Don Korta | September 24, 2023

Colorado’s Historic Trains 2024 – Featuring Six Scenic Rail Excursions & Three National Parks!

Destinations with Character Travel is Offering a Great Tour of Historic Colorado Train from our Partners at Mayflower Cruises and Tours.

The Royal Gorge Railroad is more than just a train ride; it’s an opportunity to step back in time and connect with the rugged beauty of the American West!

The Royal Gorge boasts towering granite cliffs rising as high as 1,000 feet and narrowing to as little as 30 feet across.

Ride the Historic Rails of Colorado!

  9 Days • 14 Meals
Air Holiday
Follow the historic routes of the Old West with excursions on six different scenic railroads. Then witness the amazing rock formations and natural beauty of three national parks.

 Highlights
  • 14 Meals: 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Round trip airport transfers
  • Experience SIX scenic rail excursions following historic routes of the Old West
  • Travel along the Arkansas River Valley aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad
  • Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, voted one of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Rail Journeys in the World”
  • Ride through the Rockies aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
  • Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad across the famous Hanging Bridge
  • Relive the gold mining days aboard the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
  • Climb 14,000 feet on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway
  • Visit beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park, a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains
  • Tour Mesa Verde National Park with its amazing cliff dwellings, home to “the Ancient Ones,” the Anasazi Indians
  • Visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park
  • Drive through Garden of the Gods Park with its unique red sandstone formations

 Itinerary
Day 1  Arrive in Denver

Welcome to Denver, the “Mile High City.” Meet your fellow travelers at 5:00 p.m. for a get-acquainted dinner hosted by your Tour Manager. Meal: D

Day 2  Rocky Mountain National Park

Departing Denver, venture into Rocky Mountain National Park, a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet on the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the top of Longs Peak, the park is filled with breathtaking scenery and experiences. Following the Trail Ridge Road a stop at the Alpine Visitor Center offers an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating place. Meal: B

Day 3  Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad

Today, travel to historic Leadville to board the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad. While onboard, learn about the fascinating history of the railroads while traveling north along the Arkansas River Valley. Rising up 1,000 feet from the valley floor you will be greeted by spectacular views of Fremont Pass and the two tallest peaks in Colorado, Mount Massive and Mount Elbert.

Later, travel through scenic Monarch Pass and Curecanti National Recreation Area and visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park while en route to Montrose. Meals: B, Box Lunch

Day 4  Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Today, it’s “full steam ahead” as you board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Voted one of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Train Journeys in the World” by the Society of American Travel Writers, this route winds through the spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million acre San Juan National Forest.

The locomotives used today remain 100% coal-fired, steamoperated and are maintained in their original condition. Later, check into the Sky Ute Casino Resort. Meals: B, D

Day 5  Mesa Verde National Park

Visit the land of the ancient Pueblo Indians in Mesa Verde National Park. The fascinating cliff dwellings and culture of these people provide you with a look into a society that existed approximately 1,400 years ago.

Building elaborate stone communities, the Ancestral Puebloan people developed their own society that existed for some 700 years, before disappearing. Meals: B, D

Day 6  Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Your day begins as you board the motorcoach and ride to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the original Rio Grande Line. This is America’s most spectacular narrow gauge steam railroad.

Explore 50 miles of wild and rugged territory between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado, the highest point on the railroad. Meals: B, L

Day 7  Royal Gorge Route Railroad & Garden of the Gods

Aboard the Royal Gorge Railroad follow the 12-mile route along the old Denver and Rio Grande Western train line. Ride through the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas” on an unforgettable journey over the famous Hanging Bridge, which clings precariously to the steep granite walls of Royal Gorge.

Then, enjoy a drive through the stunning Garden of the Gods. This 1,300 acre park reflects the rich diversity of the terrain and red sandstone formations tell a unique geological story. Meal: B

Day 8  Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Cripple Creek:

Begin the day with a “Ride to the Clouds” aboard the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railroad in the U.S. which stretches nine miles long as it vertically climbs to almost 14,000 feet. Then ride on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. Scenic wonders await around every curve and this century-old steam locomotive is reminiscent of the gold mining days of the area. This evening assemble for a farewell dinner, sharing memories of this unforgettable scenic rail adventure. Meals: B, D

Day 9  Denver & Home

Following breakfast, say goodbye to Colorado with a group transfer to the Denver International Airport for flights home after 12:00 p.m. Meal: B


 Accommodations
Days 1  Holiday Inn East or DoubleTree Hotel, Denver, Colorado
Days 2  Comfort Suites, Dillon, Colorado
Days 3  Hampton Inn, Montrose, Colorado
Days 4 – 5  Sky Ute Casino Resort, Ignacio, Colorado
Days 6  Hampton Inn, Alamosa, Colorado
Days 7 – 8  Radisson Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Map


 Dates and Rates
Departure Dates Per Person twin Single Room
June 14, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
July 5, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
July 19, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
August 2, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
September 6, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
September 13, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
September 20, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
September 27, 2024 Request a Quote $3,099 + $1,149
For Details & Bookings on this exciting tour from Mayflower Cruises and Tours
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Destinations with Character Travel
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