Garden of the Gods

In the past 100 years, there have been thousands of splendid days and most likely millions of photographs in one unique retreat. This year marks a century of enjoyment of an extraordinary gift made to Colorado Springs, Colo., the Garden of the Gods.

In 1909 the children of railroad tycoon Charles Elliott Perkins donated 480 acres of his land to Colorado Springs. Perkins owned the Burlington Railroad in the late 1800s and was a good friend of General William Jackson Palmer. Founder of Colorado Springs, Palmer had urged Perkins to buy the land. Perkins reputedly snapped up the first 240 acres of land for $22 an acre.

It wasn't just any land. It contained a multitude of imposing sandstone formations rising up from lush meadowland, and it was home to an array of wildlife ranging from rabbits to rattlers.

Perkins' children took care to see that their father's wishes would be carried out to their best potential. They required that the City of Colorado Springs sign an agreement stipulating that the land should remain free to the public. The agreement also mandated the park be a place "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."

Some buildings have come and gone since then, but, of course, the stately spires and rock formations have endured through the years. Just as folks did a century ago, visitors today can see famous rock formations such as the Kissing Camels, Siamese Twins and Balanced Rock. Carved out by the forces of nature, many of these red sandstone rock formations are more than 300 million years old.

Visitors often come to the garden for a respite from hectic lives. They may drive through the park (now comprising 1,350 acres), hike its trails or even go on horseback rides. Its 15 miles of trails offer plenty of exploration.

Those who prefer a short hike have a number of trails from which to choose. The first, the Perkins Central Garden Trail, comes shortly after driving into the park. Just off the main parking lot, the trail's concrete footpath creates an easy, 1.5-mile roundtrip on nearly flat surfaces much of the way.

 Visitors with wheelchairs and/or strollers will find this trail easy to navigate. It loops through the heart of the park at the base of the highest rock formations.

 Those who want to be more among the rocks should try the Ridge Trail, a moderate, half-mile loop, which rises less than one hundred feet..

Still another easy trail is the Siamese Twins Trail, which is just one mile roundtrip with a rise of fewer than 150 feet. The natural window created by the twins offers an unusual view of Pikes Peak.

 A bit steeper is the Chambers/Bretag/Palmer Trail. Rising nearly 250 feet, it is a three-mile circle that nearly takes in the entire park. It's great for getting away from traffic, and it has rocky terrain.

Scotsman/Buckskin Charlie Trail is a moderate trail that loops through the Park. Hikers can enjoy the distant views of the Central Garden formations from these rolling, rocky trails.

For a complete list of trails in the park, visit the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center to pick up a map. There, it is worthwhile to take in a 12-minute multi-media presentation on the history of the red rocks.

No visit to the center is complete without seeing its famous case of mistaken identity.

In 1878 a fossil skull was found in one of the ridges in the garden. A dinosaur collector from Yale University, O.C. March, identified the skull as belonging to a Camptosaurus and sent it to the Yale Peabody Museum. It sat there for more than 90 years.

In 1997 the skull was given to Colorado Springs and exhibited at the Garden of the Gods. Shortly before that, though, Dr. Ken Carpenter noted irregularities in it, and he resolved to look into them when his schedule permitted.

Dr. Carpenter must have been extremely busy, because it was not until 2006 that an associate and he reassessed the fossil skull and decided it differed from other Camptosaurus skulls, such as in the shape and length of its snout.

They determined the dinosaur skull was actually a completely new genus and species - Theiophytalia kerri. In 2008 it was reintroduced by its proper name. It is considered the only fossil of its type in the world.

The Garden of the Gods is a registered national landmark. To reach it, take exit 146 off I-25 in Colorado Springs and follow the Garden of the Gods Road. For opening hours and other information, see www.gardenofgods.com.