A National Natural Landmark hanging on a cliff, a steep trail to Doc Holliday's grave, sixteen miles of paved canyon path, and the hot springs waiting at the bottom of every hike.
Glenwood Springs sits at the mouth of Glenwood Canyon — one of the most dramatic stretches of Interstate 70 anywhere, where the Colorado River cuts through 1,300 feet of red sandstone walls and the highway threads through it on stacked viaducts. The hiking here is shaped by the canyon: short, steep trails up the walls, the paved 16-mile Recreation Path along the river, and the famous Hanging Lake trail that ends at a turquoise travertine pool suspended in the cliff.
Hanging Lake is a National Natural Landmark and the marquee trail of western Colorado — but it requires a permit, books out daily, and is by no means the only thing here. The Doc Holliday Trail climbs to the gunfighter's grave above town. Grizzly Creek follows a stream into the canyon. And after every hike, the largest geothermal hot springs pool in the world is waiting, a quarter-mile from downtown.
Hanging Lake is a National Natural Landmark and the most-photographed short hike in the western United States. Centuries ago a geological fault caused the lake to drop, and the minerals spilling over the edge began to build up a fragile travertine deposit around the pool — leaving a turquoise lake that appears to hang on the side of the cliff, fed by Bridal Veil Falls cascading from above. Two hundred feet higher, Spouting Rock gushes water directly through the limestone face. You can walk behind it.
The hike is 3.1 miles round-trip, gains 936 feet, and is rated moderate-to-difficult — the trail is steep, climbs over large rock-step boulders, and includes a final hand-railed ascent. Expect 2 to 3 hours, plus time at the lake. The trailhead is reached only via I-70 Exit 125 (Eastbound only — if you're going west, you'll need to loop through Exit 119 or 121 to come back east). The trail was redesigned and reopened in 2024 after the Grizzly Creek Fire (2020) and post-fire flooding (2021).
A permit is required. $10 in the off-season (through April), $12 May through December. Reserve at visitglenwood.com — slots open every Tuesday for the following week and fill quickly. Daily availability through December 2026. No swimming, no wading, no dogs (not even ESAs), no fishing. You cannot get dropped off — your vehicle must be at the rest area for safety evacuation.
From the paved 16-mile canyon path to the steep climb up to Doc Holliday's grave, the creek hikes through Glenwood Canyon, and the iconic Hanging Lake trail itself.
One of the most spectacular paved bike paths in America. Sixteen miles of flat, paved trail running through Glenwood Canyon alongside the Colorado River, with the I-70 viaducts overhead and 1,300-foot canyon walls on both sides. Walk it, run it, bike it. Multiple rest areas with parking — No Name, Grizzly Creek, Shoshone, Bair Ranch — let you start anywhere. The path is closed in winter and during high-water events. Note: cyclists going to Hanging Lake must purchase a separate permit and be off the trail by 3 PM.
A short, steep, character-rich hike to a graveyard. The trailhead is on Bennett Avenue (well-marked), and the path climbs quickly to Linwood Cemetery — the resting place of John Henry "Doc" Holliday, the gambler-dentist-gunfighter who survived the OK Corral and died in Glenwood Springs of tuberculosis at age 36. Self-guided historical signs along the way detail Doc's life and last days. Wander the rest of the old graveyard with its weathered headstones for the town's earliest settlers, including outlaw Kid Curry. Quick but unforgettable.
An in-town loop trail with varied scenery — pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, and views back toward downtown Glenwood Springs and the Colorado River. The Upper and Lower Wulfsohn together make a short circuit that's perfect for an evening walk or a morning warm-up before the bigger hikes. Dog-friendly, well-signed, and popular with locals.
The non-permit alternative to Hanging Lake — and a gorgeous hike in its own right. From the Grizzly Creek rest area in Glenwood Canyon (Exit 121 off I-70), the trail follows Grizzly Creek up into the canyon for 3.4 miles round-trip, with picnic spots, swimming holes in summer, and shifting views of the canyon walls. The 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire burned much of the area; rockfall and debris flow risk is real after heavy rain. The trail is open and beautiful, but watch the sky.
