PIKE’S PEAK AND GARDEN OF THE GODS
THE PERFECT DAY
How To Get to pike’s peak and garden of the gods
Garden of the Gods and Pike’s Peak are both roughly 1 hour from Denver. The easiest way to get there will be to rent a car.
How Much Time Do You Need Here
Expect for these two activities to take up the majority of your day.
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is famous for its beautiful red rock formations. The rocks are composed of sedimentary layers deposited millions of years ago and have been sculpted by erosion into various shapes and sizes. Head here first to beat the crowds and the scorching sun.
From the parking lot, you’ll walk on a paved, well-maintained trail into the red rocks. The paved trail extends through most of the park, but you’ll also have the opportunity to walk and climb on the red rocks in some spots. Some of the more well-known formations are: Balanced Rock (which is literally just what it sounds like), Kissing Camels, and Siamese Twins. There are also hiking and biking trails here if you’re looking for more of an adventurous option.
Garden of the Gods is absolutely free, but you can make a donation to help preserve the park.
The park is open from 5 am – 9 pm and is a great spot for stargazing. Plan to spend about 2 hours here.
Grab some lunch
Eat at Shuga’s or Denver Biscuit Company
Shuga’s
Shuga’s is a cozy little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. They have a bunch of fun non-alcoholic drinks like flavored teas and lemonades as well as beer, wine, and cocktails. Their elevated sandwiches, soups, and quiche are all tasty.
Denver Biscuit Company
You might recognize Denver Biscuit Company from Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It’s under the Atomic Provisions food group which contains Fat Sully’s, Atomic Provisions, and Denver Biscuit Company. Here you’ll find some of the best biscuit sandwiches – think fried chicken, bacon, egg, and cheese on a thick biscuit. They also have a giant biscuit cinnamon roll.
Pike’s Peak
Did you know Pike’s Peak was the inspiration for the song America the Beautiful? With a trip here, you’ll immediately know why. Standing at an elevation of 14,115 feet (4,302 meters), Pikes Peak is one of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners” (mountains that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation). And for some, a popular Colorado bucket list item is to hike a 14er. Maybe someday. You can plan to spend a full day hiking or biking to the top if you’re feeling ambitious, or opt to drive or take a tram. If you drive or take the tram, you should plan to spend 2 – 3 hours to get to the top, take in the views, and explore the summit.
Driving
If you want to drive to the top of Pike’s Peak, you will go up 19 miles of steep, winding roads. Depending on the season, you will either drive all 19 miles up, or drive most of the way, then take a shuttle to the top. If you are required to take the shuttle, there are two parking lots – one at mile 13 and one at mile 16. From there, you’ll board a shuttle which will drive you to the top. It’s also good to hop out and acclimatize here since you’re going from about 7000 ft to 14000 ft elevation. The shuttles don’t have a specific schedule, they depart as they fill up.
There are a couple pull offs as you drive up. You can hop out of your car and hike a mile or two, or just soak in the views, before you continue your drive.
The fee is $10/adult or $35 per car
Cars with 4 wheel-drive highly recommended – but not required.
Cogway Railway
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway winds its way up a few miles of stunning scenery, traveling through meadows, forests, and even alpine tundra. Look out for waterfalls and wildlife along the way! We saw some deer and bighorn sheep
Ticket prices range from $58 – $81 per person depending on if you want to reserve a seat in advance. The most expensive tickets have the best view, sitting right next to the train engineer.
Once you get to the summit you’ll find restrooms, a gift shop, and a little snack bar, which is known for its donuts. Don’t forget your layers! Pike’s Peak’s summit gets pretty chilly and windy – even in the height of summer. Here you can take a short walk to the viewpoints and enjoy the beautiful summit views.
NOT DONE TRAVELING?
Check out our guides of nearby areas:
Best of Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park
Awesome Hikes in Colorado
Boulder