Location: Silverton

Open post
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The railroad arrived in Durango (now Durango train) on August 5, 1881, and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882 (amazingly, only 9 months after construction began) the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling freight and passengers. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from the San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized the view was truly precious. This historic train has been in continuous operation for 132 years, carrying passengers behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

 

The Durango Train & Silverton NGRR Tours Durango Silverton Presidential

Scenic Round Trip Silverton Train

Departs from the Durango Depot and is a 9-hour excursion. Enjoy a leisurely round-trip adventure to yesteryear on board the historic Durango train bound for Silverton. The sightseeing is spectacular along with the route, including travel through Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and the Animas River Gorge. The train has a concessions car with various snacks and drinks for purchase. There is a 2-hour layover (part of the total time) in the historic mining town of Silverton. There is a one-way bus service option as well, in either direction.

Cascade Canyon Express

This is the shortest excursion the Durango & Silverton NGRR train offers but equally as stunning. The Cascade Express is 5.25 hours and perfect for those on a schedule. It travels the same route but turns around at Cascade Canyon about halfway. The train has a concessions car, or you can pre-order a box lunch.

Cascade Canyon Winter Train

Same train but in the winter. Experience the magnificent views of the Animas River and the surrounding snow-covered peaks. Winter train operates from November –Durango Silverton First Class May.

Durango Train Tour Packages

  • The Silverton Silverlight Express
  • Extended Silverton adventure Express
  • Silverton Historical Mine Tour

Wilderness Access

The 8:15 am Silverton Train offers a drop-off into the San Juan National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness for backpacking, day hikes, rafting, and fishing trips during the summer season (May thru October). Reservations required.

Classes of Service

The Durango & Silverton NGRR offers 15 classes of seating, everything from the most exquisite presidential coach car to open-air gondola cars. You will certainly find the comfort level to suit your style.

  • Presidential Class (Age 21 and over)
  • First Class
  • Red Mountain
  • Yankee GirlDurango Train - Silverton Vista
  • Alamosa Parlor Car
  • Knight Sky
  • Prospector
  • Silver Vista
  • Deluxe Class
  • Deluxe Legend
  • Historic San Juan Coach
  • Rio Grande Open Observation
  • Standard Class
  • Open-Air Gondola
  • Coach Seating

Durango Train Package Experiences

Consider more than just a train ride. The D&SNGRR makes it possible to combine the area’s activities and destinations.

Hotel Packages

Stay at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Silverton. The historic town of Silverton is truly a step back in time that will enhance your getaway vacation.

Durango Train - Silverton OpenAir

Adventure Packages:

  • Snowmobile tour and a train ride.
  • Guided ATV tour and a train ride.
  • Jeep tour and a train ride.
  • Zipline and a train ride.
  • Train ride and a raft trip.

Tour Packages

  • The Silverton Silverlight Express
  • Extended Silverton adventure Express
  • Silverton Historical Mine Tour

Signature Events

The D&SNGRR has a long list of seasonal and holiday events. They realize that families, groups or couples enjoy celebrating special times of year together, and the train goes all out to make these experiences as memorable as possible.

Durango Silverton Legend

Group Sales

Interested in booking a group event? Group sales are available for parties requiring 20 or more seats. Give them a call at 970-385-8875 or contact them.

 

 

 

Open post
All Aboard!

All Aboard!

All Aboard – it’s that time

Welcome to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad! We’re glad you’ve chosen to visit. Whether you are new to experiencing this legendary railroad or have been a returning guest for years, we look forward to offering you the best in year-round historic train adventures presented today as they were in 1882! We invite you to hop aboard and relive the “Golden Age” on our railroad, which was voted “#1 Best Scenic Train in North America “ by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2021 & 2022, “Best Historic Railroad of the West” 2021-23 by TrueWest Magazine Readers, and “Best Train Experience in the West” in 2016 by Sunset Magazine. Order a FREE All-Aboard Guide.

