Glenwood Hot Springs is the world's largest outdoor mineral hot springs pool, stretching 405 feet in a spectacular canyon setting where the Colorado River meets Glenwood Canyon. Fed by the Yampah spring at a natural temperature of 124°F and cooled to a comfortable 90°F in the main pool, it's been drawing visitors since 1888.

The facility has been continuously operating for over 135 years and combines the historic grandeur of the original stone bathhouse with modern amenities including a therapy pool, water slides, and spa. The two-block-long main pool is a genuinely impressive sight, and the canyon walls rising on both sides create an unforgettable backdrop.

Glenwood Springs itself is a charming mountain town with excellent dining and a historic downtown worth exploring, and Glenwood Canyon's 12-mile bike path along the Colorado River is one of the most scenic paved trails in the state.

TIP: The springs are best experienced in cooler months (fall through spring) when the steam rising from the water creates an atmospheric, almost otherworldly scene.

TIP: Weekday mornings are significantly less crowded than weekends.

TIP: Book lodging at the Hotel Colorado or Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge for direct pool access.

Official website

Glenwood Hot Springs

Hanging Lake Trail is one of Colorado's most iconic hikes, leading 1.2 miles (and 1,000 feet of elevation gain) up a steep canyon to a jewel-like turquoise lake perched on a rocky shelf above Glenwood Canyon. The lake is fed by waterfalls cascading over moss-covered logs and travertine rock ledges, creating a scene so vivid and otherworldly that it was designated a National Natural Landmark.

The lake's distinctive color comes from the calcium carbonate deposits that cover the lake bottom and reflect the sky in extraordinary tones of aquamarine and emerald. Bridal Veil Falls at the back of the lake and Spouting Rock — where water erupts directly from the cliff face — add to the surreal character of the place.

The trail is steep and relentless but mercifully short, making it achievable for most people in good shape. The canyon below is itself stunning, cut by the Colorado River through 1,600-foot limestone walls.

TIP: Hanging Lake has a mandatory permit system from May through October — reserve at hanginglake.com weeks in advance, as it sells out fast.

TIP: Swimming and wading are strictly prohibited to protect the fragile travertine ecosystem.

TIP: Arrive at the shuttle bus lot (required for permit holders) at least 30 minutes before your departure time.

Hanging Lake Trail

Independence Ghost Town is a remarkably intact high-altitude ghost town at 10,900 feet on the eastern approach to Independence Pass, accessible as a short detour off CO-82. Founded in 1879 after a gold strike on Independence Day, the town once housed 1,500 people and featured 40 buildings, a school, hotel, and post office before collapsing when the mines played out.

Today about 20 original structures survive in varying states of preservation, their weathered wood bleached silver by decades of alpine sun and snow. A short self-guided walking trail leads through the site with interpretive signs describing the extraordinary hardship of life at nearly 11,000 feet in the 1880s.

The setting is genuinely evocative — the crumbling cabins sit in a wide mountain valley beneath rugged peaks, surrounded by the same meadows and spruce forests the miners once looked out on — and it's easy to imagine the isolation they experienced.

TIP: The site is managed by Aspen Historical Society, is free to visit, and the walking trail takes about 30 minutes.

TIP: Combine with a stop at the Independence Pass summit, just 3 miles west, for the full drive experience.

TIP: Watch for afternoon thunderstorms — the open valley offers little shelter.

Independence Ghost Town

Independence Pass is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the United States, cresting at 12,095 feet on the Continental Divide between Aspen and Twin Lakes. The drive over the pass on CO-82 is among the most beautiful road journeys in Colorado, passing through alpine tundra, wildflower meadows, and dramatic rocky landscapes with sweeping views in every direction.

At the summit, a short interpretive trail leads to a Continental Divide overlook with views of fourteeners in multiple directions. The pass also serves as a gateway to excellent hiking, including trails into the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness and a challenging route up to 13,000-foot ridgelines.