The lesser-known creek-side hike at the western mouth of Glenwood Canyon. Trailhead is at the No Name rest area (I-70 Exit 119), and the trail follows No Name Creek up into a quiet side canyon — far less trafficked than Grizzly Creek or Hanging Lake. Length and difficulty depend on how far you want to push it. The right pick for a quiet morning hike when the marquee trails are booked or crowded.
A serene hike through pinyon pine forest with glimpses of the Colorado River and Glenwood Canyon. Less famous than Hanging Lake or Grizzly Creek but worth knowing about. The trail offers a quiet, shaded ascent with steady elevation gain and good views of the canyon below. Locals' choice for a Sunday morning hike when they want to be off the beaten path.
The big-view hike of Glenwood Springs. Red Mountain rises directly above town, and the trail to the top delivers a panoramic vista — downtown Glenwood Springs spread below, the Colorado River winding through, and the surrounding Rocky Mountains in every direction. Multiple interconnecting paths let you build a loop or do an out-and-back. Best at sunset when the red rock walls of Glenwood Canyon catch the evening light.
A trail with a heavy heart. Storm King Mountain is the site of the 1994 South Canyon Fire, where 14 wildland firefighters lost their lives when a blowup overran their position. The memorial trail leads to a series of crosses on the mountainside marking where each firefighter fell — one of the most sobering hikes in Colorado. Moderate difficulty, manageable for most fit hikers. Bring water, sun protection, and a quiet respect.
The icon. 3.1 miles round-trip, 936 feet of gain, ending at a turquoise travertine lake suspended in the cliff face — a National Natural Landmark and one of the most photographed spots in Colorado. The trail is steep, rocky, and includes a final hand-railed scramble. Don't miss the side trail to Spouting Rock, a waterfall that gushes directly through the limestone face 200 feet above the lake (you can walk behind it). Permit required ($10 off-season / $12 May–Dec); book at visitglenwood.com. Slots open Tuesdays for the next week. No dogs. No swimming. Trail accessed only from I-70 Exit 125 (eastbound).
The reason most experienced hikers say "do Hanging Lake plus Spouting Rock." From the boardwalk at Hanging Lake, a short side trail climbs 200 feet farther to Spouting Rock — a powerful waterfall that emerges directly from a hole in the limestone cliff and falls 60 feet into a pool. You can walk behind the falls and watch the water arc through the air in front of you. Adds maybe 20 minutes to the Hanging Lake hike. Almost everyone who skips it regrets it.
Required for the Hanging Lake Trail. $10 off-season (through April), $12 May-December. Book at visitglenwood.com — slots open Tuesdays for the following week and fill quickly. Daily availability through December 2026.
The Hanging Lake Rest Area is accessed only via I-70 Exit 125 EASTBOUND. From the west, take Exit 121 (Grizzly Creek) or 119 (No Name), loop back, and head east. Your vehicle must remain at the rest area — no drop-offs allowed.
The 2020 fire and 2021 post-fire flooding destabilized parts of Glenwood Canyon. Rockfall and mudslide risk after heavy rain is real — I-70 and trails may close on short notice for safety. Permits are refunded if Hanging Lake closes for weather.
No dogs (or any pets) on the Hanging Lake Trail or at the rest area — even emotional support animals are not permitted. Don't leave a pet in your vehicle while you hike. Boarding services available in town. Other Glenwood trails are dog-friendly.
Hanging Lake is hike-able year-round (with proper traction in winter). Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path closes for winter and high-water events. Most other trails open by April. Wildflowers peak in July; fall colors mid-September to early October.
The hike-and-soak combo is the Glenwood Springs experience. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool (the largest geothermal pool in the world) and Iron Mountain Hot Springs (16 mineral pools facing the canyon) are both a quarter-mile from downtown. Best post-hike recovery in Colorado.