Want to experience the best, most-scenic train rides in Colorado? You’ve come to the right place. You can find everything from mountain train rides to open-air carts to overnight trips across the Rocky Mountains—you just have to know where to look.
Whether you want to jump on the train for sightseeing or access to adventure, Colorado’s train rides have it all. From backpacking adventures in the San Juan Mountains to simple out-and-back trips to Colorado’s best mountain towns, we’ll cover the best-of-the-best trail rides in Colorado.
Best Scenic Train Rides in Colorado
We aren’t presenting these train rides in any hierarchal order. Each has a little something different to offer. Some will take you to epic peak-bagging adventures, while others will give your kids the thrill of a lifetime. From here, it’s up to you to determine which is the best train ride in Colorado for you.
1. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Ride
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Ride is one of my favorite scenic train rides in Colorado. As a Ouray resident, I’ve had the opportunity to ride this train in various seasons for fun, adventure, and even holiday tradition.
You hop on the train in Durango, and it takes you on a beautiful 3.5-hour ride through the San Juan Mountains to the mining town of Silverton. The train ride features:
- Rolling hills
- Views of epic mountains
- Steep cliffs (close enough to touch…but don’t touch!)
- Narrows canyons
- Raging rapids
- Waterfalls
You’ll have a 2-hour layover in Silverton to explore, shop, and eat before hopping on the train to reverse the route back to Durango. It’s an all-day train adventure that’ll give you some of the best views of the San Juan Mountains from the not-so-cushy seats of a train.
Really, they’re not super-duper comfortable.
You can choose an open-air train car or an enclosed car—during the summer, I highly recommend the open-air option. You get much better views of the surrounding scenery, and there’s a bit more room for kids to walk around and explore.
Other Durango and Silverton Train Rides
Now, that’s just the traditional Durango and Silverton train ride experience, but the railroad has a few other options to explore:
- Cascade Canyon Express: Condense your journey to just 5 hours (instead of 9+) while still seeing jaw-dropping scenery, geological features, and epic high mountain curves.
- Cascade Canyon Winter Train: Take a trip to Cascade Canyon and back in the middle of winter for an unforgettable snow-bound train experience.
- The Polar Express: Listen to the story of the Polar Express while dancing chefs serve you hot chocolate. You’ll visit the North Pole, and Santa Claus even makes a surprise appearance on the train to give each child the “first gift of Christmas.”
Backpackers can also use the train in the summer to get prime access to the Chicago Basin hiking area. During warm summer months, entire cars will get off and on at this destination to go experience the remote Weminuche Wilderness and bag some of Colorado’s most epic 14’ers.
2. Georgetown Loop Railroad
The Georgetown Loop Railroad is arguably the best train ride near Denver, Colorado. It’s less than an hour’s drive away from the Mile High City and just a skip off I-70 to park and embark.
You’ll hop on the train for a short 2-mile ride between the historic mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. Right from the get-go, the train takes you over a scenic bridge with thrilling vertical drops on both sides. This is the pinnacle of exposure on a bridge, and they help freeze the moment in time by completely stopping in the middle to allow for pictures.
The train takes you over a handful of other bridges as it winds its way across the rocky canyon toward Silver Plume. Once you reach the end of your journey, you have the option to get off and explore some tourist attractions at Lebanon Silver Mine (you’ll pay for that before you get on the train). After the train gets sorted out, you’ll ride back to Georgetown to end your locomotive journey.
The Georgetown Loop Railroad is the perfect train ride for families because it’s not too long and not too short. You get just the right amount of time on the train without your kiddos getting bored or antsy—it’s a win-win for everyone.
3. Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Train Ride
The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Train Ride takes passengers on a 45-minute trip to see the rich history of the area’s gold mines. You’ll get to ride the 15-ton iron horse steam locomotive and see amazing views of Pikes Peak, Echo Valley, and historic gold mining camps.
It’s a first-come, first-serve train ride, so you’ll need to get in line to earn yourself a spot. All the cars are open, and the train runs rain or shine—so prepare to get a little wet if the weather looks dicey.
The conductor narrates the entire journey, and these people are top-notch. They care about this area’s history, and they’ll share dozens of interesting facts you’ll actually want to hear.
4. Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Despite its breathtaking views, the Royal Gorge is still a Colorado hidden gem (relatively). Seriously, ask a Colorado local if they’ve been to the Royal Gorge, and you’d be surprised by how few have visited (and how few know about it).
The Royal Gorge Railroad takes you through the winding gorge and gives you a unique bottom-up view of the tall cliffs, the winding Arkansas River, and the Royal Gorge Bridge (one of the world’s tallest suspension bridges).
Unlike most of the train rides on this list, the Royal Gorge Railroad feels a bit more ritzy. They offer first-class seating and dining, and the train also features themed rides like Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Mother’s Day Train, and Royal Afternoon Tea at the Mansion.
5. Colorado Amtrak
The California Zephyr train passes through the heart of Colorado, making a stop in Denver as it makes its way between the end destinations of Chicago and Emeryville, San Francisco. You get a taste of everything the Western United States has to offer on this long train ride:
- Snow-capped Sierra Nevadas
- Desert terrain
- Rocky Mountains
- Glenwood Canyon
- Winter Park
- Moffat Tunnel
- San Pablo Bay
- And more
The train serves over 30 train stations along the journey, but here are the notable stops in Colorado:
- Fort Morgan, CO (FMG)
- Denver, CO – Union Station (DEN)
- Fraser-Winter Park, CO (WIP)
- Granby, CO (GRA)
- Glenwood Springs, CO (GSC)
- Grand Junction, CO (GJT)
This is not a “historical” train ride. You’ll get cushy seats, sleeper cars, dining options, and observation cars for a comfortable traveling experience.
6. Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad takes riders on a 65-mile journey through Toltec Gorge and over the 10,000-foot Cumbres Pass—hence, the name. It’s a 6.5-hour ride with amazing views the entire way, and the train itself is a National Historic Landmark.
The railroad describes itself as the “longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America.” You cross the state border with New Mexico 11 times as you zigzag through canyons, tunnels, and trestles. Right from the get-go, the train leaves the station and begins a steep 4% climb into the mountains.
You’ll see:
- Old mining camps
- 600-foot deep walls of Toltec Gorge
- 137-foot-tall Cascade Creek Trestle
- Chama Valley
- Tanglefoot Curve
- Mud Tunnel
- Rio de los Pinos
- Lava mesas
7. Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad
The Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad takes you on a 2.5-hour train ride to the Continental Divide with amazing panoramic views of the Arkansas River Valley and Leadville’s colorful mining past.
Along the way, you’ll see Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive (Colorado’s 2 tallest mountains), Freemont Pass, and the thick trees of the San Isabel National Forest. Depending on the time of year, you’ll also see fields of vibrant wildflowers surrounding the train as it meanders through the hills and mountains.
8. Tiny Town and Railroad
Tiny Town and Railroad is far from a traditional scenic Colorado train ride experience, but it’s something your children might appreciate even more. They’ll feel like giants in this children-sized town filled with replica buildings and a miniature train built for them.
It’s a 10-minute train ride that takes you around the unique park, and it’s powered by a real steam engine. The park is actually a decent size, with tons of shade-providing trees and over 100 tiny buildings. Oh, and the train ride is just $2 per ticket. This place is not a tourist rip-off—it’s a genuinely good time for kids and train enthusiasts.
9. Rockies to the Red Rocks
The Rocky Mountaineer train takes travelers for a colorful ride through western Colorado’s red rock territory. It stops in Denver, Glenwood Springs, and Moab, UT, as it winds through canyons and happens upon vast desert expanses.
Between Moab and Glenwood Springs, you’ll see incredible views of Mount Garfield and Ruby Canyon. Enjoy the springs for the rest of the evening before getting on the train for Day 2 between Glenwood Springs and Denver. This portion of the train ride crosses the Continental Divide with the 6.3-mile Moffat Tunnel.
10. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the highest cog train in the world, taking riders from Manitou Springs all the way up to the top of Pikes Peak (at 14,115 feet). It’s a 3.5-hour roundtrip ride with magical views of the Rocky Mountains and never-ending views of the plains to the east.
Discover Katharine Lee Bates’s inspiration for writing the song “America the Beautiful.” When she arrived on top of Pikes Peak, she wrote, “All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.”
It’s hard to disagree.
While Pikes Peak is the star of the show, you’ll also get to experience dozens of other sights along your 9-mile trip to the top:
- Ruxton Creek
- Englemann Canyon
- Minnehaha Falls
- Deer Park
- 360 views
Want to mix up your adventure? Hike up Pikes Peak and save your knees with a quick trip down on the Cog Railway. Oh, and enjoy a high-altitude doughnut at the summit for top-notch fuel.
11. Ridgway Railroad Museum & Train Ride
The Ridgway Railroad Museum features historic Colorado train equipment, and you can go out and view the cars at any time. However, you’ll need to wait until they’re open to look inside the cars and museum.
Come visit on a Saturday, and you can get a free ride on Motor No. 1 and Goose No. 4 as it rides around the few acres of property. You’ll get stellar views of the Cimarrons and Mt. Sneffels as you make loops around the train yard.
12. Winter Park Express Ski Train
The Winter Park Express Ski Train operates in partnership with Amtrak to take ski enthusiasts from Downtown Denver to the high-altitude slopes of Winter Park Resort. You can ride the train from mid-January to the end of March during peak ski season to avoid I-70 traffic and enjoy the no-stress adventure of train rides and skiing.
You could even take plane to train by flying into Denver International Airport and taking the A-Line to Union Station in Downtown Denver. It’s an expensive route to get to Winter Park, but the nature of public traveling feels almost European (almost).
13. Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief is another Amtrak line that connects Chicago and Los Angeles with a few stops in Colorado’s southwest region:
These are seldom-visited Colorado towns with lots of natural beauty and adventure to offer. Visit Trinidad Lake for top-notch camping, hiking, boating, and fishing, or go on an epic hike up the Spanish Peaks.
14. [Bonus – Closed] Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad takes travelers on a beautiful route from Alamosa to La Veta in Southern Colorado. The steam and diesel trains provide amazing views of the San Luis Valley and a handful of crossings through historic train towns.
Unfortunately, the Rio Grand Scenic Railroad is closed for the time being as owners look for new buyers.
Where Will Your Colorado Train Ride Take You?
Sometimes, a train ride is a train ride—you get to enjoy riding a classic locomotive vehicle while experiencing breathtaking views and fresh air. And other times, a train ride in Colorado is simply a convenient means to adventure.
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