Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is a city in Garfield County, Colorado, situated in the Rocky Mountains along the Colorado River. One of the state's oldest resort destinations, it has drawn visitors for well over a century with its natural hot springs, dramatic canyon scenery, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Located approximately a three-hour drive west of Denver, the city occupies a position at the confluence of mountain terrain and the broad valley carved by the Colorado River, making it a natural stopping point for travelers crossing the state.[1] Today, Glenwood Springs draws tourists from across the country and serves as a gateway to the broader western slope of Colorado.
History
The area now known as Glenwood Springs has been inhabited for thousands of years. Before European-American settlement, the site held significance for Indigenous peoples who occupied the region long before the arrival of white settlers. The city was originally known as "Defiance," a name that reflected the circumstances of its earliest white settlers, who squatted on land in Garfield County before formal title could be established. The name was eventually changed to Glenwood Springs, a designation that evoked both the surrounding landscape and the geothermal waters that would define the town's identity for generations to come.
The town's development accelerated in the latter half of the nineteenth century, spurred in large part by the expansion of the railroad through western Colorado. Access by rail brought an influx of visitors seeking the reputed health benefits of the hot springs and the novelty of a mountain resort. Glenwood Springs quickly established itself as a destination of some distinction, attracting wealthy travelers and health-seekers alike. The city also made a notable mark on the history of utilities in Colorado: a local entrepreneur made Glenwood Springs one of the first towns in the state to be supplied with commercially available electricity, an achievement that placed the community ahead of many larger Colorado settlements in terms of infrastructure development.[2]
The city's tourism industry has remained a central feature of its economy across more than a century of growth and change. As documented by local historians and journalists, Glenwood Springs has been bustling with tourists for well over a hundred years, evolving from a Victorian-era spa destination into a modern outdoor recreation hub while retaining many of its historic buildings and the essential character of a mountain resort town.[3]
Geography and Access
Glenwood Springs lies along Interstate 70, the primary east-west highway corridor through Colorado, placing it within relatively easy reach of Denver and other Front Range population centers. The drive from Denver to Glenwood Springs takes approximately three hours under typical conditions. For travelers preferring rail, the city is served by the California Zephyr route operated by Amtrak, with the journey from Denver taking approximately six hours by train.[4]
The city also functions as a gateway to destinations further south along Highway 82, which heads southeast from Glenwood Springs toward Aspen and, seasonally, over Independence Pass. The more scenic route over Independence Pass is closed during winter months, making Highway 82 through the valley the primary access corridor to the Aspen area for much of the year.[5]
The surrounding terrain is defined by deep river canyons, steep mountain slopes, and the broad valley of the Colorado River. The region sits at the western edge of the central Rocky Mountains, where the rugged high country gives way to the more arid landscape of the Colorado Plateau. This geographic position gives the city a climate and ecological character somewhat distinct from the higher-elevation resort towns to its east, while still affording access to mountain terrain and wilderness areas.
Hot Springs
The defining natural feature of Glenwood Springs is its geothermal hot springs, which have been the foundation of the city's tourism economy since the nineteenth century. The springs produce warm mineral-rich water that has historically been associated with therapeutic and recreational bathing. The development of bathing facilities around these springs was central to the city's original identity as a resort destination, and commercial hot springs pools remain among the most visited attractions in the region today.
Glenwood Springs is frequently mentioned alongside other Colorado hot springs destinations such as Pagosa Springs as one of the state's notable geothermal resort towns.[6] The hot springs pools at Glenwood Springs are among the largest and most established in the state, drawing visitors who combine the bathing experience with outdoor activities available in the surrounding area.
Outdoor Recreation
Beyond the hot springs, Glenwood Springs serves as a base for a range of outdoor activities made possible by its location amid canyon and mountain terrain. Hiking is among the most popular pursuits, with numerous trails accessible from or near the city.
Hanging Lake
among the most notable natural attractions in the immediate vicinity is Hanging Lake, located just east of Glenwood Springs. The hike to Hanging Lake is short but demanding, rising more than 1,000 feet in elevation over just over one mile of trail. The steep ascent leads to a rare travertine lake perched above the floor of Glenwood Canyon, where waterfalls feed into turquoise waters. The combination of accessibility and dramatic scenery has made Hanging Lake among the most visited natural sites in Colorado, to the extent that its popularity became a subject of discussion in broader conversations about overtourism in the state.[7]
The trail to Hanging Lake begins in Glenwood Canyon, accessible from a trailhead off Interstate 70. The intense concentration of visitors at the site prompted land managers to implement a reservation system to limit daily traffic and protect the fragile travertine formations and aquatic ecosystem of the lake.
Glenwood Canyon
Glenwood Canyon itself constitutes among the most spectacular stretches of terrain along the I-70 corridor. The canyon walls rise dramatically above the Colorado River, and the highway and a recreational path run through it in close proximity to the river. The canyon path is popular with cyclists and pedestrians seeking a relatively flat route through otherwise rugged terrain.
Winter Recreation
The proximity of Glenwood Springs to major ski areas, including those accessible via Highway 82, makes it a useful base for winter sports travelers. The city's position on the I-70 corridor also puts it within range of ski areas in Summit County and the Vail Valley, offering an alternative to higher-elevation and higher-cost resort towns for visitors seeking lodging with access to multiple ski destinations.
Amusement and Family Attractions
In addition to natural attractions, Glenwood Springs hosts commercial amusement facilities. The city is home to an amusement park that has been a destination for families visiting the area. In a notable incident, a six-year-old girl on vacation with her family died at the amusement park following an incident on a mine-themed drop ride, prompting an investigation by authorities.[8] The incident drew significant attention to safety standards at amusement facilities and prompted scrutiny of regulations governing such attractions in the state.
Tourism and Visitor Information
Glenwood Springs has sustained a tourism economy for more than a century, and the infrastructure supporting visitors is well developed. The city offers lodging options across a range of price points, along with dining, shopping, and cultural attractions concentrated in its historic downtown area. The California Zephyr provides a scenic rail option for visitors traveling from the east, with the train passing through some of Colorado's most dramatic mountain scenery en route to Glenwood Springs before continuing westward to Salt Lake City and ultimately San Francisco.[9]
The city's historic downtown retains a number of buildings from its Victorian-era development, and a self-guided walking tour documents the architectural and historical significance of structures in the core of the city. This walking tour, produced by the local tourism and heritage community, highlights landmarks associated with the city's development as a resort town and its early infrastructure achievements, including its distinction as one of the first Colorado towns to receive commercially available electricity.[10]
The broader region around Glenwood Springs, encompassing the western slope communities of Garfield County, has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative to more crowded and expensive resort destinations on the eastern side of the divide. Travel writers and tourism observers have noted that western Colorado communities like Glenwood Springs offer access to comparable natural scenery and outdoor recreation at a generally lower cost and with less congestion than better-known destinations such as Aspen or Vail.[11]