This park is amazing. The views are beautiful. Make sure to stop in at the visitors center to pick up a map of the trails. The park is free, you can drive around it and take in the views or park in one of many pullouts or lots & enjoy walking around the area. You could spend anywhere from 30 minutes driving to hours of walking and site seeing.

Well worth the visit. We took the 45 minute jeep ride which gave us a great education. The center has so much to offer from kids to adults. We will be back next time with our bikes. You can rent those as well.

Beautiful, unique, magical place! Make sure to soak it all in! Kids will love it, theyll even get tired and sleep on the car ride back home. Make sure to bring a camera and some water, maybe even a meal for a picnic. Enjoy your time at this place, it is breathtaking!

Stunning scenery and accessible trails for all ages, this is an excellent place to spend a hour or a day. We stopped by for some fresh air and a walk in before dinner and wished we had more time to explore but were happy with the basic loop around the rocks. The visitors center looked to have some great exhibits with lots of information and the map showed many more trails to explore. If you are in the area and looking for a way to spend a nice afternoon you cant go wrong with a visit to Garden of the Gods.

Outstanding. I hiked around but you can rent bikes (or bring your own). Wildlife & rattlesnakes present but I didnt see any.Lots of trails ranging in difficulty. Very nice Visitor Center with bathrooms & plenty of parking.

Garden of the Gods is gorgeous, family-friendly and free! Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes and bring layers (sweatshirt/jacket) if youre coming during or close to sunset as the temperature drops. There are varying trails for all levels. For beginners, stick to the main paved areas (first parking lot to left after entry from main sign -- across from Nature Center) which, I believe, are also mainly handicap accessible. Off those main areas are dirt trails/paths that give you a glimpse of more beauty around every bend. If its your first time here, I would suggest driving through the entire route to get a view of park from different vantage points. Then, loop around and pick where you want to park and walk to explore. Prime times for priceless views are sunrise and sunset. It is simply gorgeous and breathtaking. Ive been here many times throughout the last 20+ years and we always enjoy taking different trails and visiting. This time, was the first time we saw wildlife up high on a rock, a sight to see! Take a look at the attached photo. I hope you have a wonderful trip here like we did!

As the sub rises and the clouds start to clear. A vast landscape is revealed. Towering spires that look like darts thrown by Giants stick up from the ground giving you an inferiority complex. The air, while thin is still crisp and breaths life into a desolate environment. Visit this beautiful vista its free and pet friendly

Fascinating and beautiful!! Such wonder and awe! Cant believe how many million years it took to have this amazing rock garden to form. Nice sidewalks to help navigate the park, a fabulous welcome center to better explain the terrain, wild life and history. A great way to spend the day with family & friends...and free:) A must see!!

This is sure a beautiful location. Free entry. The trolley ride is very affordable if you do not / can’t walk the trials. The rock formations are very cool. The visitors center has cool exhibits & a nice cafe & gift shop.

The visitor center is a really high-end natural history museum with a cafe, restrooms, gift shop, and the starting place for a couple of tours, like a segway trip. I watched the movie downstairs, and it wasnt worth it - sort of a gimmicky amusement ride through time - its fun for kids but I would have rather seen a straight representation of how the land formed through time than all the jumping around. But its a great place to start your tour through the park - you can walk or drive from here - and definitely dont miss the amazing view from the deck facing the park. My only beef is that it is CROWDED, SO CROWDED. Just wall-to-wall people.

Its a beautiful natural wonder of the world. The red stones are gigantic and beautiful. It is an open reserve so plenty of warnings about rattle snakes. Busy tourist place with hard to find parking spots and a big drive around circle. Kissing camel is the most famous of them.

Absolutely beautiful! My favorite scenery in Colorado by far 💕 Im a wedding + elopement photographer in colorado and this is one of my go to places in CO. beautiful views, lots of cool rock formations around every corner and even mountain views. if youre traveling to CO this is a must! its also free to the public :)

The museum has so much great information. Definitely suggest a walk through there to make the walk more meaningful. It’s also quite gorgeous to see the rock formations, and understand how it got there and what has been there before us. I went in the Fall and the weather was great, I could see being uncomfortable in the summer though. Fall is beautiful there!

