Copyright: USDA Forest Service
Aerial view of Glenwood Canyon, looking to the east
|
Description - The Glenwood Springs Area includes Glenwood Canyon, the portion of the Colorado River around Glenwood Springs and the lower Roaring Fork River Valley. The area is located approximately 160 miles west of Denver.
Glenwood Springs lies at the confluence of the Colorado and the Roaring Fork Rivers, halfway between famous neighbors Vail and Aspen. Glenwood Canyon lies east of the community, the Flat Tops lie to the north, and the Roaring Fork Valley exists to the south. This area offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, many of which are located on National Forest or BLM lands.
Attractions
- Glenwood Springs lies at the confluence of the Colorado and the Roaring Fork Rivers, halfway between famous neighbors Vail and Aspen. Glenwood Canyon lies east of the community, the Flat Tops lie to the north, and the Roaring Fork Valley exists to the south. This area offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, many of which are located on National Forest or BLM lands.
Recreation - Some of the outdoor activities in the warm weather months include hiking, biking, river rafting, kayaking, camping, climbing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, four-wheel driving and swimming in the world's largest natural hot springs pool. Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, snowshoeing, fishing and swimming. Climate - Elevations in the area range from 5,700 feet in the valley bottom to over 11,000 feet on the nearby mountains. Glenwood Springs has a comfortable semiarid climate. The weather is generally pleasant in all seasons with very few days of extreme weather. Humidity is low throughout the year. Average high temperatures in the valley bottoms range from 30-40F, in winter, to 80-90F, in summer. Average annual precipitation is 16.5 inches with an average annual snowfall of 67 inches. Much of the area and its recreation facilities lie at higher elevations where significantly lower temperatures and more precipitation can be expected. Vegetation includes piñon and juniper forests and sagebrush at lower elevations, aspen and lodgepole pine at intermediate elevations and Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir forests above about 10,000 feet. Location -
Glenwood Springs is located about 160 miles west of Denver, 90 miles east of Grand Junction and 40 miles northwest of Aspen. The area is accessible via Interstate 70, Amtrak, Greyhound and nearby airports.
LAT: 39.5505376
LONG: -107.3247762
|
Add your own trip Report!