From the Twin Lakes side, the approach passes two stunning glacially-formed lakes beneath Colorado's second-highest peak, Mount Elbert (14,439 feet), creating one of the most photogenic mountain-and-lake pairings in the state.

TIP: The pass is seasonal (typically June through late October) and closed to vehicles over 35 feet — check CDOT for current status.

TIP: Late July through August is peak wildflower season — the tundra blooms with columbine, paintbrush, and alpine sunflowers.

TIP: Sunrise from the summit parking area is exceptional and the lot is empty at that hour.

Independence Pass

Maroon Bells is a pair of 14,000-foot peaks reflected in the still waters of Maroon Lake, widely considered the most photographed mountain scene in North America. Their deep burgundy hue, caused by iron-rich mudstone formed 300 million years ago, creates a color palette unlike anything else in the Rockies.

The area sits within the Elk Mountains outside Aspen and offers a range of trails from a flat lakeside loop to the demanding Four Pass Loop, a 26-mile circuit that crosses four alpine passes above 12,000 feet. Wildlife sightings of elk, marmots, and black bears are common.

The surrounding Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness is one of Colorado's most beloved backcountry areas, with wildflower meadows in late summer — fields of blue columbine, yellow sunflowers, and purple asters blanketing the slopes beneath the peaks.

TIP: From late June through mid-October, private vehicles are prohibited before 5pm — take the mandatory RFTA shuttle from Aspen Highlands.

TIP: Arrive for the first bus to catch mirror-still reflections and golden morning light before afternoon crowds arrive.

Maroon Bells

St. Elmo Ghost Town is one of Colorado's best-preserved ghost towns, a former silver and gold mining boomtown from the 1880s that peaked with a population of 2,000 and faded when the railroad and mines closed in the 1920s. Unlike many ghost towns, St. Elmo retains numerous original wooden buildings — including a general store, hotel, and assay office — most in surprisingly solid condition.

Situated at 10,567 feet in a stunning alpine valley at the end of a paved road in Chaffee County, the site is accessible in summer by regular vehicles and is enormously popular with ATV riders who continue past the town onto the jeep trails above. The surrounding terrain includes the ruins of mine structures and tramways that hint at the industrial scale of the operation.

The town is home to a small but friendly community of ground squirrels — the famous "Annabelle" and her descendants — who have become local celebrities for their bold interactions with visitors.

TIP: The general store is open in summer and sells cold drinks and souvenirs — a genuine treat at 10,500 feet.

TIP: A standard car can reach St. Elmo on the paved road, but 4WD is needed to continue to Hancock Pass and the high-mountain routes beyond.

St. Elmo Ghost Town

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I’d go for Glenwood Hot Springs Resort if you want a stay with a spa. Private parking is handy on a road trip.

From unique urban sights to enormous canyons and sand dunes with snowy peaks as their backdrop – Colorado is here to impress. And if you time your trip for the fall foliage like we did, it will blow your minds too!

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is the hotel attached directly to the world's largest outdoor hot springs pool in Glenwood Springs, meaning guests walk out the door and into the mineral pools — no shuttle, no crowds to fight through. It's the most convenient base for experiencing the springs and the surrounding Glenwood Canyon area.

The resort has two pool options for guests: the main 405-foot pool (90°F) and the therapy pool (104°F), both included with the stay. The hotel itself is comfortable and modern without being particularly distinctive — rooms are well-appointed, and there's a fitness center and spa on-site. The historic Hotel Colorado next door offers more character if that's a priority.

Glenwood Springs is a worthwhile stop in its own right — Hanging Lake is 20 minutes away, Aspen is an hour, and the Glenwood Canyon bike path runs directly along the Colorado River below.

The resort is ideal for travelers making Glenwood Springs a dedicated stop, particularly those who want to maximize time in the pools without worrying about logistics. Families especially appreciate the direct pool access and the ease of simply walking over at any hour.

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort

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Glenwood Hot Springs Resort

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