Top 10 Hiking Trails in the Roaring Fork Valley

Thinking about visiting Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley, but not sure what to do on your visit? Try visiting our world renowned hiking trails for an unforgettable outdoor experience! Here are the top 10 best hikes.

1. Doc Holliday’s Grave Trailhead

Difficulty: Easy
A hike to the legendary gunslinger’s grave is the perfect choice for beginners new to the area and visitors still getting used to the altitude. A beautiful, leisurely, and shady hike to Linwood Cemetery with a host of interesting landmarks and fascinating explanatory plaques along the way make this the perfect hike for the history buff interested in learning about the area!

2. Hanging Lake

Difficulty: Moderate

With crystal-clear water and a sterling reputation, Hanging Lake is a critical experience for anyone hoping to visit Glenwood Springs. With an easily accessible location right off of I-70, and a length of about one-mile, this hike is perfect for a day trip, and has a very satisfying finish: just make sure to head out early to beat the crowd, and try to stay off the log!

3. Storm King Mountain Trail

Difficulty: Hard

The Storm King Mountain trail is a memorial built by volunteers, to honor the firefighters who bravely gave their lives on July 6th, 1994. Much like the men it was designed to honor, the trail is rugged and tough: while not for the faint of heart, the observation points, valleys, sheer cliffs, and touching memorial shrine at the end of the trail offer an unforgettable experience to those ready to brave the dangers and intensity. Be sure to pack adequate water and food for this trail!

4. Grizzly Creek Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Following along the beautiful, burbling Grizzly Creek, there are ample opportunities to stop, rest, and enjoy an outdoor picnic or even fish! The swirling waves and rapids are a beautiful companion for any hiker, and can even help you cool off in the hotter times of year, but be careful those currents are as strong as they are lovely!

5. Glenwood Canyon Trail

Difficulty: Medium
Running between the Colorado River and I-70, the Glenwood Canyon trail is an excellent choice for bikers who want a beautiful view without a major uphill hike- with lots of opportunities to hop on and off the trail, you’ll have an easy, no-strings adventure with plenty of opportunities for rest and refreshment.

6. Red Mountain Trail / The Jeanne Golay Trail

Difficulty: Hard
A favorite pick for trainers and those looking for physical conditioning with their hike, be prepared for quite the workout! The Jeanne Golay Trail is named for famed local Jeanne Golay, who trained and raced on this road on her way to winning the National Road Cycling Championships in ‘92, ‘94, and ’95, and you’ll quickly see how she maintained an edge in endurance after reaching the top! With a great view and a guaranteed, downhill-only route for bikers and hikers on the way back, Red Mountain is an excellent pick for those looking for a quiet but intensive experience.

7. Mushroom Rock

Difficulty: Easy
Bisecting the Crystal and Roaring Fork Valleys, Mushroom Rock is a short (.6 mile) and fun hike approximate to neighboring Carbondale, just outside of Glenwood Springs. Great for biking, and those who are looking for a great view, but be sure to bring adequate sun protection: though this is a short hike, there isn’t much foliage to go along with the views, and exposure can be a concern!

8. Boy Scout Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Universally considered to be the best trail by bike-riding enthusiasts of the area, the Boy Scout Trail begins with a 6 mile climb, but ends with a smooth cruise through Forest Hollow with gorgeous views, wildflowers, and a year-round cool breeze. The ride downhill will deposit you right into Glenwood Springs for a well-deserved post-hike celebratory meal!

9. Atkinson Canal Trail

Difficulty: Easy
A paved, perfectly accessible 3.1 mile trail for all ages and abilities, Atkinson Canal Trail is the perfect choice for families with children- it runs along the Roaring Fork River and has a great many amenities and picnic areas if you decide you need a break. Dogs are also permitted, and the full trail is entirely wheelchair accessible!

10. Arbaney Kittel

Difficulty: Easy
A little further upvalley near Basalt is Arbaney Kittel- a dirt-only trail with midvalley charm and more isolated from the crowds that tend to come in from I-70. Quiet, dog friendly, and perfect for dogs, bikes, and even horseback riding! If you’re curious about the full Roaring Fork Valley experience, Arbaney Kittel is a must!

