Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs: Hours, Address, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Reviews: 4.5/5
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Our NEW Glenwood Gondola includes 44 detachable, six-passenger cabins with trips up the mountain averaging 7-8 minutes instead of the 12-13 minutes as in the past. We are located in historic Glenwood Springs, Colorado and offer a unique mountain-top adventure that's fun for the whole family. Some rides are seasonal; a list of which attractions are open can be found on our website. Great for groups, family reunions and birthday parties. Your visit to the Glenwood Caverns promises a unique, mountain-top adventure and memories to last a lifetime. The wholesome fun of nature-based educational activities combined with attractions to please die-hard thrill seekers makes this the perfect place to spend a day with family and friends.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,162 reviews
Excellent
1,271
Very good
643
Average
170
Poor
45
Terrible
33
CarolDM1900
Montpelier, VT3,239 contributions
Aug 2021
We heard about the fairy caverns here and decided to have a look. We caught the first gondola up, quickly spotted the big "Caver's Corner" sign over a nearby pathway, then walked quickly to plant ourselves at the waiting area for the "Historic Fairy Caves Tour." We were in the first group for that day. As soon as we finished that tour, we trotted downhill on the same pathway to get tickets for the "King's Row Cave Tour." The message here: by arriving right at opening, we got to take both tours before the crowds arrived, making for a pleasant, unhurried visit to the famous caverns, which was our primary interest .
The two guided tours were excellent, but different.
The Fairy Caves Tour was much easier to navigate, making it more appropriate for children. This was reflected, too, in the guide's narration, which was clearly pitched toward younger participants. It was humorous as well as personalized, as the guide took care to learn the names of the children, occasionally asking one to lead the group; and she definitely held the interest of the younger set, while also responding well to adults' questions and comments along the way. Her lively presentation and friendly demeanor were very received by participants young and not-so.
The Kings Row Cave Tour was much more difficult, requiring participants to go both down and up many steps, something on the order of 200 or more, as I recall but don't quote me. Moreover, the passageways were much more difficult to walk through, rougher and with more ups, downs, and twists.
The guide for this tour pitched his narration toward adults, imparting a great deal of interesting geological information and expertly answering some pretty technical questions. The payoff for all this effort was the chance to marvel at the gigantic "Kings Row" room, with a jaw-dropping variety of formations. The guide lit up different groups to discuss them, taking care to distinguish one "type" from another, while also talking quite extensively about things things down here in the cavern, what gives rise to formations like this, how important it is to keep out fresh air to preserve the formations, etc.
The Kings Row Tour was totally engaging and unforgettable.
But back to those steps: I would not recommend this for children (although OK for most teens), nor for people with physical impairments. IMHO If you are out of shape, short of breath, afraid of heights, have difficulties with balance or need assistance to walk, this is not the tour for you.
The two guided tours were excellent, but different.
The Fairy Caves Tour was much easier to navigate, making it more appropriate for children. This was reflected, too, in the guide's narration, which was clearly pitched toward younger participants. It was humorous as well as personalized, as the guide took care to learn the names of the children, occasionally asking one to lead the group; and she definitely held the interest of the younger set, while also responding well to adults' questions and comments along the way. Her lively presentation and friendly demeanor were very received by participants young and not-so.
The Kings Row Cave Tour was much more difficult, requiring participants to go both down and up many steps, something on the order of 200 or more, as I recall but don't quote me. Moreover, the passageways were much more difficult to walk through, rougher and with more ups, downs, and twists.
The guide for this tour pitched his narration toward adults, imparting a great deal of interesting geological information and expertly answering some pretty technical questions. The payoff for all this effort was the chance to marvel at the gigantic "Kings Row" room, with a jaw-dropping variety of formations. The guide lit up different groups to discuss them, taking care to distinguish one "type" from another, while also talking quite extensively about things things down here in the cavern, what gives rise to formations like this, how important it is to keep out fresh air to preserve the formations, etc.
The Kings Row Tour was totally engaging and unforgettable.
But back to those steps: I would not recommend this for children (although OK for most teens), nor for people with physical impairments. IMHO If you are out of shape, short of breath, afraid of heights, have difficulties with balance or need assistance to walk, this is not the tour for you.
