Garden of the Gods Jeep Tour: Waterfalls & Rock Formations

Taste mineral springs and step out to frame towering red rock formations

A guided jeep tour through Garden of the Gods and surrounding Colorado Springs takes you past red rock formations, a waterfall, and into Manitou Springs and downtown historic towns where you taste natural mineral springs. The tour runs two hours with a live English-speaking guide, stops for photos and exploration, and fits up to eight passengers; you choose a morning, midday or afternoon departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Garden of the Gods sightseeing tour

• Visit waterfall and local castles
• Drive through Garden of the Gods
• Stop for photos and views
• Explore downtown historic towns
• Taste natural mineral springs

The Experience

The jeep leaves at your chosen time — 9am, noon or 3pm — and heads straight into the landscape. A live guide narrates the geology and history of the rock formations as you drive through Garden of the Gods, pointing out the shapes and stories behind them. You'll pass a waterfall and stop to get out, stretch and photograph the views; the guide shares information about the plants and wildlife while you're standing in it, not just talking at you from the front seat.

The route moves into Manitou Springs and downtown historic towns, where you stop again to taste the natural mineral springs that draw people to the area. These are working stops, not quick pauses — you have time to step out and take in what you're looking at. The whole loop runs two hours, which is long enough to see the main attractions without the day becoming a single drive.

The jeep itself is open-air, so you get the full view and the air moving around you instead of looking through glass. It holds up to eight passengers, so it's small enough that the guide can actually talk to people and answer questions, not broadcast to a tour bus. Infants and small children can come along; the tour is built to be family-friendly and safe, and public transportation is available nearby if you need it.

What’s included

• Open-air jeep ride.
• live English-speaking guide.
• stops at Garden of the Gods, a waterfall, Manitou Springs and historic downtown areas.
• time to photograph and explore at each stop.
• mineral spring tastings in the historic towns.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Buggy Tours LLC

Is this one for you?Book the 9am departure if you want to see the rock formations in morning light and have the rest of your day free; the noon tour suits a late breakfast; the 3pm slot works if you're exploring Colorado Springs in the morning and want to end the day with the tour.

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Top questions

What exactly is Garden of the Gods and what will I see there?

Garden of the Gods is a park of red rock formations rising out of the Colorado Springs landscape, shaped by millions of years of geology. You'll drive through it on the jeep tour and stop to photograph and explore the rock shapes and formations up close, with the guide explaining how they formed and what the local names for them are.

Do I get out of the jeep, or is this just a drive-by tour?

You get out and stop throughout the tour. The guide stops at the waterfall, at viewpoints in Garden of the Gods, and at the mineral springs in Manitou Springs so you can step out, stretch, take photographs and see the landscape instead of just passing through it.

What time should I book, and how long does the whole thing take?

The tour runs two hours and departs at 9am, noon or 3pm — pick whichever fits your day. You choose the time when you book, so you can plan around other activities or meals.

Is the jeep comfortable, and can I bring young children?

The jeep is open-air, which means you get the full view and breeze but no climate control. Infants and small children can ride, and the tour is designed to be family-friendly and safe for all fitness levels.

What will the guide tell me about, and what language is the tour in?

The live guide covers the history and geology of Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the surrounding towns, plus information about the plants and wildlife you see. The tour is conducted in English.