This place is awesome!! We only spent a few hours here but would 100% go back if we had the time! The formations are amazing and the trails were so well maintained. We enjoyed the scenery and walking through the park. While there was a good number of people there, we had space to explore without feeling crowded. The visitors center is very nice as well, with great displays and beautiful views!

I found this place to be beautiful and breathtaking. The only bad part was the elevation meant the air was a bit thinner than normal so I did have trouble breathing after a while while hiking but still got to see the amazing spots from a distance.

Definitely recommend if your touring the area. Beautiful landscape and great area for an easy hike. Weather made the entire experience much more enjoyable so plan accordingly! Ate at the Beansprouts Cafe after and lovely food to refuel. Not an all day activity, but is completely self paced!

This place is just stunning! Free admission allowed us to go back 4 times with each time just as beautiful and breathtaking as the last! I want to live near this place! Its 100% a must-see. Massive rock formations, trails, birds, deer if youre lucky, and the views are amazing!!

Its always a joy visiting here. I have no complaints. Beautiful views and the park is kept clean.

Absolutely beautiful. We parked at the kissing camels. The first time we drove by we missed the turn and had to drive all the way back around to park again.We didn’t walk the full trail. It was starting to rain and the kiddos were getting cold. We walked part way to the circle seating area and then walked back.My son loved hearing about the holes in the rock and what lives in them. He really wanted to see a snack, but we didn’t see any.Over all a great view. Even if you don’t get out. It’s a quick drive around and beautiful.

This place is beautiful. A must see. All very easy trails. If you want to rock climb, be sure to get your permit ahead of time. Also, if you go, be sure to check out the while museum theyve got in the visitor center. We didnt know it was there and almost missed it. Cute cafe too.

This place justified its name. Those rocks look like gods. The place is awesome. They maintained it pretty well, and trails are in a good shape and easily accessible. Moreover, the place is free. Its a must to do if anyone visits Colorado springs.

Surrounded by GODs creation… everywhere you look there’s a reminder of how beautiful this world is. We visited the second week in October and the leaves had started changing making this one of the most beautiful places we visited while on vacation in Colorado Springs it’s truly worth the hike and most definitely a bucket list item

Never gets old and never will. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, you’ve got to make it here at least once a year and more often if you can. Not just beautiful rock formations but a whole experience in nature. Great anytime of year but cooler temperatures make it a little more bearable. Will definitely come back again and again!

Loved this experience! They have made the park fully handicap accessible for the inner trail too get a lovely view of the beautiful peaks. But there are also trails to challenge other hikers as well. It was a very nice time but very crowded as well.

Such a magical place. If you get there early enough you can see the wild life. I encountered deer and long horn sheep. The main trails are paves so its a good place for anyone to go and hike. There are also dirty trails. I recommend it for everyone.

Beautiful, breath taking views. Definitely a Colorado Springs must! Pictures do not do it justice.

Great place to visit even if you just want to drive through...IT IS FREE! You can spend 30 minutes driving through or hours if you also park and walk the paths around the formations. Also the Trading Post is a nice stop for souveniers, coffee and ice cream.

Went here on trip to Colorado Springs and had some wonderful hikes thru their many different trails. You really need to go multiple times just to be able to see all the many variables they have. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and you have so many types of photography opportunities that one trip is just not enough. They also have one of the best gift shops at a tourist venue that I have ever been to.

This place was crowded when we visited, and with good reason. The rock formations in the park are truly a marvel, a must watch for anyone visiting the Denver area. And the visitors center is a good way to start your visit. You can learn all about the area - geology, history, life forms, etc. Grab a map on the second level to figure out which spots you want to view and hike. And the cafe has a small menu but the food is excellent.

We love the Garden of the Gods! It’s such a beautiful place to go for an evening walk before sunset. Newer bathrooms added and nicer walking trails show that they are maintaining the park really well. The GOG never gets old. I come here every time I’m in the Springs.

Must see if you are in Colorado springs.Free admission with beautiful scenery. Make sure to get a trail map from visitor center which will help you know about all important landmarks.For some landmarks like Balanced rock, you will need to drive so park accordingly. Except to spend atleast 2-3 hours if you plan to cover everything. This truly is Garden of Gods.IG: journey_man16

Stunning rock formations and many hiking trails to keep you busy for hours. Hiking difficulty from easy to extreme. Next time I go we will try the Segway tour or horseback tour. Be sure and watch the 15 minute move in the visitors center. It will keep you engaged with outstanding CGI and details on the area.I watched as two rock climbers descended from one of the formations. If you go (which you definitely should) it will be much less crowded during the week. We went on Thursday and it was not crowded but wanted to make a return visit on Saturday and it was much busier. Harder to find parking.The trading post is the largest I have ever seen. Clean bathrooms too. Food is decent with plenty of choices. Many things to spends lots of your money too.

