Glenwood Springs Gondola: Colorado’s Scenic Mountain-Top Ride

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The Glenwood Springs Gondola is a state-of-the-art gondola that offers a breathtaking ride up Iron Mountain above the Roaring Fork Valley. 

It soars over the town of Glenwood Springs and up the side of the mountain offering expansive, 360-degree views of the surrounding scenery.

Renovated in March 2019, the Glenwood Springs Gondola replaced the slower Iron Mountain Tramway. 

It transports visitors from the bottom of the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park to the top of Iron Mountain passing over treetops, going ever higher and higher.

Once at the top, enjoy a tour through some of Colorado’s best caves, or go for a ride on any of the thrilling attractions.

But the best part has to be the 10-minute ride up and down the mountainside with panoramic views of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Riding the Glenwood Springs Gondola

The updated and fully enclosed gondola, sits up to six people comfortably.

The windows are wide and clear, giving you the opportunity to see the towering rocky mountains, the sprawling valley, and the town below.

The gondolas are wheelchair-accessible and have plenty of room for strollers too.

The gondola starts near the parking lot at the bottom of the Glenwood Springs valley and travels slowly up the side of the mountain.

As you ride up, you’ll be going northeast with gorgeous views of the mountains to the west and the town below.

You may even see Mount Sopris and the Colorado River as you ascend.

The gondola ride is approximately 5-6 minutes one-way for about a 10-minute ride in total.

The History of the Glenwood Springs Gondola

Previously the gondola was a multicab tram that would only fit 10-12 passengers at a time. This made it slower and more cumbersome to get people up and down the mountain.

But in 2019 it was reimagined, redesigned and reopened as the Glenwood Gondola with individual cabs for a better and faster experience.

Which is much better than the original way of going up and down on donkeys, like they did in the late 1800s. 

The Glenwood Springs Gondola was built without cutting down any trees in order to preserve the natural environment of the mountainside.

The Gondola is open year-round, but specific days and hours of operation depend on the time of year you visit. 

Typically the gondola is open on weekends, and only closes for severe weather.

This is in the heart of the rocky mountains afterall, so make sure to keep an eye on the weather before heading out as things in the mountains can change quickly.

Tickets & Times for the Glenwood Gondola

Be sure to check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park website’s calendar of events for the exact dates and hours when they’re open.

All tickets for the Glenwood Adventure Park include access to the Gondola, as this is the only way up and down the mountain.

You can purchase tickets to only ride the Gondola, or purchase a bundle to access the cave tours or other attractions and rides.

Attractions Near the Glenwood Springs Gondola

Once at the top you’ll be in the heart of the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, which is “America’s only mountain-top theme park”.

Here you can check out the viewing deck, go on a tour of the Historic Fairy Caves, or visit Halvor Flowstone (the Glenwood Springs Troll).

Not to mention there are tons of fun rides and other attractions for kids and adults of all ages!

And then once you’re finished with a fun-filled day, you simply get back into one of the comfortable gondolas and enjoy a scenic ride back down to the parking lot.

Of all the gondolas available to ride in Colorado, the Glenwood Springs Gondola is one of the best! 

While other gondolas, like the Breckenridge Gondola, are available to ride for free, the Glenwood Gondola is not free and requires a ticket to ride. 

Still, we think it’s worth the price! 

It’s an experience you will remember for a long time, and is breathtakingly beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. 

Or upgrade your ticket and enjoy all of the attractions, tours, and rides that the Glenwood Adventure Park offers, thanks to access from the Glenwood Springs Gondola.