Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center

Garden of the Gods Park Visitor Center in Colorado Springs

The Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center is the welcome and education center for Garden of the Gods Park, a free city park and National Natural Landmark located in Colorado Springs. It is not a state or national park, but a protected natural area under that federal designation. The center operates through a public-private partnership between the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, the visitor center itself, and the Garden of the Gods Foundation.

The park was deeded to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909 with the condition that it remain "forever free" to the public, meaning permanently free access. That condition remains in effect, and the visitor center helps fund its preservation.

Exhibits, movie theater, and visitor services

The building houses interactive exhibits and galleries on the park's history, as well as a unique movie experience. Volunteers staff the information desk, and the center has a gift shop and the Gateway Cafe, which offers breakfast and lunch.

Exhibit content includes the Theiophytalia kerri dinosaur and a garden dedicated to it. The center also has a live camera of the park and a blog.

Educational programs and events

The center organizes an ongoing calendar of free and paid activities including guided nature walks, art classes, workshops, educational lectures, and special events. Programming is divided into categories such as school programs, science programs, children's activities, wellness, educational presentations, and special events.

Recurring activities include morning and afternoon guided walks, Friday and Saturday yoga, the Little Ranger World program, crochet and coffee workshops, and educational sessions on wildlife and geology. The calendar also includes one-time events such as Archaeology Day, the Star Party, the Fall Equinox Hike, and talks on local species such as the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Colorado birds of prey, and corvids.

The center also offers specific programs for school groups, the Junior Rangers program, and guided tours. The email address programs@gardenofgods.com is associated with programming.

Activities in the park

The center serves as an information point for the various ways to explore the park: on foot along its trails, by bicycle, on horseback, by vehicle, by Segway, or through guided rock climbing. Commercial group tours, a self-guided audio tour, and bicycle rentals are also offered. Information on these activities is available at the Activity Desk.

The park has specific rules for dogs, bicycles, rock climbing, and horseback riding, and allows weddings and ceremonies, as well as commercial uses subject to prior information.

Supporting the park

The Garden of the Gods Foundation channels resources and provides grants to improve and protect the park. Visitors can contribute through donations, memberships, the Gateway Guardians program, volunteering, or purchases at the shop and cafe. The center's stated mission is to provide public education and generate ongoing revenue for the park.

Hours and operations

The park is open from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. The Visitor & Nature Center is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Location and contact

Phone: 719-634-6666 · Email: programs@gardenofgods.com · Hours: Park: 5:00 am–10:00 pm. Visitor & Nature Center: 9:00 am–5:00 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.