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A Hanging Lake Trail Hiking Guide Plus Things to Do in Glenwood Springs in One Day
Of all the things to do in Glenwood Springs, we were most looking forward to spending time at Hanging Lake. But, upon arriving in Glenwood Springs from Aspen we were shocked at the traffic heading towards the exit for Hanging Lake Trail.
Seeing many signs along the way with their bright flashing lights screaming “EXIT FOR HANGING LAKE CLOSED” and “NO PARKING AVAILABLE TURN AROUND” was definitely discouraging when we had planned to spend only a day in Glenwood Springs hiking.
You might be wondering why I’m telling you this. After all, you’re probably just wanting to hear all about the things to do in Glenwood Springs in a day. But hang with me. The reason I’m going into all this is to give you an alternative parking spot in case you are unable to park at the entrance of the park. 😉

We decided to try visiting anyways and just like we thought we would be, we were prompted to turn around. We typically try to visit such attractions in early mornings, late evenings, or off-season if possible. But, on this day, none of those options worked with our schedule so we were determined to find a way to make our plans work.

We headed back a few exits to a walking path we had seen called Grizzly Creek that followed along the Colorado River and ventured right up to the Hanging Lake trailhead, the popular Glenwood Springs hiking trail.
- FYI: Going this way does add 4 miles (one-way) to your trek to the top of Hanging Lake but if you want to see the beauty here and can’t park at the trailhead, it’ll be worth the extra miles!
READ MORE: 8 Epic Things to do in Estes Park

After walking the extra 4 miles on Grizzly Creek Path to get to Hanging Lake Trailhead we were already pretty tired (we’ll blame the hiking we had done in days prior, the heat, and the altitude on this. ;))
But, the hike up to Hanging Lake isn’t too bad. However, it can be rocky and steep in many areas. We stopped along the way up a number of times to take in the scenery.

By the time we reached the top of Hanging Lake Trail, we were pretty exhausted. But boy is the view INCREDIBLY worth it and you’ll soon see why this is one of the best things to do in Glenwood Springs. The vivid colors of Hanging Lake make this spot almost surreal.

After admiring the beautiful Hanging Lake we made our way back down the trail. Remember to take your time on the steep steps on the descent! The loose rocks can cause you to slip and it can be hard on the knees too.

Many people think that Hanging Lake looks similar to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. What do you think?
Travel Tips for Hanging Lake Trail
As of May 2019, Hanging Lake Trail is no longer a free hike. Advanced permits are required along with a $12/person fee. You can check-out the Government Guide to Hanging Lake Trail for more details.
- Arrange your schedule so you are able to park at the Hanging Lake trailhead early in the morning (the lack of parking may be solved by the advanced permits).
- Bring adequate water and snacks: It truly is nice to relax once you have hiked a long way. This day we only brought a small amount of water and some protein bars which we devoured on the trail. This left us starving during our walk back on Grizzly Creek path. Had we realized how much more walking we were going to be doing we would have brought something else to eat and more water to drink.
- You can park at the Grizzly Creek path but be prepared to walk eight extra miles that day! The path itself isn’t challenging by any means but after hiking multiple days like us you may feel more exhausted.
Main Rules for Hanging Lake Trail
- No dogs are allowed on the trail.
- No drones are allowed in the park.
- Stay on the designated trails (not manmade trails) and the boardwalk that goes around the lake. Under NO circumstances should anyone enter the water or step on the logs.
Other Things to Do in Glenwood Springs & Where to Eat in Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Canyon Brewery

After hiking Hanging Lake Trail, you’ll probably be ready for a nice lunch so head to the quaint downtown area of Glenwood Springs (another one of the best things to do in Glenwood Springs) and gorge yourself at Glenwood Canyon Brewery.
Grab a few of their craft beers (some of the best we had in Colorado) and accompany the brews with some terrific food too! We recommend their nachos and wings.
Address: 402 7th St, Hotel Denver
Hours: 11:00am-11:00pm
Glenwood Springs Hot Spring Pool

