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Weekender
Glenwood Springs
By Rebecca Antioco
 In 1887, six years after the infamous gunfight at
the OK Corral, a frail and tubercular Doc Holliday
made his way to Glenwood Springs, Colo., to soak
in the mineral-rich Yampah hot springs. Despite the
springs’ reputed healing powers, Holliday died at
the Glenwood Hotel in November.
The waters were first discovered by the Ute Indians,
who called them Yampah or “big medicine.” The actual
pool and bathhouse were completed in 1888, the Hotel
Colorado five years later, and the “Spa in the Rockies”
became the destination du jour for celebrities of
the time, ranging from presidents to gangsters.
Today, Glenwood Springs — located about 40 miles
away from each of Colorado’s tony ski resorts, Aspen
and Vail — is still famous for its Hot Springs Pool.
At its source the spring flows at a temperature of
122 degrees, but is cooled to 90 in the large pool
and 104 in the smaller therapy pool. A short walk
away at the Yampah Spa, you can descend into North
America’s only known natural vapor caves. Cold-water
tubs and cooling rooms provide respite from the 110-
to 112-degree cave temps.
If you crave cooler diversions, take a tram ride
up to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. There, you
can tour one of the “Ten Great Places to Go Underground,”
according to USA Today. You can opt for the one-hour
guided walking tour through the so-called Fairy Caves,
or get on your belly for the Wild Tour, a three-hour
down and dirty exploration of rarely visited areas
of Glenwood Caverns. The park also features a few
thrill rides, like an alpine coaster takes individual
cars 1000 feet down the mountainside at speeds up
to 50 miles per hour, and a giant swing that can
launch adventurers out 1300 feet above the Colorado
River.
Whether or not you believe in the healing powers
of the mineral-laden springs and caves, its hard
to argue with the relief they provide after a long
day on the slopes, in the caves, on the river or
on any of the many Rocky Mountain adventures in the
area.
Photo courtesy of Kjell Mitchell
If you go…
Located a scenic 160 miles west of Denver, direct
on I-70. Glenwood Springs is also 40 miles west
of Eagle County airport, and 40 miles north of
Aspen airport, both of which are served by US Airways
from Phoenix. Amtrak offers daily arrivals into
Glenwood Springs from Denver, an approximately
eight-hour journey.
888-4-GLENWOOD, or visitglenwood.com
Stay
There are more than 2400 guest rooms in the area,
ranging from bed and breakfasts and historic hotels
to ranches and traditional motels. Try these:
Hotel Colorado
526 Pine St.
800-544-3998
hotelcolorado.com
Historic hotel within walking distance of the famous
Hot Springs Pool.
Glenwood Canyon Resort
1308 County Rd. 129
970-945-6737
glenwoodcanyonresort.com
Resort cabins, camper cabins and RV and tent sites
just outside of town on the Colorado River. Offers
amenities like rafting, kayaking, fishing, jeep tours
and hiking. Shuttle service into town on a seasonal
basis. |
