Glenwood Hot Springs Sightseeing Side Trip

Taking a scenic drive never gets old, especially when you’ve planned ahead or added an extra day or two onto your Glenwood Hot Springs vacation. Hit the highway, or in the case of the Flat Tops—the unpaved, sometimes rocky road that traverses the mountains north of Glenwood Springs.

The Flat Tops are located in the White River National Forest, Colorado’s most visited national forest! To orient yourself, if you’re floating in the geothermal waters of the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the Flat Tops are easily identified by their linear skyline contours. As the crow flies, they are situated behind the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge.

You can access the Flat Tops in a few places: at the east end of Glenwood Canyon via the Coffee Pot Road near Dotsero, the Buford Road in New Castle or the Flat Tops Scenic Byway—a spectacular 82-mile long drive from Yampah to Meeker, Colorado.

Things to see and do on your Flat Tops sightseeing tour include driving to one of the area’s many lakes. Trapper’s Lake is considered the cradle of the American Wilderness movement. In 1920, Arthur Carhart, a surveyor hired by the US Forest Service recommended the stunning landscape be set aside and kept free from development in perpetuity. It is considered the birthplace of the US Wilderness Area system. Other lakes, closer to Glenwood Springs include Deep Lake and Heart Lake. Pack a picnic — the Grill at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort can whip up some tasty sandwiches and wraps for your outing —a fishing a pole (remember to purchase a fishing license though) and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty.

You could also park your vehicle at one of numerous trails that criss-cross the Flat Tops. Hiking is a popular activity, especially during Colorado’s summer wildflower and leaf-peeping seasons. Devil’s Causeway is one of the more terrifying hikes with steep exposure on both sides, however most hikes on the Flat Tops are easy-to-moderate walks through meadows and aspen glades. Check with the local US Forest Service in Glenwood Springs for maps and hiking trail recommendations.

The Flat Tops also is home to an amazing array of wildlife including huge herds of elk and mule deer, big horn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, fox, small mammals like rabbits, racoons, beaver, marmots as well as a thriving population of fish and fowl. Wildlife tends to be shy, but if you’re quiet and observant, you might get lucky and spot a majestic bull elk, a wobbly-legged fawn or grouse taking off like helicopters from the oak brush. Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera just in case.

At the end your Flat Tops day trip from Glenwood Springs, circle back to the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool for a leisurely soak. After a day of hiking, fishing or a few hours driving, nothing feels as relaxing as long soak in the healing geothermal waters of Glenwood Hot Springs Pool.

To learn more about exploring around Glenwood Springs and to make lodging, visit www.hotspringspool.com.