Glenwood Caverns
Glenwood Caverns (formerly called the Fairy Caves) is an extensive cave system located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Caverns are now part of the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a popular Colorado tourist attraction. The caves are accessed by a 4,300-foot (1,300 m) cable car ride which takes visitors to the top of Iron Mountain. The park offers a 70 minute guided walking tour suitable for all ages. The caverns are well lit and there are well-maintained walkways with safety hand railings but no elevator or wheelchair access. The Cave Tour is approximately half a mile (800 m) in length and includes 127 stairs. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, visitors learn about the history, geology and legends of Colorado’s largest show cave open to the public.
Main attractions
The Barn and King's Row are gigantic rooms deep within the earth with cave formations such as soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites and cave bacon. It is also possible to visit “Exclamation Point”, a cliff-side balcony with panoramic views of the Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River.
Tours available
In addition to the basic Cave Tour, it is also possible to take a more strenuous two-hour Wild tour, exploring new areas of the cave, including some belly crawling. The Wild Tour offers the most physically demanding excursion into the caves, exploring rarely visited areas in their natural, undeveloped state.
Other attractions
In addition to the cave tours, there is an outdoor recreation complex on top of the mountain with several thrill rides including the first alpine coaster in North America and Colorado's only 4D theater, mild rides, and children's activities such as a sluice box and geode cutting. There is a mountain-top restaurant, and an observation deck with a panoramic view of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys.
External links
- Glenwood Caverns Website, retrieved May 14, 2007
- Glenwood Caverns Blog
- Info on the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park cave tours
- Info on the adventure rides
- Modern Cave Science Keeps Glenwood Caverns Alive
- Seven New Bacteria Discovered in Glenwood Caverns
- Historic Fairy Caves Flourished in the 19th Century
- The Legend of the Fairies of Glenwood Caverns
Coordinates: 39°33′38″N 107°19′13″W / 39.5605°N 107.32016°W