How To Plan A Day Trip to Idaho Springs, CO
Best Things To Do In Idaho Springs:
1) Indian Hot Springs
Indian Springs Main Pool
Indian Hot Springs is a great daytime activity in Idaho Springs where you can relax and soak in the mineral water. The main hot springs is a large mineral water pool that lies under an arching glass dome.
Surrounding the main pool is a display of beautiful greenery and live palm and banana trees.
The pool is great for people of all ages and different areas of the pool vary in temperature. The pool is fed with 115-degree water that is filled with soothing minerals right from the Colorado mountains.
Indian Springs Private Caves & Jacuzzi’s
If you are looking for something a little more private, Indian Hot Springs also offers geothermal caves that are carved right out of the mountainside and include a sunken mineral hot tub. In addition, they have outdoor jacuzzies that require you to purchase a pass, so that you can take in the fresh mountain air while you soak in the hot springs.
Pricing and Hours
Prices vary depending on what package you buy, however, a day pass to the main pool is $18.00 on weekdays and $20.00 on weekends. The geothermal caves and outdoor jacuzzies are between $5.00 to $8.00 more expensive.
The main pool can get very busy on weekends and holidays so it may be worth it to spend a few extra bucks to have some privacy (plus the outdoor jacuzzies are great when it’s snowing). The springs are open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm year round.
Travel from Downtown Idaho Springs:
2) St. Mary’s Glacier
Just past the west end of Idaho Springs, you will find an exit that is marked Fall River Road. If you exit here you will be lead along a road that winds for about 7 or 8 miles through beautiful aspen groves and up the side of a mountain. At the top of the road is a parking lot that leads to a short hiking trail.
The Hike Up
The hiking trail to Saint Mary’s Glacier is only .75 miles long and only takes about 20-30 minutes to hike. The trail is very rocky so good shoes are important. However, the incline isn’t very steep, so hikers of all athletic abilities should be able to get to the glacier at the top. When you arrive at the top you will find a beautiful lake with giant cliffs in the backdrop. In addition, there is a year-round glacier that people sled and snowboard on every month of the year.
At the Top
Once at the top you can either relax by the lake or continue to adventure around the area. During the spring and summer, you will find the area surrounded by beautiful wildflowers and rivers trickling down from the glacier, which is in my opinion, the best time of the year to visit. In the warm summer months, you can even enjoy swimming in the lake or (carefully) partake in jumping off of the small cliffs on the West side of the lake.
Travel Time from Downtown Idaho Springs:
Bouck Brothers Distilling
Bouck Brothers Distilling offers a variety of unique whiskeys that have been crafted with innovation in mind. The Bouck brothers realized that the beer industry has been constantly adding new flavor profiles to the mix, for example, a Graham Cracker Porter, a Grapefruit IPA, and sour beers- and they set a goal to change the flavor profile of whiskey.
The Whiskey
Right now, they have four main whiskeys: Miners Moonshine (corn whiskey), Bourbon (whiskey), Idaho Springs (whiskey), and Colorado Coffee (coffee flavored whiskey), but you can try a variety of whiskey flavors in the distillery.
By coming into the distillery, you will learn about the making of the whiskey and have a chance to sample the whiskey alongside other local products you cannot try anywhere else! The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff is knowledgeable of the industry & products.
Rating: 100% of visitors rated Bouck Brothers excellent (5/5) on Tripadvisor and also has a 5-star rating on Yelp.
Price Range: $$
Travel from Downtown Idaho Springs:
Restaurants-
Beau Jo’s
Beau Jo’s is deep dish Colorado style pizza and the original location is located right in Downtown Idaho Springs. They call their pizzas mountain pies, and they are 1-5 pounds. They have 5 sizes of pizza from small to extra large.
They have tons of options for toppings. One of the unique things about Beau Jo’s is the crust, it is very thick and doughy and a lot of people choose to at it with honey, which you will find already on your table They have three different types of crust to meet any need; mountain pie, prairie pie and gluten-free. The pizzas range anywhere from $8-$30 and can get pretty extreme.
Not only do they have great pizza, but they also have calzones, salads, and a variety of appetizers as well. On top of the food being great here, the atmosphere is always fun and exciting as well. This is a destination restaurant for Colorado travelers so there will always be a ton of foot traffic in and out.
Menu:http://www.beaujos.com/menu
Travel from Downtown Idaho Springs:
Westbound & Down Brewery Company
Westbound & Down Brewery Company is a modern brewery and grill located at 1617 Miner St, Idaho Springs, CO 80452.
This is a great moderately priced place to visit after a long day’s skiing for some food and locally brewed beer. Westbound & Down is open every day of the week 11am-10pm.
Westbound & Down makes all of their beer in-house and the barrels can be seen bright behind you if you are sitting at the bar. They have a great selection for all beer drinkers from a Fruited Berliner Weisse, to the hoppy Westbound IPA, and the chocolate espresso flavored Seven Sisters Stout. Flights of 4 smaller beers are also available if you’re dying to try more than one.
The restaurant features a variety of burgers, pizza & buffalo meat eats. It has a local modern feel, being relatively new. Some of their most popular menu items include their famous jalapeno cheddar buns appetizer, their buffalo burger, and their beef stew. These items are a perfect warm-up meal after skiing or hiking and match perfectly with one of their many beers brewed right there in house.
Travel from Downtown Idaho Springs:
Weather Updates-
Weekend Weather
If you are planning on making a trip to Idaho Springs this weekend, the weather will be snowy Saturday with a high of 44 and a low of 16, with Sunday being a little bit nicer with a high of 50 and a low of 29 with partly cloudy skies.
Average Monthly Temperatures
| Month: | Average Temperature °F: |
| January | 17 |
| February | 18 |
| March | 23.5 |
| April | 29 |
| May | 38.5 |
| June | 47.5 |
| July | 53.5 |
| August | 52 |
| September | 45 |
| October | 35.5 |
| November | 24 |
| December | 16.5 |
Average Annual High: 44.5°F
Average Annual Low: 22.2°F