Editor's Note: Know Before You Go is an occasional series exploring attractions in the Denver metro area and around the state.
A 2.5-hour drive west of Denver, in historic Glenwood Springs, lies perhaps one of the most unique and breathtaking amusement parks in the country.
Know before you go
Dubbed “America's only mountaintop theme park,” located at 7,100 feet above sea level, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers more than a dozen attractions that can entertain park visitors for a whole day. It is a destination of choice for cavers and thrill-seekers.
This year, the mountaintop theme park celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Historic cave tours, two extreme cliffside rides, roller coasters, and kid-friendly attractions—let's take a look at what to expect and how to plan for this one-of-a-kind theme park.
Get there
Glenwood Caverns and the town's famous hot springs are conveniently located off Interstate 70. Other travel options include Amtrak's California Zephyr train or motorcoach to and from west Glenwood Springs.
Many notable hotels, such as the Hotel Colorado – where a number of US presidents have stayed – can be found near Glenwood Caverns, to the north of town. Downtown Glenwood Springs is accessible from Grand Avenue to the south.
From Denver, it's a 2.5-hour drive west, filled with mountainous landscapes, national forests, and ski resorts. Passing through the town of Gypsum, the highway meets the Colorado River and follows it 15 miles to Glenwood Springs through a canyon pass, providing one of the most scenic drives in all of Colorado.
Upon entering the town, the attractions of Glenwood Caverns can be seen on top of a mountain.
Glenwood Caverns is located at Exit 116, left on 6th Street and corner of Devereux Road. Free parking is available one block away at Two Rivers Park, while $10 preferred parking is available out front.
Get up there
According to park historians, local settlers who visited the newly discovered caves in 1896 rode donkeys to the summit of Iron Mountain.
Today, this will no longer be necessary.
Instead, for an online price of $30, visitors ride a gondola more than 1,200 feet to the summit. This is the only way up and down the mountain.
In total, online prices are $55 for the gondola and cave tours, and $79 for the “funday,” all walks and cave tours. Glenwood Caverns also offers annual passes.
During the month of June, the gondola ride is free.
Things to know before you go to Glenwood Caverns
Each attraction is available weather permitting. Rain, lightning or wind could play a role in the operation of the gondolas, the only emergency exit.
Expect to spend at least six hours at Glenwood Caverns with a funday pass.
Plan the day around the two 40-minute cave tours available, typically scheduled every 20 minutes. Cave tour times are subject to change and are posted at the ticket office and information stands.
The historic Fairy Caves, discovered in the 1890s, became one of the first caves in the world to be exposed with light bulbs. King's Row Cave is home to a photogenic room made up of rock formations millions of years old.
Inside the caves, as the rocks absorb the average outside temperature, it remains constant all year round at 52 degrees.
For more information on cave tours, visit glenwoodcaverns.com.
The rest of the day can be spent visiting the various attractions, including: a scenic alpine roller coaster, a giant canyon that swings above the mountain, a 110-foot, 102-degree loop roller coaster, the tallest roller coaster in the country, an indoor drop tower, a seated zip line and a carnival swing suspended from the edge of the mountain.
For young thrill-seekers and families, there is a family roller coaster, a small Ferris wheel overlooking the mountains, a mini attraction, laser tag and a 4D motion theater.
For food, Glenwood Caverns has a barbecue grill and indoor restaurant with views of the Glenwood Springs mountains.
Accessibility for disabled people?
In some areas, yes. The mountains and altitude can, however, make the task difficult. According to the website:
“The Glenwood Gondola and Adventure Park, including the Adventure Park Gift Shop and Lookout Grille, are wheelchair accessible. There is gravel on the plaza and on some trails, which can make navigation difficult. Other trails are also quite steep, which may pose additional challenges for those using wheelchairs due to the stairs and walkways that allow safe movement through the natural terrain of the cave. , we cannot allow wheelchairs or strollers to enter the caves.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are bound by Mother Nature's creation and the safety of our valued guests.”
New for 2024
For its 25th anniversary, Glenwood Caverns plans to expand its cave tours and concerts.
For extreme cave explorers, Glenwood Caverns offers the “Wild Tour,” a focused 2-hour exploration deeper into the small crevices of the caves. Interested parties must register in advance.
Additionally, Glenwood Caverns offers a $20 black light cave tour, which uses black lights to navigate the dark caverns.
For eight weeks during the summer, Glenwood Caverns hosts live music performances at the top of the mountain, with the event including offerings, giveaways and raffles.
For more information about the park, visit glenwoodcaverns.com.