This was a near place but not crazy. I was kind of surprised with the setup. Theres like no parking other then maybe 10 spots and theres a highway(?) that goes right through the park. Its like one rock balancing on other rocks and then just like a hill.It is nice that it is free but its kinda just some red rocks, with some neat views but it is not crazy gorgeous compared to being in the mountains. If you are looking to see anything cool youll need to be able to hike up some rocks and navigate back down the sandy/gravel rocks.

Absolutely wonderful! Great for seasoned adventurers, families, older folks or those with mobility issues, and dogs, too. Plus, its FREE for all to explore.The trails are paved nicely, and are laid out so that you can go as far as you want, or make a short loop and still see the rock formations. A free shuttle drives you from the parking lot at the visitors center to the trail head, or you can drive around the park and see some of the sights if you cant get out of your vehicle.The visitors center is amazing! Its very modern with a beautiful view of the park from the upper level, a theater with a short movie presentation, informational displays and interactive kiosks.There is also a water bottle filling station, a cafe and a nice gift shop on the upper level, but what I appreciated most was the staff member who gave us a complimentary map, and went over the park layout with us.

Must visit place! The rock formations are incredible. Its hard to believe that an ancient river used to flow here.Beware of rattlesnakes. We didn’t encounter any snakes, but we did see some deers here.Lots of paved trails.There are two big parking lots for the park.There isn’t enough parking near the balanced rock. Its best to just drive through there.

Love this place! Took my pup on her first hike here :) its nice because the path is paved so its accessible for anybody. There is also a center to teach you about the park and its history with dinosaurs! You can also take tours. Record checking out. Its beautiful and everytime you go you see something new :)

This is a place everyone should experience! We greatly enjoyed the guided walking tour. My daughter will never forget this time. This is a great place to walk and refresh your mind and body. Although a lot of people are in the park, the size, trails, vistas, etc. make it personal and almost private. It is well-maintained and protected. This is a great place for a morning/afternoon visit, picnic, or stay all day and immerse yourself in nature. The Visitors Center is amazing with tours, exhibits, and trained personnel who know the park and help protect it.

Its stunning. The views are amazing. You definitely could spend more than one day on different trails. Well go back again. Parking lot 2 has good access for wheelchairs and restrooms and the paths are paved.

Beautiful. Must see if you are near Colorado Springs. One of my favorite spot!

Breathtaking and FREE! Can be enjoyed by any level of fitness! You can drive through the park, take some leisurely trails or take the more advanced if you’re feeling adventurous!Loved it so much we stopped here twice during our vacation!Stop at the Trading Post! They have some amazing gift shop finds and lots of snacks and drinks for sale.Make sure you’re wearing good hiking shoes or tennis shoes with tread/grip. Some of the trails and rocks can get a little slick and slippery. Walking sticks are very helpful! Remember where you parked!

Such a beautiful park and best of all its free to visit! Drive in yourself or book a jeep or trolley tour. We had Cascade as our tour guide and she was great. Absolutely loved the jeep tour. Well definitely visit here again! Absolutely stunning 😍. Highly recommended

Beautiful park . A lot of hiking trails with beautiful sceneries and rock formations. The visitor center is huge and had restaurants, gift shops and even Dinosaur museums. They provide free maps of the park. They even have a free shuttle from the visitor center to the main circular hiking area of the park. They have several parking areas in the park, so if you have a car you can park any of the parking areas and do your hikes. It gets full though so I recommend to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Overall a nice and beautiful well maintained park.

One of my favorite places in CO springs!! Drove thru it twice and it was so amazing we could have went again, the rock formations are crazy beautiful. Make sure to stop at a few trail heads and climb the rocks!

How much beautiful can this get? Went to Colorado Springs in mid September and the weather was perfect. Not hot and not cold. I really dont even know how to review this, it was simply beautiful and amazing to experience. Just get out there, work those legs and see the view!

