Travel Reference
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to the area. Before long the town had become so cosmopolitan that some began to call it
Little London.
Todayabout361,000peopleliveinColoradoSprings,wherewideboulevards,spacious
sidewalks, shady parks, and excellent museums complement the natural setting. The Ram-
partRangerisesjusttothewest,offeringsuperbunobstructed viewsofthecitybelow.One
of the best vistas can be seen from the tower at the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. Inside,
memorabilia recall the renowned cowboy-philosopher, and murals depict events from Col-
orado's history.
Heading out of town on Rte. 24, the drive, a lengthy loop, quickly ascends the first
line of Rocky Mountain peaks. A not-to-be-missed stop along the way is Garden of the
Gods, a 1,350-acre parkland filled with sandstone formations that have eroded into every
imaginable shape and size—and quite a few unimaginable ones. Not surprisingly, the city
park, which frames Pikes Peak, has been named a National Natural Landmark; the geolo-
gical wonders here showcase red-hued vertical spires with such whimsical names as Kiss-
ing Camels, Balanced Rock, and Siamese Twins.
Did you know…
The name Garden of the Gods has a surprising history: A surveyor in 1859
thought it would be a great place for a beer garden. His companion, Rufus
Cable, is said to have exclaimed, “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the
Gods to assemble. We will call it Garden of the Gods.”
2.
Pikes Peak Highway
Cresting at 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak was named for Zebulon Pike, who led an expedition
sent out in 1806 by Thomas Jefferson to determine the Louisiana Purchase's southwestern
borders.Pike,alieutenantatthetime,glimpsedthemountainashewascrossingtheprairie,
perhaps 100 miles away. After a failed attempt to scale the peak, he concluded that the
summit could never be reached.
Despite the lieutenant's dour prediction, present-day visitors can choose among three
separate routes to the top: a hike along the Barr Trail, a chug aboard the Pikes Peak Cog
Railway, or a drive on Pikes Peak Highway—one of the most spectacular mountain roads
in the country.
The 19-mile highway, a toll road first opened in 1916, climbs through small canyons,
traversessteepslopes,andwindsaroundhairpincurvesasitgainsalmost7,000feetinalti-
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