Glenwood Springs

State: Colorado. Type: mountain town, county seat of Garfield County. Elevation about 5,761 feet. 2020 population roughly 9,963. Sits at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers. Home to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and the Hanging Lake National Natural Landmark. Doc Holliday is buried in the town's Pioneer Cemetery.

Glenwood Springs grew up around one of Colorado's most famous natural hot springs, at the point where the Roaring Fork River meets the Colorado River in a steep-walled mountain valley. Ute people used the area's mineral springs long before an 1880s townsite was platted and named for founder's-wife Sarah Cooper's hometown of Glenwood, Iowa. A large historic bathhouse and pool opened in the late 1880s and drew visitors from across the country, including a stay by President Theodore Roosevelt at the Hotel Colorado in 1905. The town is also known as the final resting place of gunfighter Doc Holliday, and later as the site of Ted Bundy's dramatic 1977 jail escape. Today Glenwood Springs combines its historic soaking pools with modern additions such as Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, built into the hillside caves above town, and it serves as the main gateway to Hanging Lake, a turquoise alpine lake protected as a National Natural Landmark in nearby Glenwood Canyon. Its location on I-70 and the Amtrak line makes it an easy stop for travelers moving between Denver and the western mountains.

Glenwood Springs is the county seat of Garfield County in west-central Colorado, situated at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers at an elevation of about 5,761 feet. It sits along Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, roughly 157 miles (about 2.5-3 hours' drive) west of Denver and about 40 miles northwest of Aspen.

Glenwood Springs has a relatively mild mountain climate for its elevation, sometimes described as more stable than Colorado's Front Range cities, though it still sees a wide range of recorded temperatures from well below zero in winter to over 100°F on the hottest summer days. Summers are warm with occasional afternoon thunderstorms, while winters bring regular snow, particularly at higher elevations around Hanging Lake and the surrounding canyon walls.

Late spring through early fall (roughly May to October) is the most popular window, when Hanging Lake permits are easiest to use and hiking conditions are best; summer is peak season for both the hot springs and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The hot springs pool itself operates year-round and is a popular winter activity precisely because soaking in warm mineral water while snow falls is part of the appeal. Fall offers cooler hiking temperatures and fewer crowds at Hanging Lake, while some visitors do hike it in winter with proper microspikes and gear, though conditions are more demanding.

The Glenwood Springs area was long part of Ute homeland, and Ute oral history and seasonal use of the valley's natural hot springs predates European-American settlement. Silver and mining-era development in the surrounding mountains in the early 1880s drew settlers to the valley, and a post office renamed Glenwood Springs was established in 1884, with the town incorporated the following year. Developer Walter Devereux formed the Glenwood Hot Springs Company in 1886 and began major development of the springs, including diverting the river with a large rock wall completed in 1887 to create space for a bathhouse and pool. That bathhouse, built of local sandstone in 1888, enclosed a pool measuring 615 by 75 feet, which was promoted as a world-record-setting swimming pool at the time. The town's springs and grand Hotel Colorado (built in the same era) drew prominent visitors, most famously President Theodore Roosevelt, who used the hotel as a base for hunting trips across the Rockies in 1905, effectively making it a "summer White House" for a period. Glenwood Springs also has a notable outlaw history: gunfighter Doc Holliday spent his final months in the town and is buried in its Pioneer Cemetery, while decades later, serial killer Ted Bundy escaped from the Garfield County Jail there in 1977 before being recaptured. Through the 20th century, the town's hot springs pool remained a major draw, and more recent additions like Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, built around natural cave systems in the hillside above downtown, have added new layers to the area's tourism economy alongside its historic core.

Soaking at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort's large mineral pools is the town's signature activity, alongside the newer Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which offers a series of smaller soaking pools along the riverfront. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park combines cave tours through the hillside's natural caverns with amusement rides and a gondola ride up from downtown. The area's best-known hike is Hanging Lake, a steep but rewarding trail to a turquoise, travertine-formed lake fed by a waterfall, though it requires an advance timed permit. Other outdoor options include biking or walking the Rio Grande Trail toward Aspen, whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Colorado River, and exploring downtown's historic buildings and shops.

