Balanced Rock Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs

http://www.PhotosToDVD-JRoss.com Balanced Rock falls off its support every April 1

History: By the 1870's, the railroads had forged their way west. In 1871, General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs while extending the lines of his Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. In 1879, General Palmer repeatedly urged his friend, Charles Elliott Perkins, the head of the Burlington Railroad, to establish a home in the Garden of the Gods and to build his railroad from Chicago to Colorado Springs. Although the Burlington never reached Colorado Springs directly, Perkins did purchase two-hundred and forty acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home in 1879. He later added to the property but never built on it, preferring to leave his wonderland in its natural state for the enjoyment of the public. Perkins died in 1907 before he made arrangements for the land to become a public park, although it had been open to the public for years. In 1909, Perkins' children, knowing their father's feeling for the Garden of the Gods, conveyed his four-hundred eighty acres to the City of Colorado Springs. It would be known forever as the Garden of the Gods "where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park".

It was August of 1859 when two surveyors started out from Denver City to begin a townsite, soon to be called Colorado City. While exploring nearby locations, they came upon a beautiful area of sandstone formations. M. S. Beach, who related this incident, suggested that it would be a "capital place for a beer garden" when the country grew up. His companion, Rufus Cable, a "young and poetic man", exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." It has been so called ever since.

Trails and Hiking Free full-color trail maps are available at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center information desk. Pick one up and explore the park on your own or take one of the guided walks in the Central Garden area.

For active folks who love hiking, there are 15 miles of trails to explore in the Garden of the Gods.

Start at the main parking lot for the PERKINS CENTRAL GARDEN TRAIL. This is an easy, 1 1/2 mile roundtrip over a concrete foot path, with less than a 30 foot rise. Wheelchair and stroller accessible, this loop is in the heart of the Park at the base of the highest rock formations.

Other great trails include RIDGE TRAIL, a moderate, 1/2 mile loop, with less than 100 foot rise in elevation. This path gives you the feeling of being among the rocks.

SIAMESE TWINS TRAIL is an easy 1 mile roundtrip, with less than a 150 foot rise. There is a unique view of Pikes Peak through the natural window of the twins.

CHAMBERS/BRETAG/PALMER TRAIL is a moderate, 3 mile circle with less than a 250 foot rise. Nearly circling the entire Park, this trail covers rolling, rocky terrain away from the traffic.

SCOTSMAN/BUCKSKIN CHARLIE TRAIL is a moderate trail that loops through the Park. Enjoy the distant views of the Central Garden formations from these rolling, rocky trails.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• balanced
• rock
• garden
• of
• the
• gods
• colorado
• springs
• rocky
• mountains
• pikes
• peak
• nature
• environment
• cars
• bikes
• motorcycles
• hiking
• climbing
• outdoors

[ohhExide]

i just wanna push it and see if it will ever fall

[MrChriskenser]

I just wanna kick it lol

[shasha24361]

i live there



[boricuaO7]

hey im getting ready to go there! hows the weather in march . cant wait to see it . that and pikes peak. let me know thanks

[cat9895]

@ShawDAMAN ........ im not old but, Touché

[ShawDAMAN]

@cat9895 on the rock? perhaps that explains your pre historic manners

[cat9895]

i was born there.....suck it