- Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has been soothing weary travelers for generations.
- The Rocky Mountain town offers three distinct hot springs experiences and even a taste of the Blue Lagoon.
- From campgrounds to vacation rentals, chain hotels to bed and breakfasts, there are plenty of places to stay in Glenwood Springs.
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Iceland is known for its Blue Lagoon. His iconic sound turquoise water attracts visitors from around the world, but travelers don't have to go that far to find world-class hot springs.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has been soothing weary travelers for generations.
Nestled along the Colorado River, the Rocky Mountain town offers three distinct hot springs experiences and even a taste of the Blue Lagoon, without the threat of volcanoes.
“We've perfected a model of other hot spring waters around the world,” said Steve Beckley, owner of Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs.
Here's what visitors need to know.
Historic Hot Springs
Glenwood Spa home to Glenwood Springs' oldest and largest hot springs pool.
“For a truly structured, filtered, regularly refreshed pool, we have the largest hot springs pool in the world, with a capacity of 1,078,000 gallons,” said resort pool manager Taylor Mays.
The main swimming pool dates back to 1888 and has remained popular over the years.
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“Families are bringing their kids. Their kids are bringing their grandkids and everybody is kind of planning these big summer reunions when they get back,” Mays said.
In recent years, the resort has opened fun water slides, a wading area and new pools that become adults-only at night.
“It’s very kid-friendly, so we didn’t want to lose the adults or that date night or that relaxing environment that people so fondly associate with hot springs,” Mays said.
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A world of opportunities
Iron Mountain Hot Springs offers guests a taste of local hot springs and far-flung destinations with 11 WorldSprings pools formulated to mimic waters around the world.
“Some springs are high in magnesium, some are high in lithium, some are high in bicarbonate, so they all look and feel different,” Beckley said. “Like the Dead Sea, which has a lot of minerals that create a very buoyant experience, much more concentrated than seawater.”
He said there are 30 different packages in their rotation, but the Dead Sea and Blue Lagoon-inspired pools are always available because they are so popular.
“All of our pools are located along the Colorado River, with beautiful views of the mountains and the river, and bald eagles flying all the time, so it’s a pretty incredible place,” Beckley said. WorldSprings has been so popular that it’s expanding to other cities, most recently Dallas.
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A different experience
Yampah Spa and Steam Grottoes Treat yourself to a different kind of hot springs experience with natural spring-fed steam baths and Glenwood Springs' only private mineral baths.
The caves themselves have a deep history. Delmonico explained that Ute Indians The area's caves were used for traditional ceremonies long before settlers arrived. Then, she says, “during World War II, the government took over the pools and Yampah to treat soldiers because of their mineral content and the quality of their care.”
Today, visitors can use the caves for relaxation and much more.
“You’re in the womb of Mother Earth. It’s a really spectacular place, and it has a lot of sacredness because of all the ceremonies of the ancient people, the people of the land,” Delmonico said. She added that Indigenous ceremonies still take place in the caves, and registered members of Native American tribes can use them for free.
How to get there
Glenwood Springs is located less than an hour from Vail and Aspen by car. The closest commercial airports are Eagle County Regional Airportabout 30 miles away, and Aspen/Pitken County Airport, approximately 40 miles. Denver International Airport is approximately 180 miles from Glenwood Springs.
Travelers can also take Amtrak's California Zephyr train that stops in Glenwood Springs on its way from Chicago to San Francisco.
“Anyone riding this train can just walk to the resort and jump in the pool right after spending the day on a train,” Mays said.
Where to stay
From campgrounds to vacation rentals, hotel chains to bed and breakfasts, there are many places to stay in Glenwood Springs.
Lodge and arrival at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort Hotel 1888 are the only ones with hot springs on site. Other hotels are within walking distance of the hot springs.
What else to do?
“Overall, Glenwood is a beautiful area,” Delmonico said.
Josh Ryks, a Colorado-based adventure travel content creator who goes by Ryks Video On social media, Glenwood Springs is touted as a great base camp for outdoor exploration.
“Just driving the I-70 corridor through Glenwood Canyon is extremely beautiful in itself,” he said.
Thrill seekers can go rafting or zip line along the Colorado River or ride the roller coaster at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Parkwhich also houses dazzling caves.
Several trails in the area are temporarily closed for repair work, including Grizzly Creek And Hanging lakeA national natural monument. However, further away there are remote places. Flat Tops Wilderness Scenic Drive.
“It’s a very popular place for hikers. There are a lot of alpine lakes, if you go far enough. There are also hidden caves,” Ryks said, adding that Flat Tops can be difficult to access because of the high elevations and gravel roads. “It’s kind of a hidden gem of Colorado.”
Other excursions he recommends include Rifle Falls State ParkTHE Maroon Bells Scenic Area near Aspen and the “cool little town” of Marble.
“There are a ton of 4×4 trails, a nice lake and the Crystal mill“, he said. “On the way, you can consult Hayes Creek Falls next to the highway.
After all these adventures, travelers can return to Glenwood Springs to relax in the welcoming, but not always blue, waters.
Eve Chen is a travel journalist based in the Atlanta area. You can contact her at echen@usatoday.com.
