We visited Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park on a Wednesday in September, and honestly, I think we…read moremay have discovered one of the best times of year to experience the park.
The park's hours were 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we arrived around 11. Since we were staying at Hotel Glenwood Springs, getting to the park couldn't have been easier. The gondola is conveniently located right near the hotel, so we simply walked over, hopped on, and enjoyed the ride up the mountain.
When we reached the top, a thunderstorm moved through the area, so the rides temporarily shut down. Rather than letting that derail our day, we headed over to the Lookout Grille, which turned out to be a great choice.The restaurant has beautiful views and open-air seating, and it was a really nice place to wait out the storm while having lunch.
Then we noticed that the timing worked perfectly for the King's Row Cave tour.
If you visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, do not skip the cave tour. The tours run at specific times during the day, so check the schedule when you arrive and plan around it.
The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and brought the history of the caves to life. You learn some really fascinating things about the geology and history of the caves and about how the entire park developed around them.
The caves have a rich history going back to the turn of the 20th century, Understanding that history gave the park a completely different dimension for us, it isn't simply an amusement park sitting on top of a mountain. The caves are the heart of the place.
By the time we finished the cave tour, the thunderstorm had passed and the rides were operating again.
And this is where visiting on a September Wednesday really paid off.
The park was not crowded.
My kids were able to ride many of the attractions multiple times without standing in long lines. The cooler fall weather also made a huge difference. There are some steep grades and hills throughout the park, and walking around in the cooler temperatures was so much more comfortable than it would have been on a hot summer day.
We didn't leave until the park closed at 5 p.m.
Before heading down, we stopped in the gift shop, where we picked up a beautiful embroidered sweatshirt, a really nice mug, a couple of stickers, and some fudge. If you're someone who likes bringing home a souvenir from a trip, the gift shop is definitely worth stopping in.
Then we hopped back on the gondola and rode down to our hotel.
Don't Write Off Glenwood Caverns in the Fall
One thing I would definitely tell people is don't assume Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is only a summer attraction.
In fact, after experiencing it in September, I'm convinced that fall may be one of the best times to go.
The weather is cooler, the crowds are lighter, and you can actually enjoy the rides without spending your day standing in lines or getting overheated walking around the mountain.
They also have seasonal events coming up, including Oktoberfest, and there are additional holiday events later in the year, so the park continues to offer things to do beyond the traditional summer season.
And you don't necessarily have to buy an all-day amusement park pass to enjoy the experience. If you're visiting Glenwood Springs for the hot springs and don't want to spend the entire day at the park, you can purchase the gondola and cave experience separately.
At the very least, take the gondola up and do the King's Row Cave tour. It's a completely different experience from the rides and, in my opinion, one of the things that makes Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park special.
We purchased the full-day pass because we knew we wanted to spend the whole day there, and I'm really glad we did. We got the caves, the views, the rides, the food, the cooler fall weather, and almost no lines.
Our September Wednesday at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park ended up being one of the highlights of our Glenwood Springs trip and I would absolutely recommend adding it to your itinerary.
