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We love scenic train rides in Colorado, and after riding several of them, we finally made it onto the Leadville Railroad.
We really enjoyed this one!
The Leadville Railroad takes guests from historic Leadville into the mountains above the Arkansas River Valley. The standard scenic train ride lasts about 2 hours and travels out and back along the same route, climbing high above Highway 91 with views of pine and aspen forests and some of Colorado’s highest peaks. The train makes a short stop near a historic water tower before returning to Leadville. Standard coach tickets are generally around $60 per adult, with upgraded seating and special train rides costing more.
I’m Cheryl, and my husband, Matt, and I have ridden six scenic trains in Colorado, including the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and now the Leadville Railroad. We never take sponsorships and pay for our own activities so we can give our honest opinion. Here’s what our experience was like and what you should know before you go.
| Ride the Leadville Railroad if you… | You may want to skip it if you… |
|---|---|
| Want a beautiful Colorado train ride that only takes a couple of hours | Are looking for a luxury train experience |
| Like open-air train cars | Want scenery that is completely inaccessible by road |
| Enjoy learning about mining and railroad history | Don’t enjoy out-and-back train rides |
| Want something that almost anyone in the family can do | Don’t want to spend $60+ per person on a scenic ride |
| Are visiting Leadville and looking for one of the best activities in town | Are visiting during peak fall color season but hate crowds |
We visited Leadville near the end of August and took the standard afternoon train ride. Our train departed at 2:00 p.m., and on the Thursday we visited, it was the only departure offered that day.
The railroad started boarding about 30 minutes before departure. This is important because most of the regular coach seating is first come, first served. And on this train, where you sit really matters. I’ll get to that in a minute.
Our train wasn’t very crowded, so we had no problem getting the seats we wanted, but during a busy weekend, especially during fall colors, I would arrive 45 minutes to an hour early if getting a particular car or seat is important to you.
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| Location | Leadville, Colorado |
| Elevation | About 10,152 feet |
| Ride Time | About 2 hours on the standard ride we took |
| Route | Out and back; doesn’t turn around |
| Narration | Yes |
| Restrooms | Yes, onboard |
| Food | Available onboard |
| Can You Bring Food? | Yes |
| Dogs | Allowed |
| Wheelchairs | Can be accommodated; contact the railroad ahead of time |
| Parking | Dirt parking lot at the depot, free |
| Best Seat | LEFT side when facing the engine |
The train leaves from the depot right in Leadville.
There is a dirt parking lot next to it and parking was free. It wasn’t difficult for us to find a spot, but the lot was fairly full even though our train wasn’t. That gave us one more reason to be glad we’d arrived early.
We had already purchased our tickets online, but Matt went inside the depot to check in and pick up our physical tickets while I went and got in line. That worked perfectly.
Once we were on the train, the conductor eventually came around and punched the tickets.
There are also restrooms at the depot, so it’s easy to take care of that before boarding.
HANDY TIP: If you bought general admission tickets, don’t arrive right at departure time. Arrive early enough to get in line before boarding begins so you have a better choice of cars and seats.
There are several different types of cars on the Leadville Railroad. We bought regular coach tickets rather than upgrading to the lounge car.
The coach cars varied quite a bit.
Some were completely open-air. Others had roofs or more protection from the weather, and there were also enclosed cars with windows.
We chose an open-air car with cushioned seats that faced outward toward the scenery.
That is exactly what we wanted. We loved being able to feel the breeze and look directly out of the train instead of looking through a window.
The downside? There was no roof over us. For part of the trip, the sun was beating down and felt surprisingly warm, even though it was only in the upper 60s. Later, clouds moved in and it became much cooler.
On the way back from our ride, I saw the perfect car in the maintenance area. It was open on the sides but had a roof over the top. That is what I would have chosen if it were available.
| Car Type | What It’s Like | Our Take |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Air Coach | Open sides with excellent views | Great for photos and warm weather |
| Covered/Open-Sided Coach | Open views with some protection overhead | This would probably be our first choice |
| Enclosed Coach | More protection from the weather | Good in colder weather, but we prefer open views |
| Lounge Car/Upgrade | Reserved seating with tables and a more comfortable interior | Nice upgrade, but not necessary for us |
The cars aren’t particularly fancy. We’ve ridden other Colorado trains with more beautifully restored cars. But everything was comfortable enough, the seats were cushioned, and the railroad had one thing that was better than almost any scenic railroad we’ve ridden:
We could hear the narration!
