Garden of the Gods is dog friendly! Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the park is full of dramatic rock formations of red, pink and white sandstone and limestone, formed from the combined uplift of the Rocky Mountains and erosion over millions of years. Honoring their father’s wish to keep the land in its natural state, Charles Perkins’ children conveyed all 480 acres of his land to Colorado Springs in 1909. The city park is free for the public to enjoy and all of its trails are dog-friendly. Below are our recommendations for visiting dog-friendly Garden of the Gods with your dog.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Park Hours: 5am to 9pm (Nov 1 – April 30); 5am to 10pm (May 1 – Oct 31)
Fees: None. The land is forever free to the public
Pet Rules: Dogs are allowed on all trails. They must be leashed (6 ft max). Well-behaved dogs are allowed in non-carpeted areas of the Visitor & Nature Center (minus the indoor dining area).
Off-Leash Dog Area: Open field immediately south of the main park entrance. It is unfenced, so do not take your dog unless he/she responds to voice command and will not run away.
Go Early: The park can get crowded. We highly recommend getting there early before the crowds to watch the light of the rising sun wash over the rocks.
TRAILS FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG
All 21 of Garden of the God’s paved and unpaved trails are dog-friendly. Below are some of the best trails to take your dog for awe-inducing views.
Siamese Twins Trail
Distance: .5 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 104 feet
Trail: Quick and easy hike to twin sandstone formations and a view of Pike’s Peak
Perkins Central Garden Trail
Distance: 1.1 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 88 feet
Trail: Paved trail with great views of various rock formations, including Signature Rock, Sentinel Spires, and White Rock
Scotsman Trail Loop
Distance: 1 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 118 feet
Trail: Sandy, rocky trail with views of the park
Niobrara and Ute Valley Trail
Distance: 1.1 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy to
Elevation Gain: 118 feet
Trail: Quiet, sunny, up and down hike with views of the park
Palmer/Scotsman/Buckskin/Niobrara/Bretag Loop
Distance: 4.0 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain: 449 feet
Trail: Sunny trail with views of the Central Garden rock formations
Create Your Own:The layout of the park makes it easy to hop on and off various trails for a range of views. The unpaved trails tend to be less crowded than the paved portions.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
You can pick up a coffee or bite to eat without your dog at the Gateway Cafe in the Visitor Center, but why leave your dog behind? Fortunately, there are a large number of dog-friendly restaurants and coffee shops in Colorado Springs. Here are some of the best places to stop with your dog for a bite to eat or a brew to drink after exploring the park.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants/Breweries Near Garden Of The Gods
Pizzeria Rustica
Distance: 1.6 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: Neapolitan wood-fired pizza
Pet-Friendliness: Dogs are welcome on the shady outdoor patio
Pub Dog Colorado
Distance: 2.3 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: Restaurant serving pub food along with local craft beer, wine and cocktails
Pet-Friendliness: The only restaurant in Colorado to legally dine indoors with your dog. Dine with your dog on-leash inside or on the patio, or hang out in the off-leash dog park. Dogs must be spayed/neutered to enter the off-leash area. Dog menu items include a Bark Bowl, puppuccino, pupsicle, and more.
Trinity Brewing
Distance: 2.8 miles from the Visitor Center
Food/Drink: Pub fare with local craft beer, wine and cocktails
Pet-Friendliness: Leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio, complete with a water bowl and treat. Dog menu, featuring a doggie burger and hot dog available.
Cerberus Brewing Co.
Distance: 3.5 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: Restaurant and brewery serving upscale pub food, craft beer and cocktails
Pet-Friendliness: Well-behaved dogs are welcome in their beer garden and on their patio.
Goat Patch Brewing Co.
Distance: 4.9 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: The brewery does not have a kitchen but hosts daily food trucks. Food is also available at other businesses within Lincoln Center, the former elementary school in which Goat Patch is located.
Pet-Friendliness: The patio and indoor/outdoor bar area are open to dogs.
Bristol Brewing Co.
Distance: 5.4 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: Laid-back pub/brewhouse in a renovated schoolhouse with food available from various types of food pods, including pub food, salads, empanadas and pizza
Pet-friendliness: Dogs are welcome on the patio
Lazy Dog
Distance: 9 miles northeast of Visitor Center
Food/Drinks: Comfort fare, including stir-fries, pot roast and pastas
Pet-friendliness: Dogs welcome on outdoor patio. Water bowls provided and dog menu available.
