Most bookedRoyal Gorge Route Railroad
110 minutes on the rails along the Arkansas River, granite walls overhead and the open-air car open to everyone.
On the rails: The whole ride: 110 minutes through the Royal Gorge
Nine ways to plan a Colorado mountain day: three tours with a train ride built in, from the Royal Gorge to the Pikes Peak summit, and six mountain days for the rest of your trip. Each has its own page.
A train is built into all three: the Royal Gorge Route, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway with a private guide, and a private railway day with the Georgetown Loop.
Most booked110 minutes on the rails along the Arkansas River, granite walls overhead and the open-air car open to everyone.
On the rails: The whole ride: 110 minutes through the Royal Gorge
PrivateYour own guide and Suburban from Denver, Cog Railway tickets to the summit, Manitou Springs and the Garden of the Gods.
On the rails: The cog railway up Pikes Peak and back
Railway historyUnion Station, the Colorado Railroad Museum and the Georgetown Loop narrow-gauge train, private for up to 4 people.
On the rails: The Georgetown Loop, plus a museum train mid-May to October
Red Rocks, Pikes Peak by road, the national park, Breckenridge and the mining towns: none of these rides a train, and each says so.
Half dayRed Rocks Park and Amphitheater, the town of Evergreen and Echo Lake at 10,600 feet, in 5 hours from downtown Denver.
On the rails: No train: Red Rocks and the foothills by van
By roadThe Garden of the Gods, then the Pikes Peak summit by the highway and Manitou Springs, lunch and entry fees included.
On the rails: No train: up Pikes Peak by the highway
National parkBoulder, the Stanley Hotel, a picnic at Sprague Lake and Trail Ridge Road, with park entry and lunch included.
On the rails: No train: a day in the national park
Mountain townRed Rocks, Loveland Pass at nearly 12,000 feet, Sapphire Point and 2 hours of free time in the old town of Breckenridge.
On the rails: No train: Breckenridge and the high passes
Gold mineCentral City, Black Hawk and a guided visit to a real gold mine with gold panning, in 5.5 hours from Union Station.
On the rails: No train: the old mining towns and a gold mine
Mesa Verde from Durango, the home town of the Durango & Silverton.
Cross-sellA full day from Durango: park entry, a ranger-led visit into Cliff Palace, the mesa-top villages and lunch.
On the rails: No train: a day at Mesa Verde from Durango