Have you noticed

Discover Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley

Why we’re different

The Roaring Fork Valley has enchanted settlers, adventurers, and visitors for quite some time now, and it’s not difficult to see why. With the world class resort town of Aspen on one end of the valley, and the acclaimed ski resort of Vail in the neighboring valley, this little spot on the globe possesses a diverse mix of people, activities, lifestyles, and recreation. And at the very heart of it, you’ll find Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Springs enjoys a comfortable population of just over 7,700 along with one of the country’s largest hot springs and cave systems. The public schools are highly rated with students performing above state and national standards. There are numerous parks, a highly acclaimed hospital, and every convenience and amenity you would hope for from any major metropolitan area. Welcome to a town that is small by American standards, but big on heart.

Recreation

All the activities considered to be part of the Colorado lifestyle are available in the area surrounding Ironbridge Golf Club & Mountain Community. The Roaring Fork Valley is surrounded by the White River National Forest, so outdoor activities abound!

  • Enjoy the champagne powder and world-class alpine skiing in Aspen, 34 miles from Ironbridge, or Vail, 64 miles away. There’s even a small ski area right here in Glenwood Springs—Ski Sunlight.
  • Explore the pristine backcountry on over 19 km of cross country ski trails in Spring Gulch just outside nearby Carbondale.
  • Discover some of the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
  • Catch trout in the Gold Medal fly-fishing waters of the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers.
  • Take an exhilarating white water rafting ride on the Roaring Fork or Colorado Rivers.
  • Explore the numerous scenic horseback riding trails throughout the valley.
  • There’s more—backpacking, camping, climbing, kayaking, hunting, snowmobiling, and paragliding. The outdoor recreational opportunities are virtually endless.
  • For indoor recreation, discover the fabulous Glenwood Springs Community Center with its pool, ice rink, climbing wall, tennis courts, gym, and fitness center.

Arts & Culture

The Roaring Fork Valley has no shortage of activities to stimulate the mind and the senses. Music festivals, art festivals, theatre, lectures, and events galore inspire and entertain you throughout the year.

The Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts features events that span the artistic spectrum from quality art shows, dance performances, informal coffee houses and poetry readings to community concerts. Annual festivals and summer jazz concerts in the park are also part of the Glenwood Springs arts scene. Classical music is offered by Symphony in the Valley, a community orchestra that plays throughout the year in various valley-wide locales.

Thunder River Theatre in nearby Carbondale is home to a year-round nonprofit theatre company producing “professional theatre at its finest.” Carbondale also has its share of festivals, including the ever-popular Mountain Fair.

Up the road in Aspen, you’ll discover cultural events usually found in more metropolitan areas. The renowned Aspen Music Festival, Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet, JazzAspen, and Aspen Theatre in the Park are just a few of the arts organizations that provide world-class arts performances. Aspen also attracts some of the world’s best thinkers. Great minds convene at The Aspen Institute and often offer public lectures.

There is always something to see or do in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Schools

Glenwood Springs Public Schools

  • Sopris Elementary School
    Grades PreK-5
    Phone: 970.384.5400
  • Glenwood Springs Middle School
    Grades 6-8
    Phone: 970.384.5500
  • Glenwood Springs High School
    Grades 9-12
    Phone: 970.384.5555

District-wide Public Schools

  • Carbondale Community School
    District-wide, public charter school operated by non-profit Compass
    Grades: K-8
    Phone: 970.963.9647
  • Bridges High School (Glenwood Springs)
    District-wide, non-traditional high school
    Grades: 9-12
    Phone: 970.384.5995

Charter

  • Ross Montessori School
    Charter School
    Grades: K-6/8
    Phone: 970.963.7199

Public Alternative

  • Yampah Mountain High School (Glenwood Springs)
    Alternative High School, Teen Parent Program, and Wellspring Treatment Center.
    Grades: 9 -12
    Phone: 970.945.9463

Private

  • Aspen Country Day School
    Grades: PreK-8
    970.925.1909
  • Carbondale Waldorf School
    Grades: PreK-8
    970.963.1960
  • Colorado Rocky Mountain School (Carbondale)
    College Preparatory High School
    Grades: 9-12
    970.963.2562

Parochial

  • Alpine Christian Academy (Basalt)
    Grades: K-12
    970.927.9106
  • St. Stephens Catholic School (Glenwood Springs)
    Grades: PreK-8
    970.945.7746

Places of Worship

Families of virtually every religion and faith in Glenwood find places of worship within and near the community, ranging from very large congregations to smaller gatherings.

