Attraction of the Week: The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train

Mike and I planned a trip to Pagosa Springs this fall to take a leaf peeping ride on the Durango & SIlverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is our second time visiting this region. On our first visit, we enjoyed soaking in the incredible hot springs. It was quite a trek from Tucson (~9 hours), but worth because the ride is amazing and there is a lot more to do in the area for hikers and nature lovers.

It comes at no surprise to me that this ride was rated the #1 most scenic in America by US Today. The picturesque journey, starts in the charming ski resort town of Durango and ends in the tiny high altitude town of Silverton. The beautiful journey through the San Juan National Forest offers some of the most stunning vistas you will experience in Colorado.

While some touristy activities are overrated, this is definitely one for the bucket list! We enjoyed an easy 1 hour drive from Pagosa, but I would say that this ride is spectacular enough to warrant the long drive from the Albuquerque airport (the closest big airport). To date, this is one of my favorite vacation activities. If you live within easy roadtrip distance, I highly recommend looking into it.

History of the railroad

The train has been in continuous operation since 1882, at which time it was originally constructed to transport silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains. Not surprisingly, it became much more popular for the outstanding views, and thus, became the popular tourist attraction which still stands strong today.

The ride begins in the original depot, located in downtown Durango. I really love this little Main Street. There are lots of local restaurants, shops, galleries, and gift shops to support. Treating yourself to a wonderful local meal and browsing around the shops after your ride is a must. We stopped at a little French cafe called Jean Pierre bakery after our ride.

Learn more about the train’s history

A gorgeous year-round ride

The 45 mile train ride runs a gorgeous course along the Animas River, one of the last free flowing rivers in the West. Because of the elevation (the highest peaks are 14,000 ft), the peaks are often covered with snow year-round. Even on our late September ride, the high altitude mountains were capped with snow and we even got caught in a pretty decent storm on our ride back. Much of the incredible forest scenery along the way is only accessible via the train, so really the ride is a great value. Plus, it is kind of cool to imagine old Western settlers taking the same steam powered train over 100 years ago!

The best part of all is that the train runs year-round, so the views change drastically along with the seasons. Silverton, a former silver mining camp, is now a popular outdoor recreation area. Unfortunately, none of the train rides really stop in this town long enough to do much exploring, so you will have to make a return trip if you would like to check out the ski resort, hiking trails, mountain biking, etc. However, you will get to enjoy incredible towering mountains views which are truly breathtaking.

This is one of those rare train rides where the views get bigger and better the entire journey. Although a 3.5+ plus hour train ride may seem like it would get boring, this is absolutely not the case! I could not take my eyes away from the window the entire time and the hours seemed to rush by in an instant.

The quaint views of the countryside eventually turns into the dramatic draw dropping vistas of the San Juan mountains. The foliage gets brighter and better the closer you get to Silverton. The ride becomes more secluded and rustic and occasionally you may even see some wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for black bears and mountain lions! Unfortunately, we did not see anything, but the possibility is always there.

A few of the many spectacular viewpoints along the 3+ hour journey

A great way to soak in the colors of the season

Fall is the most popular time for leaf peepers and photographers as the bright yellow aspens covering the mountains are absolutely stunning and photo worthy. If you have never seen the striking golden aspen foliage out West, you are in for a real treat! So different from the traditional Eastern fall foliage, but equally enchanting. I have lived in both Massachusetts and Northern Arizona, and really I can’t get enough of seeing the beautiful golden aspens lining the trails in Flagstaff.

Keep in mind that in high altitude areas of Colorado (Silverton is located at 9000+ ft), peak season tends to be much earlier than most of the country, typically by the 2nd or 3rd week of September.

Winter and Christmas rides

Snow lovers will probably want to plan a ride during the winter season. As someone who loves the snow and holidays, this is definitely on my bucket list. We got to see just a hint of snow and even got caught in a big storm and it was so exciting: I can’t imagine how enchanting a ride in the prime of winter would be.

