Train Ride Through the Mountains in Colorado: The Ultimate Guide

There’s a reason a train ride through the mountains in Colorado keeps showing up on bucket lists year after year. Unlike a road trip, where the driver spends half the time watching the pavement instead of the peaks, a mountain train lets everyone in the group take in the view at once the aspens, the canyons, the rivers running alongside the tracks. If you’re weighing whether this is the right way to experience the Rockies, here’s everything you need to plan the trip.

Why Choose a Train Ride Through the Mountains in Colorado

Colorado’s rail lines were originally built to move silver and gold out of the mountains in the 1800s, and many of those same narrow-gauge tracks are still in use today just carrying tourists instead of ore. That history is part of the appeal: you’re not just seeing scenery, you’re riding through it on equipment and routes that shaped the American West. The routes climb grades a car simply can’t take on comfortably, cutting through canyons and tunnels that offer angles on the mountains no highway pull-off can match.

The Best Routes for a Colorado Mountain Train Ride
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

This is the most famous train ride through the mountains in Colorado, and for good reason. A coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive built in the 1920s hauls open-air and vintage cars along the Animas River through the San Juan National Forest, climbing to the old mining town of Silverton at over 9,300 feet.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

A shorter, family-friendly option just an hour from Denver. The train loops back over itself on a dramatic high trestle bridge between Georgetown and Silver Plume, making it an easy half-day trip if you don’t have time for a full-day excursion.

Rocky Mountaineer (Rockies to the Red Rocks)

A newer, more upscale option connecting Denver to Moab, Utah, over two days with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs. Glass-domed cars and onboard dining make this the choice for travelers who want comfort alongside the scenery.

Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad

Departing from the highest incorporated city in the U.S., this route runs through the Arkansas River Valley with views of Colorado’s two tallest peaks, Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.

Best Time of Year to Go
Fall (mid-September to early October): The gold aspens against the mountains make this the most popular and most crowded season. Book at least a month ahead.
Summer: Wildflowers, greener valleys, and the widest range of departure times.
Winter: Some lines run special snow-season or holiday excursions with fewer crowds and a completely different, snow-covered version of the same scenery.
What to Expect: Cost, Duration, and Comfort

Most standard round-trip tickets run somewhere between $60 and $180 per adult, depending on the route and class of car. Multi-day trips like the Rocky Mountaineer cost significantly more, often starting around $1,000 per person, since the price includes lodging and meals. Expect trips to run anywhere from two hours (Georgetown Loop) to a full day (Durango & Silverton) or two days (Rocky Mountaineer). Bring layers mountain weather shifts fast, and open-air cars get cold once you’re above 8,000 feet, even in summer.

Booking Tips
Reserve two to three months ahead for fall departures; popular routes sell out.
Choose an upgraded or open-air car if photography is the priority standard coach windows can create glare.
Pair the train with a night in a nearby mountain town (Durango, Silverton, or Georgetown) to avoid a long drive after a full day of travel.
Check elevation-related weather advisories before winter trips, since services can be adjusted for snow.
Final Thoughts

Whichever line you choose, a train ride through the mountains in Colorado delivers the kind of scenery that’s genuinely hard to reach any other way steep canyon walls, historic mining towns, and views that stretch across entire valleys. Book early, dress in layers, and pick the season that matches the version of the Rockies you want to see.