Rock Climbing in the Park
The permit
Technical climbing needs a permit. It is free, it is annual, and it is obtained online from the City of Colorado Springs, through the city’s rock climbing page. The park asks climbers to carry it, printed or as a screenshot, because cell service in the park is spotty.
Rules for technical climbing
The city sets the rules under City Code 9.9.104. According to its climbing page:
- Climbers use a climbing rope and UIAA-standard equipment.
- Parties are two or more people; solo climbing is not allowed.
- No chalk or chalk substitute of any color.
- Permanent slings must match the color of the rock.
- No climbing when the ground is saturated or the rock is wet.
Bouldering and scrambling
The park rules make bouldering or scrambling above 10 ft without proper equipment illegal. The city bans bouldering outright on Sentinel Rock, the Red and White Twin Spires, Signature Rock and the south face of North Gateway Rock, and sets a 10 ft maximum elsewhere. Off-trail travel is prohibited in the park, per the park rules page.
Raptor closures
Climbing near raptor nests is prohibited. The city lists the usual closures:
| Face | Closed |
|---|---|
| East face of Gray Rock | April 1 to July 31 |
| East face of North Gateway Rock | April 1 to July 31 |
| West face of Tower of Babel | September 1 to October 31 |
The park’s birds include the prairie falcon, red-tailed hawk and white-throated swift. The city describes these as the typical closures; its climbing page has the current list. The city’s park page has also noted a temporary closure on the east face of North Gateway Rock for waterline construction.
The rock
The park’s rocks are tilted sedimentary layers, among them the Fountain and Lyons formations, laid down between about 320 and 250 million years ago and tilted upright by the Laramide uplift. The rock formations page explains the geology and names the formations on the park map.
Other rules that apply
- Drones need written consent from the city; commercial use needs a permit.
- Nothing may be taken from the park.
- Dogs stay on a leash of 6 ft at most.
- Summer afternoon storms can form within minutes, per the park.
Watching climbers
Visitors without a permit see the rock faces from the trails and roads, which cost nothing to use. The paved Perkins Central Garden Trail runs through the Central Garden, and the trails page lists the others.
The permit is free and obtained online, but the park’s cell coverage is patchy: a printed copy or a saved screenshot avoids trouble at the base of a route.
What this site does and does not offer
Garden of the Gods Tour does not sell climbing, and none of the six GetYourGuide products it covers includes a climb or any time on the rock. Those tours move through the park by jeep, Segway or e-bike. Two of them name stops among the formations, according to their listings: the Luxury Jeep Tour, with photo stops and walking along hiking trails, and the Segway tour, which names the Kissing Camels and Praying Hands.
Private optionColorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Luxury Jeep Tour
Max 5 guestsColorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Segway Tour
Frequently asked questions
Can you rock climb at Garden of the Gods?
Yes, with a free permit from the City of Colorado Springs, in parties of two or more, with ropes and proper equipment and no chalk.
Is the Garden of the Gods climbing permit free?
Yes. It is a free annual permit obtained online from the city.
Can you use chalk at Garden of the Gods?
No. The city bans chalk and chalk substitutes of any color.
Can you boulder at Garden of the Gods?
Only up to 10 ft. Above that without proper equipment it is illegal, and some rocks are closed to bouldering entirely.
Do any tours include rock climbing?
None of the six GetYourGuide products on this site includes climbing. See the tours page.