Author: Elizabeth H

by Amber Meyers, Park Interpreter, Garden of the Gods Park 2026 is a record year for black bear encounters across Colorado. You may be wondering, how common is it to see a bear in the Garden of the Gods? While not a daily occurrence, they have been spotted several times this summer. Bears tend to…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park It’s summer, and that means there are so many animals in the Garden! The bighorn sheep have made a few appearances, the mule deer are exploring with their fawns, the snakes are tanning on the trails, and there’s even been…

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…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park For the first time ever (in 2026), visitors to the Garden of the Gods had the chance to pair the magic of the sun with the science of the natural world in our brand-new Sun & Stone Art program. Participants…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager A few weeks ago, my husband and I rolled into Garden of the Gods before the sun had any real intention of showing up. We were ready for an early morning hike in the fog. It was thick and pillowy, the kind that turns familiar trails into…

by Elizabeth Borders, Rock Ledge Ranch Looking for ways to include history in your summer plans as we celebrate 150 years of Colorado statehood and 250 years of the United States of America? Search no further than Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site at Garden of the Gods Park! History will come to life before your…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Spring and summer have officially arrived (not necessarily in that order), and to celebrate we are spending June learning about the plants of the Garden. I know, I know – plants aren’t as exciting as the rocks and bighorn sheep…

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park Summer means many things – blooming wildflowers, extended Park hours, and beautiful weather to hike in! It also means higher visitation here in the Garden, and with more people comes more pressure on our ecosystems, animals, and facilities. And with…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager Some Sunday mornings when my kids were in high school, I’d hear the front door close before I even had coffee going. A few friends, a Dutch Bros run, and a plan to catch the sunrise over Garden of the Gods. No big agenda — just the…

by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager I’ll be honest with you. April is not my big hiking month. Life gets busy, and the trails are in that awkward in-between. Not the snow-dusted magic of winter, not the wildflower explosion of June. Just gray and brown and quietly waiting, with little buds of grass…