Restaurants

The Roaring Fork Valley has no shortage of restaurants. Highly acclaimed fine restaurants, popular homespun local eateries, and diverse cuisine ranging from Thai to Nepalese can be found throughout the valley.

Medical Services

Beautifully renovated Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs has been named one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals by Solucient. Valley View Hospital has a new heart and vascular center and a new Flight for Life helistop. Other fine hospitals in the area include Aspen Valley Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital located in Grand Junction. There are several medical clinics throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

Transportation

Ironbridge is located 34 miles from Aspen and 66 miles from Vail, 97 miles from Grand Junction and 166 miles from Denver. Major airlines with direct flights to major cities serve the Aspen and Eagle/Vail airports, as well as the Grand Junction and Denver International airports. Greyhound buses and Amtrak passenger trains arrive daily in Glenwood Springs.

The Roaring Fork Transportation Agency (RFTA) has been in operation since 1983. RFTA provides commuter bus service from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, and Glenwood Springs to Rifle; intra-city service in Aspen and Glenwood Springs; ski shuttle service to the four Aspen Skiing Company areas; Maroon Bells guided bus tours; and a variety of seasonal transportation services.

For those who prefer to get around by bike, there is a trail that runs through the valley connecting Aspen to Glenwood Springs!

Recreation Center

THE RECREATION CENTER IS A FOCAL POINT OF THE COMMUNITY.

Every homeowner and lot owner has access to all of the amenities, including the Recreation Center and the Golf Club.

Fitness Center

The state-of-the-art fitness center opened in December 2013 to raving reviews among our members. The center features high quality Nautilus equipment, including cardio and weight training machines, as well as free weights. The layout was designed by Curtis Schwab, a longtime local athletic trainer and facility manager.

  • Fitness Center Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Aquatic Center

The Aquatic Center includes a community pool, children’s wading pool, water slide and hot tub.

  • Aquatic Center Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

Sports & Recreation

Enjoy play-time with basketball and tennis courts, a children’s climbing wall and playground, and landscaped park and picnic areas.

Hiking and Biking

Many beautiful hiking and biking trails meander throughout the neighborhood.

Glenwood Springs has four distinct shopping areas: Roaring Fork Marketplace, Downtown, Glenwood Springs Mall, and the new Glenwood Meadows complex. You’ll find national department stores, big-box retailers, bed & bath shops, jewelry stores, clothing retailers, as well as interesting, locally owned shops.

Check out the shopping in the neighboring towns of Carbondale and Basalt. The historic downtown areas are filled with unique gift shops, galleries, and antique and clothing shops. For more upscale, designer shopping and fabulous gallery browsing–head upvalley to Aspen. With this kind of shopping available, visitors and locals alike find everything they need.

“Great area. Community focused. Grill is great meeting place. Food is good.Friendly people. Golf is fantastic and ladies league is so fun no matter what your skill level is.”

Patti B. FergusonFacebook

“Absolutely amazing. The back 9 is Absolutely ridiculous. It’s a must play. All I can say is wow.”

Wally FronekFacebook

“Truly enjoyed our dinner at the grill last night! Loved the atmosphere, the wine selection, the roaring fire and the live music.”

Mandy Smith GauldinFacebook

“I absolutely love our beautiful Ironbridge community. Close enough to my job & great golfing for the husband. Great place for families with lots to offer them.”

Ruth Shereda-SultanFacebook