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Glenwood Springs has been the choice of hiking enthusiasts for decades, and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon- visit The Property Shop today and let us help you find the perfect home base nearby!

Living in Glenwood Springs — 7 Reasons to Relocate to Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs

Are you looking to move on to something bigger and better? Eager to get away from the traffic and hustle of metropolitan life, but worried you’ll miss the culture, class, and artistic depth of the big city? Why not have it both ways? Relocate to Glenwood Springs today and live in a beautiful, welcoming, up-and-coming mountain community!

Nestled between the Colorado River and Storm King Mountain, Glenwood Springs offers countless delights for the new visitor or resident: here’s what you should check out first!

1. The Hiking
If you’re not a nature enthusiast already, Glenwood Springs is guaranteed to make you one. Hanging Lake is routinely featured on blogs and subreddits for nature and hiking connoisseurs everywhere, along with Glenwood Canyon Trail and Red Mountain Trail. With a beautiful, temperate mountain climate several degrees cooler than Denver, you can hike, bike, and walk comfortably on a year-round basis.

2. The Vibrant Community Events
From Farmers Markets to Summer Concerts, the nights in Glenwood Springs are alive and electric with amazing and unique community events. From disc golf to live music, there’s nearly always something interesting going on! Glenwood Springs also hosts the historic Strawberry Days, the oldest, continuously held public celebration west of the Mississippi, and even has its very own highly successful Vaudeville Theatre, Escape Room and local gaming store.

3. The Skiing
A stone’s throw away from the world-renowned slopes of Aspen, Snowmass, and Vail, Glenwood is the perfect home base for the skiing enthusiast. Why force yourself to commute out from the urban sprawl just to cram in as much skiing as you can in a hectic weekend? Instead, live where the slopes are right outside your front door and ski any day of the week you desire!

4. The Hot Springs
The Glenwood Hot Springs are an incredible American natural wonder and a favorite of Glenwood Residents – for 130 years these sparkling mineral waters have eased the aches and pains of visitors and provided a unique oasis for the mountain residents to congregate and socialize. With a world-class fitness center and an extremely convenient location, you’ll quickly see why the Glenwood Hot Springs has drawn settlers from far and wide through the ages.

5. The Outdoor Activities
In Glenwood Springs, there is an endlessly inventive and exciting array of activities on offer. First, of course, is the nationally recognized and award-winning fishing. The majestic Colorado River, a certified Gold Metal Water, flows directly through the center of the community. Also atop the water are opportunities to go whitewater rafting with Blue Sky Adventures or Glenwood Adventure Company. If water sports aren’t quite your thing, try spelunking with the Glenwood Adventure Caverns, or flying through the air in a hot air balloon with the local Above it All Balloon Company! There’s something for everyone in Glenwood Springs, and you can see the full list of activities here!

6. Job Growth And The Burgeoning Entrepreneurial Community
With Glenwood’s newfound popularity and the associated influx of smart, creative young professionals, it’s natural that Glenwood has also seen an explosion of job growth and new businesses. Colorado has always been the proud home of pioneers who want to make their own way in the world, and that has lead to a host of tech startups and small professional groups springing up and building a unique business network – GlenX, Roaring Fork Technologists, the artist collectives of nearby Carbondale, technology companies. Glenwood is also a fantastic choice for anyone working in forestry, outdoor education, the culinary industry or hospitality, as there are multiple globally-popular tourist destinations and nature preserves nearby.

7. Rising Property Values
Safely tucked away in a cool and shady mountain paradise, Glenwood Springs was once a secret outpost and getaway known to only a few prospectors and native Americans. Now, it’s a rapidly growing, in-demand, and trendy destination: with an average increase of 80% to property value in the last five years, you can be guaranteed that a home purchase in Glenwood Springs is an investment with a high return. Let The Property Shop help you find the perfect home for you and your family today, and we’ll see you on the slopes!

