Denver to Glenwood Springs & Aspen, colorado
Attractions Guide

The route between the cities of Denver and Glenwood Springs passes through the Rocky Mountains and vast dense forests, as well as near many popular ski resort towns as well, including Aspen, Vail, Avon, Silverthorne and Breckenridge.

Just west of Denver is Mount Evans, one of the few high altitude peaks of the Rocky Mountains which has a road leading to the summit, passing by Echo Lake and beautiful Summit Lake. From the top you can enjoy stunning views over the Chicago Lakes and surrounding landscape.

Nearby Mt. Evans is the tiny town of St. Mary's which is named after the nearby glacier. You enjoy amazing views of this glacier via the easy 1.4 mile (2.3 km) round-trip St. Mary's Glacier Trail, which concludes at the lovely Saint Mary's Lake, which sits just below the glacier.

Continue along the highway, and consider taking the longer more scenic route to Silverthorne via the beautiful Loveland Pass, which features scenic pull-outs and passes over the Continental Divide.

The city of Silverthorne sits above the Dillon Reservoir Lake, which is surrounded by many tall mountains. Be sure to take in views over the reservoir set amongst this picturesque lake from the Old Dillon Reservoir Trailhead near Silverthorne, as well as the Sapphire Point Overlook on the opposite side of the lake.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Just south of Silverthorne is the extremely popular ski resort town of Breckenridge, which hosts a lovely Main Street lined with many great reastaurants, cafes, shops, boutiques, and bars, as well as many hotels.

Reaching Aspen, Colorado

After Silvethorne you can take a shortcut to reach Aspen, however this highway is only open during warmer months after the snow melts. In the colder months it's recommended to first travel to Glenwood Springs and then take a detour down to Aspen.

The scenic route to Aspen includes the majestic Independence Pass, a high elevation road surrounded by mountain peaks. Just before reaching Aspen you can stop to explore along the mesmerizing Grottos Trail, which hosts slick intricate grotto caves carved out by ice which sit along the Roaring Fork River alongside small waterfalls.

Aspen is famous for its ski resorts, however the town is also very beautiful and hosts excellent hiking in the warmer months.

Maroon Bells

Near Aspen you can hike around the gorgeous Maroon Lake, which sits in front of the magnificent Maroon Bells mountain peaks. The 1.9 mile (3.1 km) round-trip Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail ventures beyond the lake and offers fantastic views of these iconic mountain peaks. It's even possible to continue hiking far beyond into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, which hosts many more trails. You can add an extra 2.6 miles (4.2 km) round-trip to the Maroon Bells loop hike to reach the serene Crater Lake for instance.

You can drive around to the other side of the Maroon Bells (approximately 1.5 hours one-way from Aspen) to visit the incredibly picturesque and remote Crystal Mill. In order to reach the mill you'll need a 4x4 vehicle, otherwise you'll need to hike a scenic but long 8.2 miles (13.2 km) round-trip along the Crystal River, starting from Lizard Lake to reach this wondrous sight.

Glenwood Springs sits within a stunning canyon along the Colorado River and is known for its natural hot springs and natural beauty. The city hosts the massive outdoor Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, a great place to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Adjacent to the pool is the Hotel Colorado, a charming 19th century Italianate structure which is among the oldest hotels in Colorado.

An even higher recommendation however is the popular Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which sits along the Colorado River. This hot spring complex consists of over twenty natural spring pools with various tempatures and qualities.

Take the tramway above Glenwood Springs to the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park for gorgeous views over the city. The park features a sizable cave you can tour, as well as exciting rides and more.

Hanging Lake Trail

Just east of Glenwood Springs you'll find the trailhead for one of Colorado's most famous hikes, the Hanging Lake Trail. Unfortunately this hike has become so popular that you now must pay to reserve a permit ahead of time in order to visit the lake.

The Hanging Lakes Trail hike has a significant elevation gain of about 1,200 feet (370 m) but is only 2.8 miles (4.5 km) round-trip. The trail offers incredibly beautiful scenery along the way, leading to the breathtakingly picturesque Hanging Lake, which is a deep blue-green color and has waterfalls flowing into it.