About D&SNGRR

Our family has dedicated decades to preserving the history surrounding this national treasure, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This railroad is designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and an American Society of Civil Engineering Landmark.

When is the best time to visit the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad? Any time of the year!

During the winter, we offer exclusive round-trip train adventures deep into the heart of the San Juan National Forest to Cascade Canyon as well as the premier holiday family event train, THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train ride.

If you’re visiting in the springtime, your train excursion may feature incredible waterfalls during the spring thaw season as you journey to Cascade Canyon.

All Aborad

All Aboard in the Summer

Summer is high season at the D&S with daily full day Durango to Silverton excursions May through October departing from Durango. We also offer daily 5-hour excursions on the Cascade Canyon Express seven days a week during the high season. These rail journeys also depart from the Durango Depot and travel to Cascade Canyon and are a perfect highlight reel of spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas for those with limited time.

Autumn offers you a unique way to experience peak leaf season from the comfort of the D&S train. Connect with family and friends as you explore the Rocky Mountains by historic railway. Sit back and allow yourself to be transported through a riot of blazing fall colors featuring the spectacular golden glow of aspens.

However you choose to relax and connect on the D&S train, and whatever adventure awaits you, we hope you have an inspiring journey where you create wonderful life-long memories!

Open post
Carol Wilkins Designs

Carol Wilkins Designs

Jewelry Designer/Metalsmith

I design bold, contemporary pieces that make women feel special, empowered, while keeping an organic, natural sense that shows off their feminity.

Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run

The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon of 100.5 miles in length, plus 33,050 feet of climb and 33,050 feet of descent for a total elevation change of 66,100 feet, at an average elevation of over 11,000 feet. The run is held on a loop course on 4WD roads, dirt trails, and cross country in Southern Colorado’s San Juan Range, USA.

Open post
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

One of Colorado’s oldest cycling traditions: a plethora of biking activities held over Memorial Day Weekend each year, including a road race to Silverton!

My Favorite Things

A one of a kind shop, bringing elegance to everyday living.

Jewelry, Home Decor, Apparel, Hats, and Gifts

Open post
Colorado Vacation Ideas

Vacation Planning Ideas

Colorado Vacation Ideas

You're ready to do some vacation planning. You could really use a break, and you've seen pictures of Colorado's majestic landscapes reaching 2 miles into the American sky. This is someplace you'd like to see and experience. It would take a few lifetimes to see, enjoy, experience, feel, and reach all of what Colorado offers. So, we're here to help you with your Colorado vacation planning and the best way to maximize your time while in Colorado.

Create Your Vacation Plan

With so much going on in Colorado it’s best to identify your vacation passion and the passions of the group or other person you are traveling with. Here is a list of considerations to help you get the best Colorado vacation experience.

Summer Vacation Planning vacation planning scenic train

What summer Colorado activities are a priority for you and your group? Start by identifying the primary activity and prioritizing from there.

    • Perhaps your bucket list includes visiting an adventure park, a scenic train ride, a hot springs visit, zip lining, getting a hike or two in, and rafting.  Wow, that’s ambitious but it can be done. Once again, staying in a region like the Royal Gorge area can serve this up. If you look closely, you will find companies that even sell combinations of experiences in one day.

    • If you're planning a backpacking trip. You will want to select a region, such as the Rocky Moutain National Park, and just stay there.

    • If day hiking is more your thing. You will get the most hiking in by exploring a region versus trying to travel all over the state, but some travel is realistic.

Are you planning to tour the state? Will you need lodging or will you be camping along the way?

    • Summer tourist season in Colorado is popular. If you’re planning on camping, tent camping or RV camping, you will need to plan ahead. Reservations at public campgrounds are necessary, especially during “peak season”.

Identify what “other” activities are important.

Winter Vacation Planning

Will your winter vacation be at a ski resort?snowboarder vacation planning

    • There are 25 ski areas in Colorado, not including cross-country ski touring centers.  First, understand the abilities and expectations of your group. Then investigate your options for what they offer, type of terrain, expense, apres ski activities, and more.

