This 24-mile Train Route Takes Passengers Through a Spectacular Colorado River Gorge Below 1,000-foot Cliffs
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad combines dramatic scenery, historic rail travel, and onboard dining just outside Colorado Springs.
The Colorado Springs region is a haven for train enthusiasts. While the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway may be popular for its sky-high ride to the 14,115-foot-tall Pikes Peak, and the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad transports visitors back to mining days on a steam engine, one of the most underrated rail experiences might be the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
Located in Cañon City, about an hour’s drive from Colorado Springs or two hours from Denver, the historic railway dates back to 1879. It was restored in 1998 and turned into a tourism experience, giving visitors a taste of elevated life on the rails of the 19th century.
The train departs from the Santa Fe Depot and traces the Arkansas River on a 24-mile round-trip journey through granite cliffs, some of which stretch more than 1,000 feet above the tracks.
With a variety of ways to experience the rails, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers coach, deluxe, and vista dome seating, with daily departures up to four times a day in peak season, at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Food from the onboard 403 Grill’s menu is available for all passengers. For a more upscale experience, the railroad also offers first-class lunch and dinner service, both with multicourse meals served during the ride.
Railway aficionados can book the Ride with the Engineer experience, which offers an inside look at the journey from the engineer’s cab for the full 24 miles of the trip. Seasonal events are also offered, celebrating everything from Mother’s Day to Oktoberfest. One of the busiest times of the year is around the holidays, when the Santa Express Train whisks guests of all ages away into a winter wonderland of holiday magic, led by a hand-painted locomotive, with 5,000 hours of craftsmanship going into the festive design.
