Home » Travel & Places » United States » Colorado

Glenwood Springs Colorado

Ranked #4,614 in Travel & Places, #136,903 overall

Glenwood Springs Colorado - Come Vacation This Winter

All things Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley to Aspen Colorado.

Most people who have heard of Glenwood Springs know about us because of the famous "hot springs" discovered here and made famous by Teddy Roosevelt and the Hotel Colorado.

Glenwood Springs, or Glenwood for short, is the gateway to the Roaring Fork Valley and Aspen Colorado. The Roaring Fork River winds its way down from Aspen, through Basalt and Carbondale, into Glenwood Springs, where it flows into the mighty Colorado river.

Locating Glenwood Springs on a Map

Glenwood Springs is on the western slope of Colorado, located on Interstate 70 about 3 hours by car west of Denver (on a good day, when there is no snow, and you can drive the speed limit without getting stuck in the tunnel or rock slide or such).

Glenwood Springs is about 90 minutes east of Grand Junction, the last big town before the Utah border if you are on I-70 traveling west.

If you are coming from Denver to Aspen via I-70, then Glenwood Springs would be your exit 114. That will get you to anywhere in the Roaring Fork Valley, including Carbondale, Basalt, Redstone and Aspen.

Places to Stay in Glenwood Springs

Lodging Recommendations

People always ask me where to stay in Glenwood Springs. I ask them, what is your budget, what is your lifestyle, what is your plan?

Glenwood has places along old Hwy 6&24 that were build in the 50's and are "quaint" or "rustic". We are talking cabin type lodging, which fits the theme of Colorado being part of the old wild west.

We have famous hotels, and name brand hotels and motels and the like as well. I link to a couple here.

There are many Bed and Breakfasts in Glenwood Springs, so I added a couple here. LEt me know your thoughts on places in the Blurb spot below.

Hotel Colorado: Made famous by Teddy Roosevelt (they gave him the "teddy bear"). Located up the hill from the famous Glenwood Hot Springs.
The Hotel Denver: Located in downtown Glenwood Springs on the south side of the Colorado river.
Inn at Sunlight: Great place to get away from the noise and into the forest. Located at the base of Sunlight Mountain (a great local ski resort), about 30 minutes from Glenwood Springs.

Activities in Glenwood Springs Area

Things to do and visit in Glenwood Springs

Of course the number one activity is rafting, which I do every chance my girlfriend takes me on her raft! but there are lots of other things to do, both free and paid wise.

Ski Sunlight Mountain: A great local place to ski. Much cheaper then up valley (i.e. Aspen), often getting much better snow. Lots of terrain for all types of skiers, especially those who like the glades!
Glenwood Hot Springs: This is the main attraction in town I think. It is certainly what got us to stop here as a kid, and the reason most people who know about Glenwood know about Glenwoiod Springs. It is stinky water, but aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
Hanging Lake Trail - Great Nature Hike!: Hanging Lake Trail is found in the Glenwood Canyon east of Glenwood Springs. It is a great, short, fairly easy (well, when the snow is 6 feet deep it gets a little sketchy near the top where the railing is -since it gets buried under snow :) trail that leads up to a lovely. . . well you need to hike the trail and see it! Slip around the back on the left as you go up and hit Spouting Rock above Hanging Lake first, or visits on the way back down, looking for it's trail on your right.

Dining in Glenwood Springs

Restaurants and Other Eating Establishments in Glenwood

Glenwood Springs has a lot of individual dining establishments (vs. the chains like Friday's or Chilis, no to the former, yes to the latter). My personal opinion is that the food is over priced, but I am an excellent chef in my own right, cook nothing but natural and organic, and find it hard to pay a lot of money for something I could do better at home.

Given that, and the fact I am going to ignore costs for now, let me recommend a few places that are GREAT places to eat!

Welcome to Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse :: Glenwood Springs, CO: Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse in Glenwood Springs offers fine dining experience in family friendly restaurant across the street from the Amtrak Train Station. Our local fare is fresh daily, and we have an extensive wine list and bar to complete your favorite eating activities.
Rivers Restaurant - Glenwood Springs, Colorado: River Restaurant is where we meet for lunch on Friday's for Rotary Club. The food here is awesome, and the ambiance is wonderful, especially on the back patio overlooking the Roaring Fork River in the summer. Wave to the rafters as they float by - it may be me!
Fin's Grille in Glenwod Springs: Fins is a great place for happy hour, but I have always thought it was overpriced for regular dinner. Top notch food though, never had a bad meal. Oyster bar for happy hour best in town - but again, when I lived in Virginia, I was taught not to eat raw shellfish unless the name of the month contained an "R". Guess that only least September through April to eat at the raw oyster bar - Kobe beef burgers for happy hour the rest of the time :)
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company: Located in the first floor of the historic Hotel Denver. This is a great place to go apres ski, or apres anything. Full menu too, and some of the best burgers in town.

