# ColoradoMountainRail.com - Colorado scenic train rides: the Royal Gorge Route, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway and the tours compared

> Independent guide to Colorado's mountain railways: the Royal Gorge Route, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the Durango and
> Silverton, the Georgetown Loop, the Cumbres and Toltec, Canyon Spirit (the former Rocky Mountaineer US route) and the
> GetYourGuide tours that include a train ride.
> Not affiliated with any railroad, Canyon Spirit, Rocky Mountaineer, Amtrak, any tour operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://coloradomountainrail.com
Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (Colorado).

## Verified facts

- The Royal Gorge Route Railroad leaves the Santa Fe Depot, 401 Water St, Canon City; daytime trips take about 1 hour 50 minutes, about 24 miles round trip (Royal Gorge Route).
- Royal Gorge Route fares start at $109 Coach, $129 Deluxe and $139 Vista Dome; every ticket includes the open-air car (Royal Gorge Route).
- The Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs about 9 miles from Manitou Springs to the 14,115 ft summit; a round trip takes about three hours (Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway).
- The Durango and Silverton runs 45.4 miles each way; the summer round trip takes about 9.25 hours (Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad).
- The Georgetown Loop runs between Georgetown and Silver Plume, about 45 miles west of Denver; the ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes in the main season (Georgetown Loop Railroad).
- The Cumbres and Toltec runs 64 miles between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, over Cumbres Pass at 10,015 ft (Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad).
- Canyon Spirit runs Denver to Moab in two days with a hotel night in Glenwood Springs, optionally on to Salt Lake City; daylight only, no sleeper cars, April to November (Canyon Spirit).

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a
commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://coloradomountainrail.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move.

- Royal Gorge Route Railroad (Santa Fe Depot, Cañon City) - from $148 per person, 110 minutes, on the rails: The whole ride: 110 minutes through the Royal Gorge; rated 4.6 from 678 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/royal-gorge-route-railroad/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/canon-city-l32465/colorado-all-aboard-the-royal-gorge-route-railroad-t774352/
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway & Garden of the Gods (Denver pickup, private Suburban) - from $799 per group, 10 hours, on the rails: The cog railway up Pikes Peak and back; rated 4.9 from 10 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/pikes-peak-cog-railway-private-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/pikes-peak-cog-train-garden-of-the-gods-private-tour-t1189859/
- Georgetown Loop Railroad and Railroad Museum Day (Denver Union Station, private car) - from $1,175 per group, 8 hours, on the rails: The Georgetown Loop, plus a museum train mid-May to October; a new listing with no reviews yet. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/georgetown-loop-railroad-day-from-denver/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/denver-union-station-railroad-museum-georgetown-train-t1274193/
- Red Rocks, Evergreen and Echo Lake Tour (1701 Wynkoop St, Denver) - from $89 per person, 5 hours, on the rails: No train: Red Rocks and the foothills by van; rated 4.9 from 842 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/red-rocks-evergreen-and-echo-lake-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/from-denver-red-rocks-evergreen-and-echo-lake-tour-t422124/
- Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Tour + Lunch (Colorado Convention Center, Denver) - from $169 per person, 8.5 hours, on the rails: No train: up Pikes Peak by the highway; rated 4.7 from 83 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/pikes-peak-and-garden-of-the-gods-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/from-denver-pikes-peak-and-garden-of-the-gods-guided-tour-t418310/
- Rocky Mountain National Park Day Trip (Colorado Convention Center, Denver) - from $169 per person, 8 hours, on the rails: No train: a day in the national park; rated 4.8 from 470 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/rocky-mountain-national-park-day-trip/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/from-denver-rocky-mountain-national-park-day-trip-and-lunch-t418506/
- Breckenridge and Rocky Mountains Tour (1701 Wynkoop St, Denver) - from $138 per person, 8 hours, on the rails: No train: Breckenridge and the high passes; rated 4.7 from 95 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/breckenridge-and-rocky-mountains-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/breckenridge-ultimate-mountain-tour-from-denver-t422142/
- Rocky Mountain Mining Towns and Gold Mine Tour (Union Station, Denver) - from $99 per person, 5.5 hours, on the rails: No train: the old mining towns and a gold mine; rated 5.0 from 8 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/rocky-mountain-mining-towns-and-gold-mine-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/denver-l948/denver-colorado-rocky-mountain-and-mine-tour-t850523/
- Mesa Verde and Cliff Palace Day Tour (50 Animas View Dr, Durango) - from $206 per person, 8 hours, on the rails: No train: a day at Mesa Verde from Durango; rated 5.0 from 45 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://coloradomountainrail.com/tours/mesa-verde-day-tour-from-durango/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/durango-colorado-l32646/mesa-verde-full-day-tour-with-cliff-palace-and-lunch-t621775/

## Guide pages

- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/best-train-rides-in-colorado/ - Colorado's scenic train rides compared: where each runs, how long it takes, 2026 fares, seasons and which suits whom.
- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/rocky-mountaineer-colorado/ - The Rocky Mountaineer's Colorado route is now Canyon Spirit: route, hotels, classes, prices, food and tipping in 2026.
- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/rocky-mountaineer-alternatives/ - Cheaper and shorter alternatives to the Rocky Mountaineer in Colorado: the Zephyr, dome cars, steam and the ski train.
- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/royal-gorge-route-railroad/ - Royal Gorge Route Railroad guide: classes and fares, the open-air car, dining, special trains, parking, refunds and the bridge.
- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/pikes-peak-cog-railway/ - Pikes Peak Cog Railway guide: the route, tickets online or walk-up, parking and the shuttle, altitude, the summit and winter trains.
- https://coloradomountainrail.com/guides/durango-silverton-train/ - Durango & Silverton train guide: the route, the 9.25-hour day, classes and fares, winter trains, the Polar Express, parking.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-11-06: https://coloradomountainrail.com/blog/holiday-trains-colorado-2026/ - Colorado holiday trains 2026: the Polar Express in Durango, the Santa Express, Georgetown's lights and the refund rules.
- 2026-11-06: https://coloradomountainrail.com/blog/winter-train-rides-colorado-2026-27/ - Colorado winter trains 2026-27: Durango's Cascade Canyon train from 20 November, the Winter Park Express, the Cog and more.
- 2026-11-06: https://coloradomountainrail.com/blog/canyon-spirit-2027-season/ - Canyon Spirit 2027: the April to November season, two- and three-day trips, reseller prices, the $250 offer and booking rules.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The Rocky Mountaineer's US route (Rockies to the Red Rocks) runs as Canyon Spirit from the 2026 season; the Rocky Mountaineer name covers its Western Canada routes (Canyon Spirit, Rocky Mountaineer).
- Canyon Spirit has no sleeper cars and no GoldLeaf class; its service levels are Signature and Premier (Canyon Spirit).
- Canyon Spirit's onboard host gratuities are included in the price (Canyon Spirit).
- The Pikes Peak Cog Railway was closed from 2017 to 2021 for a rebuild; it reopened in May 2021.
- The Royal Gorge Route train runs at the bottom of the gorge; the Royal Gorge Bridge is a separate park with its own tickets (Royal Gorge Bridge and Park).
- From late November to early May the Durango train runs only to Cascade Canyon, not to Silverton (Durango and Silverton).

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant guide or tour page. Prices, schedules and rules change; verify close to your travel date.