Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood Springs has it all if you are looking for relaxation, entertainment, lodging, adventure, or just to explore something new.
 
Relax at our world-famous Hot Springs Lodge & Pool – the world’s largest, manmade outdoor mineral hot-springs swimming pool.  Glenwood Springs is also home to a number of full-service day spas for indulging the mind, body, and soul.
 
When you are ready to be entertained, come and enjoy the annual Strawberry Days Festival and free jazz concerts in the summer and the art festival in the fall.  And of course, Christmas in Glenwood Springs is picture perfect as the city sparkles against the winter sky.
 
Rest your weary head in one of the many lodging facilities in Glenwood Springs.  Whether a guest ranch is your style or you would rather be pampered, you will appreciate the selection of hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, cabins, and other lodging options available.
 
Vacation adventures start with amazing views of Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley while riding the Iron Mountain Tramway – your first step to enjoying the rides and attractions at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. 
 
There is much to explore in Glenwood Springs, so be prepared to walk, peddle, and paddle during your stay!  Hikers can trek to Hanging Lake for its exhilarating one-mile climb and stunning views.  Cyclists will enjoy the miles of paved biking/walking paths.  At the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers, Glenwood Springs is the destination for whitewater rafting.  Golf enthusiasts can tee off at the spectacular courses throughout Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley.

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In the News

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Celebrates 10 Years

A lot has changed since Steve and Jeanne Beckley opened Glenwood Caverns & Historic Fairy Caves in May 1999. Back then, they offered cave tours out of a small shop located on Pine Street behind the Hotel Colorado. Guests rode on buses up a windy dirt road, toured the caves, and then came back down on the bus. These days, guests ride in a state-of-the-art glass-enclosed gondola from the floor of the Roaring Fork Valley to the top of Iron Mountain. There they can tour the caves, enjoy thrill rides such as Colorado’s only alpine coaster and a giant swing that launches riders out over Glenwood Canyon, try gemstone sluice box mining and rock wall climbing, find their way through the fort-styled maze, and have lunch inside or out on the deck with breathtaking mountain views.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Introduces Three New Attractions

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, kicks off its 10th season by introducing three exciting new attractions. The additions will include Colorado’s first 4-dimensional (4D) movie theater, which combines high-definition 3D film with moving seats, bursts of wind and other surprises for the audience; a laser tag arena; and a Speleobox cave simulator. The Park has also replaced its Bungee Trampoline with two new, full-sized trampolines.

See http://www.glenwoodchamber.com/General-VP/Media-Center.html for recent press releases.

Activities

Fly-Fishing Early inhabitants of the Glenwood Springs area, the Ute Indians, depended on these fish to round out their diets. Today, viewed more as a relaxing sport, some people consider fly-fishing a passion, even a spiritual experience. Whatever your level of interest, the area’s Gold Medal waters harbor an astonishing number of brookies, browns, cutthroats and rainbow trout. Enlist the help of a local guide to direct you to some of the best fly-fishing in the state.

Golf Playing a round or two in a pristine mountain setting is a golfer’s dream! With more than a dozen courses within 40-miles of downtown Glenwood Springs, golfing enthusiasts can enjoy a full week of golf in the Roaring Fork Valley, without ever playing the same course twice!

Horseback Riding A mighty long stretch of the West’s history, majesty, and mystery seem to converge in Colorado’s distilled mountain air. There’s no better way to experience Colorado’s cowboy past - or present - than riding the open range or high mountain meadows while your guide regales you with tales of the Wild West.

Kayaking The stretch of Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon is one of the finest in the state with Class III and IV, heart-pounding rapids, as well as calmer stretches with breath-taking scenery. For those who want to explore the river on their own and play in the waves, bring or rent a kayak locally.

Paragliding If you have a passion to fly, to soar through the air free as a bird, paragliding may be for you. Paragliding is the simplest form of human flight. Similar to a parachute, a paraglider features a harness that seats you comfortably at the controls. Paragliders are powered by the air currents. A running launch from a high point will set you airborne to experience an exhilarating ride. Paraglider pilots can stay aloft for 3 hours or more, climb to elevations of 15,000-plus feet, and go cross-country for long distances. Tandem flights with experienced pilots are available with Adventure Paragliding. 970-274-1619.

Rafting The Colorado River flows through Glenwood Springs and has long attracted ambitious river runners attempting to tame its fiercest sections. Today, a host of commercial rafting companies guide thousands of visitors annually down the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers through rapids with names like Upper Superstition and Tombstone, substantiating Glenwood Springs’ stature as one of the country’s premier whitewater destinations. Calmer waterways, such as South Canyon Rapids, are suitable for families with children as young as four. There are several local rafting companies that offer fully guided trips.

Skiing and Riding At, 9895 feet above sea level, Sunlight Mountain Resort has 67 trails covering over 470 acres of terrain and a vertical drop of over 2,000 feet for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. The diversity of terrain features everything from cruisers to heart-stopping steeps all at family-friendly prices. Sunlight Mountain's Extreme challenges all experts. With a pitch of 52 percent, the Heathen is one of the steepest trails in the state. Sunlight is also home to one of the longest trails, Ute, a cruising beginner slope, winding more than two-and-one-half miles from the summit to the base. For boarders, there are two terrain parks. Base facilities house a restaurant, bar, equipment rental, retail shop, snow and board education center, and children’s center. 970-945-7491, 800-445-7931.

