Ten miles west of Colorado Springs there exists 3,300 acres of land featuring incredible geologic formations, the result of ancient sedimentary beds of red, white, blue, and purple sandstones, limestone and conglomerates.
The area was named “Garden of the Gods” by Rufus Cable in August 1859 and became a free access park in 1909 at the wish of Charles Elliott Perkins, whose children donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs.
The park boosts over 15 miles of trails and is a popular destination for walking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The steep incline of the rocks are also an attraction for mountain climbers who may scale the various peaks once they have obtained an annual permit.
The trip from which these images were captured occured in late March 2013, following a weekend snowfall that had melted in most places but still coated the higher elevation mountains.
Unfortunately, time constraints only allowed a 30-minute visit, when one should really plan to spend an entire day to capture the beauty contained therein. Thus, the more than quick tour resulted in shots being taken while entering the park (from the car) and during a rather fast and hasty less than half-mile walk in to view the closer rocks.
Fossils from the dinosaur species Theiophytalia kerri were discovered in 1878 and there are, evidently, more dinosaur fossils available to be seen, as well as marine forms and plant fossils. For bird lovers, Garden of the Gods is the home to more than 130 species, among them are canyon wrens, swallows and white-throated swifts.
Only an hour’s drive south of Denver this park is an absolute must-see for any nature lover. A full day is recommended to fully appreciate all that that Garden of the Gods has to offer, as a half-hour jaunt through the area only makes one want to go back.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