More about that below.
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this: Sit on the LEFT side of the train while facing the engine.
When you walk onto the train and look toward the locomotive, you want the seats on your left. That side has the best views across the valley.
The other side often hugs the mountainside, so there are stretches where you’re looking mostly at trees and the slope right beside you.
The left side opens up toward the valley, where you’ll see Highway 91 far below, forests, towns in the distance, and huge mountain peaks across the way.
And here’s why this matters even more:
The train doesn’t turn around.
It travels out, then comes back down the exact same track in reverse so if you’re on the mountainside going out, you’re still on the mountainside coming back.
GOOD TO KNOW: You can move about the train during the ride. You also make one stop where you can get off. Since coach seats aren’t assigned, someone could take your seat. Our train wasn’t crowded so this wasn’t a problem but on a busy day, I would leave behind a water bottle or jacket to save my seat.
The ride starts right in the middle of Leadville. For the first few minutes, you’re working your way through town and passing homes and backyards. It’s not particularly scenic yet.
But it doesn’t take long before you get into the forest. We started passing through ponderosa pines; it was amazing how good they smelled (and another reason for riding in an open-air car!)
From there, the scenery alternates. Sometimes you’re riding through a thick forest with lots of aspen and pines, and other times the trees open up and you’re looking across the valley at enormous mountain peaks. Those were our favorite parts of the ride.
One thing Matt was concerned about before the ride was whether the scenery would feel a little disappointing because Highway 91 travels through the same basic valley which means you can drive your car through the same valley you are viewing from the train.
But the train is much higher on the mountainside than the highway. In many places, we were looking hundreds of feet down toward the road below us and we enjoyed seeing it from a completely different angle.
We didn’t feel like the highway took away from the train ride at all. The views were beautiful.
The engineer told us the train generally travels around 10–12 miles per hour.
That sounded slow when he told us, but it felt about perfect.
You’re moving fast enough that the ride doesn’t drag, but slowly enough that you have plenty of time to look around and take pictures.
At some of the prettiest sections, the train slowed down a little more so everyone could enjoy the view.
We’ve ridden quite a few scenic trains over the years.
One of the common problems is that the train itself is so loud (or the speakers are so bad), that you can’t understand half of what the conductor is saying. That wasn’t a problem here. The sound system was excellent.
Our conductor was friendly and excited to share what he knew about the train and area. He talked about:
I wouldn’t describe the narration as a comedy show or something designed to entertain you. It was more educational and interesting.
The narration was primarily on the way out. On the return trip, the conductor walked through the cars, punched tickets, chatted with people, and answered questions.
We asked him quite a few and he knew the answer to everything we threw at him.
That was one of the things that impressed us most about the railroad. The employees seemed genuinely interested in the train and were happy to talk about it.
FUN FACT: At railroad crossings, listen for the horn pattern: long-long-short-long. That pattern corresponds to the letter Q in Morse code. Our conductor told us the old railroad story that the “Q” was connected to the Queen of England and the idea that the Queen—and later the train—had the right of way.
At the far end of the trip, the train reverses direction and eventually makes a short stop near a restored railroad water tower. We were there for about 15 minutes and everyone was allowed to get off the train. There were a few interpretive signs about wildlife, minerals, and the surrounding area, plus the historic water tower itself, which used to be used to supply water to steam locomotives.
It’s also a good place to stretch your legs, take pictures, and talk to the railroad employees. There was a sign near the engine basically inviting passengers to ask the engineer questions. So I did!
Brandon, the engineer, allowed me to come into the engine. He explained how the locomotive worked and what it was like to operate it. He told us that the engine used on our ride (they have more than one) dated back to 1955 and used a diesel-electric system.
In simple terms, the diesel engine powers a generator, which creates the electricity that ultimately drives the locomotive.
Getting see the inside of the engine and talk to Brandon about it was a real highlight of the ride and something I’ve never seen another railroad do.
