8 Scenic Train Day Trips In Colorado That Belong On Every Bucket List
If you are an adventure fan, you probably do not want to spend the rest of this summer in your apartment. Sitting in front of the air conditioner gets boring quickly.
Colorado offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy historic train rides instead. These steel tracks cut directly through high mountain passes.
The mountain air stays naturally cool here even during August. Passengers can trade their dark living rooms for open air train cars.
The cars rumble over old wooden trestle bridges built during the silver rush. Aspen leaves brush right against the window glass as the vintage locomotive climbs.
You can watch wild rivers turn into tiny silver threads far below. Conductors still check paper tickets with old metal hole punches.
This journey provides pure excitement.
1. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Few train rides in America feel as cinematic as this one. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been running continuously since 1881, making it one of the oldest operating railroads in the country.
That alone should get you excited.
The route winds through the jaw-dropping Animas Canyon, hugging cliff edges with the Animas River rushing far below. The coal-fired steam locomotives chug and hiss like they have been doing for over a century.
You can actually smell the history in the air, and yes, a little smoke too.
The trip covers about 45 miles each way from Durango to the old mining town of Silverton. Silverton itself is a spot with its Victorian-era buildings and mountain backdrop.
You get a couple of hours to explore before the train heads back.
Wildlife sightings along the route are surprisingly common. Keep your eyes open for eagles, deer, and the occasional black bear near the canyon walls.
The fall foliage season turns the whole corridor into a golden paradise.
Open-air gondola cars give you an unobstructed view of everything. The enclosed cars are cozy when the mountain air gets chilly.
Either way, you will not want to put your camera down for a single minute.
History buffs will love the on-board narration about the railroad’s origins. It was originally built to haul silver and gold ore out of the mountains.
Now it hauls wide-eyed passengers who cannot believe how beautiful Colorado really is.
Book your tickets early, especially for summer and fall trips. This ride sells out fast, and for very good reason.
Find this spot at 479 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301.
2. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
America’s longest and highest narrow-gauge steam railroad is not messing around. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad stretches an epic 64 miles between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico.
Yes, you literally cross state lines on this adventure.
The train climbs all the way to Cumbres Pass at over 10,000 feet above sea level. Then it threads through the stomach-dropping 800-foot walls of Toltec Gorge.
You will grip your armrest and absolutely love every second of it.
This railroad was built in 1880 as part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad system. It was originally used to serve the silver mining communities scattered across the San Juan Mountains.
Today it is a National Historic Landmark and a living piece of American railroad history.
The locomotive itself is a star. Watching the steam billow out while the engine groans up steep grades feels like watching a monster come to life.
Kids and adults both lose their minds over it equally.
Aspen forests line much of the route, making fall trips spectacular. The golden leaves shimmer against the steel blue sky in a way that feels almost unfair.
It is the kind of scenery that makes you question why you ever stayed home.
Midway excursions are available where you can switch trains or take a bus back. This gives you flexibility to customize your experience.
Either direction you choose, the scenery delivers the goods.
The crew is knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about this route. They share stories and facts that make the journey feel personal.
Visit it at 5234 US Hwy 285, Antonito, CO 81120.
3. Leadville Railroad
Leadville sits at over 10,000 feet, making it the highest incorporated city in North America. So naturally, the train that departs from here climbs even higher.
You are basically riding a train into the clouds, and it is every bit as cool as it sounds.
The Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad takes passengers up to about 11,200 feet through stunning alpine terrain. The views of Colorado’s highest peaks, including Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, are absolutely unreal.
On a clear day, you feel like you can see forever.
The two-and-a-half-hour round trip follows the old Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad route. This line once served the booming silver and gold mining operations of the 1880s.
Now it serves curious travelers who want a high-altitude story to tell at dinner.
Onboard narrators keep things lively with stories about Leadville’s wild and colorful past. Think silver barons, legendary characters, and the kind of boom-and-bust drama that made the Old West famous.
The narration is genuinely entertaining and not just filler.
Wildflowers blanket the meadows along the route during summer months. You might also spot elk, marmots, or hawks riding thermals above the ridgelines.
Nature up here operates on a whole different level of drama.
The open-air observation car is the place to be on a sunny day. Bring a light jacket because temperatures at altitude can surprise you fast.
Even in July, the mountain air has a sharp, refreshing bite to it.
Leadville itself is worth exploring before or after your ride. The historic downtown is full of character and quirky charm.
The address is 326 E 7th St, Leadville, CO 80461.
4. Georgetown Loop Railroad
When engineers built this railroad back in 1884, people called it an impossible dream. The terrain between Georgetown and Silver Plume was so steep that a straight track simply would not work.
So they built a spiral loop instead, and honestly, it is a genius piece of engineering that still impresses people today.
The train climbs 640 feet over just 4.5 miles by looping back over itself multiple times. The highlight is crossing the Devil’s Gate High Bridge, which sits 95 feet above Clear Creek.
Looking down from that bridge never gets old, no matter how many times you ride it.
Both Georgetown and Silver Plume were booming silver mining towns in the 1870s and 1880s. Riding between them feels like flipping through the pages of a Colorado history book.
The mountains around you look the same as they did back then.
You can add a tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine to your trip for an extra layer of adventure. Stepping inside a real nineteenth-century silver mine is a genuinely memorable experience.
The temperature inside drops fast, so bring a layer even in summer.
The train operates seasonally, typically from late spring through early fall. Fall rides are especially popular because the aspens turn the canyon into a blaze of gold.
Families, photographers, and history lovers all show up for the same reason.