    • There are other resort options besides ski resort towns. Many guest ranches stay open in the winter and offer a variety of winter activities. This is true for out-of-the-way cabin rentals and some of the natural hot spring resorts.

Are all members of your group skiers, or are there snowboarders too?

    • If you’re vacationing with a mix of skiers and snowboarders, as well as ability level. It’s best to closely examine the resorts with terrain parks and a mix of blue and expert-level ski runs. The larger resorts will have the most options.

Does your group want to travel to different resort destinations or stay at a specific resort?

    • If touring different resorts is what you have in mind. Staying in the Central part of Colorado is by far the most efficient. As all these resorts can be traveled to by car in a few hours. Or, skip the winter driving around, stay at a designated resort, and focus on your fun there.

Is vacationing on a budget a concern?

    • If being budget-minded is part of your vacation. Try planning your trip during the “off-season” or not “peak-season” times. Check out lesser-known resorts. In either case, you should be able to find deals on lift tickets and lodging.

Are off-slope activities appealing, such as shopping, dining, spas, events, or alternative activities?

    • If your group needs alternative activities. The bigger resorts will have the most varied selection of activities to choose from. However, popular attractions like winter scenic train rides, natural hot springs, and guided tours such as snowmobiling or sleigh rides are not necessarily at the resort. Check out “other attractions” first and then decided on the resort to stay at.

Colorado's Endless List of Vacation Options

Colorado offers an almost endless list of vacation options. The first step is to understand if you want to tour around or stay in one place. Either has much to offer. However, touring the state will require more vacation planning. Please use our free vacation planning itinerary tool. This will help you keep track of the sights and experiences you don’t want to miss. Plus, organize your lodging and travel routes along the way.

Staying put at that special place in Colorado is also a good way to spend your vacation. With so much to explore in any given region of the State, it might make more sense for you just to find lodging in a favorite place and base all your activities on that location. In either case, feel free to request some of our free visitor guides, and use our free itinerary tool to help organize all the activities, keep the dates and times handy, and make your vacation more relaxing.
Open post
Snowy Colorado Mountains

Colorado Destinations

Unique Colorado Destination

Colorado’s cities and towns are as diverse and beautiful as its landscape. 

From the culturally rich city of Denver to the quiet mountain escape of Aspen. Colorado has a vacation destination for everyone. Are the high mountain peaks calling your name? Get to know Colorado and plan your trip to check off everything in your bucket list. Rafting, skiing, hiking, art shows, concerts, mountain biking, cycling, dinning, fishing, mountain retreats, exploring nature, and much more. Coloradoinfo.com has divided Colorado into 3 regions. Each of these regions represents unique characteristics and proximity.

View our interactive regional map of Colorado to take a closer look and find the locations you want to visit.
Order a free Colorado vacation planning guide to help find the perfect vacation spot!

The Central Mountains 

The heart of the Rocky Mountains spans the state north to south, and is home to the highest elevated cities and towns in the country, which feature over two dozen ski resorts. This region is Colorado’s gem for world-famous ski areas, mountain lifestyle, and activities. 

The Rockies Playground, recently named by the Colorado Tourism Office, is the most central region of the Rocky Mountains and includes some of Colorado’s most famous resort towns. Due to their close proximity and popularity as ski resorts, the name was chosen to appeal to potential tourists. This region’s towns include Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Glenwood Springs, Dillon and Leadville. However, significant resort towns lie north and south of the playground region, including Steamboat Springs in north-central Colorado. Resort towns in south-central Colorado include: Crested Butte, Monarch, Del Norte, Powderhorn and Wolf Creek. The Central Mountains region captures almost all of the mountain towns north to south, aside from Telluride and Durango.

