Healing Soak at Glenwood's Historic Hot Springs

Our family of six (two adults and four kids) spent several days at Glenwood Hot Springs, and it was one of the highlights of our vacation. We stayed at the Lodge across the street, which included pool admission, and arrived in town on the California Zephyr. Taking the train through Glenwood Canyon made the whole experience feel even more memorable. The pools themselves are incredible. There’s truly something for everyone: the massive main pool, the therapy pool, multiple hot spring temperatures, a cold plunge, a splash area for younger kids, and the Shoshone Chutes river ride, which our kids absolutely loved. There was occasionally a short wait for the river ride, but it was well worth it. We also appreciated the long operating hours, which made it easy to swim for a few hours, head back to the hotel to rest, then return later in the day. The adults-only section was another great option for winding down in the evening. The facility itself is very good overall. While a few areas—like some of the seating in the grill—could use a little updating and maintenance, everything was clean, well organized, and easy to navigate. The locker rooms were nice, and the on-site shop had just about everything you could need, from swimsuits and towels to inflatables, souvenirs, and even an air station to inflate tubes. The food exceeded our expectations as well. Breakfast at the grill (included with our hotel stay) was solid every morning, and we also enjoyed the fish and chips and pizza during our visit. More than anything, this place creates memories. Between the beautiful mountain setting, the unique hot springs, and all the family-friendly activities, it’s the kind of destination our kids will be talking about for years. We had an absolute blast and will definitely be recommending Glenwood Hot Springs to friends and family back home in Utah. We can’t wait to come back.

Our family of four visited Glenwood Springs over the July 4th weekend and bought day passes to the Hot Springs Pool on Sunday, July 5. I’m a Colorado native and grew up coming here, so I was excited to bring my wife and our twin 8-year-old boys and share that classic Glenwood experience with them. Overall, the pool itself was great. The main pool still has the same classic feel I remembered from childhood, the hot pool and newer mineral pools were very enjoyable, and the “Shoshone Chutes” / canyon-style river attraction was a really fun addition. My kids especially loved the diving board and the river feature. The two lifeguards we interacted with — one at the diving board and one at the top of the river feature — were attentive, pleasant, and helpful. They deserve credit. That said, I’m giving three stars because the overall operation and management left a lot to be desired, especially at the price point. It was $196 for our family of four for a few hours: $60 per adult and $38 per child. I understand it was a holiday weekend and this is a historic destination, but at nearly $200 for a family day pass, the experience should be better managed. The biggest issue for us was the food policy. The resort has numerous signs stating no outside food, drinks, coolers, food delivery, or delivery service anywhere on the resort. We followed that policy. But when we arrived just before 10 a.m. with hungry kids, we were told the grill did not open until 11. Then at 11:01, we scanned the QR code for mobile ordering and it said mobile ordering did not begin until noon. So guests are prohibited from bringing food, but the resort’s own food service was not conveniently available when families needed it. I eventually went inside to order at the counter, but the process was not smooth. This policy was also one of the main reasons we chose not to stay at Hotel 1888 on property. We had considered it because staying on-site in the historic building would have been fun, but the “no outside food / delivery / coolers anywhere on the resort” messaging made it seem like bringing food for our family, including for dietary restrictions, could be a problem. My wife eats gluten-free and FODMAP-friendly, and our kids can be particular eaters, so having flexibility with food matters. We ended up staying at the Residence Inn down the road instead, which was excellent. If the resort’s intent is that the food restriction applies only to the pool area and not hotel rooms, that should be made much clearer to families booking rooms. The other disappointing part was the staffing. When we entered the pool area, one of the employees at the admission turnstiles appeared to be asleep at the counter while guests were coming in (seriously... see photo!). That is a very poor first impression and reflects badly on management. Later, at the grill, there was also a second cashier who appeared to be open but was not proactively helping the line or calling guests over. These are small things individually, but together they made the operation feel under-managed. To be clear, the pool itself is still special. It is a classic Colorado experience, and I’m glad my kids got to enjoy it. The water, setting, diving board, mineral pools, and river feature were all memorable. But for the cost, and with such a restrictive food policy, the resort needs stronger staffing, clearer communication, and better food-service logistics. I would still recommend the Hot Springs Pool as something worth experiencing in Glenwood Springs, but I hope management takes the family experience more seriously — especially around food flexibility, staff training, and service consistency.

Love it, especially at the evening! The place is very relaxing, and the warm water feels amazing, especially with the mountain views around Everything was clean and well taken care of, which made the experience even better. What I really liked is that there are a lot of smaller pools plus one big pool, so even when it’s busy, it never feels too crowded. There’s always enough space for everyone. We went at the end of April, and it felt so fresh outside while the water kept you warm - such a nice feeling. Also, there were enough lounge chairs for everyone, which made it easy to relax between swims.

I’ve been coming to the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool for years, and it continues to be one of my favorite places in town. The facility is always clean and well maintained, which I especially appreciate at a public pool. The staff has consistently been friendly, patient, and professional — even during busy times when the pool is packed. You can tell they genuinely care about both safety and the overall guest experience. I also appreciate seeing staff regularly checking the water quality throughout the day. It gives peace of mind knowing they take maintenance seriously. Whether I’m there to relax, swim, or just enjoy the atmosphere, it’s always a great experience. Definitely recommend it to both locals and visitors.

Visited Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and it was a wonderful experience overall. The pool is huge and very well maintained, with naturally warm mineral water that makes it extremely relaxing. The surrounding mountain views add to the beauty of the place, making it a perfect spot to unwind and enjoy nature. The facilities are well organized with clean changing rooms, lockers, and plenty of space to sit and relax around the pool area. The atmosphere is family-friendly and suitable for people of all ages. Spending time in the warm water, especially in the cool Colorado weather, feels amazing and refreshing. The only downside we noticed was the presence of quite a few mosquitoes in and around the pool area during the evening. This slightly affected the otherwise perfect experience. If this issue is managed better, it would make the visit even more enjoyable. Overall, it’s a must-visit attraction when in Colorado and a great place to relax after a day of travel or sightseeing.