Scenic Railroads in Colorado
Routes, seasons, tickets, and trip tips — everything in one place.
No state does mountain railroading like Colorado, and its 13 scenic lines include several routinely ranked among the best train rides in the entire country. This guide covers all of them — narrow-gauge steam, high-altitude cog railways, and mining-history loops.
The two giants are the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a full-day journey through the San Juan Mountains and the Animas River canyon that frequently tops national "best train ride" lists, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a 64-mile registered National Historic Landmark crossing the Colorado–New Mexico border over Cumbres Pass. Add the Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbing to a 14,000-foot summit and the engineering marvel of the Georgetown Loop, and Colorado offers bucket-list rides found nowhere else.
These are high-country railroads, so the core season runs late spring through fall, peaking with golden aspen in late September, plus winter holiday trains on several lines. Because the marquee rides (Durango, Cumbres & Toltec) sell out well in advance, reservations matter more here than almost anywhere — check the details for each line below before you plan.
All 13 Scenic Railroads in Colorado
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Colorado Railroad Museum›Short heritage train rides circle a fifteen-acre railyard packed with over a hundred historic Colorado locomotives and cars.
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Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad›A coal-fired narrow gauge train climbs past old gold-mining sites and rugged terrain above the historic Cripple Creek mining district.
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Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad›An 1880s coal-fired steam line traverses 64 miles of the San Juan Mountains, cresting the 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass between Chama and Antonito.
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Denver Trolley›A replica open-air trolley runs along the South Platte riverfront connecting Confluence Park with downtown Denver attractions.
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Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad›A coal-fired narrow gauge train climbs nearly 3,000 feet along the Animas River gorge through San Juan National Forest wilderness.
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🚂Galloping Goose Historical Society›
A preserved Rio Grande Southern Goose No. 5 railcar runs special living-history excursions on regional narrow gauge lines.
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Georgetown Loop Railroad›A double-looped narrow gauge route crosses the high Devil's Gate Bridge through the Clear Creek Valley between Georgetown and Silver Plume.
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Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad›A former Colorado & Southern line climbs above the Arkansas River valley toward Fremont Pass with views of Mounts Elbert and Massive.
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Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway›A cog railway ascends nine miles to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak through forests and above the alpine treeline.
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🚂Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation›
A volunteer-run museum offers short rides on restored streetcars at the historic 1888 Rock Island roundhouse in Colorado Springs.
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Royal Gorge Route Railroad›Restored vintage cars travel beside the Arkansas River through the bottom of the Royal Gorge beneath granite cliffs over 1,000 feet tall.
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South Park Rail Society (Como Roundhouse)›Volunteers preserve and restore the oldest operating railroad roundhouse in the U.S. in the historic South Park rail town of Como.
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🚂Tiny Town Railroad›
A 15-inch gauge miniature train loops a foothills park filled with over a hundred sixth-scale historic buildings.
Compare Colorado Scenic Railroads
Scroll right on mobile. Click any railroad name for the full route details.
| Railroad | Location | Train type | Typical duration | Price range | Reservations | Dog-friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Railroad Museum | Golden | Steam & diesel | 10 minutes | $17 adult (admission and ride) | Not required | — |
| Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad | Cripple Creek | Narrow gauge steam | 45 minutes | From about $19 adult | Not required | Yes |
| Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad | Chama | Narrow gauge steam | 8 hours | $121-$218 adult (excursion class dependent) | Required | No |
| Denver Trolley | Denver | Heritage trolley/streetcar | 25 minutes | $7 adult (13+) | Not required | Yes |
| Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad | Durango | Narrow gauge steam | — | $89-$199 adult (class dependent) | See website | No |
| Galloping Goose Historical Society | Dolores | Narrow gauge motorcar (Galloping Goose railcar) | — | $20-$180 per person | Not required | — |
| Georgetown Loop Railroad | Georgetown | Narrow gauge steam & diesel | 1.3 hours | $28-$34 adult | See website | No |
| Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad | Leadville | Diesel | 2.5 hours | $57 adult | See website | Yes |
| Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway | Manitou Springs | Cog railway | 3.7 hours | $67-$96 adult (reserved vs Engineer's View) | Required | No |
| Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation | Colorado Springs | Heritage trolley/streetcar | — | $9 adult (museum admission incl. trolley ride) | Not required | — |
| Royal Gorge Route Railroad | Cañon City | Diesel | 2 hours | $79-$249 (experience dependent) | See website | No |
| South Park Rail Society (Como Roundhouse) | Como | Heritage railroad preservation site (no regular rides) | — | — | Not required | — |
| Tiny Town Railroad | Morrison | Miniature railway | 10 minutes | $5 adult admission plus $4 per train ride | Not required | No |