Hiking and Biking in Glenwood Springs

Alpine meadows, rivers, creeks, crystal-clear lakes, wildlife and waterfalls reward hikers and bikers in Glenwood Springs.

For a leisurely walk, the Glenwood Canyon hiking and biking trail is ideal. The paved path hugs the Colorado River for sixteen miles with a mild elevation gain of about 350 feet at its end, just past Bair Ranch. And the chances of seeing the resident herd of Bighorn Sheep in the canyon are very good. With picnic areas, restrooms, parking and disabled access every few miles on the path, it’s also perfect for a variety of ages and abilities.

It’s a half mile to Doc Holliday’s memorial at Linwood Cemetery. He was Glenwood Springs’ famous gunslinging, gambling dentist. The trailhead starts in town. Other colorful characters from Glenwood Springs’ history occupy Linwood Cemetery too.

The Jeanne Golay trail, named for the Olympic cyclist who now resides in Glenwood Springs and can often be found training on this trail, meanders up steep Red Mountain to the summit. From the top, the views of the valley floor, the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers and Mount Sopris make the climb worth the effort. The scrub oak forest turns to evergreen and aspen as the elevation increases, and lucky hikers may see a fox, deer, and several species of birds.

Hanging Lake is a perennial favorite, accessed year-round from Glenwood Canyon, with its trailhead about ten miles west of Glenwood Springs. Stunning waterfalls descend into a limestone lake teeming with trout. It’s a mile to the top and 1000 feet up, and takes about an hour and half round-trip. Five minutes beyond the lake is Spouting Rock, which is not to be missed once the lake is attained.

Grizzly Creek is also accessed from Glenwood Canyon, at Exit 121. A deep canyon with steep walls and a rambling creek, explorers can do the entire six miles and 2500 vertical feet to the top and the lake, or simply hike in a ways then turn around and enjoy the downhill trek back to the canyon.

The Storm King Mountain Trail is a memorial to those who lost their lives battling the South Canyon fire in 1994, and a tribute to firefighters everywhere. The trail takes visitors on the journey of a firefighter with a signed interpretive trail. The trailhead is about five miles west of Glenwood Springs at Canyon Creek.

The Rio Grande Trail from Glenwood Springs to Aspen is nearly complete, making a safe and scenic ride for safe cycling or walking. The trail begins at the River Trail in Glenwood Springs, connecting with the Rio Grande Trail at the south end of town, with a short spur on County Road 154 before reconnecting with the Rio Grande Trail and continuing into Aspen.

Attractions

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Located on top of Iron Mountain, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers guests a full day of fun and adventure. The Iron Mountain Tramway takes guests on a scenic 10-minute ride that skims over tree tops and offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and rivers. At the top, guests can take one of three different tours of Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves, ranging from mild to wild; enjoy thrill rides—including Colorado’s only alpine coaster; pan for gemstones; try the climbing wall, bungee trampoline or mechanical bull; and relax with lunch, dinner or drinks while they take in the views. Kids love the virtual Conestoga wagon ride and train ride, which are suitable for all ages. The Adventure Park also provides a memorable setting for special events. 970-945-4228, 800-530-1635.

Hot Springs Pool The Hot Springs Pool, established in 1888, is the largest mineral hot springs in the world, measuring over two blocks long, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, and along the banks of the Colorado River. The thermal waters are 90°-93°F (32°-34°C) in the large pool and 104°F (40°C) in the smaller, therapy pool. Features like two water slides, inner tubes, diving boards, and bubble chairs bring out the kid in everyone. Visitors have access to modern locker room facilities, lounge chairs, towel service, and swim suit rentals. Other amenities include a full service Sport Shop, the Hot Springs Deli and Snack Bar, the Hot Springs Athletic Club, and a challenging miniature golf course. 970-947-2955, 800-537-SWIM (7946).

Iron Mountain Tramway Entryway to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, the Iron Mountain Tramway is a 4,300-foot-long tram ride originating at Iron Mountain Station on the floor of the Roaring Fork Valley, near the Colorado River. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the ten-minute scenic ride inside six-person fully enclosed glass gondolas. The tram ride skims over the tops of the trees, with panoramic views in all directions. 970-945-4228, 800-530-1635.

Swing Shot at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park For the truly adventurous, the Swing Shot at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park launches riders out over Glenwood Canyon, 1,300 feet above the Colorado River! Both the ride and the views of the Canyon are breathtaking as you soar through the air at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. The Swing Shot accommodates up to four riders at a time, so you can share the adrenaline rush with your friends. 970-945-4228, 800-530-1635.

Vapor Caves The Vapor Caves are said to purify body and spirit as they soothe away aches and pains. They are the only known natural vapor caves in North America, in which hot mineral waters flow through the cave floors at 125 degrees to create a natural geothermal steam bath. 970-945-0667.

Events

Check out an up-to-date calendar of upcoming events in the Glenwood Springs area.

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