If you feel like getting even more festive, you can take a Christmas tree train ride (where you will cut down your own fresh tree) or the festive Polar Express ride based on the children’s classic. Either way, the ride will be fantastic as the snow covered pines and mountains dominate the landscape this time of year. Winter time trips are a bit shorter as the train only goes out 26 miles to Cascade Station.

Late fall is a great time as you will get to see a mix of fall foliage and early season snow!

Trip options: something for every budget

A variety of seating options and trips are available. The open air car is most popular and tends to book out in advance. So be sure to plan ahead if you want to take a lot of pictures. In my opinion, the fall is much too cold for the open seating, especially when you get into the high elevation where temps can drop into the 30’s-40’s by late September.

Seating ranges from standard classic to more luxurious first class rides, complete with extra room and little bonuses like morning pastries and beverages. The luxury cars are a great value as this is a lengthy ride (4 or 8 hours depending on the trip you schedule). That being said, the coach cars are still comfortable and the views are still amazing.

All trips require at least a half day time commitment. Keep in mind the shortest option (train plus a bus ride back) is over 6 hours. The full train ride there and back is over 8 hours total. In my opinion, the train/bus combo we took was plenty enough time to enjoy the scenery. This leaves you with more time to explore other attractions in the area. Here’s a full rundown of the different trips and seating options available. 

Another advantage of the train-bus combo is that you get to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the 52 mile long San Juan Skyway on the way back as opposed to seeing the same views on the train ride again. On the way back, it was difficult to take photos as the light snow quickly turned into a pretty intense snowstorm. On the plus side, our bus guide gave us a wonderful tour of the area and the seating was quite comfortable.

I recommend packing snacks as it could be a lengthy ride down the mountain. Prepare for a longer ride in case of inclement weather and/or road construction. In our case, both factors combined led to an extra hour – at least the scenery was gorgeous!

In short: a definite bucket list contender

This ride is an absolute stunner, from start to finish. I recommend this attraction to any nature lovers, photographers, as well as anyone who loves old-fashioned trains. I recommend exploring the charming downtown after your ride. There are so many great restaurants and you will probably be starving as it’s a very long day.

Nearby Pagosa Springs (about an hour) is also a must visit for a soak in the world’s deepest hot springs. At this hot springs resort, you can soak in mineral rich waters which have reportedly cured various ailments for decades. This great springs is what actually brought me back for another vacation. Also, you can’t leave without at least a short hike in the San Juan Forest. I recommend Treasure Falls, a relatively easy hike to an incredible waterfall. Either town is a great place to base your trip as you can mix and match activities in both areas.

Location & pricing 

The depot is located at 479 Main Ave.

Visit the train website for details on pricing and to book your tickets.

Tips for a great ride

*Book your tickets early especially if you want to ride in the open air gondola.

*Arrive at least a half hour early for your ride. This will ensure that you have enough time to park your car, use the restroom, and pick up your tickets.

*Pack a few light snacks. This is a long ride and there really is not much food available on board. Although you stop in Silverton, there really is not time for a full meal. Considering ordering a boxed lunch.

*Bring a quality camera – there are so many amazing photo opps!

*Check the peak fall foliage forecast to avoid disappointment. You can call the train’s line or follow the Twitter account.

*Eat a full breakfast before the train ride. There are lots of great places downtown. Fortunately, we were staying at this cozy little B&B in Pagosa (Elk Trace Inn) and our innkeeper was nice enough to make us an early breakfast. Thanks again!

*Stay in Durango for convenience, Pagosa Springs for peace and quiet

*Bring with a bottle of water. Drinking extra water is a must in a dry high altitude climate.

*Get to town at least a day before the train ride. This will allow your body to acclimatize to the high elevation.

*Parking tickets can be purchased online or over the phone with your tickets. This takes out a bit of the hassle.

*There is an airport in Durango, however, flights can be quite pricey. Also check into the international Albuquerque airport which is about a 3.5 hour drive.

*Dress in layers. Silverton’s altitude is almost 3000 feet higher. You will feel the temps dramatically drop as you near the end of your trip. I wish I would have brought my heavy jacket for my fall ride!

*Wear sunglasses. This region sees over 300 days of sunshine. Fall and winter days are almost always sunny.