Dog-Friendly Coffee Shops Near Garden Of The Gods
Red Dog
Distance: 1.3 miles southeast of the park
Food/Drinks: Coffee, smoothies, breakfast bites, sandwiches, speciality cocktails and more
Pet-friendliness: Dogs are welcome at the three outdoor tables
Jives Coffee Lounge
Distance: 1.8 miles from south entrance of the park
Food/Drinks: Laid-back coffee spot with coffee drinks, smoothies and breakfast foods
Pet-friendliness: Dogs allowed on outdoor patio. Umbrellas at tables provide shade.
Switchback Coffee Roasters
Distance: 5.6 miles from south entrance (both locations)
Food/Drinks: Casual coffee spot with light bites to eat
Pet-friendliness: Dogs are allowed on the uncovered outdoor patio.
WHERE TO STAY
Looking for a place to stay with your dog? The Garden of the Gods Resort and Club is located within the park and does allow dogs. However, there are a number of other places to stay just minutes from the park that will also allow you to get to Garden of the Gods before the crowds. Below are some of the many places to stay within and near the park with your dog.
Dog-Friendly Hotels Near Garden Of The Gods
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
Distance: located within the park
Pet Policy: 1 dog under 40lbs per room. $200 non-refundable pet fee. Dogs are allowed to pass through the hotel lobby but may not stay in public areas.
Quality Inn & Suites Garden of the Gods
Distance: 3 miles
Pet Policy: Up to two dogs under 50lbs per room. $25/pet per night. $100 refundable pet deposit. Limited number of pet-friendly rooms so make sure to mention when booking.
Best Western PLUS Peak Vista Inn and Suites
Distance: 4 miles
Pet Policy: Up to two dogs under 80lbs per room. $25 pet fee per day. Not all rooms are pet-friendly so make sure to mention when booking.
La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Colorado Springs Garden of the Gods
Distance: 4 miles
Pet Policy: Up to two dogs per room. $20/pet per night.
The Academy Hotel Colorado Springs
Distance: 8 miles
Pet Policy: Up to 2 dogs in designated rooms for extra $10/pet per night.
Dog-Friendly RV Resorts Near Garden Of The Gods
Garden of the Gods RV Resort
Distance: .6 miles from south entrance
The Basics: Amenities include heated swimming pools, wifi, game room/arcade, gift/convenience store, playground, laundry and more
Pet Policy: Up to 2 dogs for free at RV sites. Up to 2 dogs for extra $25/pet at cabins. Dog park on site.
Pikes Peak RV Resort
Distance: .6 miles
The Basics: wifi, corn hole, laundry, access to fitness center, free shuttle, e-bike rentals and more
Pet Policy: Non-aggressive dogs welcome for free. Dog park on site. The Bark Side mobile groomer visits the second and fourth Sundays of every month.
Developed Campgrounds Near Garden Of The Gods
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Distance: 12 miles
The Basics: 10 basic tent sites ($28), 51 full hook-up campsites ($41), two cabins that are NOT dog friendly. Laundry, showers, activity room and more. Reservations can be made online. Dogs are allowed in campgrounds but only a limited number of trails if you want to explore within the park.
Golden Eagle Campground
Distance: 15 miles
The Basics: 200 campsites, restrooms, showers, fishing ponds, playground, electric and water hookup – $39, full hookup $59, book by email or by phone.
Thunder Ridge Campground
Distance: 24 miles
The Basics: Small and quiet standard, non-electric campground above Rampart Reservoir. 21 campsites. Tables, fire grates, vault toilets, drinking water. $25/night. Reservations can be made by phone or online at least 4 days in advance.
Meadow Ridge Campground
Distance: 24 miles
The Basics: 19 campsites. Standard, non-electric campground also near Rampart Reservoir. Tables, fire grates, vault toilets, drinking water. $25/night. Reserve by phone or online at least 4 days in advance.
Dispersed Camping Near Garden Of The Gods
Rampart Range Road
Distance: 15 miles
The Basics: Mountain views but a rough road getting in. Pack in, pack out. Several fire rings for use.
VISITING GARDEN OF THE GODS WITH A REACTIVE DOG
Every dog is different, but this is what worked for us when visiting Garden of the Gods as reactive dogs.
Go Early
We got to the park early before sunrise and there was barely anyone in the parking lot or on the trails for a couple hours. As we made our way back to the car, there were large numbers of people heading onto the paved trails and the lot was full.
Go on Weekdays
We know this is not always possible for everyone, but crowds are significantly better on weekdays. We’re mostly limited to weekends during the year, so we avoid more popular destinations like Garden of the Gods until we have a weekday to visit.
Scope Out the Trails
The unpaved portions, and specifically Niobrara and Ute Valley trails are generally less heavily trafficked. We use the “trail traffic” filter on Alltrails ahead of time and also read trail reviews from users to get an idea of the likelihood of encountering other people and dogs on the trail.