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Garden of the Gods - 3 members in 12 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
12 triplogs
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Aug 12 2025
avatar

 Guides 104
 Routes 256
 Photos 16,118
 Triplogs 528

53 male
 Joined Dec 30 2005
 Tucson, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar Aug 12 2025
Mike_W • Triplogs 528
Hiking4.64 Miles 546 AEG
Hiking4.64 Miles   1 Hour   57 Mns   2.63 mph
546 ft AEG      11 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was my 2nd time to this area but this time I hiked a longer trail. It was a high of 84 in Manitou Springs and the next few days were showing highs of 92. I decided this might be the last pleasant day while I'm here so I decided to do this hike today.

I parked at the stop for Giant Footprints which had a way to get to the Palmer trail. I saw that the Palmer trail was the highest rated trail in this entire area. The trail was very pleasant, not too rocky and even sandy in many areas which made it easier on the feet.

Near the trailhead I saw a few deer eating berries from a bush. They didn't seem to be too afraid of people and I was probably within 8 feet recording a video. I started off on the Palmer trail for a while, then turned left, crossed the road and continued on the Buckskin Charlie trail. I took that all the way to the Niobrara trail which took me on a high ridgeline where I could look down into a grassy meadow. In this grassy meadow, I saw 2 elks roaming around. I took the Niobrara trail to the Chambers trail to the Bretag trail. The Bretag trail eventually met up again with the Palmer trail which I used to complete my loop. The rock formations around this area were incredible. I believe most of those were off limits to climbers.

Stats
------
4.64 mi RT
546 AEG
elapsed time 1 hr 57 mins
moving time 1 hr 46 mins
_____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
Image
 
May 21 2025
avatar

 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,144

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar May 21 2025
azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,144
Hiking4.50 Miles 646 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles   2 Hrs   9 Mns   2.13 mph
646 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Section 16 / Palmer Trail
Siamese Twins Trail
Perkins Central Garden Trail
Partners none no partners
Did this loop clockwise from the main parking lot. After the first mile, hiked barefoot.
_____________________
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." — Henry David Thoreau
 
Aug 17 2022
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 5
 Photos 656
 Triplogs 512

47 male
 Joined Jul 20 2007
 Gilbert, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar Aug 17 2022
jtaylor • Triplogs 512
Hiking2.50 Miles 370 AEG
Hiking2.50 Miles
370 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Beautiful break enroute to Trinidad. Meandered around the Central Garden area and found good shade and solitude on part of the trail. Very peaceful.
_____________________
“...wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.”
-Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
 
Nov 06 2021
avatar

 Guides 110
 Routes 2,246
 Photos 8,982
 Triplogs 2,600

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Perkins Central Garden TrailSouth Central, CO
Perkins Central Garden Trail
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar Nov 06 2021
LindaAnn • Triplogs 2,600
Hiking1.68 Miles 224 AEG
Hiking1.68 Miles   1 Hour   1 Min   1.98 mph
224 ft AEG      10 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Garden of the Gods
Partners partners
watermelonW
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Had to stick close to town in order to pick up my daughter as soon as her tournament was over, so we chose Garden of the Gods. I’ve been here a couple of times and don’t care much for the crowds, but it’s easy. We walked the Central Garden trail (paved) and the Upper Loop trail (packed dirt) and mostly just meandered around. Cool morning, very blue skies. Luckily we were ahead of the worst of the crowds.
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
Apr 10 2017
avatar

 Routes 22
 Photos 416
 Triplogs 67

42 male
 Joined Apr 18 2009
 Anthem, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar Apr 10 2017
Lost • Triplogs 67
Hiking1.00 Miles 50 AEG
Hiking1.00 Miles   2 Hrs      0.50 mph
50 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Nov 13 2015
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 632
 Photos 8,235
 Triplogs 604

54 male
 Joined Apr 13 2011
 Gilbert, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Run/Jog avatar Nov 13 2015
ddgrunning • Triplogs 604
Run/Jog8.23 Miles 1,196 AEG
Run/Jog8.23 Miles   2 Hrs   2 Mns   5.43 mph
1,196 ft AEG      31 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Siamese Twins Trail
Partners none no partners
Trail run through Garden of the Gods, while in Colo. Springs for a business trip. Couldn't believe that the parking lot was about 3/4 full at 6 a.m. (pre-dawn) on a Friday morning, with temps hovering at 20 degrees. Beautiful area. Saw a good-sized buck on the trail, but photos turned out blurry. Very cool to see the sun rise on the sandstone slabs, as well as on Pike's Peak in the background.
_____________________
 
May 11 2014
avatar

 Guides 71
 Routes 98
 Photos 9,967
 Triplogs 1,009

65 male
 Joined May 14 2003
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar May 11 2014
Randal_Schulhauser • Triplogs 1,009
Hiking2.50 Miles 250 AEG
Hiking2.50 Miles   2 Hrs   30 Mns   1.00 mph
250 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Perkins Central Garden Trail
Siamese Twins Trail
Partners none no partners
Flew in early to Denver to "front-end" business meetings I had scheduled with our Spine and Navigation business units on Monday 5/12 in Louisville CO.