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hi there, thank you for the awesome and detailed review! We hope you're able to return for a visit soon. Kind regards,
Written November 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hoovitz
San Francisco, CA282 contributions
Apr 2021
We went in April, so not all attractions were open. However everyone in our family (2 adults + 3 teens--some not as brave as others!) found something to do. The alpine coaster was a unanimous winner. Go early because the line gets long the rest of the day. I had researched other alpine coaster options in CO, and this one seemed to have a more thrilling track and better bang for your money (unlimited rides). We also did the Haunted Mine Drop (so cool to drop inside a mountain!), Giant Canyon Swing (those that did go in our family were stunned and nauseous when they got off!), Soaring Eagle ride (cute, short zipline), 4D theater (surprisingly enjoyable), and cave tour. Our cave guide Trevor was informative, professional, and managed to keep the attention of our 3 teenagers (no easy feat). To enter the park via gondola, they were selling tickets by time slot (for covid spacing), so you go online in advance to pick a time to enter the park.
Written April 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hi Hoovitz. Thanks for visiting. We're so glad to hear that you and your crew had a fun time at the Adventure Park. We'll also pass the cave tour kudos onto Trevor. We hope to see you all back again soon.
Written May 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lisa S
Houston, TX17 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Best bang for your buck if you’re looking for rides, games, great views, things to do besides hiking. The lines were short, the rides are great for all ages and unlimited. They were very good about social distancing and strict on enforcing guests to wear masks. We felt safe and would highly recommend. Brought our own food, stored stuff in $3 lockers! Great day!!
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Natalie S
7 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We spent $239 on tickets to Glenwood Adventure Park on July 28, 2021. About 39 minutes after arriving they shut down their outdoor rides at 5:03pm. They opened back up at 6:10pm. Despite their customer promise on their website which states: “In the case of truly inclement weather, where we feel the quality of the trip has been compromised, we will “the” cancel the trip and offer you a full refund”. Ignoring the fact that there is a typo on their website, the park manager Booie declined my request for a refund. I find this lack of customer service and failure to deliver on customer promises unacceptable and will not be back (and ensure I share my feedback with friends and family).
Written July 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hello Natalie,
Our location at the top of a mountain certainly makes it a challenge when weather comes in. When this happens, our managers take action to close the gondola and rides with the safety of our guests in mind. We cannot possibly handle refund requests in the midst of managing the weather situation for the safety of our guests….those requests are better suited for our business office during normal business operating hours. It's my understanding that our management has been in touch with you and has since refunded your tickets in full. Also, I believe that the refund policy you are referring to is from a different company, not ours.
Written August 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ashley H
4 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
This is a tourist trap. The only way up and down the mountain is the gondola. Storms rolled in quickly when we were there and there is no way off the mountain. Eventually a bus ride down was optional but you had to wait in a long line in the rain for a pass to get on the bus. There was only one bus and it was about 30 min before the bus returned for the next group down. Even more irritating was hearing staff say they expected the bad weather yet nothing was said at the ticket window before going up. Very $$ and little to do. Don’t waste your time or money.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hi Lawither316, we are sorry to hear that you only had a 1-star experience during your visit and that you felt like the park is a tourist trap. The safest and most efficient way to transport our guests down the mountain is on the gondola. When we experience inclement weather, please know that our maintenance team closely monitors our weather app for when we can reopen. Weather usually passes in 45-90 minutes and our last course of action is to run buses. We do ask our cashiers to inform guests there is a possibility of gondola closures when they purchase tickets, and are sorry you felt like you were misinformed. We hope you'll return for another visit at the park in the future, and hopefully on a day when there's better weather.…
Written August 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dolphin0831
Westminster, CO209 contributions
Jun 2021
This was a great way to start our vacation in Glenwood Springs! The gondola ride up the mountain provides spectacular views of the canyon and is a highlight of the day every time we come here. The cave tours are fun for the whole family, even the 3 year old loved it. The alpine coaster is fun for the adults and bigger kids, don't use the brakes until the end, just fly down the mountain with the wind in your hair! The 4D theater is fun and completely blew the toddler's mind with all the special effects. The Ferris wheel is worth the ride just for the view from the top. The cost of admission is high but it is easy to spend all day here with all of the rides and cave tours and other things to do. Make sure you bring water and don't forget sunscreen because there is very little shade and the sun is intense at that altitude.
