The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool’s claim to fame is that it’s the world’s largest outdoor mineral pool. At 405 feet long, with steam lifting from the water, the Yampah Spring-fed Grand Pool is larger than a football field. Still, there’s room to grow: Glenwood Hot Springs will open a collection of five new pools at the end of May, including a cold plunge, an infinity pool, and a hot spring pool with a waterfall feature.
Named the Yampah Mineral Baths, the new pools are located on the east end of the resort and take over a former 20-space parking lot. The addition is part of a multi-year plan that brings new amenities and improvements to the historic hot springs that opened on the Fourth of July in 1888.
Select pools will debut at a grand opening celebration at the resort on May 24, and the entire Yampah Mineral Bath collection is on track to open by the end of the month.
The resort is also reopening its mineral water drinking spring should you want to bring your water jug to fill up with the “Yampah Cocktail,” a piping hot, mineral-rich water straight from the mother spring.
While the new Yampah Mineral Baths will be for all ages during the day, they’ll transition to an adults-only section in the evening, says Kimberly Marcum, the resort’s sales manager.
“It’s geared towards adults, and meant to be a space for serenity and relaxation,” she said.
Last year, the nearby Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which has pools that mimic mineral blends from around the world, opened its WorldSprings adult-only section along the banks of the Colorado River.
At Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, the new east end will provide a tranquil zone, while the west end features a family-friendly aquatic park that opened in 2019 and is outfitted with a splash pad, a play area with mini water slides and waterfalls modeled after Hanging Lake, and a whitewater river tube ride.
Because the pools are smaller than the resort’s other pools, it’s easy to control the temperatures, bumping them up in the cold months and bringing them back down in the summer, Marcum says.
Here’s what else to know about the five new pools at Glenwood Hot Springs Report:
Inhale Pool: The resort is getting in on the cold plunge trend, which has long been popular in Nordic countries and is taking off in Colorado. The new Inhale pool will be the chilliest dip, with water temps between 52 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Exhale Pool: Temperatures in this pool will fluctuate between 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, providing a nice transition into the warmer baths or a reprieve for those who need to cool down some, Marcum says.
Sacred Waters Pool: An infinity-edge pool with mineral waters between 97 to 102 degrees, this is the prime spot for mountain views and stargazing.
Falling Waters: The move in this pool is to stand beneath the waterfalls in the grotto for a natural massage on your neck and shoulders. The pool will be heated between 95 to 100 degrees.
Cascade Waters: Heated between 100 to 104 degrees, a dip in this pool is a multi-sensory experience with the sound of the nearby waterfall. Because I-70 cuts through Glenwood, the sounds of the waterfall can block out highway noise and provide a spa-like feel, Marcum says.
This new expansion also includes a new fireplace and a pergola.
Last year, as part of the improvements, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort refurbished its Therapy Pool, a 91,000-gallon pool that’s kept at 104 degrees and now has therapy jet chairs and power shower clusters to provide upper-body massages.
A smaller fourth phase of the resort’s improvement plan will be announced later this year.
IF YOU GO
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round, and no reservations are needed. Guests can come and go throughout the day. A day or annual pool pass includes use of all pools and Sopris Splash Zone. Pool pricing depends on the season. hotspringspool.com