The Central Mountains region includes several spectacular national forests.national forest in Colorado

All of which include amazing mountain scenery, wildlife, trail systems, nearby camping and towns. From north to south:

 

The Front Range & Plains

A way of referring to how the plains of Colorado meet the eastern slope of the continental divide.

If you want to watch a broadway show or enjoy a museum exhibit, you will have the most options in the Front Range. The urban cities of Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs are well known for their performing arts, museums, and cultural festivals.

Front Range Mountain Attractions

The Front Range region includes notable attractions such as Estes Park, the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Pikes Peak, a whole family mountain attraction, lies just west of Colorado Springs. Featuring a scenic train, rafting, horseback riding and much more.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an amazing music venue in the foothills west of Denver.

 

Colorado’s Western Slope 

A general way of referring to Northwest and Southwest Colorado. 

The Western Slope is a much more remote experience. Grand Junction is the largest city in the area and is often referred to as a city with a small-town feel. This high plains region is rich in agriculture, canyonlands, and warmer weather. Offering up a distinctively unique variety of Colorado destinations. 

Northwest Colorado, or The Great West

Features of this area are the national parks such as Dinosaur National Park, the remote Brown’s Park, and the wild horses of the Sand Wash Basin. This area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts offering a variety of camping, RV parks, off-road vehicles, horseback riding, rafting, cycling and exploring in general. While the mountains are melting down, northwest Colorado is in full bloom.

Southwest Colorado, or The Mountain Mesas

Another very diverse region of Colorado with a mix of Colorado destinations and ski resort towns such as Telluride, and Durango. Complemented by Montrose, a very agricultural community but also rich with adventure. In the very southwest corner of Colorado is Cortez. Surrounded by big attractions such as  Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley . Cortez is also the gateway to the Four Corners and the Canyonlands of Utah

 

 

 

 

Open post
Silverton.jpg

Silverton

Experience Silverton, Colorado

The Warmer Days 

The most frequent question Silvertonians field each summer is, “So, when does your town close?”.  It’s true that the bulk of our tourist traffic flows in the summer. The scenic train is in full swing bringing thousands of visitors up that majestic canyon. And Silverton’s 4th of July Festival is not to be rivaled with its exquisite fireworks display, Rhubarb Festival, and brass band concert in the park. The Hardrock 100 running race and the Iron Horse Classic bicycle race brings thousands of athletes for each event, and August’s Hardrock Holidays honor the mining tradition that built the town.

But what is little understood by our summer guests is that Silverton doesn’t close. It simply changes pace. As the frenzy of June through August passes, the mountains quiet while everyone and everything takes a breath.

September chill tells the Aspens it’s time for their show, and hills of brilliant green turn yellow, gold, and fire red. There is no better place in the San Juans to test your photography skills during our high mountain fall. Trails are quieter, and that peaceful walk in nature that you might have missed earlier can easily be enjoyed in later seasons.

Winter in Silverton

Winter, brings its own brand of recreation and fun. Take those snowshoes and head up into the woods or along the river. In the crystalline silence, you may see a fox, hare, or even a lynx padding through the snow. Cross-country skiers access groomed trails right from town. Kendall Mountain Recreation Center offers a family-friendly ski hill, and if you have the skill and nerve, nothing beats Silverton Ski Mountain for the ultimate extreme ski experience.

February brings a heckuva good time every President’s Day weekend when Silverton Skijoring hits Blair Street. Imagine the cultural cross-over of epic ski-racing and the finest horse and rider teams in the southwest matching skills to bring a purse race to this tiny community. While hundreds of spectators ring cowbells and cheer their favorite teams, horse and riders race along the course pulling a low-flying skier over jumps and through gates. It’s a popular two-day event, so if you plan to come, it’s best to book your hotel room early.

And no winter outing would be complete without a warm beverage at day’s end, available at any of Silverton’s restaurants or bars, many of which remain open in winter.
Our “off” seasons are November and April, so call ahead for the availability of services during those months.
Silverton Colorado

Posts navigation

1 2
Scroll to top