Summer Hot Spots: Garden of the Gods & Beyond

by Melody Monberg, Co-Founder, Colorado Hikes and Hops

Where do the locals go in summer? Honestly? 

We still go to the Garden. We just sneak in at the edges of the day. 

Some of my favorite mornings on the Susan Bretag Trail happen at 5 a.m., when the red rocks glisten in the early light, or at 7 p.m., when everything goes soft and golden. 

If you wander up toward the inner garden, the Sleeping Giant gives you Pikes Peak in full glory, and the Siamese Twins frame it beautifully too. The Visitor Center also keeps a full events calendar worth a look, especially the touch tables and guided nature walks.

We also love to explore other nearby parks. If you’re up north, Palmer Lake Reservoir is a fun family hike. It’s steep for the first half mile, then it eases up. No dogs allowed, so leave the pup at home. Parking fees are $5 for the day. And if you’re coming from lower elevation, be kind to yourself up here: go slow, drink water, take breaks. 

Afterward, the Rockhouse in Palmer Lake scoops up some wonderful local ice cream, which is exactly what a warm afternoon calls for.

Down south, Bear Creek Park gives families room to roam, with ten miles of trails winding through scrub oak, ponderosa pine, and open meadow. 

There are playgrounds, picnic pavilions, even an archery range. The Bear Creek Nature Center near the west entrance is worth a stop too, with hands-on exhibits and two miles of foot-only nature trails around it.

We love nearby Starsmore, at the mouth of North Cheyenne Canyon, too. The Discovery Center sits in a lovely old craftsman stone house with exhibits on the canyon’s geology and wildlife, and even a climbing wall for the kids. Right now the road into the canyon is closed, but you can still park in the small lot at Starsmore, just before the gate, and hike in on foot. It makes for a quieter way into the canyon, with far fewer cars to share it with.

For the most authentic feel of a place, though, nothing beats a summer farmers market. Downtown, the Acacia Park market runs every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October. 

Browse the stalls, then duck into Storybook Coffee Company, a tiny house serving up great drinks and pastries, and grab tacos at nearby Dos Dos. Over in Old Colorado City, the Bancroft Park market sets up Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And I can’t not mention the Pioneer Museum. The Garden’s Visitor Center has the geology covered, but if you’re curious about the people who actually lived here, the museum (free!) is worth an hour. Wander by on a Tuesday at lunch and you’ll have your pick of food trucks.

So yes! Make sure to visit the Garden this summer and enjoy everything Colorado Springs has to offer!