By Lisa T. Bergren

After our spectacularly successful day at the Glenwood Caverns & Adventure Park, we were excited to devote the late morning and early afternoon to nothing but the pool, before hitting the road for our four hour return trip home. Our Saturday evening dip was ho-hum, but the kids were excited to try out the waterslides (open 12-5). I wanted to know more about what the Ute Indians called the “Yampah” springs, or “Big Medicine.” People had been coming to “take the waters” since the late 1800s; I knew it was something I wanted to experience.

The Hot Springs Lodge

We’d spent the night at the Hot Springs Lodge, which we thought was overpriced for what you get. We’d reserved a suite, giving the five of us more room (Jack actually got to sleep in a bed instead of on the floor, for once!), but they put us on the first floor, which was basically like a daylight basement, and the total bill was a whopping $289, a shocker after our great stay the night before for far less. It helped that we had unlimited pool access, which saved us more than $100, because we went twice. But seriously—if you go, stay somewhere else and come over to the pool for a few hours. If you’re like us, it’ll be plenty of time.

The Hot Springs Pool

The large pool (90-93 degrees) slopes from about three feet deep to a maximum depth of twelve feet at the far end, where they have a diving board, a novelty for most kids these days, given that pool owners are lawsuit-fearful.  Beyond that is a small pool where the two waterslides spill into. For an additional fee, riders can check them out. I recommend you buy one, 8-ride pass that kids can share before you make the all-day ticket commitment. Unfortunately, the day we went, the pump died and they could only open the smaller blue slide, which ripped my daughter’s swim suit and left abuse marks on my other two because of the ridges. The bigger, green slide looked like much more fun, since kids could ride on rafts down, which presumably would spare them the aches and pains my kids suffered the next day.

On the far end of the pool is a smaller, therapy pool (104 degrees), popular with the older crowd (and moms like me), but a bit too hot for the kids to stay in for long.

Hot Springs Details for the Summer (after 5/24):

• Mon-Fri $16.75 adults; $10.75 children
• Sat-Sun $18.25 adults; $11.25 children
• Waterslides: $18 all day; $7.50 for 8 rides
• Open 7:30am – 10pm
• Tickets slightly discounted after 6pm so you could come for the evening
• Good lifeguard coverage
• Bring your own water toys, goggles, etc
• Bring food in and picnic or there’s a poolside grill
• Great locker rooms, well kept and clean

All in all, we were glad to experience the hot springs pool, but I doubt we’d return for more than a few hours. Between the highway right beside it (and the noise that accompanies it), the sulphuric smell (which, yeah, yeah, I know is part of the game) and the throngs of people, it just wasn’t our scene. We would rather be hiking, biking, touring.

But that didn’t color how we felt about Glenwood Springs. We’re glad we tried out the pool and we’re eager to go back  to Glenwood. For what I’d do next time, check out my 3 Weekend Getaways in Glenwood post.

Have YOU been to Glenwood Springs? Did you check out the pool? Share your experience below!