Menu
Your ACT guide will pick you up at 8:00 am sharp at a coffee shop in downtown Denver called ink! Coffee.
Important note: there are several ink! Coffee shops in Denver. Be sure to meet at the one located at 1920 17th St, Denver, CO 80202.
Please view this map if you need directions finding our meetup location, or call us at 720-708-0567 if you need any help.
Parking downtown is limited to garages and a few surface lots. For you convenience we have created a map of the closest parking garages to our pickup location which you can view here.
Once your guide arrives, he or she will greet you, briefly go over logistics, and check that you have signed the waiver. If you haven't signed the waiver for your tour, please do so here. Signing the waiver ahead of time will ensure you get of to a quick start.
Once that's done, you are off to start your tour! Your guide will drive you to the first stop - St. Mary's Glacier - which is about a 1 hour and 15 minute drive.
Throughout the drive, your guide will provide you with commentary about the sights and teach you about the area, including the region's cultural and natural history.
This hike is a local favorite and will give you a chance to see some of the best sights in Colorado. After picking you up in downtown Denver at 8:00 am, your guide will drive you and your small group to the S.t Mary's Glacier trailhead. The drive from Denver to the trailhead takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. St. Mary's Glacier sits just outside of the small mining town of Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Once at the trailhead, your guide will prepare you for the hike. Your guide will provide you with all of the gear you will need for this hike (e.g. snowshoes, crampons, warm clothes) and properly fit you for any gear you require. If you aren't sure what to wear for this hike, see our packing list here.
On this hike, we will ascend through the beautiful evergreen forests and end with a breathtaking view of an alpine lake at the base of a glacier. The hike is about 1.5 miles in total, but ranked as moderate because of the altitude and the increase in elevation you will need to hike up to the glacier. The entire first half of the hike (~ 0.7mi) is uphill, but we will take many breaks for you to catch your breath, drink water, and take pictures.
Your guide will be taking lots of professional pictures of you and and your group throughout the hike which will be sent to you at the end of your tour for no additional charge.
Once at the glacier, you will have the opportunity to explore, take more pictures, and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Finally, your guide lead you on a downhill hike back to the trailhead.
After the hike, your guide will drive you into the town of Idaho Springs where you will get to visit the historic Indian Hot Springs. These hot springs are the most unique in Colorado because they exist in underground geothermal caves. The caves were built between 1903 and 1911 by drilling into the solid granite mountainside. Walt Whitman, The Vanderbilts, and The Roosevelts are some of the many famous figures known to have visited the Indian Hot Springs - and now you can too.
Here you will have an hour to to soak your muscles in the naturally hot mineral water within the caves. It is the perfect way to relax and restore after your morning hike. The Ute and Arapahoe Indians who once occupied Colorado considered these hot springs to be sacred healing waters.
There are multiple pools within the geothermal caves that are filled with naturally hot mineral water. The pools vary in temperatures from about 104° to 112° Fahrenheit.
Important note: the caves are gender separated and clothing optional.
What's the best way to top of an amazing hike and soak in the the hot springs? Pizza, of course!
After visiting the Indian Hot Springs, your guide will drive you into downtown Idaho Springs, a charming and historic gold mining town.
Beau Jo's, which has been around since 1880, is famous for making "Colorado Style" pizza. They bake locally sourced honey into their pizza dough, which they make fresh throughout the day. Local honey is also served with your pizza, so you can drizzle it on your pizza crust to your heart's content. Sounds weird, but trust us - it's amazing!
Important note: lunch is not included in the price of the tour.
For more mouth watering details, check out this video:
After enjoying your pizza in Idaho Springs, your guide will drive you back to Denver.
Your tour will end in the same location that you were picked up: at ink! Coffee in downtown Denver.
By the end of the day, you will receive an email with a link to the complementary photos that your guide took throughout your tour. We hope you enjoy the memories!
We recommend that you dress in warm layers and wear sturdy hiking boots. See our full packing list here.
Colorado's weather is extremely variable everyday and throughout the year. You should definitely consider bringing:
While we provide the essential gear, you may want to consider bringing a few items including:
To book this tour, please click here and choose your preferred date.
Your ACT guide will pick you up at 8:00 am sharp at a coffee shop in downtown Denver called ink! Coffee.
Important note: there are several ink! Coffee shops in Denver. Be sure to meet at the one located at 1920 17th St, Denver, CO 80202.
Please view this map if you need directions finding our meetup location, or call us at 720-708-0567 if you need any help.
Parking downtown is limited to garages and a few surface lots. For you convenience we have created a map of the closest parking garages to our pickup location which you can view here.
ACT is proud its team of expert local guides who are the best in the business. Check out our guides page to learn more about our awesome guides, one of which will be leading this tour.
ACT guarantees a 1 to 4 guide to guest ratio. This means that you will have no more that 4 guests total in your vehicle.
There may be up to 12 people on your tour, each group of 4 will be assigned one guide. This keeps the tours very small and personal. Our guests agree that this makes for a much better experience than a tour with a large group!
The weather in Colorado can be very volatile and unpredictable. It changes rapidly and often without warning.
It is not uncommon for the temperatures in the mountains to fluctuate from 10-30 degrees in less than a few hours. Storms roll in quickly and high winds can come out of nowhere. Snow, rain, hail, and lightning are all things you should be prepared for.
Always check the weather in advance of your tour date so that you have the right clothing and can anticipate the conditions. We recommend checking both the Denver, Colorado forecast and the Idaho Springs, Colorado forecast. You will be visiting both locations on this tour and the weather can vary dramatically between Denver and Idaho Springs.
We will never run a tour if it is unsafe due to weather. If we do cancel your tour, you will be notified in advance and offered a full refund or the opportunity to choose a different tour date.
To learn more about the average temperatures in Colorado and what you can expect for your trip, visit this link here.
.png)
.png)
©2021 by Adventure Colorado Tours