An 1868 treaty negotiated by the Tabeguache Ute Chief Ouray preserved the hunting grounds in the area of present-day Glenwood Springs.

The city has seen well-known visitors, including President Teddy Roosevelt,[17][18] who spent a summer vacation living in the historic Hotel Colorado.

Corral gunfight, spent the final months of his life in Glenwood Springs and is buried in the town's original Pioneer Cemetery above Bennett Avenue.

Later, a dam was built on the Grand River in Glenwood Canyon, providing water for the Shoshone Hydroelectric Generating Station, which began producing power on May 16, 1909.

[23] The geology of the area includes geothermal activity, such as the local hot springs, but it is also evidenced through other features such as the Dotsero maar.

[28] Though the town's geography makes it a natural environment for pedestrians and cyclists, there are also trails running throughout[29] and around the city[30] that resulted from planning efforts that began in the 1980s in response to congestion and traffic.

[31] Due to civic planning during the early years of the city, Glenwood Springs owns some senior water rights to tributaries of the Colorado River.

[32] Glenwood Springs water supply is sufficient for its population, unlike some areas of the American West, conservation plans have been enacted anyway for largely environmental reasons.

[34] Mineral deposits exist further up the Crystal River and in the Roaring Fork area, and petroleum resources are ample in western Garfield County,[35] which brings tax revenue to Glenwood Springs.

[38] However, valley inversions and heavy traffic to Aspen can lead to air quality problems during exceptionally cold spells of winter.

Despite being an expensive area in which to live, Glenwood Springs has the highest life expectancy in America for 40-year-olds making working wages.

[43] Due to severe geographic constraints,[33] if further population growth is to be accommodated, it must come primarily from multifamily infill development.

[44][45] Bloomberg Business named Glenwood Springs the seventh wealthiest small town in America in 2015,[46][47] due principally to the influence of Aspen.

[citation needed] Glenwood Springs and Aspen share a micropolitan statistical area, and businesses often serve the entire Valley.

[51] There are numerous hot springs in the area, including several facilities in town that range from 93 to 104 °F (34 to 40 °C) with varying mineral content.

[10] Yampah Hot Springs vapor caves are underground geothermal steam baths, historically used by the Ute people as a source of rejuvenation and healing.

[citation needed] Iron Mountain Hot Springs features mineral water soaking pools.

[67] The University of Denver maintains its Western Colorado Master of Social Work program in Glenwood Springs.

[73] KMTS[74] provides local country radio along the Colorado River, and KSNO-FM[75] serves the Roaring Fork Valley.

[77] Starting in August 2021, the Canada-based luxury rail excursion company Rocky Mountaineer has provided direct passenger rail service between Moab, Utah and Denver, Colorado (with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado) on its Rockies to the Red Rocks route.

RFTA retains ownership of the land previously used for rail traffic to Aspen,[79] a source of occasional consternation in balancing development needs.

Greyhound Lines stops in Glenwood Springs on trips between New York City and Las Vegas twice per day.

[85] Bus service is provided twice daily by Bustang and runs from Glenwood Springs to both Grand Junction and Denver.