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort's historic pool complex and Iron Mountain Hot Springs are the town's headline attractions. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, reached by gondola from downtown, combines natural cave tours with cliffside rides. Hanging Lake, a short drive up Glenwood Canyon via I-70, is a National Natural Landmark and one of the most photographed short hikes in the state. History-minded visitors can also see the Hotel Colorado, Doc Holliday's grave in the Pioneer Cemetery, and the Frontier Historical Society Museum downtown.

Glenwood Springs sits directly on Interstate 70, roughly 157 miles (about 2.5-3 hours by car) west of Denver, making it an easy stop for road-trippers heading toward Aspen, Vail, or the western slope. Amtrak's California Zephyr also stops in Glenwood Springs once daily in each direction, with a roughly 5.5-hour scenic ride from Denver's Union Station. Travelers can also fly into Denver International Airport or the smaller Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and rent a car or arrange a shuttle for the drive into town.

As of research, Glenwood Hot Springs Pool's peak-season hours ran from about 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with shorter off-peak hours around 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; holiday hours vary. Hanging Lake requires a timed permit reservation for entry between roughly 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Confirm current hours for each specific attraction on its official website before visiting.

As of research, Glenwood Hot Springs Pool day admission for teens/adults ran roughly $21.50-$23.25, with lower rates for children and reduced evening pricing after 6 p.m. Hanging Lake permits were priced at $12 per person in peak season (roughly $10 in the winter off-season), which includes parking. Confirm current prices directly with each attraction before visiting.

A single day is enough to combine a soak at the hot springs with a shorter activity like the caverns or downtown exploring. Hikers adding Hanging Lake should budget a half-day for the roughly 3-hour round-trip hike alone, making a 2-day visit more comfortable for seeing everything.

Glenwood Springs has lodging ranging from the historic Hotel Colorado and Hotel Denver downtown to standard highway hotels near the I-70 interchange and vacation rentals throughout town. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort also operates its own on-site lodge for guests who want direct access to the pool. Camping options are available in the surrounding White River National Forest for visitors wanting a more rustic base for Hanging Lake or canyon activities.

Downtown Glenwood Springs has a range of casual and sit-down restaurants along Grand Avenue, with cuisines spanning classic American diners, Mexican food, and upscale dinner spots. Visitors combining a hot springs soak with a meal often eat nearby in the historic downtown core, which is walkable from both Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park also has its own on-site restaurant, the Lookout Grille, with canyon views.

Hanging Lake and the broader Glenwood Canyon, with its recreation trail and rafting put-ins, are just a short drive east on I-70. Aspen and Snowmass are about 40 miles southeast via Highway 82, while Steamboat Springs and Vail are both reachable for visitors combining multiple Colorado mountain-town stops. The Rio Grande Trail offers a car-free biking or walking route toward Carbondale and Aspen.

Glenwood Springs has its own Amtrak station on the California Zephyr line, plus direct access from Interstate 70. The nearest airports are Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (roughly 40 miles away) and the larger Denver International Airport (about 160 miles away); regional shuttle services and rental cars connect both to town.

The Hanging Lake trail is steep with real elevation gain, so pace yourself, carry enough water, and expect the round trip to take a few hours; swimming, wading, and pets (other than certified service animals) are prohibited at the lake itself to protect its fragile travertine formations. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer in the surrounding high country, so plan strenuous hikes for the morning. As with much of mountain Colorado, be aware of quick weather changes and carry layers even on a warm-looking day.

A swimsuit and towel for the hot springs, sturdy hiking shoes and extra water for the Hanging Lake trail, and layered clothing for temperature swings between the valley floor and higher trail sections. Sun protection is advisable given the elevation, and winter hikers should bring microspikes or traction devices if attempting Hanging Lake in snow.

Book a Hanging Lake permit online in advance through the official reservation system, since only a limited number are issued per day and popular summer dates can sell out. If you're combining the hot springs with Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, note the caverns are reached by a gondola from downtown, which is a separate ticketed ride. Because Glenwood Springs sits directly on I-70, it also makes a convenient overnight stop for road trips continuing on to Aspen, Vail, or Grand Junction.

For any medical or safety emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States.

Visit Glenwood Springs (official tourism site): visitglenwood.com; Hanging Lake permits: visitglenwood.com/hanginglake.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.