08 Dec Glenwood: Best Day Trip from Aspen or Vail
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Take a day off from the slopes to relax and recreate in Glenwood Springs. Whether you’re coming from the slopes in Aspen or the back bowls of Vail, the hot springs and adventure town offers plenty to do during vacation downtime.
Spending a week in one of Colorado’s most famous ski towns is a winter dream come true. The mountains of Aspen and Vail are renowned for their world-class skiing and snowboarding, celebrity sightings and high altitude Rocky Mountain lifestyle. The slopes are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. With high-speed quads and gondolas, you can rack up a ton of runs in no time! When you’re ready for a day of active rest, Glenwood Springs is your go-to destination. It’s an easy drive from both resorts. If you’re staying in Aspen take Highway 82 north to Glenwood Springs—about a 40-minute drive; from Vail, it’s a one-hour drive west on I-70.
Things to do in Glenwood Springs
Relax in hot springs. For post-slope, muscle-soothing relaxation, nothing beats immersion in the thermal pools at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. With 16 individual soaking pools at temperatures that vary from 98°F to 108°F, you’re sure to find one that offers the right amount of comforting heat. The geothermal waters are 100 percent pure with no added chemicals—a rarity among hot springs. The views are spectacular as well. Snow-capped Mt. Sopris lies to the south, with the Colorado River and Red Mountain in the foreground. To enjoy, make a reservation online for your 21/2-hour soaking window. Though capacity is currently greatly reduced due to COVID, weekdays and daytime hours tend to be less busy, while evenings and weekends see more visitors in general.
Experience thrills. America’s only mountaintop theme park is located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado! In the cold weather months, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park celebrates the season with an ongoing event called Winter on the Mountain. Festive decorations, colorful lighting and outdoor fire pits are just a few of the seasonal delights. Just like a day on the slopes you’ll board a gondola at the base and travel up to the mountaintop. At the summit, enjoy one of Colorado’s most decorated show caves, thrill rides such as the Alpine Coaster, the Haunted Mine Drop, laser tag, a 4-D animated movie, as well as expansive vistas of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Make reservations to visit.
Have a craft beer. Glenwood Springs is home to several award-winning breweries. Glenwood Canyon Brewpub has been making accolade-worthy brews for nearly two decades. Flagship beers are named for Glenwood Springs sights—Hanging Lake Light Lager, Grizzly Creek Raspberry Wheat, Shoshone Stout—plus there are always seasonal and experimental options on tap as well. Troy Casey, owner of Casey Brewing Taproom was named the World’s Best Brewer and is known for his exceptional sours. The custom blends are created using local Colorado ingredients and aged in vintage oak barrels. Notable Casey favorites include the Fruit Stand series, Oak Theory, Funky Blender and Blackberry Casey Family Preserves.
There’s more too …
The list of things to do is seemingly endless—kind of like that 5-mile Longshot run at Snowmass. Enjoy your day off the slopes in Glenwood Springs any way you see fit. Other options to pass the time include eating a delicious meal on “restaurant row”, spending an afternoon at one of the town’s multiple spas, taking a high octane snowmobiling tour and attending a hilarious comedy show at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue.
Learn more about Glenwood Springs and plan your visit today at www.ironmountainhotsprings.com.
Karin Gamba
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