Simply one of the most stunningly beautiful locations I have ever seen! Please go see Garden of the Gods. You will remember it fondly for the rest of your life.

Easy trail, anyone can go around and check out. Liked the place and view, but didn’t amazed me. Small climb to the rock and the view from there is good. If you are planning to go, try to be there really early to avoid crowd, its packed up. Enjoyed our visit, lot of places for photo. Great art work with rocks, next time might try during winter time, heard its very beautiful and less crowded

An Amazing place so beautiful! Everyone must visit here and experience the gorgeous hike. The visitors center was very clean and informative.

Really nice park to visit and spend an afternoon or a couple of hours walking through the park. Many scenic and picture worthy spots and trails. To state the obvious, dont expect a Grand Canyon or even a Sedona, but definitely a nice spot to visit if you are in the area. Not sure if I would go out of the way to visit.

A must see. The rock formations are beautiful- loved walking the paths and being able to walk right up to some of them. We drove through as well and stopped occasionally to get out and take in the amazing views! I’d recommend visiting during sunrise and/or sunset 😊 I loved the visitor center too!

Super-clean and beautiful! We pulled into the park and parked in the available lots. They have bathrooms and well-maintained hiking surfaces. There are also maps and photo-opportunities throughout the trails. It was busy, but we didn’t feel like it was crowded.

We arrived around 9 am, although it was packed, we were able to find parking. Next time will be going way earlier to avoid crowds and sun. There are some shaded parts which was a huge plus. Overall, beautiful structures and lovely trails. Be sure to bring lots of water!

Beautiful place to visit. You can make a quick drive through it or spend the day. If your able def take the time to check out some of the cool sites. They have easy trails and fun places for the kids to explore.

Unreal, place looks photoshopped.. breathtaking.. I would suggest morning light is probably best for photographing from front/main view. I came late afternoon so mostly photographed the backside where light was.

Great place to visit will definitely go back at some point.

Beautiful sandstone rock formations with opportunities for rock climbing (with permit) and hiking. Looks unlike any other place in and around Colorado. Great place for families with many easy trails. There are ample photogenic spots along the way. One can drive along the Juniper loop way that covers the main rock formations around the central garden. There are parking spots numbered from P1 to P12 (iirc) but not labeled on Google maps, so dont forget to save the spot where you parked on Google Maps.

Truly stunning views. The park offers tons of hiking spots, walkable paths, bikeable roads, and picnic areas.The park is a dog friendly area, but you have to keep them on a leash. Make sure you bring some water during the afternoon/evening as it can get very hot, both for you and your pooch.Pictures truly do it no justice. Its one of those things that you have be there and experience it to truly enjoy it. Overall, you wont regret nor forget the experience.From the grass fields, to the trees, to the mountains, to the beautiful houses. I hope you enjoy the sight and have a great time.

This is in the top 10 most photogenic places Ive ever visited. The balancing rocks and desert landscapes are astonishing. We had a picnic in a place called Scotsmans Grove, or something like that. The tables were clean and new. It was very pleasant to see so many people enjoying the park and smiling without masks.

One of the highlights of our trip to Colorado, Garden of the Gods offers a birds-eye view of some of the most majestic red rocks Ive ever visited. Its an easy 1/4 mile walk from the parking lot to the epicenter. Fairly crowded but not difficult to navigate or enjoy.

Spectacular outdoor scenery and great infrastructure to accommodate the many eager visitors. Definitely worth hiking/walking beyond the most popular spots to enjoy better views away from the crowds.

Beautiful place with no fees to enter this park. Must try one of their activities. Book in advance. We took Electric bike tour. Bit pricey but was worth it. Had really fun exploring the park on electric bikes. Lot to explore n multiple places to stop n soak in beautiful sceneries throughout the park. Could be super crowded but all spots were easily accessible by car with minimum walk. Don’t forget to check out the look out from their visitor center.

We took a trolley tour and it was so nice to not worry about the traffic while we gazed up! Definitely recommend the tour. Our guide was knowledgeable!

Great place to hike and see beautiful formations. Great large trading post with food. Dog friendly when on leash.

Hikes and beautiful views. I’ve gone many times and it is always just as beautiful as the last time I visited. Never gets old!

