Mayflower: Colorado's Historic Trains

Colorado's Historic Trains

All aboard for a tour built around the golden age of steam, where Colorado's legendary railroads carry you through some of the most dramatic scenery in the American West. It all starts in Denver, the Mile High City, with a welcome dinner among fellow travelers, before heading into Rocky Mountain National Park to take in views ranging from grassy valleys to the wind-battered summit of Longs Peak along Trail Ridge Road.

The rails take center stage from here. Climb aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad for ghost stories and mining lore as you trace the Arkansas River Valley beneath Colorado's two tallest peaks, then pass through Monarch Pass and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison en route to Montrose. Next comes the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, ranked among the world's most thrilling train routes, threading through the wild canyons of the San Juan National Forest on oil-fired steam locomotives. After exploring the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, board the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, America's highest narrow gauge steam line, for 50 rugged miles between New Mexico and Colorado.

The final stretch delivers three more legendary rides: the Royal Gorge Railroad, crossing the famous Hanging Bridge above the Arkansas River, followed by a scenic drive through the red rock formations of Garden of the Gods; the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the country's highest cog line, climbing nearly 14,000 feet into the clouds; and the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, a century-old steam locomotive that harkens back to Colorado's gold rush days. The trip wraps with a farewell dinner to swap stories from the tracks, before a morning transfer sends you off with plenty of Rocky Mountain memories in tow.