The Garden of the Gods is our favorite place on the planet. I don't say that lightly as we hove done some extensive travel. It is the reason we moved to Colorado. Ok, that is a slight exaggeration but we do love to hike, geocache, and picnic within the park. We have been there many times and intend to go many more. This virtual requires you to visit this park and take your photo at a few key locations. A photo at the three locations is required to claim this cache. We would also like you to have the GPS somewhere in the photo just to prevent old vacation photos. At the second location you will find a sign giving a little history of balanced rock. There was a smart man with the last name of Goerke. His first name is the Log Password for this cache.
Location 1: Garden of the Gods welcome sign
Location 2: Balanced Rock
Location 3: The Dedication Plaque
All of these locations are easy to find and can be located quickly. I will include some photos of us at the locations as an example. You aren't required to act silly in your photos but you get extra points if you do. There is a short hike required to get to the dedication plaque but it is paved and fairly easy terrain.
Some history of the Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods red rock formations were created during a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric people visited Garden of the Gods about 1330 BC. At about 250 BC Native American people camped in the park.
The Garden of the Gods Park is popular for hiking, technical rock climbing, road and mountain biking and horseback riding. It attracts more than two million visitors a year, making it the city’s most visited park. There are more than 15 miles of trails with a 1.5-mile trail running through the heart of the park that is paved and wheelchair accessible. Annual events including two summer running races, recreational bike rides and Pro Cycling Challenge Prologue also take place in this park.
The main trail in the park, Perkins Central Garden Trail, is a paved, wheelchair-accessible 1.1-mile trail, "through the heart of the park's largest and most scenic red rocks". The trail begins at the North Parking lot, the main parking lot off of Juniper Way Loop.
Hours and admission