular parks in Colorado because of its towering red rocks and beautiful mountain views. There is nothing like it nearby!

Although you can see the red rocks from the parking lot, I highly recommend hiking under them. We loved feeling small while hiking under the towering rocks. And Garden of the Gods has hiking trails for all levels! You can enjoy a casual walk on a paved path or a strenuous hike around the park, and the views will not disappoint no matter what trail you choose!

If you want to hike in Garden of the Gods, you are in the right place! I created this guide to include everything you need to know about the best Garden of the Gods hikes to add to your bucket list.

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Things You Should Know About Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods has hikes for all levels, including paved trails and trails that climb over rock formations. Trust me, you will love visiting!

We spent our first day in Colorado hiking in Garden of the Gods and thought it was the perfect way to start our trip. We spent a few hours hiking and enjoying the stunning views of the red rocks and snow-capped mountains. I highly recommend hiking at least one trail when you visit!

Here are some important things you should know before visiting:

Garden of the Gods is free! One of the best things about Garden of the Gods is that admission is free. You do not need to worry about entrance station lines or fees.
Expect crowds. Garden of the Gods is one of the best things to do near Denver, making it a popular place to visit. The trails near the entrance tend to be crowded, especially midday, so I recommend arriving early to avoid crowds. The late afternoon is also a great time to hike in Garden of the Gods with fewer crowds. We hiked in the afternoon and stayed until sunset, and it was beautiful!
Bring a trail map. Garden of the Gods has many trails that connect throughout the park, and it is easy to end up on a trail you did not intend to. We had a physical map and an offline one downloaded to our phone, which was really helpful.
Pack hiking gear. Although most of the trails in Garden of the Gods are not overly strenuous, you should still pack the right hiking gear for the season you visit. You should have hiking boots, moisture-wicking clothes, and a hiking backpack with food and water.
Wear sunscreen. Garden of the Gods has little to no shade along its trails, so it is easy to get a sunburn. We learned this the hard way on our first day! Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before heading out to adventure.

Where to Stay Near Garden of the Gods

Colorado Springs is the closest city near Garden of the Gods with plenty of accommodations for all budgets, shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. We stayed in Colorado Springs and loved how close it was to Garden of the Gods.

Here are some of the best places to stay in Colorado Springs:

Best Hikes in Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods has 22+ miles of hiking trails that bring you to its towering rock formations that will take your breath away. And one of the best things is that it has trails for all levels, including paved paths and strenuous hikes.

Although it has many trails, I focus on a few of my favorites in this guide! Also, I highly recommend visiting in the morning or late afternoon to enjoy the trails with fewer crowds. We visited in the late afternoon and shared the trails with only a few people.

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash behind. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw away your trash. Otherwise, you should pack out your trash and dispose of it once you find a barrel.

Perkins Central Garden Trail

Length: 1.1 miles

Elevation: minimal

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: Yes

Perkins Central Garden Trail is the most popular hike in Garden of the Gods because it is paved with stunning views. It is perfect for the entire family!

The 1.1-mile trail brings you to some of the most iconic rock formations in the park, including the Tower of Babel, Kissing Camels, Sentinel Spires, Pulpit Rock, and Three Graces. These rock formations left us feeling small in the best way!

We started our hike in Garden of the Gods on the Perkins Central Garden Trail, and it did not disappoint! It was definitely the most crowded trail we hiked, but since we started in the afternoon, it was not as bad.

If you want a longer trail, you can add many others to the Perkins Central Garden Trail. But if you want an easy hike in Garden of the Gods with some of the best views, the Perkins Central Garden Trail is the best!

Siamese Twins Loop Trail

Length: 0.5 miles

Elevation: Minimal

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: Yes

Siamese Twins Loop Trail is another short, easy hike that leads to a beautiful rock formation with a hole in the middle.

The 0.5-mile loop is towards the back of the park and is a fun alternative to the main hiking trail. It gives you an up-close and personal experience with the Siamese Twins and beautiful views overlooking the surrounding area. You can also enjoy a longer 1.5-mile trail to the Siamese Twins Loop along the Palmer Trail.

Both trails do not begin in the main parking area, but you can certainly hike to the Palmer Trail from the Perkins Central Garden Loop, which is what we did! Many people hike only one or the other, so we had much of the trail in between the two to ourselves.

siamese twins loop hike in garden of the gods

Susan G. Bretag Trail and Palmer Trail Loop

Length: 2.5 miles

Elevation: 300 feet

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

The Susan G. Bretag Trail and Palmer Trail Loop brings you near the popular viewpoints before taking you further into the park, away from most of the crowds. It is a great alternative to the popular hikes I mentioned above.

This 2.5-mile loop starts near the Tower of Babel, Kissing Camels, Sentinel Spires, Pulpit Rock, and Three Graces before it travels further into Garden of the Gods.

I honestly think the best views in Garden of the Gods are on trails further in the park when you can see the rock formations from further away. Do not get me wrong, we loved walking under the rock formations, but I enjoyed seeing them from a different perspective, too. And these trails tend to have fewer crowds, which is nice!

Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop

Length: 4 miles

Elevation: 450 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

The Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop is one of my favorite hikes in Garden of the Gods because it loops along the outside of the Tower of Babel, Kissing Camels, Sentinel Spires, Pulpit Rock, and Three Graces. The most popular hikes are in the middle, so this loop is a great alternative to see the rock formations from a different perspective!

In my opinion, this 4-mile loop has some of the best views! And it tends to have fewer crowds, which we loved.

Although the trail does not go to the Siamese Twins, you can also easily add that for an additional 0.2 miles. That is one of the things we love most about Garden of the Gods: you can easily combine trails to see more of the park!

Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Strausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop

Length: 4 miles

Elevation: 600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

Another one of my favorite hikes in Garden of the Gods is the Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Strausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop. This 4-mile loop is similar to the above but brings you further into the park, providing breathtaking views of the red rocks and surrounding mountains, including Pikes Peak.

The beginning of the trail follows along some of the Perkins Central Garden Trail, so you can enjoy the popular views before wandering further into the park. As we moved away from the main trail, the crowds dispersed, and we enjoyed the views of the park and surrounding mountains. Because it was a clear day, we could also see Pikes Peak, which was stunning!

Garden of the Gods FAQs

Is Garden of the Gods free?

Yes, Garden of the Gods is free! You do not need to pay to enter or hike any of its beautiful trails.

When is Garden of the Gods open?

Garden of the Gods is open year-round, but its hours vary throughout the year. The park is open from 5 am to 10 pm from May 1 to October 31 and 5 am to 9 pm from November 1 to April 30. I recommend checking the Garden of the Gods website before visiting to confirm the times.

Where is Garden of the Gods?

Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs, about an hour south of Denver. You can easily visit as a day trip from Denver or spend a night near the park.

What are the best hikes in Garden of the Gods?

Garden of the Gods has over 22 miles of hiking trails, and honestly, all of them offer beautiful views! Below are some of the best hikes:

Perkins Central Garden Trail
Siamese Twins Loop Trail
Susan G. Bretag Trail and Palmer Trail Loop
Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop
Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Strausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop

If you want to visit Garden of the Gods, this guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip! I included everything you need to know about the best Garden of the Gods hikes.