Location: Glenwood Springs
Top Things to do in Glenwood Springs
Things to do in Glenwood Springs, Colorado (CO): The Best Nature & Parks
The City of Glenwood Springs is the Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Garfield County, Colorado, United States. Glenwood Springs is located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork River and the Colorado River, threading together the Roaring Fork Valley and a series of smaller towns up and down the Colorado River. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 9,614.
Restaurants in Glenwood Springs
1. Roaring Fork Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 63 reviews
Located where the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers intersect.
Reviewed By WannaTravel6831
Never miss a chance to travel through and visit the Roaring Fork Valley; with so many wonderfully relaxing, beautiful local attractions and lots of outdoor natural wonders to enjoy, you won't be disappointed. Make sure to hit the Hot Springs Pool, enjoy the local food, and hike some trails!
2. Hanging Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 563 reviews
Located in Glenwood Canyon.
Reviewed By maggie2e
There is a beautiful Trail in the mountains that leads to a lake that is in the middle of it. The atmosphere is beautiful. You have to make reservations to do this and take a shuttle from Glenwood Springs. If you can hike and groomed and little bit Rocky Trail, it's worth it.
3. Hanging Lake Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,186 reviews
Reviewed By debsA9982ZB
This is a very pleasant surprise when staying in Glenwood Springs CO. The location is an environmental protected area, allowing only specific numbers of visitors. Reservations are needed as bus takes you to the trailhead and from there your adventure begins. The trail winds and switchbacks up the cavern walls, the views are amazing and the quiet is covered by the running brook you criss cross over by small bridges as you ascend. The hike is strenuous at times, recommendation to take your time and breath in experience. Hanging Lake is peaceful, a place to reflect, the short detour to Sprouting Rock is well worth the effort brings a smile and gives a needed cooling spray.
4. Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 406 reviews
This bike trail winds through a canyon and offers scenic vistas of the Colorado River.
Reviewed By hopec186 - Boulder, United States
We rented bikes from Canyon Bikes and took their shuttle to the drop off near the Bair Ranch rest area. It was a spectacular ride through the canyon and along the river. If you’re going to be in Glenwood, this is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. It is worth noting that around No Name some of the Trail is uphill, so save some energy for the last part of the trail. Enjoy!
5. Red Mountain Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
This trail is short but steep, and rewards bikers with a fast trip down.
Reviewed By J1009ZHkristinam
get an early start so you can hike up to where the parasailers launch from near the "cross". The first section is straight up but keep going, the views of the GWS Valley are worth it!
6. Sunlight Mountain Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 447 reviews
Sunlight features 67 named trails covering over 470 acres. In addition to miles of cruising intermediate terrain, Sunlight's East Ridge has one of the steeper runs in the state. Aptly named, The Heathen falls beneath your feet at a breathtaking 52 degrees. Sunlight is home to one of the longest trails in ski country, Ute, a beginner slope that winds more than 2 miles from summit to base. Sunlight also hosts some of the best tree skiing in Colorado with many aspen groves untracked days after snowfall. All trails converge at the base lodge, so friends and family can always keep track of each other
Reviewed By SusieMA1 - Belleville, United States
Our family spent 5 days skiing at this family friendly ski resort. We had such a good time last year we decided to return again this year in spite of the pandemic. No shuttle bus from Glenwood Springs to ski resort this year which caused us to cancel our December 2020 trip. MDH found a ride to the slopes for this trip in Jan 2021. So much more reasonable skiing than the huge, large ski resorts. Grand-kids took group lessons and were the only students in the classes-awesome! The dinning room was not crowded-only a few tables and spread out at safe distances. The restaurant food is really good and not too bad price-wise. No lines for the chairlifts but they did get cold riding up the mountain.
7. Grizzly Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By 0KimT0 - Wichita, United States
This 8 mile round trip trail made us work but was worth it. There is a real end where the trail leads directly into the water's edge. It was so hot outside, and the water so cold! It took our family of four (two teens) about 3 hours to reach the end and about 2 back. There is a steady incline which you truly don't realize until you are heading back down. We started the trail at about 8:30am in the coolness so by the time we headed back after lunch the heat was oppressive. We each took water packs with 2L and completely emptied them before reaching the end. So stay hydrated and take food/snacks. The trail does narrow as you head in, and it becomes clear that many people only go in so far and then turn around. The morning we hiked, we never talked to anyone that also reached the end. Just when you think you will never reach it, you may be close. Lots of summer flowers along the way, and no wildlife seen.
8. Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 394 reviews
The Vapor Caves are other-worldly and perfect for relaxing after a day of outdoor activities.
Reviewed By 858tarynr
I spent almost an entire day at the vapor caves. There are a number of different vapor caves and each gets a little warmer the deeper you go back into them, up to ~ 125 degrees. They provide towels and water buckets with cold water down in the caves in case you need to temporarily cool off or want to wash off before leaving the caves. The caves are a natural moist hot air cave and there is a mineral smell while in the caves which is not overwhelming and is very pleasant. We also had a 90-minute massage while we were there in the middle of the day which was very good and the masseuses were very professional and good at their art. There is also a solarium that you can relax in between your trips down into the caves. A place worth visiting.
9. Two Rivers Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By TheGuv-and-Bolli - Ayr, United Kingdom
Came across this by accident looking for things to do. The park is brilliant, nice for walking and with plenty of seating. As you walk from the car park towards W 8th St, you follow the river and then you will see what we think is the best sites in Glenwood Springs, the meeting of the Raging Forks River with the Colorado River above which is a railway bridge emblazoned with the words Rio Grande. Better still just before noon you'll be able to get a photo of the California Zephyr train making its 51.5 hour journey from San Francisco to Chicago. Whilst in the park, met Herb from the Parks Dept who let us know about other places to see and a concert taking place in the park the next evening
