A Magical ride on the Durango-Silverton Railway

If you are anywhere near Durango Colorado during any time of the year you must stop in to the train station and take the Durango-Silverton Railway. They offer two different tours through San Juan Mountains. The first ride they offer is a 9-hour round trip to Silverton allowing for a 3.5-hour trip to Silverton, 2 hours in Silverton, then the ride back to Durango. That seemed like a little much for the kids and myself so we opted for option 2.

The second option offered is a 5.25-hour trip to Cascade Canyon. This trip is significantly less time but offers the same great views on the same railway as the Durango-Silverton trip. You just don’t go as far up the rails. You take a 2.5-hour train ride to Cascade Canyon. They stop the train along a beautiful stretch of the rushing Animas River. You disembark the train cars to eat lunch. Enjoying the scenery and listening to the river carry away all your stress.

Diesel vs Steam

The railway does offer the trips in a diesel train but if you want the true Durango Railway experience you have to opt for the steam engine train. There is a special feeling while traveling on the tracks being pulled by a chugging steam engine. This same 45-mile range of tracks have been operated by the original Denver & Rio Grande Railway since 1882. Only way I would want to do this with a diesel is if you are sensitive to rocking or need a smoother ride. Or if you prefer not to deal with the soot that the steam engine lets off.

No matter what option you choose both of these trips will take you up the Rocky Mountains and through the heart of the San Juan National Forest. You will get to experience the famous Horseshoe curve and even cross over a High Bridge. I suggest ordering your tickets online including your parking pass and provided lunch. Then you don’t have to worry about packing anything as it all will be included for you on the day of your train ride.

Takeaway

This is the perfect way to spend a day in the mountains. The kids, wife, and myself all had a blast taking in the views. There is a magical relaxation that comes from the feeling the wind blowing through your hair. The slight rocking, chugging, and whistle put the kids and even myself to sleep on the way back to Durango. You could opt for a premium enclosed car but I feel to get the best views and experience the open-air cars are the only choice. If you choose the right side of the car you will get all the views while going up the mountain. Left side gets the views coming back down. Either way you will not be disappointed with the Cascade Canyon Express train or the Durango-Silverton Steam Train.