Ask a local and you’ll hear dozens of reasons why they love living in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We’re grateful to be a part of the Glenwood Springs community! One of our core values is “We Live Here, We Give Here”. Learn more and contact us to learn more about Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Glenwood Springs Events and Activities: Summer 2018

Glenwood Springs Downtown Market

Image: Glenwood Springs Downtown Market

Summer in Glenwood Springs is chock-full of fun and exciting events and outdoor activities. There’s a lot to do in Glenwood Springs in the summer, so we’re only going to highlight a handful. Let’s get started!

Glenwood Springs Downtown Market

Visit the Glenwood Springs Downtown Market for locally-grown vegetables and fruit, flowers, baked goods, clothing, jewelry, artwork, food vendors, and live music. The market is held at Centennial Park between 9th Street and Grand Avenue on Tuesdays from 4:00-8:00 PM.

Big Summer Block Party

Friday, August 10 and Saturday, August 11

Check out the Big Summer Block Party for live music, food vendors, activities for kids, and a beer garden. The Salida circus will also be there with a snake charmer, jugglers, and stilt walker.

Music on the Mountain

Listen to live music at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Ride the tram, bus, or Adventure Vehicle to the top of Iron Mountain for free when you bring a canned food item for the Lift-Up Community Food Pantry.

Colorado River Rafting

From Glenwood Springs, you can easily experience a whitewater rafting adventure on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. We recommend signing up for a guided raft trip with a local guide company to get the most fun out of the experience. Sign up for a half or full day adventure on the water.

Hike No Name Trail

The No Name Trail, also known as the Jess Weaver Trail #1847, starts in Glenwood Canyon and traverses up into No Name Canyon, all the while following No Name Creek. The moderate trail is 7.6 miles one way.

To get to the trailhead, head east on I-70 into Glenwood Canyon for two miles and take exit 119 for No Name. From the highway exit, turn left to cross over I-70 and drive for a half mile to the trailhead parking lot.

Golf at Glenwood Springs Golf Club

Located in West Glenwood Springs, the Glenwood Springs Golf Club is a 9-hole public golf course with beautiful mountain views from the fairways. Take a lesson, visit the pro shop, and practice putting and chipping. Also, visit The Greenside Grill for breakfast and lunch.

We hope you’re able to get out there this summer to enjoy these events and activities in Glenwood Springs!

Grand Avenue Bridge Tour with The Property Shop!

What an excursion we had with the knowledgeable public information team from the Grand Avenue Bridge project!

Here at The Property Shop – we look for opportunities to stay informed about community projects so we can guide our clients with as much information as possible. Just as the new Glenwood bridge construction connects the north to the south, we would like to connect you to your new home – we would like to be your bridge home in 2017.  Make The Property Shop your “PLACE” to shop for property and let us help you sell or buy real estate!

Model of Grand Avenue Bridge Project at Glenwood Springs City Hall | The Property Shop, Inc.
Model of Grand Avenue Bridge Project at Glenwood Springs City Hall | The Property Shop, Inc.


Our tour started at City Hall, checking out an overview of different project phases as well as a visualization of the project outcome with the miniature model. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you should. It is a wonderful way to see what the final product will look like.

From City Hall, we had a look at the project from several stopping points around the project. While you can see a lot of the progress from the road, the views and information we took in on our walking tour brought a much more holistic perspective and understanding of the massive scope of this project.

Construction Crews on 7th Street | Grand Avenue Bridge Project | The Property Shop, Inc.
Grand Avenue Bridge Project Construction Crews on 7th Street | The Property Shop, Inc.

The Property Shop, Inc. brokers learn about the Grand Avenue Bridge Project | View south from GAB job site on north side of the river
The Property Shop, Inc. brokers learn about the Grand Avenue Bridge Project | View south from GAB job site on north side of the river

Our Take

In many ways, the Grand Avenue Bridge is a gateway to our area. Sometimes, it can be hard to see the challenges and the advantages of what this new bridge will bring. Construction is always tough on communities, and our city will be no different. This bridge and the impact it will have are unprecedented. In our small town, we’re not used to waiting in a line of cars seemingly not moving. The big trucks don’t add much to the nerves either.

