Wanderlust

This geological gem is one for the books!

Glenwood Springs sits in the rugged Rocky Mountains that is surrounded by the vast White River National Forest. It’s world-famous for its hot springs and year-round outdoor adventures. They have canyon float tours, horseback riding, rafting, caves, and even a cliffhanger roller coaster.

My favorite to-dos in the area are listed below, along with some fun history!

Hanging Lake

Early tales note that Thomas F. Bailey searched for gold in Glenwood Canyon in the 1900s. During his search, he came across a dead horse at the opening of a gulch (the presumed origin of the Dead Horse Gulch). He continued his journey along the gulch when he came across a turquoise, bowl-like lagoon suspended on the cliffs of the canyon. The lake and the surrounding area then served as a private homestead for Thomas, who arguably had the best backyard in the West until 1912 when the town of Glenwood Springs purchased it for only $953!!!!!

The Hanging Lake Trail that is available to us today is located just outside Glenwood Springs, Colorado along Interstate 70. It’s a 3.1 mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet.

This hike is considered moderate, although it can be quite challenging with the altitude (if you’re not used to it) and steep inclines. There are also some large steps with rocky and uneven parts of the trail, so just take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

A good portion of the trail is adjacent to the sparkly Dead Horse Creek. Most of the hike is shaded, but I would still encourage sunscreen on those toasty days.

The last leg up to the lake is probably the most challenging, but DON’T GIVE UP!

This lake is more than just beautiful, Hanging Lake is a rarity. The combination of the mountainous wilderness, clear aquamarine lake, and cascading falls will leave you in awe.

Make sure you go up a few more extra steps to sprouting rock where you can cool off and stand under a sunlit waterfall.

Keep an eye out for wildlife! We came across marmots, lizards, Stellar Jay, and several Eagles! Bullsnakes are also known to be in the area.

Bring a snack and stay awhile.

Helpful Tips:

• Sadly, dogs aren’t allowed on this trail
• Restrooms are available at the trailhead
• Bring plenty of water
• Wear good shoes with ankle support and grip; you can’t swim in the lake, so no need for sandals
• Hiking poles are useful
• Great spot to watch the sunset
• Don’t wear jean shorts on the hike (smh!)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: As of May 2021, a reservation and permit are required to visit. You will be turned away if you don’t get one ahead of time. Print your confirmation or save it to your phone (no reception on the mountain). Parking is included with the reservation.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs

If you need a nearby spot to unwind after a hike, I highly recommend visiting Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, which is situated alongside the beautiful Colorado River and surrounded by Rocky Mountain views. They have SIXTEEN geothermal soaking pools available and are one of the most famous hot springs across the globe. We were super stoked we came across this location during our stay.

Helpful tips:

• Changing rooms are available
• Complimentary shower products are available
• They have a restaurant that serves food and drinks
• There is a wide range of temperatures to choose from
• Opening hours are 9am-10pm, open rain or shine
• General access costs about $40 for 3 hours; All day soak is $125
• Make a reservation!

The Hotel Colorado

Need a place to stay? For those who get excited about hauntings and ghosts, The Hotel Colorado is the place for you! We specifically chose to stay at this hotel because of the rumors of it being haunted. Some say that the ghosts of guests who have died in the hotel over the years still roam the halls.

The Ghost Stories of The Hotel Colorado (as seen on the hotel blog):

The Hotel Basement

The hotel’s basement has played host to its fair share of surprising phenomena over the years. To enthusiasts of the supernatural, these stories are hardly surprising — the hotel is very old, and the basement even served as the morgue when the hotel was a naval hospital during World War II.

In 1993, a houseman named Dave was doing his nightly rounds in the basement when he saw an old woman peering into the basement window with her hands cupped around her face. The window well was quite deep, and usually required a ladder to get into, so Dave was concerned that she might have fallen in and hurt herself. He walked across the room to turn on the light switch, but when he turned back to the window, she was gone.

