A Hiker's Path: A bucket list hike at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

Last week I mentioned I was on a road trip. Well this week I arrived at my destination: Colorado Springs. This city, with over 486,000 residents, lies at the foot of the eastern Rocky Mountains. The city sits at an elevation of 6,035 feet. It’s also near the famous Pike’s Peak, which is a towering 14,114 feet in elevation.

The city’s Garden of the Gods Park features iconic red-sandstone formations and mountain views.

So here is where my story starts, as this place was first on my list of places to visit.

Garden of the Gods contains 1,343.3 acres of land, with 862 acres designated as a Natural National Landmark in 1971.

The name came from a surveyor by the name of Rufus Cable when Colorado Springs was being surveyed to become a city. He saw the beautiful rock formations and said, "this area is fit for the God’s to assemble."  So the land was named “The Garden of the Gods.”

Admission is free into this park.

There are 21 miles of trails in the park and I picked out three to hike.

The weather was warm on the day that I hiked here so I decided to drive around the park and stop at the trailhead of each trail. I had picked up a map of trails at the Visitors Center.

My first stop was the Perkins Central Garden trail, an easy 1.5 mile loop trail that is at the heart of the trail system and passes by the base of the largest rock formations.

The height of these formations was just unbelievable. I took many photographs, though I don’t think a picture would do these rock formations justice.

I was soon on to my next choice of the day: the Siamese Twins trail. This was an easy 1-mile trail where hikers can view Pike’s Peak between the “window” of these rocks. Pike’s Peak was incredible. The snow-covered peak stood out, with fog and dark clouds surrounding the cap. They say the oxygen is much thinner at the top of the peak. Amazing stuff.

I still couldn’t even believe I had made it to this beautiful place. It's been on my hiking bucket list for a long time.

The last trail I hiked at the park was a section of the “Scotsman” trail. This moderate trail loops around the whole park. The parts of it that I saw were beautiful.

I was so thrilled to have finally made it to another place that I had wanted to go to for so long. There is really so much more I could write, but it would take too many words.

It was a great place to visit and I had a wonderful day at this park.

To get to this place, you will have to drive or fly to Colorado Springs. It’s pretty easy to find. The address for the Visitor Center is: 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

A quote for your week: "All the lessons are in nature. You look at the way rocks are formed — the wind and the water hitting them, shaping them, making them what they are. Things take time you know?” — Diana Lane, American actress

Until the next trail,Susan

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Hiker hits the trail in Colorado Springs at Garden of the Gods Park