For athletes, wellness travelers and locals focused on staying active, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has become much more than a place to soak. It is the centerpiece of a Glenwood Springs fitness vacation and a place where training, recovery and overall wellness work together in one setting.
Established in 1888, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort continues to evolve as a gathering place for people who want to stay healthy, train harder and feel better. Today, the resort is the best Colorado hot springs for athletes due to seven hot springs pools of varying temperatures (including two cold plunges), lap lanes in the Grand Pool, and a full-service Athletic Club with modern gym equipment, fitness classes, hot tub, sauna and steam room.
From endurance athletes preparing for races to locals building healthy routines and travelers seeking active Glenwood Springs fitness vacations, the resort supports every stage of the journey and is a year-round athletic training facility that also offers pure relaxation.
Roaring Fork Women’s Triathlon Team
In preparation for the Outdoor Diva Triathlon in Longmont on August 16, 2026, the Roaring Fork Women’s Triathlon Team begins swim training by using the lap lanes at Glenwood Springs Community Center before moving to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort for a day.
“Prior to making the switch to open water swim training, our sponsor, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, is gracious enough to allow the team to come to the pool before it opens to the public to practice swimming without lane lines by swimming the long way [in the Grand Pool]. It is a milestone in our program—the first chance the women get to feel what it means to swim for 20 minutes without stopping,” says Carla Westerman, lead coach along with Sharma Phillips.
Founded in 1999, Roaring Fork Women’s Triathlon Team spent the early years doing most of its swim training at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort until making the shift to the community center in 2018 in effort to avoid interrupting hot springs guests and having team members stop and start while swimming.
“It has worked out great for everyone, and we have continued to be given the opportunity to do our long swim before heading to Harvey Gap [for open water swim training] every year since 1999,” says Westerman.
The team’s running and biking workouts also happen throughout Glenwood Springs, with city streets and the Rio Grande Bike Path serving as training grounds for the team. The pools and trails in Glenwood Springs provide an ideal triathlon training combination in western Colorado.
The athletes also took part in the Strawberry Shortcut’s Wiley Coyote 5K held on June 21 during Strawberry Days Festival. The festival was presented by Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and Alpine Bank in partnership with the Glenwood Springs Chamber Foundation and the City of Glenwood Springs.
While the immediate goal is preparing athletes for the Outdoor Diva Sprint Triathlon, the team represents something larger than competition.
“It is about joining a community of like-minded women who lift each other up and cheer for each other as we teach the sport of swim, bike and run. It is about being a part of something that is bigger than yourself,” emphasizes Westerman, noting that 70 to 75 women plan to make the trip to Longmont.
“We pride ourselves on having a place for everyone. From the women who have never ever done something like this, to the seasoned pros, there is something for everyone. Crossing the finish line changes what is possible for these ladies,” she says.
A Long Tradition of Wellness and Recovery
Established in 1888, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has long been at the heart of a Glenwood Springs fitness vacation for soothing mind, body and spirit in the natural hot springs water. The water contains 15 minerals and is delivered by the on-site Yampah Source Spring, which produces 3.5 million gallons daily.
Long before the resort officially opened, the Ute people recognized the healing and gathering benefits of the mineral-rich waters and named the spring Yampah, meaning “Big Medicine.”
And during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, the hot springs and neighboring Hotel Colorado were used exclusively as a U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital.
Today, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort features seven pools with varying temperatures, including the five pools within Yampah Mineral Baths, introduced in May 2024. Rotating between the hot and cold pools, including the two cold plunges, has become part of many local and visiting athletes’ recovery and training routines.
Contrast therapy, which alternates between heat and cold exposure, has become increasingly popular among endurance athletes, runners, cyclists and fitness enthusiasts looking to improve circulation, reduce soreness and support muscle recovery. Combining contrast therapy with Colorado mineral hot springs for recovery is even more impactful.
Athletic Club Amenities for Every Level
In addition to the pools, the resort’s full-service Athletic Club is an important part of a Glenwood Springs fitness vacation. Members and day guests have access to a complete wellness and training experience that includes use of:
- Modern gym equipment
- Group fitness classes
- Racquetball and handball courts
- Hot tub
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Dedicated locker rooms
The community has recognized the resort’s commitment to fitness and wellness. In the 2026 Locals’ Choice Awards sponsored by the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort earned seven awards, including Best Gym/Fitness Studio and Best Yoga Studio.
Wellness Travel at Hotel 1888
For travelers focused on active wellness, recovery and relaxation, Hotel 1888 offers a unique experience to stay alongside the world’s largest hot springs pool, known as the Grand Pool. Every overnight stay at Hotel 1888 includes a guest membership to the Athletic Club, making it easy for visitors to combine workouts, recovery and relaxation during their stay.
To celebrate Hotel 1888’s first anniversary that took place on June 12, 2026, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort introduced the Vapor Cave Spa Package in partnership with neighboring Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves. The package combines luxury accommodations with restorative wellness treatments designed to help guests recharge both physically and mentally.
Package highlights include:
- 10% off Hotel 1888 accommodations
- One 80-minute massage per registered guest
- Two hours of access to Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves
- Complimentary breakfast at the 1888 Bistro
- Athletic Club guest membership access
- Unlimited admission to all Glenwood Hot Springs Resort pools during business hours
Train, Recover and Reconnect
For athletes seeking training and hot springs recovery, travelers desiring a Glenwood Springs fitness vacation and locals building healthy habits, the combination of mineral-rich waters, fitness amenities and mountain surroundings creates an experience unlike anywhere else in Colorado.
At Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, wellness is not treated as a trend. It has been part of the experience for generations. From lap swimming and strength training to cold plunges and hot springs soaking, the resort aims to make people feel better and remains a place where people come to train, recover and reconnect.
