Glenwood Springs was founded in 1885 at the junction of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers approximately 180 miles west of Denver. Known historically for its medicinal hot sulfur springs and beautiful scenery, it makes an ideal destination for both the nature enthusiast and the health-conscious traveler. Additionally, as a city that honors famous past residents such as Doc Holliday and "The Kid" Curry, there is plenty to see and do at very little cost.
Food, Fun and Getting Around
Every summer Glenwood, Colorado offers a free downtown market that provides fresh produce straight from the farm. In June, enjoy one of Colorado's oldest civic traditions in the Strawberry Days Festival--which comes complete with free strawberries and ice cream. With a petting zoo and rides, it's a great choice for families with young children.
Actors portray "Doc Holliday" and "The Kid" Curry and bring a little excitement to downtown. You can also visit the Doc Holliday memorial while you're there.
With free transportation on hybrid buses, it's easy both on your pocketbook and the environment to ditch the rental and hoof it around town as much as possible.
Hot Springs
One of the more popular destinations is the hot spring pool. Regarded by the Native American Utes as a place of sacred healing, it has attracted notable visitors such as Al Capone, President Teddy Roosevelt and even the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown.
At 400 feet by 100 feet, this large pool is fed naturally from a natural spring called the Yampah spring and is the largest pool in the world. The spring has a daily flow of more than 3,500,000 gallons of water that is heated by geothermal forces to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Local Caves
Make a drastic temperature change to 52 degrees Fahrenheit when you visit Glenwood Caverns for a trip into the largest show cave open to the public in Colorado.
You have a choice of three different tours starting with a 70-minute walking tour good for most fitness levels where the smallest passage you have to negotiate is 6 feet 4 inches tall by 3 feet wide.
The Adventure Tour is more strenuous at 90 minutes and involves crawling through passages 24 inches square. Also offered is a Wild Tour, which clocks in at an amazing 3 hours and negotiates passages as small as 18 inches square.
Arts and Entertainment
Those that are musically inclined can enjoy a free concert series with the donation of a can of food to help the local food bank. This is a great way to enjoy yourself while helping out those in need in the local community.
Free entertainment such as vaudeville revues and free movie nights on an outdoor big screen also offer a special way to enjoy the arts in an outdoor setting during the summer.
Outdoor Sports
There are a wide variety of outdoor activities from fishing to hiking to kayaking available at Glenwood Springs. The city prides itself on its trails and even boasts that it is easier to get around on two wheels rather than four. These trails can be used for either biking or hiking.
Being at the junction of two rivers, Glenwood Springs has a good reputation for fishing. In fact, in 2008 "Field & Stream" magazine named Glenwood Springs as "...the top fishing town in America."
The Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers both qualify for Gold Medal status, which means they must produce 60 pounds per acre of trout and at least 12 of those trout must be longer than 14 inches in length.
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