Practical Tips for a Day in Glenwood Springs

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Practical Tips for a Day in Glenwood Springs

While we only spent a day in Glenwood Springs, the town seemed like a fun place to visit.
The combination of a mountain town charm, the outdoors, and the Western history is certainly appealing. Here are some ideas on how to spend a day in Glenwood Springs:

Soak in the hot springs

While I do not like hot springs, one of the most popular attractions in Glenwood Springs is soaking in the hot geothermal waters. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is right in town and it definitely looks inviting, particularly on a cold winter day. There are also several other hot springs in the area, so you can have your pick.

Visit Hotel Colorado

A beautiful hotel dating back to 1893, Hotel Colorado saw Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft as guests. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, make sure to go inside. There are interesting pictures and exhibits that discuss the colorful history of the hotel. Curiously, there is also an exhibit dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt and the origins of the Teddy Bear. Who knows if the story is true but it’s certainly interesting to read about.

Stroll through town

Glenwood Springs is a pretty town with a cool downtown area. There are lots of interesting stores and galleries worth checking out as well as an abundance of restaurants and coffee shops. A nice pedestrian bridge takes you from one part of town to the other. If you’re on your way to a ski resort in the area, I recommend stopping for a day in Glenwood Springs to check out its most popular attractions. You won’t be disappointed.

Visit Doc Holliday’s Grave Site

Doc Holliday, a colorful figure of the Old West, is essentially best known for the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881.  The gambler and gunslinger spent the last years of his life in Glenwood Springs. While his primary reason for coming here was to improve his tuberculosis by inhaling the town’s mineral waters, ironically, they only exacerbated his condition. After his death on November 8th 1887, Doc Holliday was buried at the Linwood Cemetery in town. It’s pretty cool to visit his grave site.
 
An uphill 0.5 mile trail takes you to this old pioneer cemetery. As you hike, you’ll have beautiful views of the town and the valley.

Don’t miss Kid Curry's Grave

While at the cemetery, don’t miss the grave site of another Western figure, outlaw and gunfighter, Kid Curry.  Kid Curry’s rise to fame came partly from being part of Butch Cassidy’s notorious Wild Bunch gang. He is buried fairly close to Doc Holliday.

Walk along the River Trail

Glenwood Springs offers a lot of outdoor activities. While many people hike the nearby canyon and mountains, it’s definitely enjoyable to just walk along the river. There are actually two rivers in town: the Roaring Fork and the Colorado. We started our hike at the confluence of the two rivers and continued along the east side of the Roaring Fork. A very pleasant walk.

Have a drink at the Doc Holliday's Saloon

The Doc Holliday’s Saloon is definitely a cool place to have a beer. There are lots of pictures of Doc Holliday and other Western figures on the walls. Even though Doc Holliday never had a drink here, it is still a fun place to see.
 

It was certainly a good idea to spend a day in Glenwood Springs before hitting the slopes at some of Colorado’s best ski resorts. If you’re on your way to a ski resort and are driving through here, stop and check it out. I bet you’ll like it.