I go to Garden of the Gods more than anywhere else on this list, and the one thing that matters most is timing. Don’t go on a summer weekend when the weather’s perfect, because that’s when everybody else has the same idea and you end up stuck in traffic crawling around the loop. Go in the evening, or first thing in the morning before people show up, and go on a weekday if you can swing it.
Garden of the Gods (the free one I actually use)
The park itself is free. It was deeded to the city back in 1909 on the condition that it stay free to the public forever, so it’s a city park and a National Natural Landmark, not a state or national park. It is not open 24 hours, as of September 3, 2026 the posted park hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the end of October, then 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter months.
The Visitor & Nature Center at the entrance is what I mean when I say there’s a free museum. Walk in, look at the exhibits, grab a free trail map at the info desk on the second floor, all free. Labor Day weekend is still ahead as of September 3, 2026, so the visitor center’s posted summer hours are still in effect. Check the site the day you go rather than trusting a specific closing time printed here.
Two more things I actually do at the park. There’s a dedicated, paved bike path, and I love e-bike riding it. Even on a busy day it’s still enjoyable because it’s separated from car traffic, but it’s better with fewer cars around, which is one more reason to go early or on a weekday. And if you’re willing to drive, take Rampart Range Road out of the park. It’s a dirt road, not a bad one, and it gives you views of the park you don’t get from inside the main loop. Keep going and it eventually takes you to Woodland Park.
For parking and trail details inside the park, our Garden of the Gods guide has more, and the park listing covers the basics if you’re mapping out a visit.
What costs extra at the park
Everything at Garden of the Gods is free except food and a short list of paid extras. The gift shop is worth a stop, and they’ve got good burgers and ice cream, but that’s food you pay for. If you want an e-bike and don’t own one, rentals run through the outfitter at the Visitor Center, and that’s paid, I haven’t priced it recently so ask at the counter. Horseback riding is available on designated trails and looks like a fun way to see the park, though I haven’t done it myself. The Geo-Trekker movie at the Visitor Center is also a paid ticket, not part of the free side of the park.
A short list of other free things that are worth it
Rock Ledge Ranch, right next to Garden of the Gods on Gateway Road, is a favorite of mine. It’s a historical home and a working farm, and when the living history program is running they’ve had a blacksmith working and a teepee set up, a fun way to spend time walking around, with a small pond out there too. The grounds are free every day, dawn to dusk. The buildings and the blacksmith-and-teepee program only run in summer, roughly early June through mid-August, and that season is over for this year, so right now you’re getting the free grounds, not the paid program. The Harvest Festival on October 3 is ticketed, not free.
The Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs is free to walk in and look around, the machines themselves take quarters. I go a couple times a year for the pinball nostalgia.
Ute Valley Park on the west side is a really nice place to visit, especially for mountain biking. Free, city-run, trailhead parking off Vindicator Drive.
I also walk the grounds at the Broadmoor just because they’re pleasant, even when I’m not staying there. Flowers everywhere, a lake in the center that used to freeze over for ice skating, the golf course right there. Nobody checks whether you’re a guest to walk the grounds.
Downtown, America the Beautiful Park is free to walk, with the Julie Penrose Fountain sculpture as its centerpiece. As part of the city’s 2026 budget adjustments, the fountain won’t be running water this season, so right now it’s a sculpture to look at rather than a splash spot. That’s a city detail, not something I’ve been out to check myself this month.
If you’re downtown around Halloween, the coffin races in our Halloween events roundup are free to watch even if you skip entering one, worth folding into the same trip.
Related guides
- Garden of the Gods: Complete Guide to Parking, Trails, and Insider Tips
- Garden of the Gods Park listing
- Penny Arcades & Mineral Springs: Manitou Springs Day Trip Guide
- Top 10 Halloween Events in Colorado Springs
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