50 Minutes Down-Valley: Glenwood Springs Geothermal Hot Springs & Hiking to Hanging Lake

Located just 66 kilometres (41 miles, a 50-minute drive or an inexpensive ride on the express RFTA VelociRFTA bus) northwest down Highway 82 at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers (sitting at a lower, warmer 1,756 metres / 5,761 feet elevation), historic Glenwood Springs makes the top day trip from Aspen, combining the finest geothermal hot-spring pools in the Rocky Mountains with Colorado's famous waterfall lake hike.

1. Iron Mountain Hot Springs (281 Centennial St, Timed Reservation Required)

Heated deep inside the earth along a fault line, millions of gallons of 50°C mineral water bubble up along the Colorado River into two hot-spring resorts located 1 mile apart. Best for couples, views and quiet relaxation, Iron Mountain Hot Springs features 16 small terraced mineral soaking pools (ranging from 37°C to 42°C / 98°F to 108°F) built into the red-rock riverbank looking down at rafters floating past on the Colorado River, plus the 21+ Adults-Only 'WorldSprings' section (with pools replicating the mineral formulas of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, the Dead Sea and Beppu, Japan, and a poolside bar).

2. The 1888 Glenwood Hot Springs Resort Pool (401 N River St, Best for Families & History)

The largest natural hot-springs swimming pool in the world (longer than a football pitch at 123 metres / 405 feet long), paired with a 40°C therapy pool and the 5-pool Yampah Mineral Baths. Check current entry rates for both resorts on their official websites.

3. Hike to 'Hanging Lake' in Glenwood Canyon (1.9 km / 1.2 Miles Each Way, Permit Required)

Ten miles east of Glenwood Springs inside Glenwood Canyon (Exit 125 off I-70, along the drive from Denver), a steep, rocky 1.9-kilometre (1.2-mile) trail with 310 metres (1,020 feet) of elevation gain climbs alongside Dead Horse Creek to Hanging Lake, a neon-turquoise travertine lake clinging to a sheer canyon cliff and fed by three curtains of Bridal Veil Falls (plus Spouting Rock, a waterfall shooting out of a hole in the limestone cliff 5 minutes above the lake). Book your mandatory timed Hanging Lake Hiking Permit online at visitglenwood.com before going.