About Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is location in Colorado Springs, a pretty major city in located about 1.5 hours south of Denver. The park is pretty famous for its red rock formations, and for good reason! Garden of the Gods is a gorgeous location for an engagement photos or an elopement!
Permits
Entry to Garden of the Gods is completely free, and you do not need any kind of permit to have a ceremony in the park or take photos in the park. No reservations or timed entry permits are required.
Pets
Pets are permitted at Garden of the Gods, but must be on a leash. It is likely that you will encounter other people and other dogs.
Weather and Seasons
Garden of the Gods is open and accessible year-round. In the winter, the trail may have snow or ice.
Accessibility
Most areas of Garden of the Gods are super accessible. Some places require a little bit of hiking, but you can also find viewpoints that are accessible with a short, easy walk.
Parking
There are several parking areas within the park and each one has a different number of spaces.
Other Notes
- Garden of the Gods is a very popular attraction. I highly recommend a weekday if possible.
- There is a great visitor center with exhibits, restrooms, and a gift shop
- There are many trails and locations within the park. I list my favorites below.
Reasons to love this location
- Beautiful red rock formation
- Very easily accessible with little to no hiking
- Great for sunset or sunrise
- It's beautiful and accessible all times of year
- It's free! No permits of any kind are required for entry, photos, or ceremonies
Example Galleries
- Summer Engagement Session (Ridge Trail and High Point Overlook)
- Summer Engagement Session (Ridge Trail and High Point Overlook)
- Winter Elopement (Ridge Trail and Garden Trail)
- Summer Elopement (High Point Overlook + Garden Trail)
Favorite Trails and Areas
Ridge Trail
Trail Length: 0.4 miles
AllTrails link
I love this trail because here is lots of room to walk and move around. The rock formations are close, but there are also some that are farther away in the distance. You can get cool photos with the mountains in the background as well.
Garden Trail
Trail Length: 1.1 miles
AllTrails link
This is the main trail through the heart of the park. It's mostly paved, and gives you great views of the rock formations. There are a few different spots along this trail that I like for photos. There are also several different parking areas, so you don't have to hike the full trail to access various points along the trail. There's a great spot where you can really get into the rock formations, which is cool.
Ute Trail
Trail Length: 1.1 miles
AllTrails link
This trail give you more views where the rock formation are more in the distance. It's a less popular trail, and I love it for photos!
High Point Overlook
Trail Length: N/A
This is my favorite spot for sunset, and I usually recommend ending here as the last location of the day. It's the best place to get that sweeping view of the whole park. The overlook is accessible with a short walk from the parking lot, but it is rocky and uneven.
Example Photos
I'm a traveling wedding and elopement photographer based in Boulder, Colorado. I capture real moments with bright, bold, natural images. My goal is to help make your wedding day the best it can be and ensure that you have a meaningful, memorable, FUN wedding day to start a lifelong adventure.
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