2027 marks two major milestones in America’s railway story: the 200th anniversary of American railroading and 160 years since the first railroad tracks were laid in Colorado. Few places bring America’s great railway story to life quite like Colorado, where historic steam trains still wind through former mining country, vintage carriages climb into the Rocky Mountains and modern train journeys connect travellers with some of the West’s most spectacular landscapes.
From riding an 1880s steam railway through Wild West country to taking a train straight from downtown Denver to the ski slopes, here are six unforgettable train journeys to experience Colorado in America’s bicentenary year.
Hit The Slopes Straight from Downtown, Winter Park
Colorado’s famous ski train has an anniversary of its own to celebrate. The state’s ski train tradition turns 90 this winter, nine decades after the first train carried more than 2,000 winter sports enthusiasts from Denver into the Rockies. Today, the Winter Park Express runs from Denver’s historic Union Station directly to Winter Park Resort, making it possible to experience a US ski holiday without getting behind the wheel.
Travellers can fly into the Mile High City, spend a few days acclimatising and exploring neighbourhoods such as RiNo, known for its street art, galleries and craft breweries, before boarding the train for a spectacular journey through the Rocky Mountains and stepping off within walking distance of the lifts. Winter Park’s ski season is currently scheduled to run from 5 December 2026 to 4 April 2027.
Experience a New Generation of American Rail Travel, Canyon Spirit
New for 2026, Canyon Spirit has launched its three-day luxury rail journey between Denver and Salt Lake City, extending the former Rocky Mountaineer “Rockies to the Red Rocks” route beyond Moab. Departing from Denver, the train travels through the heart of the Rocky Mountains, with overnight stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab before continuing into Utah. Travelling entirely during daylight hours, guests can take in views of the Continental Divide and Glenwood Canyon through panoramic windows, while enjoying locally inspired dining and attentive service onboard. The original two-day Denver to Moab journey also continues to operate.
Ride an 1880s Steam Train into the Wild West, Durango & Silverton
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers one of the US’s most spectacular train journeys. Operating since 1882, this iconic steam railway winds through the rugged San Juan Mountains, following the cliff-hugging Animas River with breathtaking views of deep gorges, pine forests, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks, complete with vintage railcars and whistle-blowing steam engines. Travellers can explore Silverton, where the preserved 19th-century streets feel straight out of a Clint Eastwood film – complete with the Grand Imperial Hotel, whose saloon bar still bears the bullet holes of its Wild West past.
Climb 14,115 Feet by Train, Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Just under two hours from Denver, the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway is a spectacular way to experience Colorado’s alpine scenery. Departing from colourful Manitou Springs, the railway climbs through forests and dramatic high-altitude landscapes to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, known as America’s Mountain. The views from the mountain famously inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the lyrics to America the Beautiful. At the top, take in sweeping views across the surrounding mountains and plains, and don’t miss the legendary high-altitude doughnuts at the Summit Visitor Center.
Ride Through Colorado’s Mining Past, Georgetown Loop Railroad
The historic Georgetown Loop Railroad offers an atmospheric journey into Colorado’s silver mining past. Travelling between the former mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, the narrow-gauge railway winds through rugged mountain scenery and crosses the dramatic Devil’s Gate High Bridge. Originally completed in the 1880s to tackle the steep climb between the two towns, the railway became an impressive feat of engineering and a symbol of Colorado’s mining boom. Today, visitors can step aboard for a scenic journey through the Rockies and a glimpse into the frontier ambition that helped shape the Centennial State.
Cross State Lines by Steam, Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Dating back to 1880, The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad offers one of Colorado’s most evocative journeys into America’s Old West. Departing from Antonito in southern Colorado, the historic narrow-gauge steam railway crosses the border into New Mexico, winding through the remote landscapes of the San Juan Mountains and climbing over the 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass. A National Historic Landmark, the railway dates back to 1880 and still carries passengers aboard steam-powered trains through dramatic gorges, alpine meadows and vast mountain scenery largely untouched by roads, offering a glimpse of rail travel as it was during the American West’s great mining era.
For more information, visit www.colorado.com
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