Author: Elizabeth H

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park If you spend any time hiking in the Garden of the Gods you will quickly encounter several species of tall coniferous (or evergreen) trees. When you do, take a closer look, don’t be shy! What do you see? Many of…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager It’s January in Colorado, which means two things: we’re currently bundled up against the cold, and we’re already dreaming about summer trails. This is the perfect time to get smart about hiking prep—before the snow melts and those mountains start calling your name. While we love to…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Did you know Colorado’s state mammal is the bighorn sheep? Some lucky visitors have the opportunity to see these beautiful animals when they visit the Garden of the Gods, and even staff get excited to see them! But how big…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Brrrrr – it’s officially sweater weather in the Garden! I finally pulled out my fuzzy socks, bought an ice scraper for my car, and have stocked up on hot chocolate packets. As someone who hasn’t seen snow in almost a…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager If you’re reading this in early December, you might be feeling it already—that pull toward the couch, the extra blanket, the early darkness that makes 5 p.m. feel like midnight. The tourists have mostly headed home from Garden of the Gods by now. The red rocks wear…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager With fall in our rearview mirror (or almost there), it’s time to start thinking about how to truly enjoy Colorado Springs during the winter months. For years, I struggled with the dramatic temperature swings. Those who’ve lived here a while know exactly what I mean—one day it’s…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Jumping and weaving and biting, oh my! Spiders are strongly associated with Halloween – they are creepy and crawly and spin their webs in dark corners, so what better animal to associate with the ~spooky~? And is it just me,…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager Fall is absolutely magical in Colorado—but it’s also tantalizingly brief. With only about six weeks of peak autumn glory, the leaf-peeping frenzy starts early as people map out their golden aspen leaf treasure hunts across the state. For visitors to Colorado Springs, discovering the perfect fall spot…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Garden of the Gods Park and the Visitor and Nature Center are excited for the 31st year of school field trips to start this semester! For the fall 2025 semester our long-time School Programs Coordinator Bowen Gillings stepped down and…

by Jane Scanlon, Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, Above the Clouds Forest Bathing How would you answer this question: “When I connect with nature I feel _____.” Maybe your answer includes feelings like these: Relaxed. Alive. Focused. Less stressed. Energized. Grounded. Free. Curious. Like a kid again. Grateful. Joyful. Closer to God. These are…