Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is located in the western half of Colorado, at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River in the Roaring Fork Valley. The town sits roughly halfway between Vail and Aspen at about the same elevation as Denver. It is famous for its hot springs pool, which is the largest mineral hot springs pool in the world.

Originally named Defiance, the town was renamed by settlers from an Iowa town called Glenwood. Many nearby towns like Aspen and Leadville experienced their booms while Glenwood Springs was still in its infancy, partly because the canyons to the east and west made access difficult. The town grew thanks to its location on the railroad and the Colorado River. Today, Glenwood Springs is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by public lands including the White River National Forest, and offers world-class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking on its two rivers.

The climate features four distinct seasons with warm summers ideal for outdoor activities and snowy winters perfect for skiing at nearby Sunlight Mountain Resort. The town has a relaxed, outdoorsy atmosphere with easy access to both Aspen's cultural scene and remote mountain wilderness.

By Plane

There is a city airport in Glenwood Springs, but it only accommodates small private planes. The Garfield County Airport, between Silt and Rifle, is about 40 minutes away and handles larger planes but no commercial flights. The closest commercial airports are Eagle County Airport (EGE), about 35 minutes east with free parking and easy highway access; Aspen Airport (ASE), about 45 minutes away (traffic and weather can be challenging); and Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), about 80 minutes west.

By Train

Amtrak serves Glenwood Springs with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. The journey from Denver takes about five and a half hours. The scenic route passes through Glenwood Canyon during daylight hours in both directions. Glenwood Springs Amtrak station is located on 7th Street.

By Car / Road

From Grand Junction: an hour and a half east on I-70. From Vail: just over an hour west. From Aspen: an hour's drive north. Bustang links Glenwood Springs with Denver, Frisco, Vail, and Eagle with bus stops at the South Glenwood BRT Station (Glen Ave/Hwy 82 at 27th St) and West Glenwood Park & Ride.

Ride Glenwood Springs is a free bus service circulating throughout the town every 30 minutes. RFTA Valley buses also serve most of the town at separate 30-minute intervals, with zone-based fares (free within each zone). VelociRFTA is America's first rural bus rapid transit system — buses labeled BRT GLENWOOD travel down valley and BRT ASPEN travel up valley.

• Glenwood Canyon — Accessible by car or bike path. Fishing, rafting, hiking, biking, and rollerblading through a spectacular canyon

• Iron Mountain Hot Springs, 281 Centennial St, ☏ +1 970-945-4766, 9AM-10PM — 16 mineral hot springs soaking pools and a freshwater family pool, with temperatures ranging from 92°F to 108°F. $14-$25

• Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, 401 N. River St, ☏ +1 970-947-2955, 9AM-10PM — The largest mineral hot springs pool in the world, established in 1888. Big pool ~90°F, therapy pool ~104°F. $10.75-$21.00

• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park — Family adventure park with caving, a tram ride, restaurant, rides, and cave tours. Plan at least half a day

• Colorado Backcountry Biker — All-inclusive self-guided mountain biking tours in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah

• Glenwood Adventure Company, 723 Cooper Ave, ☏ +1 970-945-7529 — Rafting, Unimog off-road tours, bike rentals, horseback rides, ATV tours, paragliding, Segway adventures, and fly fishing

• Defiance Rafting Company, 1308 County Road 129 — Whitewater and scenic rafting trips on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers

• Sunlight Mountain Resort — Local ski area for family skiers, more affordable than nearby resorts

• Yampah Spa and Salon — Natural vapor caves and spa; try sitting in the steamy cave chambers for an hour

• Snowmobiling — Surrounded by White River National Forest and Grand Mesa, with an average of 35 feet of snow annually

• Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Iron Mountain Hot Springs for soaking

• 19th Street Diner, 1908 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 970 945-9133, Su M 7AM-3PM, Tu-Sa 7AM-9PM — American cuisine with daily specials, house-smoked ribs and pork. Full bar with 6 draught handles. ~$10
• Italian Underground, 715 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 970 945-6422, dinner only — Local favorite Italian with great atmosphere and reasonable prices. Arrive at 5PM opening for best availability
• Los Jilbertos, 51241 Highway 6, ☏ +1 970 945-2812 — Inexpensive Mexican taco/burrito stand
• Sacred Grounds, 725 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 970 230-9240 — Coffeehouse with good sandwiches, foosball, and internet access
• Tequila's, 132 W 6th St, ☏ +1 970 384-1588 — Mexican restaurant near the I-70 exit

• Glenwood Canyon Brewpub — Fresh brewed beer, pool tables, games on TV, no-smoking. Located in the Hotel Maxwell Anderson
• Local bars and lounges throughout downtown

• Budget: Adventure Inn, 51823 Hwy 6, ☏ +1 970-945-8888 — King and Double Queen rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, wireless internet, hot tub, and continental breakfast
• Mid-range: Hotel Maxwell Anderson (formerly The Hotel Denver), 402 7th St, ☏ +1 970-945-6565 — Quilts and antiques with modern conveniences, centrally located near the Hot Springs Pool and Amtrak station
• Mid-range: The Gnarly Inn, 10252 County Road 117 — 20-room B&B at the base of Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort with free breakfast
• Upscale/Heritage: The Hotel Colorado, 526 Pine St, ☏ +1 970-945-6511, toll-free +1-800-544-3998 — Opened in 1893, on the National Register of Historic Places. Worth a visit for the lobby and Sunday brunch. $104

Glenwood has a nice downtown shopping area with boutique shops. A newer mall features Target, Lowes, Vitamin Cottage, Petco, and Pier 1. Cooper Avenue has consignment shops and natural food stores.

• Aspen (60 miles north, ~1 hr) — World-class skiing, cultural events, and the Aspen Music Festival
• Vail (70 miles east, ~1 hr) — Premier ski resort and upscale village
• Grand Junction (90 miles west, ~1.5 hr) — Colorado wine country and Colorado National Monument
• Carbondale/Basalt (up valley, 20-30 min) — Mountain towns with dining, galleries, and outdoor recreation
• Maroon Bells (near Aspen, ~1.5 hr) — Iconic mountain peaks and pristine alpine lakes