Iron Mountain Hot Springs is a serene wellness retreat nestled along the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Boasting 32 soaking pools with temperatures ranging from 98°F to 108°F, the resort offers a tranquil escape amidst the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
For a bit of excitement and great for kids, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a must-visit. They offer cave tours, a zip line, and even a giant swinging pendulum. It’s a fun place to explore and enjoy some thrills.
If you’re looking to relax, Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves provide a unique experience with their natural steam rooms. It’s a perfect spot to unwind after a day of adventures.
Whether you want a coffee/tea or a pastry, visit their boutique, or pamper yourself at the spa, this spot is truly special. The outdoor space features a Zen Garden, a wishing tree, a reflexology path, a praying Buddha, a yoga space, and a labyrinth. The garden is free and open to the public.
Our favorite restaurant in Carbondale. Just as our name implies, it's a tiny restaurant so call ahead if you can. They accept walk-ins when there's room and the bar is always sat on a first-come, first-served basis. During the summer months, they have a Tiny Tiki Bar located in the backyard.
Found at the intersection of HWY 133 & HWY 82, Mushroom Rock Trail is a favorite in-town hike. Easily accessed from town, the Mushroom Rock trailhead is a great option for an early morning hike or sunset stroll. The two-mile, out-and-back trail is rated as difficult for its steep climb to the top. You can hike out onto Mushroom Rock for never-ending vista views of Mount Sopris and the surrounding Rockies. But you can still get the incredible views without walking out onto Mushroom Rock. The trail does continue on to other inner-connecting trails if you’d like to make your outing longer.
The most popular trail for walking, running, and biking runs right through the middle of town. The Rio Grande Trail is a 42-mile trail that runs from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. One mile of the trail is designated as the ARTway trail. Along this section of the trail, see colorful murals, paintings, sculptures, and more from local artists who contributed work over the years. The main entrance is off HWY 133, you can’t miss the ARTway sign.
Thomas Lakes trail is one of the prettiest hikes in the area, and has some spectacular views and gorgeous woodland. This 8.1 roundtrip hike isn't overly brutal, but does have some steeper sections in elevation.
One of our other favorite Carbondale trails is the Lorax Trail. For both mountain bikers and hikers, the Lorax Trail is a 3-mile lollipop loop with beautiful views of Mt. Sopris and some unusual-looking trees. Access the trailhead via Thompson Creek Rd (CR 108). There is parking and well-marked signs.
Only open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 am-noon, but well worth rearranging your schedule to stop by this place. Served out of a custom made blue and yellow food wagon, two lovely women, Fiona and Sophia, serve breakfast, coffee and sandwiches on freshly baked bread and rolls. Ingredients are fresh and local when possible. They also serve freshly baked bagels with home made jam, delicious organic coffee, home-made cookies etc. Their morning buns and Swedish cinnamon rolls sell out fast.
This place never disappoints. While it's not a traditional Thai restaurant, they offer food and drinks inspired by their travels to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and beyond. The atmosphere is fun too.
A good stop for a breakfast, coffee, or a lunch sandwich. Plenty of seating and decent Wi-Fi service.
Only open from 7 am to 2 pm, this is a great breakfast, brunch, or lunch spot if you're looking for some sit-down traditional food. This restaurant has been a Carbondale icon since it opened in 1975. Formerly a ‘black smith’ building, now it's become a community restaurant.
Carbondale Beer Works crafts its own in-house beers along with carrying other local breweries. The food isn't too bad either.
With a menu of Colorado-style pies, brews, shareables, and salads, this place is worth waiting for if crowded. If it’s warm enough, ask to sit on the patio or at one of three dog-friendly tables in the lawn flanking the two-story Colonial-style home that gives the eatery its name.
A beautiful, fun, welcoming restaurant & bar with warm, friendly service, & a great vibe alongside the river, in Historic Downtown Basalt.
Rock Bottom Ranch, operated by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), is a 113-acre wildlife preserve and educational farm located in Basalt, Colorado. Serving as ACES' mid-valley hub, the ranch is dedicated to environmental education, wildlands preservation, and sustainable agriculture.
A lovely spot for a hot springs soak. This is a hidden gem and books up fast. Recommend calling a month out to book a day or night soak during your trip.
A hit or miss spot dependent on river conditions, but you can't beat a free to access hot springs right along the Crystal River. Sitting at the mouth of the Narrows, a granite section of the canyon cut by the Crystal River, they are easily found at a large parking lot on the east side of Highway 133, a few hundred feet north of mile marker 55.
Propaganda Pie is a Detroit style pizza restaurant located on the boulevard in Redstone, Colorado. Redstone is about 23 minutes from Carbondale. We love this pizza spot because it not only makes amazing pizza, but you can also play pool or one of the arcade games. There's also great outdoor seating by the river when the weather is nice.