Had a great day. Sketch was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable and shared lots of information and great jokes. Highly recommended

My husband and I visited Colorado Springs from Kansas City for the weekend and Garden of the Gods was a must visit. We arrived to the park at 6:15 am and drove all the way to the back of the loop and parking was plentiful. We used the AllTrails app and took the trail looping all the way around the park. It was a 4-5 mile but it was easy and just really nice. We saw several deer while hiking. We left around 10:30 am and the parking lot was full but there are plenty of pull off spots to explore.

Loved it. we went at daytime and it was a pleasant experience. take water because it might get hot. park in any of the parking lots and just hike to the center. depending on where you parked, it might be uphill hike or downhill hike. The visitor center is opposite of the street and has dining as well. i really like the menu there as well. the exhibition has a lot of items to see and plenty of hikes to do. it is a very memorable experience.

This is a must for anyone visiting Colorado. Stunning park. Go to the visitor center, on the second floor they give out maps of the park upon request. There’s a paved trail that you can walk and take a baby stroller. It’s about a half an hour walk through many of the rocks. The second trail we did was more of a hike. The trail to the Siamese twin rocks. Short easy trail, we put the baby in the kangaroo for this one. Stunning!!!

This place is absolutely breath taking. I love every part of the garden. You can park in the viewing areas and walk the trail! Get right up next to the mountains! I have brought everyone who’s come to visit here and they have all said the same thing!

What an amazing day! Even with the crowds it was super beautiful and everyone was so happy to be out and about. RVs... make sure you go the trading post route or highway right by visitors center!!! Then park along fence in dirt parking lot next to Visitors Center. Also... canines are allowed in the visitor center. Such a great day!

A must for any nature lovers!!! The name is spot on..absolutely stunning!!! Words cannot describe the natural Beauty of the region, plus its totally free to visit thanks to its owner who donated it to Colorado Springs..totally worth the visit.

Always free, always beautiful. Even with rain clouds and thunder its a beautiful place to visit. Trails around the park range from flat and paved to rocky and more advanced, something for everyone! Or just a scenic drive around the park provides plenty of awesome views. Stunning!

I had a very fun time here! We went on a jeep tour (but actually ended up going in a large truck). It was pretty pricey but overall worth it. Our guide was very funny and showed us some incredible views.

It is an incredible place to visit. It is amazing to be close to the nature and admire what it has to offer. I recommend to visit this place if you go to Colorado

Garden of the Gods is incredible. We were able to freely walk about without any lines or human congestion. There were several large wild animals seen while there. Three deer, a mother and two young. The rock formations are astonishing if not awe inspiring. The trails are kept well and any fallen rocks seem to have been repurposed very well. Their stairs carved in the landscaping are wide and long and the water channels for run off are well looked after. This is a great park to visit for people of any age or ability.

One of my most favorite places on Earth. The Rock formations are so beautiful and majestic. The paths are great and this time we came with my 93 year old Daidí in a wheelchair and we were able to let him see the sights as the paths were great. We are always in Awe. My Dad said This is Heaven !!

Absolutely fantastic place to visit and not too far from downtown Denver. Visitors centre had lots of information and the staff were available for any additional questions. Was surprised that such a busy tourist attraction was completely free as was the shuttle service. The trails are concrete and very accessible with lots of maps and signs to guide you around. Drove the loop ride around before we left just to take in some more views.

Absolutely beautiful scenery! You can walk right up to (and on) some of the rock formations. The view of Pikes Peak is breathtaking! Be sure to read about how these were formed...its really fascinating! Wear sunscreen and bring drinks! Super fun!

Very clean and nice. Tons of information and knowledge to gain about the place. The kids enjoyed the interactive screen in the animal exhibit.

In awe and wonder! Great place to explore for families and the adventurous souls. Recommend getting there early to avoid car lines. If you want to climb you must have a permit. Overall beautiful experience of all of Gods creation. You have to go to witness it. Pictures dont do it justice. Its a breathe of fresh air!

Free cool park near Colorado Springs. AwesomeShort hike and really cool rock formations! A must stop if you are in the area!

This was a wonderful experience. So many different trails to choose from, from beginner to experienced. Visitor center was a great place to learn about the area.

Great plane to visit. Be sure to check out the trail outside of the main paved walking paths for more beauty. Its less busy on the paths and you get different and wider views of the rocks, too!

