Ride the Rails to Discover Hidden History and Incredible Hiking in Colorado

Board one of Colorado’s historic steam locomotives, and your expedition will begin with the blast of a train whistle. Now take your seat, and melt into the cushions as the train carries you deep into the wilderness and the vivid scenery unspools past you.

Much of Colorado remains wild and untamed. The state is covered in lush forests and high alpine tundra, steep mountains and rugged canyonlands—all places roads don’t go. In fact, some of the state’s most thrilling hiking trails, best-preserved historical sites, and deepest wilderness areas are still only accessible by train.

Railroads have been a pivotal part of Colorado’s history ever since the Union Pacific Railroad Company started laying track in the 1860s. The trains transported people and trade goods west, accelerating the nascent territory’s growth into one of the most vibrant and diverse corners of the Lower 48.

Today, rail routes still crisscross the state, connecting communities and ferrying adventurers to trailheads throughout the Rockies. You can use them to access remote peaks and glimpse epic scenery that few human eyes have ever seen—or simply to add an adventurous twist to your intra-city transit. No matter your objectives, these three routes have it all. They serve up incredible views, immersive history lessons, and access to some of the best hiking in Colorado. If you’re ready to ride the rails, this is the place to start.

ROUTE 1: Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Start & End Points: Durango and Silverton, CO

This 1880s-era steam-powered locomotive pulls a string of golden-yellow coaches through the most remote mountain range in Colorado. The Narrow Gauge Railroad, which connects the towns of Durango and Silverton, follows the same route cowboys, gold miners, and silver prospectors traveled nearly 150 years ago. Along the way, the train crosses deep chasms, skims sheer canyon walls, and traces the ice-blue ribbon of the Animas River some 200 feet below. Throughout, the route offers riders non-stop views over the San Juan Mountains and deep into the Animas River Gorge.

With some advance planning, you can arrange for the train to drop you off at trailheads within the primeval San Juan National Forest or Weminuche Wilderness. Both are pristine, forested landscapes packed with 14,000-foot peaks, singletrack trail, alpine meadows, and clear trout streams—making the area a magnet for backpackers, day-hikers, and fly fishers alike. And, come winter, the year-round train ferries skiers to the deep snow and steep couloirs of Chicago Basin, a regionally famous backcountry ski zone.

Prefer to maximize your train time? Ride all the way from Durango to Silverton and back for an immersive, full-day adventure. The traditional, 9.25-hour route includes a two-hour stop in Silverton, a tiny mountain town that pulses with the energy of the Old West. You can also ride one way (a three-hour trip), or opt for an accelerated ride: The out-and-back Cascade Canyon Express runs 5.25 hours total—giving you plenty of time to soak in the Animas Gorge scenery and explore Durango’s frontier-town history all in the same day.

ROUTE 2: The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Start & End Point: Manitou Springs, CO

This famous train is the world’s highest cog railway—and one of the most coveted bucket-list adventures in Colorado. The railway was originally built in the 1890s to carry tourists to the summit via steam locomotives. Recently refurbished with state-of-the art Swiss coaches and engines, the train begins in Manitou Springs, a quirky artists’ enclave built around a rare soda spring (you can sip the naturally carbonated water from drinking fountains scattered around town). From the depot, the railroad climbs more than 6,000 vertical feet over just nine miles for a mind-bogglingly steep climb to the airy summit of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak.

As you ascend, conductors punctuate the hour-long journey with thoughtful storytelling and surprising tidbits about local history and lore. And once you break through the treeline, you’ll be treated to 360-degree views of the evergreen forests and high desert landscapes of the Colorado Front Range below. Throughout the ride, you can feel the air getting thinner and cooler, all the way up until the thrilling climax when the train comes to rest on top of the world. This is the summit of Pikes Peak—the most-visited mountain in the U.S. and the original inspiration for “America the Beautiful.” With breathtaking views, gorgeous trails, and a summit carved by the eons from pale-pink granite, the mountain certainly lives up to the hype.

The 3.5-hour round-trip ride includes a 40-minute stop at the summit—which gives you plenty of time to stretch your legs, snap a photo, and scarf down a high-altitude donut from the Summit House (home to the highest fryer in North America). The railroad also gives adventurers a chance to mix and match their activities: You can hike to the summit and ride the rails back down to save your knees (and digest your donut), or use the railroad to ferry your bike. Load up with your wheels and enjoy the effortless uphill before riding the sweeping switchbacks of the Pikes Peak Highway back down into town.

ROUTE 3: Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Start & End Points: Antonito, CO and Chama, NM

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad weaves through some of Colorado’s most remote landscapes, chugging across 64 miles of golden prairies, deep canyons, and mountain passes so rugged that they remain unreachable by car. These landscapes are ancient and undeveloped—the same vistas Native peoples, fur traders, and frontiersmen knew when they roamed the territory in the 1800s. That makes the Cumbres and Toltec one of the best ways to experience the true heart of Colorado—and to descend deep into the state’s electrifying past.

The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad was first built in the 1880s to carry silver from the San Juan Mountains to the trading hubs of the eastern plains. This was a time of thrill and prosperity, a true boom that brought men and women flocking to Colorado from across the country. Towns bloomed across the hillsides, and men grew rich overnight. When the silver rush ended at the turn of the century, the railroad grew quiet, but a passionate team of historians and enthusiasts helped restore the coaches and bring the train back to life.

Since then, the Cumbres and Toltec has become a National Historic Landmark and beloved local treasure. It has also made its mark on the silver screen: the train made a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which was filmed in Antonito in 1989. (If you have time in town, be sure to stop by the Indiana Jones Bed and Breakfast, the house that played young Indy’s home in the same film.)

Today, you can ride the train from Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico, and back. The 6.5-hour, one-way trip involves a single halfway stop at Osier Station, a historic mountain outpost nestled deep in the mountains. Along the way, you’ll pass through the narrow, 800-foot-deep Toltec Gorge, climb over 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, and switchback through miles of pine and aspen forest.

The Cumbres and Toltec’s typical season extends from late May through late October. Regular day trains run on a predictable schedule, but travelers in search of a little extra pizzazz can plan around the special trains the railroad runs throughout the year. These include brunch and dinner excursions, fireworks trains, geology rides, and wildflower rides—all ways to dive a little deeper into Colorado’s varied past.