With a name like Garden of the Gods, a place better live up to expectations. I’m glad to say the one in Colorado does.

The park web site conveys the following story, which sounds just a little suspect to me, but never mind: In August 1859, two surveyors started out from Denver City to begin a town site, soon to be called Colorado City. While exploring nearby locations, they came upon a beautiful area of sandstone formations. Surveyor M. S. Beach suggested that it would be a “capital place for a Biergarten” when the country grew up. His companion, Rufus Cable, a “young and poetic man”, exclaimed, “Biergarten! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” It has been so-called ever since.

Do a casual search for Garden of the Gods and you’ll notice that there’s one in Illinois (which is terrific). Also, articles like these: “Visiting Colorado’s Garden of the Gods: The Complete Guide” and “Ten Things You Can’t Miss at the Gardens of the Gods in Colorado Springs.”

That’s overthinking things. Here’s my guide to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs:

1. Go there. Parking may be hard to find.

2. Look around, especially from a stroll on the Central Garden Trail.

3. Think, ain’t that cool.

One more recommended step, before the others: Drop by the visitors center, which is at some distance from the main complex of rocks, for a view of Pikes Peak. The place was fairly busy. For good reason.

The Central Garden parking lot was nearly full, also on a Monday morning. Give the people something to awe them, for free, and they will come. The trail from the parking lot takes you directly to pointy and picturesque rocks, mostly orange.

And among impressive bluffs.

A gathering place for centuries, Garden of the Gods wound up in possession of a wealthy local family early in the 20th century, who deeded it to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 on the condition that its 480 acres remain freely open to the public, and undeveloped, except for park infrastructure. Also, “no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed” there, and to this day, alcohol is banned.

Some historic detail: historic graffiti. No longer legal to do, you can be sure.

Geologically speaking, the formations aren’t that old, only going back to the tumults of the Pleistocene.

Glaciation and erosion at work.

Away from the Central Garden is another place with a small parking lot, called Balanced Rock, for obvious reasons.

Geologically speaking, it’s going to tumble just any time now.