Near the western exit of Glenwood Canyon lies the town of Glenwood Springs. It’s about 3 hours drive from Denver, 1 hour from Grand Junction, and 45 minutes north of Aspen. The town was founded late in the 1800′s as an outpost settlement to serve as a transportation hub between other cities in the area, and for transportation of the natural resources harvested from mineral and metal mining operations further south. Initially the town mainly contained saloons, brothels and other sordid activities, but it gradually grew into a more pleasant place due in part to the geographic features of the surrounding land. The town resides at the confluence of two major rivers, the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers, in a large, naturally beautiful valley that was able to sustain the growth of local and outlying populations with plenty of farming and hunting.
The town is also famous for the Yampah Hot Springs Vapor Caves, historic underground steam baths with an average temperature of 110° F. The caves have been used by the Ute Indians for over 100 years as a source of rejuvenation and healing. There’s also the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge and Pool which is the worlds largest pool filled by natural hot springs water to a cozy 90° F. Many famous people have lived or stayed in the town including President Teddy Roosevelt, Doc Holiday, and Ted Bundy was imprisoned (and escaped) from there.
Nice post. Keep ‘em coming.
I found Yhe large hot spring pool in glenwood springs kind of weird. It seemed more like a swimming pool. But I guess that was kind of the idea. When do you get back on the road?