There were a surprising amount of amenities on the train. Yes, there are bathrooms onboard (a whole car of them!) There was also a souvenir/snack car, and a car that had a grill-type restaurant. We tried it…and this is one place where we can probably save you some money.
Matt bought:
The burger was extremely basic and didn’t come with fries. The shake was also very basic; although, to be fair, it kind of hit the spot.
We are big believers in supporting these historic railroads. They are expensive to maintain, and we’re grateful people are keeping them running so don’t usually complain too much for overpriced food.
But…
Bring your own snacks. Most railroad won’t allow this, but the Leadville Railway allows it and we think you should. You can bring whatever you want, besides alcohol. That is availabe for purchase on board.
One other thing to know is that if you upgrade to the lounge car, a server will bring you your food. Just know that food is not included with the price of your ticket.
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Food | Yes |
| Drinks | Yes |
| Bring Your Own Food | Yes |
| Bring Your Own Nonalcoholic Drinks | Yes |
| Alcohol for Purchase | Yes |
| Bring Your Own Alcohol | No |
| Souvenirs | Yes |
This was one of the things that surprised us. Dogs can ride the train!
We saw several people riding with their dogs, and having a great time. The only other time we have seen this allowed was on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The exact rules can vary by season and train, so check the current pet policy when you book. But during the warmer months, the railroad allows dogs in many of its regular coach cars.
If you’re traveling to Colorado with a dog, that makes the Leadville Railroad especially appealing.
We saw ramps being used at boarding, and the railroad can accommodate passengers using wheelchairs and walkers. If someone in your group needs assistance, I would contact the railroad before your trip so they know you’re coming and can make the appropriate arrangements.
This is a nice activity for multigenerational groups because you can get high into the Colorado mountains without anyone having to hike. It really works for almost any age.
We saw:
Get our done‑for‑you, 7‑14 day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops
so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views
*Day‑by‑day plans for Colorado’s national parks and mountain towns
*Details you need: best activities, hikes, drives, and where to sleep each night to reduce backtracking
*Best Friend Guarantee: Love it or get your money back
Bring layers. Leadville sits at around 10,152 feet, so the weather can change quickly. When we boarded, it was around 67 degrees. That sounds cool, but sitting in direct sun at more than 10,000 feet, it felt hot!
We were very glad we had:
Later, clouds moved in and the temperature suddenly felt much cooler. That’s when having a jacket or sweater came in handy. Colorado mountain weather can change fast, especially in the afternoon.
GOOD TO KNOW: Afternoon thunderstorms are common in Colorado’s mountains. Though it didn’t rain on us the day of our train ride, it rained on us several afternoons on our trip in August.
Railroads were once incredibly important to Leadville. During the late 1800s, Leadville became one of the biggest mining towns in the West, and railroads were needed to move enormous amounts of ore, equipment, supplies and people in and out of the mountains. At it’s peak, Leadeville had a population of over 60,000 people (according to our conductor). Now, about 4,000 people live there.
The original railroad route into Leadville was completed in the 1880s but eventually, mining declined and much of the old railroad network disappeared.
In the late 1980s, new owners purchased the line and began converting equipment for passenger use and has now been carrying visitors into the mountains ever since.
And I’m glad someone saved it. These old railroads take an enormous amount of work to maintain. The locomotives, tracks and cars all require constant attention. It’s one of the things we appreciate every time we ride a historic railroad.
After riding it ourselves, these are the things I would most want someone to tell me before I went.
This is #1 for a reason. When you’re facing the locomotive, choose the left-hand side. That’s where the better valley views are.
Boarding begins before departure, and regular coach seating is first come, first served. During busy times, especially fall, I’d arrive 45 minutes to an hour early.
You can buy them onboard, but I’d bring my own.
At 10,000 feet, the weather can change quickly.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a rain jacket!
That’s our preference. Our #1 pick is the open-sided car with a roof overhead.
We were happy with our regular coach tickets. The lounge is a nice option if you want more comfort or guaranteed reserved seats, but we preferred sitting outside facing the scenery.
Our conductor and engineer were both incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Take advantage of it.