Glenwood Springs Massage Therapy

Swedish hot stone sport deep tissue massages with hot towels

If you are looking to relax and reach back in time while visiting Glenwood Springs, consider a massage. If you want a swedish massage, a sports massage, a deep tissues massage, or just the fluff and buff rubdown, then visiting Cat Morgan at Energy Works! should be at the top of your list.

Cat is an Energy Healer.

Colonics in Glenwood Springs

Colon Hydrotherapy in Western Colorado

One might ask why there is a section on colon hydrotherapy in Glenwood Springs. Well, colonics, not to be confused with enemas are a great way to cleanse your body with water, and the Glenwood Spring is water. To get a colonic, or a series of colonic treatments is a great way to remove stress from your body, detoxify, release emotional issues and help you start to move your energy.

The Roaring Fork Valley is a place that attracts what some would call "health nuts" or "granola heads", so there is more sensitivity here in Glenwood Springs about the use of colon hydrotherapy then there may be in your home town. and we should all become health nuts and granola heads, start taking care of ourselves, drinking purified water, eating right, exercising, and keeping our bodies clean.

If you are planning a trip to Glenwood Springs, consider getting a series of colon hydrotherapy treatments while you are here. you will go home a happier person, I promise!

Been To Glenwood Springs?

Tell us about your trip to Glenwood Springs

I know this is a guest book setup, but lets use it to tell about our trip to Glenwood Springs. What did you do? Where did you stay? I have sections for all these things onthe lense, so I want to make sure I am providing the right stuff for visitors.

submit

Reply

VillaDejaBlue Jan 6, 2012 @ 1:56 pm | delete

Nice lens.

Reply

huvalbd Aug 31, 2011 @ 12:06 pm | delete

I've been to Glenwood Springs a few times. Ditto for my mother and brother, and my partner visited once.

That one visit was in the dead of winter. The hot springs (which is outdoors) is magical then. The water is wonderfully warm but your hair ices over if you get it wet. It's shrouded in fog from the steam coming off the water, so sounds are muted and you only see other people as brief ghosts in the mist.

The only hard part is getting out. We only had big towels, not plush terry robes, and we had no sandals. It took half an hour to work up our nerve to get out into the cold and dash to the shower room!

We'd love to visit again. We'll bring sandals and robes next time.

Reply

mktplace Mar 25, 2011 @ 3:15 am | delete

how is the snow this time of year, anyway?

Reply

JenniferMarshall Nov 9, 2010 @ 6:29 pm | delete

Sounds like Glenwood Springs is a lot of fun. My husband and I love to hike and kayak so it sounds like a nice place to visit. We need to wait until summer though when its warmer.

Reply

snow bunny Nov 9, 2010 @ 10:04 pm | delete

you can always ski in the winter

Reply

Pirobo Nov 5, 2010 @ 4:20 am | delete

There seems to be something for everybody at Glenwood Springs, skiing for my teenage sone, massage therapy for my wife and me - a lens to be bookmarked for the next week I have off.

Reply

4ninos Aug 19, 2010 @ 10:13 am | delete

I love a good spa. Glenwood Springs here I come!

Reply

James Aug 17, 2010 @ 6:50 pm | delete

I've been to Glenwood Springs, and love the hiking! Once a year I take my family to Glenwood for hiking. This upcoming winter I would like to try the skiiing.

Reply

anneprofileone Aug 12, 2010 @ 11:23 pm | delete

A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. A place for great relaxation

Reply

anneprofiletwo Aug 9, 2010 @ 5:19 am | delete

Hot Springs are totally a relaxing place to go to get rid of your stress from home and work,

Reply

David Jul 17, 2010 @ 9:37 am | delete

I have never been to Glenwood Springs but it sounds like a memorable place to go for a vacation. My wife and I might consider this spot when we plan our next trip

Reply

clydeelight Jul 15, 2010 @ 2:53 am | delete

Glenwood Springs Colorado is one of the best attractions that exist today.This natural beauty is very much suitable for tourists.

Reply

maxineabenton Jul 14, 2010 @ 1:45 am | delete

This article explains the natural beauty of Glenwood Springs Colorado.The important attractions in Glenwood has been explained here.

Reply

Seamus Jul 8, 2010 @ 7:13 pm | delete

When I was a little kid a long time ago we tripped to Glenwood Springs to go to the hot springs. All I remember of it was that the water stunk bad cuz of the sulfer. Now I see the town is all built up with a highway and everything.