Garden of the Gods Park – A Colorado Springs Treasure!
The Garden of the
Gods – from 30th St.
A couple of weeks ago, I was putting the finishing touches on the family calendar I produce every 18 months for family and friends. I decided that a photo of the Kissing Camels in the Garden of the Gods would be prefect for the month of February. It had been a long time between visits to the Garden of the Gods for us. So early on Father’s Day morning my husband and I packed up the camera and specialty lens, our chow dog, Mystic, then headed to the Garden of the Gods to update our photo catalog.
It was a beautiful morning, a few wispy clouds in the sky but the winds were increasing. Typical. First stop was just outside the Garden of the Gods Park off 30th Street, near the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center which offers a great view of the park. My husband shot a few photos from that location then we followed the line of cars into the park. It was bumper to bumper, I swear there were cars with license plates from all 50th states. Well, maybe not, but close.
Garden of the Gods is an attractive goal for rock climbers, due to the unusual rock
Cathedral Spires – Garden of the Gods
formations. Rock climbing is permitted, by annual permit obtained at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. You must follow the “Technical Climbing Regulations and Guidelines,” climbing with a “buddy”, using proper equipment and staying on established climbing routes.
I had completely forgotten that it is peak tourist season and the popularity of the Garden of the Gods Park. Stopping at the pull offs or look outs in the Garden of the Gods was out of the question that morning. They were full and cars cruised by at a turtles pace, no offense to turtles, waiting for a spot to open up.
Kissing Camels
Balanced rock and Steamboat Rock were in the shadows. The sun shone on Cathedral Spires, Hogbacks, Three Graces and Kissing Camels, perfect. I dropped my husband and his camera equipment off in the area of the Kissing Camels and cruised through the park again. I reveled in the rock formations, the tourists admiring them and the camaraderie of the drivers calmly making their way through the park. No rude gestures, horn honking or other bad behavior, just an enjoyable drive through the park, again.
My husband was waiting patiently at the side of the road, a few yards from where I’d left him. We decided to make one more pass through the park and then drove through Old
Garden of the Gods – Hogsback and Llama’s Heads Formations
Colorado City. Found a place to stop and review the photos taken, which were prefect for my calendar and this article then we returned home.
As if I needed a reminder of Garden of the Gods Park’s popularity, this morning I opened the local newpaper, The Gazette, and on its front page proudly declared that according to online travel site, TripAdvisor.com, Garden of the Gods Park is ranked number 1 in the country. A warm fuzzy feeling crept inside me right along with pride that our little park was so loved.
The Garden of the Gods has always held a special place in my heart, my husband hypothetically asked me to marry him in the Garden of the Gods Park many, many moons ago. (It’s a long story)
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Posted in My Say What Blog, The Pikes Peak Region and tagged Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Park, Tourist Destination, Unusual Rock Formations by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
