From gliding down a waterslide in the blazing summer sun to watching snowflakes evaporate over steaming water after a day of skiing, the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has long provided memorable moments. Now, with the first major addition in more than a decade, the world’s largest hot springs pool will offer even more opportunities for future memories, with a surge of added excitement.

The Sopris Splash Zone's new aquatic features, debuting mid-July on the property’s west end, include a Colorado-themed “adventure river” and a kids’ play area with mini-slides, gentle waterfalls, and a splash pad that morphs into a lighted fountain at night. Gone are the miniature golf course, old waterslides, and 1970s-era kiddie pool. 

Named Shoshone Chutes, after a series of notorious rapids on the nearby Colorado River, the flagship feature gives guests the experience of tubing down a twisty, turny whitewater course for about 3 exhilarating minutes (with an option to bail out halfway through). “It’s a water-in-your-face kind of ride,” says John Bosco, the resort’s COO and vice president.

Moreover, the family-friendly ride honors its location with concrete borders that mimic the striations and coloring of Glenwood Canyon’s walls. Local land planning firm DHM and Cloward H20, which also designed Atlantis’s Paradise Island and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Jurassic Park ride, partnered to create and landscape Shoshone Chutes and the other additions. 

Next up: a revamp of the pool’s east side with enhanced rest and relaxation for adults. Entrance fee $17–$29