8-7

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

We moved over to the Foot of the Rockies RV Park and were set up before lunchtime so we had plenty of time to explore Garden of the Gods located just a few miles away.

 

The story goes that in 1859, Rufus Cable and M.S. Beach, two surveyors were assigned to locate and layout a townsite for a boom town, soon to be called Colorado City.  They came across an awe inspiring area of sandstone formations.

M.S. Beach suggested that it would be a “capitol place for a beer garden.”  Rufus Cable exclaimed a “Beer Garden!  Why this is a fit place for the Gods to assemble.  We will call it the Garden of the Gods!”

In 1909 the garden was given to the City of Colorado Springs by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins honoring his wish that the park remain free for the public to enjoy.

We began our visit in the museum located in the Visitor and Nature Center. 

 

The Natural history exhibits include minerals, geology, plants and local wildlife. 

The entrance to the paved loop is located across from the Visitor Center.  There are several pull-offs and parking lots along the way leading to hiking trails.  The most popular area when we visited was Balanced Rock.

Poised above the park road, Balanced Rock defies the laws of physics as it balances on a sloped edge of sandstone. 

The boulder appears in publications around the world as one of the best examples of a balancing rock. 

 

 

 It rises 35 feet above its pedestal base and weighs about 700 tons.

We stopped for lunch at the Trading Post where we shared a Bison burger.  It was quite tasty. 

We also shared a large cup of praline ice cream. 

 

The sun was just starting to set as we completed the loop and our first day in Colorado Springs.