Plenty of Colorado towns have beautiful scenery, outdoor adventures, and colorful histories, but only in Glenwood Springs will you find unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences unlike those anywhere else.
Where else can you ride a roller coaster on top of a mountain, soak in the world’s largest hot springs pool, descend into a natural steam cave, and walk through a hotel that once served as a temporary White House—all in the same getaway?
Some things you can do “only in Glenwood Springs.”
The Sky’s the Limit at America’s Only Mountaintop Theme Park
Start at the top—literally. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is America’s only mountaintop theme park, perched high above town at 7,100 feet on Iron Mountain. Getting there is part of the adventure. Visitors board the Glenwood Gondola on the valley floor for the scenic ride that whisks them to the summit and the park entrance.
Once there, the thrills come with spectacular views of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. Scream your way through a flight of adventure rides including the Giant Canyon Swing, Defiance, and the Alpine Coaster, a ride that debuted in 2005 and was the first of its kind in America. Then head underground to explore Glenwood Caverns and the Historic Fairy Caves, designated a National Natural Landmark.
Go Big at the World’s Largest Hot Springs Pool
Glenwood Springs has been a wellness destination for over 135 years, attracting visitors from around the globe seeking the benefits of mineral-based hydrotherapy. The large “Grand Pool” at Glenwood Hot Springs is considered the world’s largest hot springs pool, stretching more than two city blocks and holding over one million gallons of geothermal water.
In addition to the therapeutic hot springs, guests can also experience the Yampah Mineral Baths, a collection of five pools that vary in temperature for a transformative contrast therapy journey intended to leave visitors feeling refreshed in mind and body.
Opened in 1888, the source spring continues to produce more than 3.5 million gallons of naturally heated mineral water every day. Today, Hotel 1888, housed in the historic red sandstone bathhouse, is a boutique hotel that gives a posh nod to the resort’s early days.
Go Underground for a Natural Steam Bath
You can soak in Glenwood’s geothermal water—or experience it in an entirely different way.
At Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves, visitors can descend into subterranean rock chambers where superheated mineral water flows through the cave floors, creating a natural steam bath. Aboveground, the spa offers a full range of massage and body treatments.
The Yampah Caves are known as North America’s only natural hot springs vapor cave, making this one of Glenwood Springs’ most unusual—and relaxing — “only-here” experiences.
Soak & Steam Around the World Without Leaving Colorado
Iron Mountain Hot Springs
offers yet another take on soaking and steaming. The pools here are smaller, more intimate, and terraced along the shoreline overlooking the Colorado River. Visitors have options galore for relaxation.
Soak in the resort’s original geothermal and freshwater pools—all family-friendly. For those 21 and over, enjoy globally inspired mineral pools and saunas, cold plunges, potassium and magnesium pools, a meadow for lounging, and drink and dining options.
Pools are named for their famous counterparts and indicate what to expect from the mineral content: the Dead Sea Pool is high in sodium; the Blue Lagoon is rich in silica and potassium, while the Banjar, Bali pool is loaded with sulfate. Each pool features different wellness properties. Enjoy them all for maximum benefits.
Visit Teddy Roosevelt’s “Western White House”
In 1905, Roosevelt chose Hotel Colorado as his temporary home during a three-week big-game hunting expedition. With the president and his entourage in residence, the hotel effectively became a temporary White House, earning its enduring “Western White House” nickname.
Hotel Colorado has plenty of other stories to tell—from visits by President William Howard Taft and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown to its service as a U.S. Naval convalescent hospital during World War II.
Bike from Glenwood Springs to Aspen
Here’s another Glenwood-only experience. The 42-mile Rio Grande Trail follows the former railroad corridor along the Roaring Fork River between Glenwood Springs and Aspen.
Ride the whole route or choose just a short section to explore. Along the route, look for wildlife, magnificent views of Mount Sopris, fly fishermen wading in the Roaring Fork River, and bald eagles flying overhead. With a gentle grade and miles of mostly paved pathway, it’s a slow-paced, pedal-powered way to enjoy the entire Roaring Fork Valley.
Trace the Final Days of a Wild West Legend
Glenwood Springs even gets the final chapter in one of the Wild West’s most famous stories. After the shootout at the OK Corral, gunslinger, gambler, and dentist John Henry “Doc” Holliday came to Colorado and ultimately to Glenwood Springs hoping the dry climate and hot springs vapors might improve his failing health due to tuberculosis. Unfortunately, his gambler’s luck finally ran out, and he died here in 1887 at just 36.
Only in Glenwood Springs can visitors make the short hike from downtown to Linwood Cemetery and Doc’s memorial marker. In life, Doc was quick and clever, and it turns out his spirit remains long after his death. Though his exact burial location remains a mystery—visitors persist in paying him tribute by leaving behind playing cards, coins, and the occasional flask of whiskey at his marker. For the gifts, we like to imagine him saying, “Well, isn’t that just dandy.”
Only in Glenwood Springs
World famous. Natural wonders. Presidential history. A Wild West legend. Underground steam. Mountaintop thrills. Find it all, only in Glenwood Springs!
Make your plans to visit Colorado’s one-and-only Glenwood Springs today!
