Hot springs pools in Glenwood Springs abound, from the famous Glenwood Hot Springs, to many of the native or hippie dip pools along the Colorado river.
Which Colorado Hot Springs Pool is Perfect for You?
One of the biggest perks of living in Colorado is the abundance of beautiful, relaxing hot springs spread throughout the state. Whether you’re looking to kill an afternoon with your kids, or spend a romantic evening with that special someone, there are seemingly unlimited options when it comes to this natural Phenomenon.
My first trips to the hot springs as a kid took place in the Collegiate Peaks outside of Buena Vista Colorado at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs. I don’t think I really understood at the time how such hot water could naturally emerge from the inner layers of the earth and form pools alongside the river, but I sure did enjoy myself. While my best friend’s mom was swimming laps every week as her favorite form of exercise, Jordan and I had the time of our lives pretending we had wandered onto some type of strange planet where hot water seeps through the ground. Luckily the monsters we encountered were only fragments of our vivid imaginations.
The hot springs trips I find myself taking now days are quite different, but every bit as enjoyable. I’ve had the opportunity to experience many of the Colorado hot springs, and they are all incredible for their own unique reasons. Stick with me to learn about a few of my favorites.
Nestled along the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado is the Glenwood Hot Springs. Definitely one of the largest hot springs pools I’ve been to, it serves as the perfect location for a family get away. This pool has just about everything you would ask for from a hot springs pool, unless you’re going after the secluded and 100% natural environment. This more man-made establishment has both a huge recreational pool that features lap lanes, a diving board, and awesome water slides for the kids, as well as a therapeutic pool that stays at around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering the top-notch lodging and spa treatments available on-site, you can’t go wrong with the Glenwood Hot Springs.
If you’re more into seclusion, adventure, and occasionally the option to go without a swim suit, there are plenty of other options available. The Conundrum Hot Springs near Aspen, for example, is about as secluded as it gets. So much in fact, that it require a hike of about eighteen miles to get to it. Once you do, however, there are few sights as beautiful and calming (depending on the quality of company you encounter there). There’s nothing man-made about it this place. With several pools to choose from, the main one is about 20 feet in diameter and about three feet deep. It’s definitely hit or miss as to whether or not you’ll run into a group of naked singing hippies, but in that type of scenario I can’t help but think of the old cliché “If you can’t beat ‘em…” you know.
The Strawberry Park Hot Springs outside of Steamboat Springs seems to offer the best of both worlds in regards to accessibility and natural beauty. There’s no eighteen mile hike involved, but you can definitely tell you’re in the middle of some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. And if you’d like to hit the trails, the friendly staff can provide maps and advice about exploring the area. There are multiple pools to choose from if it’s a good soak you’re after, or else you can get a massage in one of the private huts. The Strawberry Park Hot Springs shares the same type of natural beauty and relaxation I found at the Orvis Hot Springs outside of Ridgway Colorado.
So next time you get a chance, stop off at one of the beautiful hot springs of Colorado and I promise you won’t be disappointed.