With haunted hotels, a 110-foot freefall into earth’s center and caverns, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is the ultimate destination for thrillseekers. 

The road to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is reason enough to visit. As Interstate 70 twists through Glenwood Canyon, the Colorado River’s whitewaters glitter below granite cliffs that soar nearly 2,000 feet overhead. 

Nestled between Aspen and Vail, Glenwood Springs flies under the radar of its glamorous neighbors. That’s part of its charm. The mountain town of approximately 10,500 is home to historic hotels, legendary hot springs, outdoor adventure and an unpretentious warmth that feels rare as Colorado’s resort country grows. 

A Presidential Stay

Few buildings embody Glenwood Springs’ history quite like Hotel Colorado. Opened in 1893 by silver baron Walter Devereaux, the grand 133-year-old property has welcomed presidents, socialites, gangsters and travelers seeking a mountain escape and healing waters. 

The hotel’s storied past goes far beyond hospitality. During World War II, it served as a U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital, caring for more than 6,500 service members between 1943 to 1945. Tales of lingering spirits have turned the historical site into a wonderland for paranormal experts and ghost hunters.

Notable guests include President William Howard Taft, the Unsinkable Molly Brown and the notorious Diamond Jack Alterie. President Theodore Roosevelt frequently utilized the hotel as a home away from home during hunting seasons. Local lore claims the hotel is the birthplace of the Teddy Bear, inspired by a stuffed bear presented to Roosevelt during one of his stays. 

Dubbed the “Grand Dame” of Glenwood Springs, Hotel Colorado boasts an $8 million floor-to-ceiling renovation in 2023. Rooms are refreshed with custom, period-influenced Victorian and Italian furnishings. Accommodations range from Classic King rooms to Bell Tower and Executive Suites, while specialty suites honor famous guests including Roosevelt, Molly Brown and Devereaux. Outside, sprawling views of the mountains, lush garden courtyard and a 185-foot fountain means there’s no bad room on the property. 

All American Fare

No visit to Glenwood Springs is complete without a stop at Sweet Coloradough. Opened in 2014 by Aaron and Anne Badolato, the flagship shop has built a devoted following for its high-altitude doughnuts, made fresh daily and sweetened with honey. Shelves are lined with sour cream cake doughnuts, pillowy sweet yeast doughnuts and flaky 11-layer croissant doughnuts. 

Beyond doughnuts, Glenwood Springs embraces Colorado’s love of pork green chili. The savory, simmered stew appears on menus throughout Glenwood Springs, including Baron’s Restaurant at Hotel Colorado. Overlooking a cascading indoor waterfall, the dining room serves Rocky Mountain comfort foods such as cheesy hash brown potato casserole, Colorado Bison Chili and wild game sliders. For a true Colorado touch, add a side of pork green chili to your breakfast. 

Downtown Glenwood Springs is easily explored on foot. A pedestrian bridge, overlooking the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort’s Grand Pool, connects Sixth Street and Seventh Street, where visitors can explore an array of restaurants that locals have dubbed “Restaurant Row.” 

The Pullman is a standout, where a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth chicken liver paté is served with blueberry preserves and warm, grilled bread. The house chips with gooey, pungent blue cheese are a favorite, as are the fried-to-order pork rinds that deliver an impeccable crunch. 

Mountain-Top Thrills

Perched on Iron Mountain is America’s only mountaintop amusement park: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. This one-of-a-kind attraction is 7,100 feet above sea level and accessible via the Glenwood Gondola. As the valley floor shrinks below, the Rocky Mountains unfold in every direction setting the stage for one of Colorado’s most-decorated destinations. 

Adrenaline seekers have no shortage of heart-pumping options. The acclaimed Alpine Coaster twists and turns down 3,4000 of track, dropping nearly 1,000 feet down the mountainside. Defiance Roller Coaster, the park’s newest roller coaster, is a stomach-dropping, 56 second ride with a 102.3 degree freefall. 

Live life on the edge with the Glenwood Canyon Flyer, where riders swing beyond the mountain’s edge, 1,300 feet above the Colorado River.

 Nearby, the Giant Canyon Swing gets passenger’s blood pumping with 50-mile-per-hour speeds, propelling them out over the canyon before swinging them back towards the cliffs. 

Yet some of the park’s most memorable experiences are underground. The Crystal Tower, credited as the world’s only underground drop ride, plunges riders 110 feet into the heart of Iron Mountain. The rapid descent creates a momentary sensation of weightlessness as acceleration and gravity take over. 

The mountain’s namesake caverns remain the park’s greatest attractions.. Explore the underground through Fairy Cave and King’s Row. Along the King’s Row route, visitors navigate a world sculpted over hundreds of years. The 40-minute guided tour features 120 stairs with platforms that give visitors a front row seat to stalactites, rising stalagmites and mineral formations that illuminate against the cavern’s cool, 52-degree backdrop.

Families will find plenty beyond the thrill rides, including a 4D Motion Theater, laser tag, a playground and two fiberglass trolls, Chantico and Halvor Flowstone, whimsical guardians of Iron Mountain. 

The town in and of itself is an outdoor oasis. White water rafting along the river fluctuates between serenity and excitement. Rock climbing, golfing, fishing, biking, hiking and more provide plenty to fill the itinerary with. Afterwards, relax your sore muscles in the hot springs. 

Relax at Iron Mountain Hot Springs

Long before adrenaline junkies came to Glenwood Springs for roller coasters and caves, visitors came for the water. 

The town’s mineral-rich hot springs have drawn travelers for generations and Iron Mountain Hot Springs is one of the most scenic ways to experience them. Nestled along the banks of the Colorado river, the wellness destination combines natural geothermal soaks with a collection of globe-spanning mineral pools. 

Iron Mountain Hot Springs occupies a historic stretch of the riverfront where Glenwood Springs’ first bathhouse was built in 1897. Over the last century, the site operated under several names, including The West Glenwood Health Spa, Wash Allen Bathhouse, Gamba Mineral Springs and Fort Defiance. In 2015, it became Iron Mountain Hot Springs. 

Texans will be familiar with the concept. North Texas’ WorldSprings first began at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. The Colorado location served as the testing site for the Texas concept where more than 40 man-made mineral pools replicate hot springs from around the world. 

Visitors to Iron Mountain Hot Springs can choose between two experiences. Select Access includes 15 natural geothermal pools, a family pool, a jetted spa and a cold plunge. This section is available to all ages. 

Premier Access unlocks a 21-and-up section that features WorldSprings pools enriched with magnesium, potassium and reflexology stone bottoms. With a dozen pools representing different regions, Premier Access feels like a passport around the world. One moment you’re soaking in relaxing 104 degree waters inspired by France and New Zealand, the next you’re in thermal pools from Turkey or South Korea, all while the Colorado River rushes by. 

The newest addition is the Sauna Summit, five saunas based on the Turkish Hammam, Finnish Barrel, a Polish Salt Therapy room and more. 

Throughout the winter, Glenwood Springs accesses the same powdery slopes as Aspen and Vail. The difference is what happens after the lifts close. Here, visitors can enjoy a reprieve in healing waters, explore the underground and settle into a mountain town that focuses on experiences rather than exclusivity. 

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Cover photo Desiree Gutierrez.

Desiree Gutierrez is a Dallas-based award-winning lifestyle journalist who has written for D Magazine, Papertown Magazine, Dallas Observer and more. Her writing spans arts and culture, food, travel, beauty, and wellness. You can find her in an airport lounge jetting off to her next destination or enjoying a nightcap at a swanky restaurant bar. Follow her Instagram to see where she’s headed next.