Colorado Springs

The Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is a natural landmark and a registered National Natural Landmark in the state of Colorado.

The park features towering sandstone rock formations that rise as high as 300 feet (90 meters) above the ground. The rocks are made up of layers of sedimentary rocks that have been shaped and sculpted over millions of years through erosion and other natural processes.

The park was originally inhabited by the Ute tribe and later became part of the Colorado City land grant in 1859. The name "Garden of the Gods" was first used by Rufus Cable, a surveyor who was exploring the area in the 1850s. The name was later popularized by Charles Elliott Perkins, a railroad magnate who purchased the land in 1879 and turned it into a public park.

In 1909, Perkins donated the park to the city of Colorado Springs with the condition that it would remain a free public park. Today, the park covers an area of 1,364 acres (552 hectares) and is a popular destination for hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

The park also features a visitors' center, a museum, and a variety of educational programs and guided tours. The Garden of the Gods attracts over two million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular natural landmarks in the state of Colorado