One of the most beautiful places of scenery Ive seen, especially without a fee! Theres tons of walkways and paths to take around and check out the formations. Fun to watch the climbers as well, would love to come back and try some routes ourselves in the future. Definitely would recommend going on an actual hike on the outer edges where it isnt paved.

Beautiful scenery. Make sure to bring water for walking :)

I particularly enjoyed the trails, which are pretty wide and easy to navigate. My favorite was Palmer trail, particularly the stretch by Juniper Way Loop around the NW side of the big rocks. We went on maybe 75% of the trails and hiked 7.5 miles, so if you took them all this could easily be an all day hike. Based on the number of people who made it to the top of the largest rocks, its also a good park for climbing. There are few trees so make sure you bring lots of water on your hikes and bring toilet paper for the bathrooms inside the park. It is a bit of a walk from the visitor center, if I had small children with me I would drive thru the park, stop at one of the parking areas, and let them explore. Saw a small amount of wildlife. Getting there by 8 in the morning really opens up your parking options.

This place is absolutely amazing, the views are spectacular and if your like me its a place outdoors that I can take the grandkids and get away from their electronic world at home and it takes their mind away from games. Even saw some wildlife while we were walking back. Worth the drive if you want to see done amazing rocks with history. The visitors center is very educational and deserves a stop of you coming to the park.

Astonishing. Highly recommend this place. Just get there early, it fills up with people quickly. We went on a rainy Thursday and no one was there. We then went again the next Friday, a very sunny day, and there were loads of visitors. So beautiful!

This is such a magical place with photo ops around every corner. We had a beautiful hike.

The visitor center was great and very helpful. On the 2nd floor you can get a map of the Garden of the gods entire ground. There was a Cafe that served several drink and food options.

Could spend all day just hiking around. Plenty of cool things to see and lots of climbing for the kids. Take advantage of the many parking lots throughout the park to get you alittle closer to the specific rock formations. Especially when its hot. Maps are available at the visitor center before entering the park.

Such a beautiful place for a hike or jog! There are two visitor centers, multiple parking lots, and on the roads through the park there is an extended shoulder for walking and biking. Multiple trails to walk and climbing on the rocks is also fun. Smaller kids will have fun as well. Great views from anywhere!

Free park and parking. Visitors Center was nice and people were helpful. Nice walk in the park. Beautiful.

It was a perfect day weather wise to be out walking/hiking in Nature! The park was quite busy for a week day, but never felt crowded. Lots of families, a sorority, photo ops EVERYWHERE! 😁. PERFECT Backdrops.Rappelling and climbing if you have equipment and make arrangements. Lots of Kiddos and Lots of Puppers💕 Wildlife,Bring H20! And good walking shoes. Colorado weather changes quick! Look forward to going back!

Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center is a beautiful park to visit in Colorado Springs so close to the city that it is so worth visiting if you are in Colorado Springs or passing through. Even if you are in Denver you should still drive the quick hour down to Garden of the Gods. Definitely check this awesome park out!

Nice short 25-30 minute hike. Weather is perfect mid September. The views are amazing. Also a good place to catch Pokémon!

Awesome display of natural rock formations. Plan to be there for a couple of hours. Especially if you want to get out and walk some of the trails.

A must visit if youre in the area. But some advice - go early! The crowds can be awful if you wait too long and parking can be challenging. The trails are well marked and offer some easy to difficult rock climbing opportunities, depending on what youre up for. Easy for kids and fun for adults alike!

Fabulous views and a great place to visit when in Colorado Springs. The gift shop is amazing and has unique magnets and other souvenirs. We visited the gift shop with our fur baby and the amazing lady at the counter was very sweet in greeting us and our furry. It was a great experience for us and our husky.

This place is an absolute MUST SEE! Its beautiful seeing nature in its natural beauty. By far one of my favorite parks. So many options to do there as well! We did the trolley which I definitely recommend! They have jeep tours, Segway tours, electric bicycle tours, hiking, Rock climbing, zipping & places to go have picnics!

Amazing place! Beautiful sunsets. Last two of deer here, and they are not afraid of you at all. If you are driving through the park, make sure to stop at the second parking lot - you will have close view of the rocks from here. But it is best to hike the loop that way you can see everything the park has to offer.