At another time, a security guard named Richard was conducting a nighttime tour for six people. The group was standing outside the office of the executive housekeeper when they heard two women talking and a typewriter clicking in the next room. When they looked in the room, there was no one there — stranger still, there’s no record of a typewriter ever being kept there.

The Main Floor

On the main floor, a notable ghost named Bobbie dates back to at least WWII. The story goes that she was a nurse at the naval hospital during the war, and was allegedly killed by a jealous lover and officer stationed at the hotel. The rumor is, they were shipped out to cover up their crimes, but the story was leaked by local hospital workers.

Over the years, Bobbie has surfaced in a number of stories around the hotel, especially associated with the dining room around lunch and dinner. Guests and hotel workers have reported smelling a specific perfume trailing from Bobbie’s favorite table to the buffet line and back — some guests have identified it as “Gardenia,” a perfume from the 30s and 40s that’s no longer in production.

But perhaps the most famous ghost that roams the Hotel Colorado goes by the name “Walter.” Walter is affectionately named after Walter Devereaux, the hotel’s founder, and has been seen on numerous occasions around the halls and lobby during the evening.

Walter’s presence is marked by the unmistakable smell of cigar smoke, even though the Hotel hasn’t allowed smoking inside for years. But is “Walter” actually the ghost of someone else? Kathy Rippy Fleming, who has written extensively about the supernatural oddities around the hotel, thinks that Walter is actually the spirit of E.E. Lucas.

Lucas came to work at the hotel as its controller in 1893 and took over as general manager in 1905, just before Teddy Roosevelt’s visit. He bought the hotel in 1916 and kept it until his death in 1927, at which point his wife took over ownership until 1938. Might Lucas have had more of a vested interest in seeing how his beloved hotel turned out?

The Rooms Upstairs

It’s not just the common areas of the hotel that have been shrouded in mystery — some of the rooms themselves have hosted strange sightings as well. In 1993, a man and his wife were staying in room #661, the larger of the two tower suites. The man was feeling ill, so his wife opened the windows, thinking the fresh air would do him good. When she left the room, another woman came in and closed the windows, saying that he needed to stay out of the draft.

When the man’s wife came back, she re-opened the windows, and the process repeated for the entire three days the man was ill. But this couple aren’t the only ones to have noticed the woman in #661. Many guests over the years have reported seeing a woman standing over their bed in that room, usually wearing a floral dress.

Mystery or History?

There’s no doubt that the Hotel has played host to a series of colorful characters over the years — two presidents, the “unsinkable” Molly Brown, and a string of notorious gangsters have all stayed in the hotel at one time or another. Between the hotel’s long and varied past and its stint as a naval hospital, there’s no doubt that guests and soldiers alike have passed on within its walls — but have some of them lingered to this day?

We’re not here to tell you whether these stories bear any truth, just to pass them on. Maybe you think they’re simply entertaining anecdotes, brought on by the strange noises and sights you’d expect in a century-old building. Or maybe you think there’s more to it than that. Either way, you’ll have to come see for yourself.

Due to this exciting and spooky history, I set my alarm clock to 2 am, which is presumably the most common time you can sense or witness a presence. And guess what? I slept right through my alarm, hahaha! Total fail. But it was still cool to stay there and be a part of such grand history. Aside from the spooks, this hotel was charming and was styled after the luxurious resorts of Italy, including European spas, a Victorian garden, and a gorgeous indoor waterfall. Grab a cocktail, sit outside amongst the garden, people watch, and jam out to live music. It’s a vibe!

Fairy Caves at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

When you go to this park, definitely do ALLLL of the things! But most importantly, experience the living Fairy Caves. It’s a 40-minute guided tour where you stroll underground through narrow and winding passages. You will get to experience natural waters and magnificent panoramas. A must-see historic beauty!

I hope you’re able to make it out to Glenwood Springs, and please let me know what your experience is like when you do!

Recommended Road Trip destinations: Denver, Vail (Oktoberfest is so fun here!), Glenwood Springs, Aspen (Maroon Bells) Red Rocks, and the famous Rocky Mountains!

@cassss_eeeee