Pedal along mountain rivers, hike to Hanging Lake and experience healing waters and Sopris Splash Zone at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort.
Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon is known for its spectacular beauty. Yet, a fair number of people only see it from a car window going 60 miles per hour on Interstate 70. Here’s a chance to slow down, explore the 12.5 mile canyon (think biking, hiking, rafting and more), and enjoy the one-of-a-kind restaurants, shops, attractions and natural mineral hot springs in Glenwood Springs.
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, location of the world’s largest natural hot springs pool, is an ideal base camp for all sorts of outdoor adventures. This summer and fall, the resort is offering a variety of packages that are convenient and wallet-friendly, including the Canyon Biking Package to try e-bike cruising and hot springs soaking in Glenwood Springs.
The Canyon Biking Package includes an all-day e-bike rental from Canyon Bikes, lodging at Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, unlimited access to Glenwood Hot Springs Pool (open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.,) and breakfast at the poolside Grill. This package is available from now through October 10, 2021, and one e-bike rental is included per person on the reservation.
Glenwood Springs Recreation Path & Hanging Lake
So now that you have an e-bike in your adventure toolkit for a day, what do you do? The nice thing about e-bikes is that they provide the choice of pedaling or having an assist anywhere, but especially on the inclines.
The 16-mile Glenwood Springs Recreation Path trailhead is just past the entrance to Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves, just .2 miles from Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. The path traverses through Glenwood Canyon and is popular for cycling, walking and in-line skating. The canyon’s rugged walls stretch 1,300 feet above the Colorado River, and there are ample opportunities for breaks, picnics and side hikes.
A fun bike/hike option is riding the recreation path to the Hanging Lake trailhead, parking the bike, and continuing on foot. This amazing National Natural Landmark was formed by a geologic fault that caused the lakebed to drop away from the valley floor above, with water flowing into the lake over Bridal Veil Falls. The hiking trail to Hanging Lake is not easy; rather it’s a steep and rocky climb over 1.2 miles with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. Hike a little bit beyond to see Spouting Rock (7,323 feet in elevation), a waterfall gushing through rocks and flowing into Hanging Lake.
Wearing sturdy shoes with good tread, bringing your own drinking water and being in decent physical shape is key for this hike, along with making a reservation well in advance and purchasing a $12 permit for each person in your group. Permits are subject to availability and help protect the fragile ecosystem and provide visitor amenities. All hikers are asked to present their permit upon arrival at the Hanging Lake Rest Area that is along the Glenwood Springs Recreation Path.
Did You Know? – That you can have a Hanging Lake experience at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool? Sopris Splash Zone, the pool’s aquatic park that debuted two summers ago, was designed to incorporate the history and places that make Glenwood Springs unique. The children’s play area within Sopris Splash Zone was modeled after Hanging Lake with interactive waterfall features, three mini-water slides, shallow play areas and a shade structure. You might get a little hungry after visiting this Hanging Lake or the real one so hit up the poolside Grill or the summer food truck stationed on the west end of the pool by Sopris Splash Zone for tasty treats.
Rio Grande Trail from Glenwood Springs to Aspen
Glenwood’s extensive network of biking options includes both gradual inclines on river and rail corridors and off-road trails of varying difficulty for mountain bikers. Another top-notch option for e-bike explorers is the Rio Grande Trail that runs from Glenwood Springs to Aspen along a gentle railroad-grade incline.
Completed in 2008, Rio Grande Trail follows the Roaring Fork River, gains roughly 2,100 feet of elevation over 42 miles, and provides a pleasant ride for cyclists of various experience levels. Watch for eagles and hawks soaring above the river and deer and elk grazing in wide-open meadows. You’ll also see the majestic Mount Sopris in the distance, historic barns and more along the way.
Some choose to do just portions of the trail, riding to Carbondale or Basalt and back to Glenwood Springs for example and pulling over to explore the charming downtowns in these towns for shopping, a beverage or a meal. For those who want to ride the entire distance between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) Bike Bus that operates on weekends is a good choice for a quick return to Glenwood Springs and blissful soaking in Glenwood Hot Springs Pool.
Did You Know? – On any ride or hike, it’s important to bring water, snacks and clothing layers (including raincoats) in a pack. Don’t drink water directly from rivers or lakes without a water filter, so ideally just bring your own or plan on getting refills along the way. At Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, you can dip and drink the mineral water from an area set aside for this purpose, which is directly east of the warm therapy pool. There are 15 minerals in the natural springs water here that provide a variety of health benefits for drinking and soaking. Riding along the Roaring Fork River also can make cyclists want to ride the rapids. Get a taste of what it’s like at the pool’s Sopris Splash Zone, which features Shoshone Chutes, a ride included in pool admission that mimics floating the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon on one- or two-person tubes.
What are you waiting for? One Mother Nature of a Good Time awaits you with e-bike cruising and hot springs soaking in Glenwood Springs!