The mountaintop Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs is open and continues to be a busy summer hub for visitors despite an interruption in travel due to Mother Nature’s activity in Glenwood Canyon.
The forces of nature are powerful. Whether slow-moving or instantaneous, they leave a mark and shape the world around us. At Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, we have a deep appreciation for the workings of Mother Nature. After all, it was slowly receding acidic waters that created our marvelous caves. Sometimes, however, natural events happen suddenly, as was the case with the recent mudslides in Glenwood Canyon.
On August 10, 2020, a spark ignited the Grizzly Creek Fire. By the time it was contained in December, it had burned over 32,000 acres, much of it in Glenwood Canyon. As part of their attack plan, firefighters used Glenwood Caverns as a base of operations to defend Glenwood Springs from encroaching flames and were successful in keeping the blaze from spreading to the town. However, the loss of vegetation on the canyon’s steep slopes coupled with an excess of recent rainfall has caused large mudslides in the narrow canyon. As a result, Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon is closed to traffic for an indeterminate time while federal, state and local officials determine the best path forward.
Alternate Routes to Glenwood Springs
Like a river that flows around a large rock, getting to Glenwood Springs and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is just a matter of taking an alternate route.
For guests flying into the area, make getting around easy by adding a hop to the Western Slope. Regional airports in Aspen, Grand Junction and Montrose serve airlines that include Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United. Smaller airports also offer convenient shuttle services and car rentals; be sure to check availability or consider using a car-sharing rental app like TURO.
Those driving from the Denver area, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) suggests taking the northern route to Glenwood Springs, from Silverthorne (Hwy. 9) to Steamboat Springs (Hwy. 40) through Meeker and Rifle (Hwy. 13) to eastbound I-70. From there it’s just under 30 miles to Glenwood Springs. For those driving from Grand Junction and points west of Glenwood Springs there is no interruption in traffic flow on I-70 east.
Bustang, Colorado’s inter-regional bus service between Glenwood Springs and Denver has resumed daily service since the closure of the canyon. Amtrak’s California Zephyr has also opened its east-west passenger rail route.
It’s Fun as Usual in Glenwood Springs
Once in Glenwood Springs, visitors will find the town is bustling with attractions and restaurants open as usual for business, including Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. While a few travelers have canceled their plans due to the dramatic images and reports they’ve seen on the news and social media, visitors willing to add a little extra time to travel are taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time in the hot springs and recreation town before the start of the new school year. An added perk that’s drawing the attention of astute travelers at the moment is fewer crowds and shorter wait times for rides and attractions at the Adventure Park.
“Whether its fires, rockfalls or mudslides, Glenwood Canyon keeps us on our toes,” said Nancy Heard, General Manager at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. “These kinds of events are part of living in Colorado. As residents of this state, we know how to deal with harsh weather, winter, viruses, you name it. We’ve learned to adapt and so have our visitors. A slightly longer drive isn’t much of an impediment to the people who want to come here to experience our extreme rides and spectacular cave tours.”
Indeed, while Glenwood Canyon may be temporarily closed, thrill rides at Glenwood Caverns are moving full-speed ahead. In fact, with a bird’s eye view from rides like the Giant Canyon Swing, Cliffhanger Roller Coaster and Canyon Flyer, Adventure Park visitors are getting closer to Glenwood Canyon than any vehicle can at the moment!
If you have questions about getting to Glenwood Springs during the I-70 closure of Glenwood Canyon, please give us a call at 970-945-4228. Learn more and make plans to visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