Written June 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jshap78
Maui, HI3 contributions
Jul 2020
Fun Day for the family and thrill seekers! We went here after going to Peak 8 in Breck. At Peak 8 you had to pay per attraction $28/adult & $14/kid - they only have 2 attractions open right now. I loved that you could buy a day pass at Glenwood for $59 adults or $54 kids and it included every activity in the park and most activities are open!. Our group of 16 had a blast and were there all day. The lines weren't super long. You do have to buy tickets in advanced for an entry time, but can stay as long as you want. They do have one grille place, but small menu. I recommend bringing lunch and buying snacks or drinks from the snack shack. The have great cold treats after a hot day outside.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Daniel
Houma, LA39 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
The gondola ride up and down gave you a gorgeous view of the valley and mountains. Cliffhanger was cool. Flying eagle zipline was also a great ride. The Caves had very informative, Enthusiastic and knowledgeable workers and was awesome to see. The mineshaft drop was breath taking and exhilarating, in a scary way! I wish I could remember the name of the ride at the top that was a swing that lifted you out and over the cliffs. The slingshot was too scary to ride, because it was scary to watch others do it! We don’t remember the name of the single person ride right next to the flying eagle zip line, which was similar to a roller coaster down the side of the mountain, but the lines were too long and stayed long the entire day. It was too warm of a day for us to stand and wait in that line, but it looked like an exciting ride.
There are enough rides to entertain all age groups.
For the burger junkies, you couldn’t get it any fresher. You paid for your food they gave you a bun with all the fixings and fries and you walked over to the guy at the barbecue pit and got your burger with cheese fresh off the grill. It was awesome!
It’s a perfect place to go for the day to enjoy time with your family. Alcohol is also served on the mountaintop, thank you very much!
There are enough rides to entertain all age groups.
For the burger junkies, you couldn’t get it any fresher. You paid for your food they gave you a bun with all the fixings and fries and you walked over to the guy at the barbecue pit and got your burger with cheese fresh off the grill. It was awesome!
It’s a perfect place to go for the day to enjoy time with your family. Alcohol is also served on the mountaintop, thank you very much!
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dawn B
13 contributions
Mar 2022
The caves and guides were awesome worth the trip alone! The alpine coaster was the most fun I've had on a roller coaster ever! You are the one in control of how fast you go down the mountain and around the turns with hand brakes like driving a go cart! The Zip Line looked way scarier than it was and was fun! The food in the restaurant overlooking the mountains was good and reasonable. A lot of the rides were not operational because of the season but we knew that before we went up. Well worth the admission we had a great day!!!
Written March 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hi Dawn, thank you so much for visiting and writing us a great review! We're happy to hear you enjoyed all aspects of your trip and hope to see you back up at the park again soon. Kind regards,
Written March 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jim P
Lawrenceville, NJ83 contributions
Jul 2021
We toured the caves, both the Fairy Caves and the Kings Row. They were awesome. Took the gondola up to the park, easy walk to the caves. Our guide in the Fairy Caves was Curtis, an aspiring film maker, with a thespian spirit and a comic wit. He was awesome! Highly recommended!
The Kings Row was self guided. Lots of steps, but well worth it. Staff was helpful - be sure to ask questions - they are happy to answer.
The Kings Row was self guided. Lots of steps, but well worth it. Staff was helpful - be sure to ask questions - they are happy to answer.
Written July 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you for your great review, Jim! We appreciate you complimenting our employee, Curtis, and hope you come back to see us again soon.
Written August 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BWG1956
Iowa City, IA16 contributions
Is it possible to walk to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park from the Glenwood Suites on Gilstrap Court?
JessicaP
Glenwood Springs, CO
Technically, you can, but there is not a direct route to get to the park from there, it's a rather long walk, and you'd have to cross multiple busy roads along the way.
