Glenwood Springs, Colorado was the next stop of our road trip on I-70. The mountain-based town is home to geo-thermal properties, including its popular hot springs, the impressive Glenwood Canyon and several mountain adventures such as hiking, a mountain adventure park, river rafting and biking. We came to Glenwood Springs thinking it would just be a nice little stop to break up our road travels, but we could have definitely spent longer here. We look forward to coming back again one day to give it the proper time and attention it deserves. However, in the meantime, this is our 24 hours around Glenwood Springs.
Glenwood Springs Bike Paths
We arrived in Glenwood Springs in the early afternoon and set out on our bikes in search of an ice cream treat. Not only is there a ton mountain biking in the area, but there is an extensive bike pathway system throughout the area as well. We headed out on the Rio Grande Trail that aligns with the Roaring Fork River and follows the old Denver & Rio Grande Railway. This pathway can also take you all the way to Aspen, CO. Obviously, we just went on a portion of it to find our ice cream, but I’m sure it would be pretty amazing to go further.
After ice cream, we circled back and spent some time at Veltus Park at the playground and playing at the little river access beach that is part of the park.
The other pathway that I wish we had more time to explore is the Glenwood Canyon Recreational Trail. This trail follows I-70 and the Colorado River, and takes you through the scenic Glenwood Canyon as you ride. Later as we were leaving the area, we had to drive through Glenwood Canyon on I-70 and it offered some pretty incredible views that the bikers would experience on their bike rides as well.
Glenwood Hot Springs
Glenwood Springs is Colorado’s destination for hot springs, so we couldn’t leave without spending some time at the thermal pools. There are a few different hot spring pools, but we choose to attend the Glenwood Hot Springs – home to the world’s largest hot spring pool with over 1 million gallons of water inside it. It was $21.75 per adult and $14.75 per child; however, it does look like their rates vary based on peak season, etc. so best to check the rate prior to arriving for no surprises.
There were two different pools – one was the therapy pool, which had the mineral water that was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit; the second pool was large pool and the water there was perfect – felt like bath water! On a cooler morning it was the perfect place to hang out.
While we were enjoying the springs, we were pleasantly surprised when the kids splash zone and the chutes open at 11 a.m.. This section of the springs opens on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 11 a.m. There are kids slides, a splash park zone and 'the chutes', which is like a little river that you ride on a tube through small rapids. While the water in the hot springs was perfect for the cool morning, the water in these areas wasn’t as warm and you had to stand in line with the cool breeze. As a result, we were doing a rotation of going on the chutes, running back into the hot springs and then REPEAT.
Other Things to Do in Glenwood Springs
There are so many other experiences you can have in Glenwood Springs. There is the Glenwood Adventure Park that takes you up the gondola to an adventure-based amusement park at the top of the mountain. There are also several rafting companies that take you on rafting trips down the Colorado River; and as mentioned previously, tons of hiking and biking.
One place we initially had on our list to do in Glenwood Springs was Hanging Lake. This is a lake with waterfalls located at the top of the nearby Glenwood Canyon. However, to keep it ecologically preserved, you have to purchase a hiking permit of $12/person and sign up for a time slot between 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We had originally hoped to do this hike; however, when we figured out what day/time we might be available to do it, there were no longer any time slots available.
Although short, we really enjoyed our stay at Glenwood Springs and we’re looking forward to coming back some day!
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