We love our Glenwood Springs home and we believe that the new pedestrian and traffic bridges will add to our community – they will be well worth the wait! Glenwood Springs and our valley is on the cusp of a new era. We see the evidence all the time, not just with the Grand Avenue Bridge project, but in all the new investment and development planned for our area. We foresee great potential for reinvigorated prosperity and opportunity in Glenwood and the region. It is going to be great!

If you or someone you know wants more information on the region or Glenwood Springs real estate, please contact us. This is our community and we can help you make your best decision.

>> Shop Glenwood Springs Homes for Sale
>> Shop Glenwood Springs Land & Lots for Sale

Thank you to the GAB Public Information team for the tour! | The Property Shop, Inc.
Thank you to the GAB Public Information team for the tour! | The Property Shop, Inc.

What We Are Excited About

Multimodal Connectivity

One aspect of this project we are particularly excited about is the accommodation of multimodal transportation, including busses, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The new layout will help to provide, safer and easier access from one side of town to the other.  The pedestrian underpass on River Street will give pedestrians access from the north side of the Colorado River through beautiful Two Rivers Park to the Rio Grande Trail.

The New Pedestrian Bridge

The Phase II Fact Sheet describes the new pedestrian bridge as a “steel girder bridge with lookout points, dual elevators, and red brick exterior. The bridge will be 16-feet wide and accommodate both pedestrian and bike traffic”. It will have spectacular views of the Colorado River, Glenwood Canyon, the Hot Springs Pool and west to South Canyon. It connects the 6th Street and the historic hot springs district to 7th Street and the rest of our charming downtown.  The new pedestrian bridge is set to open for public use this year and is considered one of the most important assets of the approximately 95-day detour.

The New Traffic Bridge

For starters, the current traffic bridge is more than five-decades old. The Grand Avenue Bridge Fact Sheet states, “Replacing the GAB provides a long-term solution to numerous issues, mitigates all clearance issues and best serves the public as a whole. The current traffic bridge was constructed in 1953 and is considered “functionally obsolete” by the threshold in the National Bridge Inventory.”

We have long heard of plans to replace the bridge and it is so exciting to see the project move forward.

Hard to conceive now, both bridges will add beauty to our town as iconic features for many years.

Picture Album from The Property Shop’s
Grand Avenue Bridge Tour

Use the arrows to see more pictures from our tour!

 

Other Handy Information We Learned

According to a January article by Tom Newland, GAB Public Information manager, “Pedestrian and business access will continue to remain open throughout the project. Phase two will be completed in March… Phase three work will be completed this spring and summer. Phase three is all construction activity prior to the bridge detour, scheduled to begin Aug. 14, 2017.” In preparation for the detour, our community will have to be thoughtful and work together to be successful.

Keep an eye out for the updates in the Post Independent including the team’s weekly Monday column, Answer Man. Be sure to sign up for project updates and reach out to the project team if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.  There is a lot of information out there designed to keep you in the know.

Additional Information

For more information regarding the Glenwood Springs Grand Avenue Bridge Project:

Click here to sign up for project update emails.

Helpful Resources

Glenwood Springs 4th Quarter 2016 Market Snapshot

Take a peak at the Glenwood Springs 4th Quarter 2016 Market Snapshot – we had a great finish to the year! Stay tuned for the next market feature!!

We continued to see a decrease in the number of active listings from Quarter three, but the number of listings is slightly more than in 4th Quarter 2015.

Glenwood Springs inventory is still low – it is a great time to sell.

If you have any questions about this market snapshot or if you would like more information about your market, please contact us. We love helping our clients understand the complexities of our local market. This snapshot provides a great overview, but every neighborhood is different.

Q4 Market Snapshot 2016 - GWS

 

Click here to learn more about the Glenwood Springs community.

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The Property Shop, Inc.
1117 Grand Avenue
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970.947.9300


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