Garden Of The Gods High Point Parking Lot

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Parks

Colorado

Nearby: Vermijo Park Thorndale Park

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

The Garden of the Gods High Point Parking Lot in Colorado is a popular destination for travelers seeking breathtaking views and unique geological formations.

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Summary

The park covers over 1,300 acres and is home to miles of hiking trails, including the popular Perkins Central Garden Trail.

Visitors can explore the park's towering red rock formations, including Balanced Rock and Kissing Camels, which have been shaped by millions of years of erosion. The park is also home to diverse wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, and coyotes.

One interesting fact about the Garden of the Gods is that the park was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 by Charles Elliott Perkins, who originally purchased the land in 1879. Perkins stipulated that the park should remain free and open to the public, a policy that is still in effect today.

The best time to visit the Garden of the Gods is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. However, the park is open year-round and offers a unique experience in every season. In the summer, visitors can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and guided nature walks, while the winter months offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Overall, the Garden of the Gods High Point Parking Lot is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Colorado. With its stunning natural beauty and rich history, the park offers a truly unforgettable experience.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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