What is the cost per person(Adult) to experience The Glenwood Adventure Parks ?
saltw80128
Denver, CO80 contributions
Is there a height requirement for the rides. Trying to figure out if it is worth buying the all day ride pass for my 6 year old.
centerfield84
Greensboro, NC126 contributions
Yes, many rides had height requirements. The good news though is that you can take the gondola up and then upgrade your ticket up there.
GG122
Fort Lauderdale, FL40 contributions
I cant find any information on official website on when are the cave tours. Nobody answer the phone during the week. How am I supposed plan the day? What if it's a one time a day kinda deal and I'll miss it if I come late? It is it every hour? What if it's 1 time a day and too many people? What is the capacity? Is there a reservation? Also if park close on sunday at 5pm, does it mean I will not be able to see at all the light decoration? Since it's getting dark only at 4.45? So like 5 min of lights?
ileblanc2018
Denver, CO7 contributions
Both cave tours run all day until about 5pm. Every half hour or so. I've waited before and actually it's not long at all as the tour guide comes early to go over all rules. The tours are limited to 25 people and it's the perfect amount.
As far as the lights, yes, you won't see much if you go on a Sunday and it closes early. If you want to see them go a different day when it's open later.
GG122
Fort Lauderdale, FL40 contributions
Hello, we were planning on stopping by on our road trip Dec 14th. There is a good chance we will arrive no earlier than 6pm. Since the park open until 9pm I assume there are still things to do even though it will be dark already? We are not interested in rides but rather anything else
Susan K
Wheat Ridge, CO299 contributions
Last cave tour when we were there over Thanksgiving Weekend was at 7pm. Pretty at night as they have Christmas lights up. Not sure how late the Alpine slide runs but it is so much fun!
There are no offers on FB nor is there a Groupon available...
Karyn S.
11 contributions
Some hotels offer discount coupons. Might be worth a little time to look at their websites.
Alisha Z
Dutzow, MO4 contributions
Is there a way up to the park other than the gondola? Have a child that may not like it and we have heard that if it storms you could be stuck in it for a couple hours.
gilligan2011
York, NE120 contributions
I have heard that it is true, you can be stuck for a bit. It was a tad breezy when we left the park, but not that big of a deal. Hope this helps
Taylor F
52 contributions
Hello! We are thinking of either visiting on Friday June 7th or Sunday June 9th. We’d arrive around 4 PM and would stay until close. Have a few questions.
1. Is it less crowded in the afternoon/evening than earlier?
2. Would Friday be less crowded than Sunday? I know it’s summer vacation season, just between the two days what would be better?
3. Is 5 hours enough time to do the rides and 1 or both cave tour?
Thanks!
TheInquiringBunny
Fort Worth, TX283 contributions
Glenwood Caverns is a great destination anytime but I would recommend going on any day that is still considered a 'work day' like Friday vs Sunday if possible. On our visit it got busier as the day went on but it wasn't too bad. We made the most of what had the shortest lines and took a break in the middle for a cave tour. There are two main cave tours that don't require additional planning. Both are a great experiences. Even if you can only do one of them you will still enjoy it. The best experiences were the gondola, the alpine coaster and the cave tour. You can do a lot in 5 hours if your are purposeful. My advice is don't spend too long in the gift shop (restrooms there) if you have kids. Keep them moving and excited and you will have a great time!
Frequently Asked Questions about Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
- Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open:
- Sun - Thu 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Fri - Sat 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- We recommend booking Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park:
- (0.03 mi) Hotel Glenwood Springs
- (0.11 mi) Hampton Inn Glenwood Springs
- (0.08 mi) Holiday Inn Express Glenwood Springs (Aspen Area), an IHG Hotel
- (0.19 mi) Silver Spruce Motel
- (0.28 mi) Glenwood Springs Inn
- Restaurants near Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park:
- (0.04 mi) Pizza Cave
- (0.17 mi) Chomps Deli
- (0.28 mi) Rosi's Little Bavarian Restaurant
- (0.28 mi) Tequilas Family Mexican Restaurant
- (0.59 mi) Riviera Scratch Kitchen