There are lots of aspens along this route. When we rode in August, we kept looking around thinking: This must be crazy beautiful in the fall. Just know that along with those golden aspens will be a fare share of crowds.
The railroad offers different rides depending on the time of year.
The schedule changes, so always check the railroad’s current calendar before planning your trip.
This is the ride we took. It’s the basic scenic excursion into the mountains and is the option we’d recommend for most first-time visitors. It was also the only available option for the day we were visiting.
If you love fall colors, this would be a beautiful time to ride. There are lots of aspens along the route, and the train gives you a higher view over the valley than you’d get from the highway.
The railroad also offers special rides that include barbecue. We didn’t do this one, but it sounded fun.
The Leadville Railroad also operates during colder parts of the year with special holiday and winter excursions.
Some of the enclosed cars are heated, making this a very different experience from the open-air summer ride we took.
You can check out types of rides available and ticket prices on their website, Leadville Railroad.
Yes. We thought the Leadville Railroad was a great use of our afternoon.
It’s not our favorite train ride in Colorado. That honor still belongs to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Durango is longer, more dramatic and feels more like a bucket-list train experience, but it’s also a much bigger commitment taking almost a full day (check out our review about it.)
The Leadville Railroad is easy. You can spend a couple of hours riding the train and still have plenty of time to explore Leadville before or after.
We liked:
We didn’t love:
But those were pretty small complaints.
We have never taken a scenic train ride in Colorado that we regretted, and the Leadville Railroad was no exception.
So once again
| Ride the Leadville Railroad if you… | You may want to skip it if you… |
|---|---|
| Want a beautiful Colorado train ride that only takes a couple of hours | Are looking for a luxury train experience |
| Like open-air train cars | Want scenery that is completely inaccessible by road |
| Enjoy learning about mining and railroad history | Don’t enjoy out-and-back train rides |
| Want something that almost anyone in the family can do | Don’t want to spend $60+ per person on a scenic ride |
| Are visiting Leadville and looking for one of the best activities in town | Are visiting during peak fall color season but hate crowds |
We’ve ridden several scenic trains in Colorado, and each one is a little different.
| Leadville Railroad | Durango & Silverton | Georgetown Loop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Easy scenic ride while visiting Leadville | Bucket-list Colorado train | Shorter family train experience |
| Time Commitment | About 2 hours on our ride | 7 + hours | 45 minutes |
| Scenery | Excellent | Our favorite | Very good |
| Train Experience | Casual and educational | Most scenic | Family-friendly |
| Our Take | Great use of an afternoon | Our favorite Colorado train | Good if you want something shorter and less expensive |
If you’re choosing between them, I wouldn’t necessarily think of them as substitutes.
The Durango train is something I would build part of a trip around. It’s worth driving over to Durango to ride the train.
The Leadville train is something I would absolutely do if Leadville was part of my trip already.
I was glad we did the Georgetown Train when we had our kids with us a few years ago. It was about half the cost of the Leadville train and the shorter ride was perfect for younger children.
Love Colorado train rides? Read our Durango & Silverton Railroad review and Pikes Peak Cog Train guide.
Don’t come to Leadville just for the train and leave. Although mainstreet is not our favorite place to shop in Colorado and eat in Colorado, there are some great activities you can do.
Watch our Leadville travel guide: See more of the town and the activities we recommend in our video, Leadville Colorado Travel Guide: 10 Things You Need to Know.
Some of our favorite things in the area include:
Explore more of Colorado: Find more mountain towns, scenic drives, and activities in our Colorado travel guides.
Leadville isn’t a polished Colorado ski town. It’s a real old mining town, and some parts are prettier than others. That’s part of why we like it.
But between the railroad, mining history, downtown, mountain activities and nearby scenery, there is actually quite a bit to do.
And the Leadville Railroad is one of the activities we’d put near the top of the list.
Colorado is incredible! There are national parks, scenic drives, mountain towns and all sort of activities like train rides, gondolas, and mining tours. We’ve spent weeks in Colorado exploring all that there is to do and put everything we’ve learned into our Colorado Road Trip Bundle.
The driving routes and step-by-step daily itineraries help you
Keep planning your Colorado trip: Read our Glenwood Hot Springs review and browse our Rocky Mountain National Park guides.
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