After eating we decided to walk around downtown Glenwood Springs and then stop at the Glenwood Springs Hot Spring Pool. Which is also apparently the world’s largest hot spring. While we believe this is a “tourist trap” it was nice to soak our aching muscles in the 105°F water of this steamy hot spring.
READ MORE: 7 Beautiful Places to Visit On A Colorado Road Trip
Where to Stay in Glenwood Springs
Budget: Hanging Lake Inn
Mid-range: Hotel Denver
Romantic: Rio Grande Bed & Breakfast
Family-Friendly: Hotel Glenwood Springs
While there are many other things to do in Glenwood Springs we only had a day here and we definitely took our time hiking Hanging Lake Trail. We can’t wait to go back and see what else we can find in Glenwood Springs.

16 Comments
Marcie
September 5, 2016 at 9:42 PMWow! Your photos are simply stunning and definitely makes me want to explore Colorado!
kallsypage
September 6, 2016 at 8:37 PMThank you so much Marcie! We appreciate the compliments. You must explore Colorado at some point. It’s one of the most beautiful U.S. States (at least we think so)!
Cheers,
Kallsy
ferncoll
September 5, 2016 at 9:45 PMSo glad you didn’t get discouraged by the sign! Glenwood springs looks amazing!! You have some really beautiful photos, and I bet even better memories 🙂
kallsypage
September 6, 2016 at 8:35 PMI know! We were glad we didn’t turn around either. Sometimes you just have to keep pushing forward and see what happens. Thank you for the compliments! We hope you continue to travel with us!
Cheers,
Kallsy
Rachel G
September 5, 2016 at 9:50 PMWhat an amazing place for a hike! Gorgeous! The nachos look pretty yummy, too! 🙂
kallsypage
September 6, 2016 at 8:34 PMThank you Rachel! It was one of the more memorable hikes during our time in Colorado for the natural beauty! 🙂
Nigel Kane
September 6, 2016 at 2:07 AMEnjoyed finding out more about Glenwood Springs. It was somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit but just never had time to fit it in to our schedule. Like you we always bring a picnic with us on our hikes and hope the bears don’t get it before we do!
kallsypage
September 6, 2016 at 8:34 PMNigel,
It was well worth the day trip! If anything visit Hanging Lake Trail. It can easily be done within a few hours and is breathtaking! 🙂
Cheers,
Kallsy
Lianna
September 6, 2016 at 7:56 AMBeautiful pictures, I love seeing posts about the US since I live there and it’s much easier to travel in the states! The food looks delicious too.
kallsypage
September 11, 2016 at 5:51 PMLianna,
Glad you enjoy them! Let us know if you are able to visit any of these places sometime. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
mohitarts
October 26, 2016 at 5:20 AMHey,
I received a Leibster Award yesterday and today is my turn to return back. So here I nominate you for the award. See the details at
kallsypage
October 26, 2016 at 9:13 PMHi mohitarts! Thank you so much for the honor. However we have already been nominated by another blog! 🙂 Again, we appreciate that you thought of us.
5 Days in Alaska - Happily Ever Adventures
November 16, 2016 at 11:11 PM[…] window to visit. There’s a 92-mile road that you can drive through and discover all kinds of awesome hiking trails and wildlife. Only the first 15 miles are open to public cars. After that, you’d need to walk, bike, or […]
Adrianna
March 7, 2017 at 7:18 AMColorado is such a wonderful state! I was driving through it when I was on my road trip in America, unfortunately it was at night and I couldn’t see much, plus we didnt make any stops. I hope I will get to go back there one day! I know Hot Spring Pool might be overrated but it seems like the best place to be after 15 min hike! Also the food looks fantastic! Its that nachos full covered in cheese on the right side? 😀 yum!
Leiha
March 9, 2017 at 7:10 PMYour photos make me want to visit and I would totally do the hot springs. Thanks for a wonderful write up. Another place to add to my ever growing list.
Sierra
July 6, 2017 at 6:07 PMY’all are making me actually want to go hiking (a rare feat!) Hanging Lake looks absolutely incredible. Like something out of a Disney movie! I love that you included post-hike spots to eat too, always vital!