FIRST TRAVEL DESTINATION
Most people have heard about the resort towns Aspen and Vail in Colorado, but how about nearby Glenwood Springs? This small resort town is located in the Rocky Mountains, about 160 miles west of Denver. Allan’s company has an office in nearby Carbondale which is the main reason we ended up staying here. The town is known for its large mineral hot springs, outdoor recreational activities, and stunning natural scenery. Glenwood Springs turned out to be an amazing choice as the first destination on our journey across the US.
Dark wood, carpets, and Corduroy
We arrived in Glenwood Springs on a Sunday afternoon in August. Quickly, we settled into the place that would be our home for a month. A small, two-bedroom apartment with a dark wooden interior, wall-to-wall carpets, and brown corduroy couches. It couldn’t be more different than the bright modern house we had left behind in California. A huge humidifier unit was placed right in front of the fireplace and the kitchen was very dark and for one person at a time only. Amazing how much a little Photoshopping can do to a place. On the bright side, the apartment had two large balconies both facing the beautiful green mountains.
Bridge and bike trail along the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs
Grocery shopping
The first thing we had to do was grocery shopping. We only brought a few spices, so we needed everything. After more than 20 hours of driving and a couple of stops in Utah, we could both use a glass of wine. However, it turned out that grocery and convenience stores in Colorado only sell 3,2 % beer. We learned that stores like Target can pick one location in the state to sell liquor, wine, and full-strength beer. Unfortunately, the market we were shopping at didn’t. This information might be “Nice to know” for some people and “Need to know” for others. For sure I would have liked to know.
Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries into blissful peaceful happiness – Corita Kent
Glenwood springs
Located in the Rocky Mountains, Glenwood Springs is surrounded by the White River National Forest, and the stunning Colorado River wind through the entire region. Our apartment was located right outside of town. Just an easy bike ride along the river, to get to the quaint shops and a great variety of restaurants.
A 5-minute walk from our place we would be at the Atkinson Canal trailhead. Here we could hike 3 miles along the river to a spot at the riverbank where our Golden Retriever Lucca loved to roam around and explore in the shallow water. Glenwood Springs turned out to be a perfect location for visiting other popular Colorado destinations such as Carbondale, Vail, Aspen, Maroon Bells, Colorado Springs, and Denver.
Scenic views around Glenwood Springs
Garbage kills Bears
It quickly became evident that we were surrounded by nature in more than one way. Not just the nearby mountains, rivers, and wild turkeys roaming the streets. I guess I should have paid more attention to the signs on the garbage containers behind our apartment complex. The signs said “Garbage kills bears”, reminding people to cover the containers. Or maybe I could have reflected on the big piles of excrement on the lawn next to the containers. They didn’t exactly look like they were from a dog, no matter what size.
So, one day when I threw one of Lucca’s doggie bags into the open container, there was a loud rumble from the container, and in a split second, a decent-sized black bear jumped right up and sat on the rim. Just about as fast as it took me to run like a maniac back to our car where Allan was waiting, totally unaware of what was going on. Black bears are not that dangerous they say, but I found a very good reason never to take the trash out again.
Lucca roaming around the river
famous outlaws
We found a short fun, uphill walk in our neighborhood, the Doc Holliday’s Grave Trail leading to a small hillside cemetery. Two famous outlaws were buried at Linwood Cemetery. One of them, the notorious John Henry “Doc” Holliday, an American dentist, gambler, and gunfighter of the Wild West. The cemetery is a very peaceful place with beautiful views of the town and surrounding mountains.
Doc Holliday’s Grave Trail leading to a small hillside cemetery
hot springs at sunset
One evening, around sunset, we visited Iron Mountain Hot Springs. This geothermal spa features 16 natural mineral hot springs. Like everything else in Glenwood Springs, it is located by the river and surrounded by stunning mountains. With a drink in one hand, we soaked into the 100-degree hot soothing mineral water in this peaceful and scenic escape. We felt a profound sense of awe as well as rejuvenation as we watched the sun set behind the mountains.
The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is another popular place located at the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. Or check out the South Canyon Hot Springs if you like a set of undeveloped pools in the wilderness.
View of the mountains and river from Iron Mountain Hot Springs
Yampa Spa and Vapor Caves
Another popular Glenwood Springs attraction, is the Yampa Spa, an ancient natural sauna located in an underground cave. The cave has several smaller cavities with different temperatures where the heat from geothermal vapors flows into the cave through cracks. These natural steam baths are believed to have healing effects because of their high mineral content. The soothing sounds of dripping water, warm moist air, and dimmed light, while relaxing on rugged marble benches or taking cold showers, made this experience very unique. It is highly recommendable.
Baptized in the Colorado River
One of the most fun things we did in Glenwood Springs was Whitewater River Rafting where we “got baptized” in the Colorado River. We did a half-day tour which lasted for about 3 hours. The valley had recently been closed off because of flooding and mudslides, so we were lucky to be able to do it. Both Allan and I had river-rafted several times before but it’s always exciting to see how big the rapids are. Part of the trip was down Shoshone Rapids, two miles of class III-IV rapids which were super fun. The last part was a slower-paced ride through Glenwood Canyon with the sun high above us and impressive sky-high, rugged mountain walls rising on both sides.
Please note that several companies offer Whitewater River Rafting in Glenwood Springs and a variety of trips such as Short and Mild Rafting, Double Shoshone Rafting, and Double Extreme Shoshone Rafting. You can also rent rafts and kayaks at most of these places.
Whitewater River Rafting on the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs
Hanging Lake
Months before we started our journey I made reservations to The Hanging Lake Trail. The Hanging Lake Trail is a popular 1.2-mile-long hiking trail. It is known for its rare travertine geological formation, and a crystal-clear turquoise lake nestled within a lush narrow canyon. The Hanging Lake is surrounded by towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls creating a breathtaking setting. Sounds like something you would want to see, right?! However, because of the recent flooding and mudslides in the area, the trail was closed off. Next time!
Read more about other amazing places in Colorado
Colorado Springs and Denver – How to Spend a Great Time in Two Iconic Cities