Garden of the Gods: Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop

After breakfast this morning, we packed up the car and made the short drive to Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods Park. We found a parking spot in the mostly empty lot (at least when we arrived) 

and hit the trail for a loop hike on several trails that encircle the outside of the most scenic parts of the iconic park. We would be completing the hike in a counter-clockwise direction.

There are immediately pretty awesome views of the red rock formations that make the park famous. I just couldn't stop taking photos of the great scenery.

We followed the Palmer Trail west and then south for a bit, passing the rock formations in the park, but also enjoying views of Pikes Peak and the other mountains outside the park.

We crossed the park road and hiked portions of the Scotsman and Buckskin Charlie trails, heading southeast.

We passed over a dam overlooking a neighborhood with spectacular views across to Pikes Peak.

Then, the Ute Trail followed a ridge heading north. Again, there were awesome views of the rock formations off to the west.

The trail passed an interesting looking area called Rock Ledge Ranch (perhaps a place to explore during a future visit to Colorado Springs) and then descended to a flat area and paralleled the road back to the parking area. 

Once back to the car, we opted to check out a the Perkins Central Garden area. However, it was too crowded to be enjoyable and so we just did a quick walk through. Still, it was a mostly enjoyable and easy hike of about 5 miles if include the portion of the Central Garden that we hiked.