Recent Glenwood Depot

To understand Glenwood Springs, Colorado, you must first realize the location and how the geographic topography is responsible for most of the outdoor recreation in the area.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado is located at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers in an area known as the Colorado River Valley. Most of the area that was settled in this part of the country was along the river valley bottoms. This comprised about 5% of the total land area and the remainder of the land is made up of land under the stewardship of the State or Federal Governments in the form of the Colorado Division of Parks, the U. S. Bureau of Land Management and the U. S. Forest Service.

There are numerous back country roads and trails used by off road enthusiasts in the area. Below is a short list of some of the more popular ones within striking distance of Glenwood Springs.

Camp Hale - Many jeep trips start at historic Camp Hale between Minturn and Leadville. Camp Hale was the training camp for the famous 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army during World War II. If you are feeling ambitious, try Ptarmigan Pass to Shrine Pass and get two passes for one trip.

Flat Tops Wilderness - This road can be accessed via four-wheel drive from the Colorado River Road. The drive is scenic with aspen groves, wildflowers, and offers excellent stream and lake fishing. The Flat Tops Wilderness is part of the Mesa National Forest which is a series of mesas (Spanish for table) with over 300 lakes and streams. You could spend two weeks in this area and not begin to see it all.

Fulford Road - This was the route that the Eagle-Fulford stage took from Eagle, Colorado to Fulford, Colorado. It is well marked, just off Brush Creek Road and goes to the mining town of Fulford.

Red Sandstone Creek very scenic loop trip is from Vail to Piney Lake via Red Sandstone Creek and then around Red and White Mountain and back through Wolcott to Vail.

Table Road - This road has posted lakes all along the four-wheel drive trip which begins at Cottonwood Pass, near Basalt, Colorado and finishes out at Gypsum Creek Road, near Gypsum, Colorado.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just a one time off-roader, you will find many opportunities to enjoy the wonderful area around Glenwood Springs. Inquire at any of the lodging in the area and they can arrange for information and road trips. Who knows, they might even offer to get you to that one special place all Coloradoans keep for their private get-a-way!

1890 Glenwood Depot

Glenwood Springs View East