Glenwood Springs Joins Colorado’s Accessible Travel Revolution

Glenwood Springs has long been a hub of al fresco entertainment and health for centuries. Ute Indian Tribes were drawn to the area for the bountiful, hot and healing springs. Coupled with majestic, skiable mountain terrain and trout-filled rivers, ‘The Spa in the Mountains,’ aka Glenwood Springs, is now helping pioneer the next wave of tourism.

The Colorado Tourism Office has chosen Glenwood Springs as one of three state wide pilot programs for accessible travel in partnership with Wheel the World. “Wheel the World is like Tripadvisor for travelers with mobility impairments,” explains Heidi Pankow, communications director for Visit Glenwood Springs. “It includes lodging, entertainment, food and beverage, guided tours and so much more. We were a perfect fit representing an ideal basecamp for Western Slope recreation including the Roaring Fork Valley and I-70 Corridor.”

Glenwood Springs was chosen along with Beaver Creek Resort and Pueblo to launch the program in Colorado. “This will be a valuable tool for the city and industry partners to help us foster an understanding of the needs of travelers with mobility challenges,” says Lisa Langer, tourism director for Visit Glenwood Springs. “We are elated to have been chosen among our peer destinations across the state to participate in this valuable program to assess Glenwood Springs.”

The official audit of attractions, lodging and eateries will begin this spring and will be compiled by the end of June. The “Destination Verified” program then will be integrated to the online platform and available for immediate use via Wheel the World: Accessible Travels, Hotels and Experiences. Visitors with mobility impairments will now have a one-stop-shop for ski, soak, sun-kissed activities and all the amenities that have drawn visitors to the area for centuries.

Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.