Unexpected snow day made driving conditions VERY tough. Thankfully I had a 4WD Suburban rental that worked like a charm while others skidded off I-25.

Garden of the Gods is a gem. A little park history :next: http://www.gardenofgods.com/parkinfo/index_253.cfm. Here's the PDF map I had for trail guidance :next: https://www.springsgov.com/units/parksr ... gs-pg1.pdf

Will post photos (26 on iPhone, 120 on Canon 6D) and hike description when I get the chance. Thanks to Brad and Joel for all their travel tips... :y:


PS. I see now that Jake had posted a HAZ Hike Description previously for the main trail within Garden of the Gods :next: http://hikearizona.com/decoder=2255
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Garden of the Gods  Kissing Camels
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Snow
_____________________
 
Mar 02 2014
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Scenic Drive the Springs, CO 
Scenic Drive the Springs, CO
 
Scenic Drive avatar Mar 02 2014
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Scenic Drive
Scenic Drive
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Garden of the Gods
Partners none no partners
After Brunch at my wife's coworkers house, Micah decided to immediately fall asleep in the car. With fear of the toddler and no nap we opted to take the long way home. We drove through Garden of the Gods which still had frost on the trees from yesterday's frozen fog. We looped around and turned into Mt. St. Francis and both sides of the road including the cemetery had deer feeding. Ended drive with a loop up Cheyenne canyon road coming down lower Gold Camp Road which is one lane and dirt for several miles and has a couple tunnels. I have not been to this latter area before and there are a lot of trails to explore. Looking forward to coming back in the future. Looking forward to an Az. visit this week. :)

BTW my wife likes beer so I guess we are planning on checking out Az. Wilderness Brewing Co. on Thursday 3/6 4:30-? If there are any haz hiking peeps that want to catch up. :D
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mule Deer
_____________________
:o
 
Oct 12 2013
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Fall Colorado, CO 
Fall Colorado, CO
 
Scenic Drive avatar Oct 12 2013
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Scenic Drive
Scenic Drive
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Garden of the Gods
Partners none no partners
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Railroad Tunnel
_____________________
:o
 
Apr 27 2013
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Garden of the Gods, CO 
Garden of the Gods, CO
 
Hiking avatar Apr 27 2013
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Hiking
Hiking
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Garden of the Gods
Partners none no partners
Spent a couple of hours exploring the other side of the park with my two favorite ladies. 60 degree temps. and a nice breeze. Hiked up a Rampart Range Road by the balancing rocks parking. The road runs from the park all the way to Woodland park through the mountains, but is currently closed to driving traffic. Took several pictures, but everyone of the balancing stones came out blurry. Must be some hippity dippity vortex thing. :sl: Found a trail and followed that over a couple of side canyons and back to the road. Micah added 21lbs of training weight for the excursion. As usual she took her nap during the hike. Great way to spend the day with the family! Topped it off with some Mediterranean at Taste of Jerusalem for lunch in Manitou. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Pikes Peak
_____________________
:o
 
Mar 29 2013
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Garden of the Gods, CO 
Garden of the Gods, CO
 
Hiking avatar Mar 29 2013
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Hiking
Hiking
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Garden of the Gods
Partners none no partners
Got out of the house for a nice afternoon with my mother in law and Micah. Temps 65 degrees they did the main trail by the kissing camels and I trail ran some other trails and caught up to them. Nice area for trail running. The entrance by the 24 is the best bet as it's much less crowded. I wish that wasn't our last stop. Who knew? Register for free once a year as a climber and follow the rules and climb for free all year round for free during park hours. :y: Looks like I'm going to have to get to know some local climbers and dust off the climbing gear and get my butt outside! Super dog friendly as well.
_____________________
:o
 
Jun 16 2011
avatar

 Guides 2
 Routes 25
 Photos 1,890
 Triplogs 604

41 male
 Joined Sep 13 2009
 Mesa, AZ
Garden of the GodsSouth Central, CO
Garden of the Gods
South Central, CO
Hiking avatar Jun 16 2011
jochal • Triplogs 604
Hiking2.50 Miles 250 AEG
Hiking2.50 Miles
250 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 1.65 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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