The coaches are open-air and enclosed, giving you options depending on the weather. Either way, every seat feels like a front-row view of Colorado’s mountain history.
The whole loop takes about an hour, making it a perfectly sized adventure.
Head to 646 Loop Dr, Georgetown, CO 80444.
5. Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Picture riding a train through a canyon so dramatic it barely seems real. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad runs right through the heart of the Royal Gorge, where granite walls soar more than 1,000 feet above your head.
It is the kind of scenery that makes you feel wonderfully small.
The Arkansas River races alongside the tracks the entire way, adding a roaring soundtrack to an already jaw-dropping journey. The gorge is so narrow in places that the tracks barely fit between the water and the canyon walls.
Engineers back in the 1870s were either very brave or extremely stubborn, possibly both.
The railroad’s history includes the famous Royal Gorge War of 1879. Two rival railroad companies, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and the Denver and Rio Grande, literally fought over who got to build through the canyon.
The Denver and Rio Grande won, and the route has been legendary ever since.
Today the journey is calm, elegant, and surprisingly relaxing for something surrounded by such wild scenery. The cars are beautifully restored with large windows designed for maximum viewing.
You will not miss a single cliff face or river bend.
Dome cars offer a panoramic view that puts regular windows to shame. Looking straight up at those towering granite walls from a glass ceiling is an experience that sticks with you.
Bring a camera with a wide lens if you have one.
The round trip covers about 24 miles and takes roughly two hours. It is a perfect half-day outing that leaves you with plenty of energy to explore Cañon City afterward.
Find it at 401 Water St, Cañon City, CO 81212.
6. The Broadmoor Manitou And Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Riding to the top of a 14,115-foot mountain without breaking a sweat is the kind of luxury everyone deserves.
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been hauling passengers to the summit since 1891, making it one of the most iconic mountain experiences in the entire country.
The views from the top are the kind that inspired the song America the Beautiful, and you will absolutely understand why.
The railway uses a cog-and-rack system to grip the steep mountain grades. At its steepest, the track rises at a 25 percent grade.
Regular trains would simply slide back down, which would be exciting in all the wrong ways.
Zalmon Simmons, a mattress mogul of all things, originally funded the railway after a miserable hike up Pikes Peak. He decided everyone deserved a more comfortable way to reach the summit.
Honestly, that is one of the best origin stories in railroad history.
The new Swiss-built trains introduced in recent years are sleek, modern, and incredibly smooth. Large windows wrap around the cabin to maximize every mountain view.
Even on overcast days, the ride through the alpine tundra feels otherworldly.
Weather at the summit changes fast and dramatically. It can be sunny at the base and snowing at the top within the same hour.
Layers are not optional up here; they are survival gear.
The summit house has a café where you can grab a famous Pikes Peak donut. There is something deeply satisfying about eating a donut at 14,000 feet.
The whole experience is part thrill, part history lesson, and part comedy.
Visit this spot at 515 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829.
7. Colorado Railroad Museum
Most museums ask you to look but not touch. This one practically invites you to climb aboard.
The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is a 15-acre outdoor railyard packed with over 100 historic locomotives and rail cars. It is the kind of place where train lovers go and never want to leave.
Some of the equipment on display dates all the way back to the 1880s. You can walk right up to these massive machines and inspect every bolt, wheel, and rivet.
Standing next to a full-size steam locomotive is a humbling experience that photos never fully capture.
The museum tells the complete story of Colorado’s railroad history, which is basically the story of how the state was built.
Railroads opened up the mines, connected the towns, and brought settlers to a landscape that was otherwise nearly impossible to reach. Without trains, Colorado’s history looks completely different.
On select operating days, you can actually ride a train through the grounds. The schedule varies by season, so checking ahead is a smart move.
Kids especially go absolutely wild for the ride days.
The research library inside holds one of the largest collections of railroad photographs and documents in the American West. History nerds can spend hours in there without blinking.
The staff are enthusiastic and genuinely know their stuff.
Golden itself is a fantastic town to spend a day in. The museum pairs perfectly with a walk along Clear Creek or a meal downtown.
It is the kind of stop that turns a casual visit into a full, satisfying day out.
Admission is affordable, and the experience punches well above its weight. Visit it at 17155 W 44th Ave, Golden, CO 80403.
8. Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
Gold does funny things to people. In the 1890s, the discovery of gold near Cripple Creek turned a quiet cattle ranching area into one of the most frenetic boomtowns in American history.
The Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad takes you right through the heart of that story, and it does it in the most fun way possible.
The train is an open-air, coal-fired steam locomotive that rolls through a landscape still dotted with old mine structures and tailings piles. You ride past the remnants of what was once the world’s greatest gold camp.
The scenery is equal parts beautiful and hauntingly historic.
The route passes by the legendary Anaconda Mine and stops at the Anaconda mining camp for a brief visit. Conductors narrate the trip with stories that are equal parts educational and genuinely entertaining.
You will pick up more Colorado gold rush history here than in most books.
The ride is about 45 minutes round trip, making it an easy addition to a day exploring Cripple Creek. The town itself is full of Victorian architecture, quirky shops, and a surprisingly rich history.
Walking the streets after the train ride satisfyingly connects the dots.
The elevation sits around 9,500 feet, so the air is crisp, and the sky feels enormous. On clear days, the views of the surrounding mountains are wide and dramatic.
You get that big Colorado sky that makes everything feel more alive.
Families love this ride because it moves slowly enough to really take everything in. The open cars mean you are fully immersed in the landscape and the mountain air.
The address is 520 E Carr Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813.