Colorado winter and shoulder seasons are the ideal time to go underground at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park on one of the Park’s three guided cave tours.
Want a change of scenery? Head to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a designated National Natural Landmark, for a tour of a landscape hidden beneath the surface! The Park’s three caves tours—King’s Row, Historic Fairy Caves, and The Wild Tour—are a sight to behold.
What’s more, the caves are a steady 52˚ year-round, the perfect temp to explore no matter what the weather outside is doing. King’s Row and Historic Fairy Caves are both included with a Fun Day Ticket, or you can purchase a Gondola and Caves Only Ticket. The Wild Tour is a stand-alone, add-on adventure and must be scheduled in advance to be sure we have guides available to lead it. Curious to see what’s underfoot at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park? Select the tour that suits you best or do all three!
Historic Fairy Caves: A Bright Spot Beneath the Surface
Step back in time on the Historic Fairy Caves tour. Entrepreneur CW Darrow recognized the beauty and wonder of the caves and opened them for tours in 1896. Check out the picture of the gals, ready for caving adventures and wearing dresses!
Darrow’s idea was brilliant in more ways than one. Not only were the caves the first in the U.S. to have electric lighting, but Darrow was also ahead of his time, proposing a tram to get folks up the mountain. But the fickle winds of fortune did not favor him, and the caves closed to the public in 1910. In 1961, the Darrow family sold the caves to Peter Prebble, after whom Prebble’s Pebbles rock shop is named.
This 40-minute guided tour is well-lit and easy to navigate, with only 19 steps. It’s perfect for first-time cave explorers, families, and is accessible for most fitness levels. Just a quarter-mile in length, highlights include the Pendant Room with bulbous formations
carved by air and water, a natural—not manmade—reflecting pool; and midway, a stop at Exclamation Point where a cliffside viewing balcony overlooks Glenwood Canyon below. You’ll also stroll past the most historic section of the cave, where the original vintage carbide lighting is on display. Historic Fairy Caves tours are a fascinating and gentle introduction to the underground world.
Want to see the caves in a whole new light? The Black Light add-on package is for you. Pre-tour, you’ll learn the difference between fluorescent and phosphorescent glow. Then, with a special UV black-light flashlight in hand, you’ll see what most people don’t: a spectrum of colors not visible otherwise. A truly magical experience!
King’s Row: The Wowza Factor
For those who like their caving adventures spacious and dramatic, King’s Row delivers. Known for its massive rooms and towering formations, it features a room that’s so big, it’s called “The Barn.” This tour too is 40-minutes long but drops down 150 feet below the surface via a staircase, so be prepared for a thigh-pumping step workout. Don’t worry, guides take it slow, pointing out sights along the way. The stairway is wide and dotted with multiple viewing platforms, some with benches along the way, for a quick rest. The tour gets its namesake from the jaw-dropping natural sculptures on King’s Row. Upon entering King’s Row, visitors slide into a tiered viewing platform so one and all have an unimpeded line of sight of the pristine formations.
Stunning all the way through, King’s Row exudes “oos” and “aahs.” It’s a great choice for families, moderately fit adults, teens, and tots who can negotiate stairs. The spacious rooms and high ceilings also make this tour suitable for anyone who feels claustrophobic in close spaces.
The Wild Tour: An Intro to Spelunking
The Wild Tour is exactly what it sounds like—a spelunking adventure complete with helmets, kneepads, and headlamps. Get ready to crawl, climb, and squeeze your way through some tight spots and experience the thrill of real caving. This tour is not for the faint of heart or the claustrophobic.
A two-hour guided adventure, you’ll see the caves in much the same way as the first explorers did, getting up close and personal with raw cave terrain. Go for a lights-out moment and experience total darkness. Push forward through stomach-sucking tight spaces, and plan to get a little dirty wiggling through some belly-crawling passages. Yes, it’s challenging, but it’s also unforgettable, and absolutely worth it!
Go Underground This Season
Whether you’re craving a mild introduction to cave exploration, a wild underground adventure, or something in between, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers a tour for every comfort level. Plan your visit today to see what’s waiting beneath your feet.
