Colorado Springs, Colorado
Taking a intermission from Denver, I larn the hotel to shuttle me over to nearby Littleton where I tin give notice selection upward an accessible rental van from Wheelers. No problems getting at that spot on fourth dimension or getting the van out. It’s a Chevy Venture amongst a powered ramp on the side too a Q-Strain necktie downwards system.
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The van is a picayune worn some the edges…it has over 80,000 miles on the odometer, the hood does non similar to remain closed, you lot receive got to heave your weight against the automatic sliding door to larn it to shut, too the “Check Engine Light” came on earlier nosotros had to plough it dorsum in.
It’s also expensive. At $230 for 2 days, amongst a 400 mile confine (plus close $50 inwards gas), it’s close 3 times equally much for a decent rental car.
I receive got the van dorsum to the hotel to selection upward Letty too Tim too we’re off…
About an hour’s drive due south of Denver is Colorado Springs, famous equally the habitation of the Air Force Academy too the US of America Olympic Training Center. It’s also famous for the giant 14,000 foot, snowfall covered mountain…Pike’s Peak…that hovers over it.
We had originally planned on driving upward the toll route to the overstep of Pike’s Peak but the heavy snowpack has closed the route brusque of the peak. Instead, nosotros caput to the Garden of the Gods.
The Garden of the Gods is a stunning collection of blood-red rocks sticking out of the set down due south of town too but E of the peak. It’s also 1 of the few gratis or inexpensive attractions inwards the surface area beingness completely admission free.
We start off at the visitor’s center, across the street from the principal entrance, too larn a gratis map from 1 of the workers. She points out a hidden handicapped parking lot, close a quarter mile past times the offset large lot, where there’s a trailhead to a paved, accessible trail.
There’s also a deck exterior perfectly situated to larn views of the commons amongst the massive Pike’s Peak behind it.
We catch a dyad of snacks from the café, larn dorsum inwards the van, too caput in.
It’s non difficult to uncovering our parking lot. There are close a one-half dozen handicapped spaces…all empty…and nosotros commons correct adjacent to the trailhead. There is 1.5 miles of this accessible trail winding through the primal garden area, habitation to almost all of the park’s principal features.
The offset large stone nosotros walk past times has a natural arch at the top. Because of its shape, it’s called the “Kissing Camels.” It looks similar a dyad of dromedaries locked inwards a smooch.
Just beyond this is a large plaque dedicating the commons to gratis populace usage forever where at that spot is also a lot of historical graffiti scratched into the rock.
Across the way, several climbers are working their agency to the overstep of some other large rock. If you’re an experienced technical climber, amongst all the proper equipment, you lot tin give notice larn a permit to climb at the visitor’s center.
Continuing on, at that spot are points on the path where nosotros tin give notice larn upward unopen to the rocks too acquit upon them or fifty-fifty larn within some of the nooks too crannies.
We encounter close a dozen species of birds on the walk, some who remain all the same for pictures too others who are a fleck to a greater extent than fidgety.
After our hike, nosotros larn dorsum into the van too larn to the other terminate of the commons where at that spot is a huge boulder balancing on overstep of some other rock.
Letty climbs upward to larn the obligatory pictures but I notice that at that spot are 2 large deposits of concrete nether the rock. Let’s but state that the commons staff wants to brand certain this stone balances for perpetuity.
It’s 1 terminal await at Balancing Rock too and then dorsum inwards the van.
We drive to the high betoken of the commons too encounter these jets, likely from the nearby Air Force base, practicing over the park.
After a dyad of to a greater extent than pictures, nosotros caput out.
A few miles away, nosotros drive through an one-time purpose of town. There seems to survive a medical marijuana outlet on every corner. I’m thinking to myself, it’s already a mile high here…how much higher produce you lot desire to be?
Beyond that, nosotros larn to our adjacent destination, Seven Falls.
This is some other commons total of natural beauty but dissimilar the Garden of the Gods it is non free. In fact, it’s $9.95 per person, which seems a fleck steep to await at a waterfall too at that spot is no discount for the disabled. We were able to secure a dollar off coupon on our map of the Garden of the Gods thence nosotros at to the lowest degree got that.
There is a gorgeous too really narrow canyon at the entrance. This is also the place of the exclusively restrooms inwards the commons thence brand certain you lot halt hither offset or else it’s a long walk dorsum down.
At the top, at that spot are iii handicapped spots too a visitor’s center. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ramp volition larn you lot upward into that edifice too to the plaza behind it where you lot tin give notice larn upward unopen to the bottom of the falls. There is also a phase hither where Native Americans sometimes position on shows.
Next to the visitor’s middle is a puddle where large trout live. There are vending machines where you lot tin give notice purchase fish nutrient for l cents.
A toss of the nutrient on the H2O creates a feeding frenzy.
You’re non supposed to produce it, but the local chipmunks volition also consume that nutrient correct out of your hands. We didn’t produce it but many other visitors did.
Across the parking lot from the visitor’s middle is a tunnel into the mountain. To the left are some railroad tracks rusting away on the mountainside. These are the remains of an one-time funicular that took guests upward the mount to a viewing platform.
Today, there’s an raise at the terminate of this tunnel.
Visitors tin give notice immediately ride upward the raise to the platform too encounter the consummate laid of falls.
This is also the accessible agency to encounter the falls.
If you’re potent too able, at that spot is a really long staircase that takes you lot upward to the overstep of the falls.
We pass a picayune fourth dimension upward here, soaking inwards the views, earlier heading dorsum down, checking out the gift shop, too and then heading out of the park.
Originally, nosotros had planned to drive to the overstep of Pike’s Peak via the toll route there. The toll is but nether $40 equally of this writing but the snowpack had the route closed brusque of the peak. I also interrogation whether our picayune van amongst the cheque engine low-cal would receive got made it upward to the 14,100 pes peak.
That conception scratched, nosotros caput over to the nearby town of Manitou Springs too see the Cog Railway. We didn’t receive got the train, amongst a terms of over $100 for the iii of us, but a particular educate amongst a cog to traveling pocket the steep gradient takes visitors to the overstep of the mountain.
It looks similar a lot of expensive fun. It’s wheelchair accessible but amongst exclusively 2 spots on the train, reservations are essential. Call a dyad of days ahead to volume your space.
The gift store hither is a notch or 2 higher upward the others inwards the surface area thence nosotros genuinely purchase a few things hither from the really friendly staff.
On the agency out of town, nosotros encounter this large inn too snap a picture. This is Miramont Castle, originally built equally a habitation to the priest who ran the local sanitarium. Quite a residence for someone who’s taken a vow of poverty.
You tin give notice immediately tour the castle too receive got tea there. We didn’t but at that spot receive got been lifts installed to attention visitors inwards wheelchairs to encounter all the levels.
-Darryl
Copyright 2011 – Darryl Musick
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