
Heading to Colorado and looking for some incredible canyon and mountain views? The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is iconic to Colorado and is one of the most popular things to do.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad transports thousands of guests a year from the town of Durango to Silverton. The train ride travels 45.2 miles and lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes each way along the Animas River and through the San Juan mountains. The train stops for 2 hours allowing guests to explore the Western town Silverton. The price of round-trip tickets begins at ~$90 per adult and goes up from there.
I’m Cheryl and my husband and I write travel guides. We actually wrote one for Colorado and have visited there several times. I’ve also gone on many train rides in Colorado, including the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, and the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Read on for my completely honest review and handy tips to help you decide if riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway is right for you. If you want the Cliff’s Notes version, check out the table below!
Ride the Durango & Silverton Railway if you… | Don’t Ride the Durango and Silverton Railway if… |
Want to see some of the most incredible views of Colorado | You are on a tight budget |
Love riding trains (it’s great even if trains aren’t your thing) | Narration is really important to you |
Enjoy the open air | |
Have a full day |
TAKING A COLORADO ROAD TRIP AND NEED A GAME PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR ITINERARY.
The Experience
Little has changed about this train experience since it started running over 140 years ago. The conductors wear uniforms that they would have in the 1800s. They even walk through the train and check your ticket. Rail Rangers also walk between the cars and answer questions.
The first thing I noticed was how comfortable the seats were. We rode in the gondola car with cushioned benches facing outward. We loved this setup because it easily allowed us to view the scenery. Our car was also open air which was fabulous. We traveled the 3rd week of September and we had temperatures in the 60s and 70s throughout the ride. Just heavenly!

We had 2 steam engines pulling our 15-car train. They were fascinating! We could hear the chug, chug, chug sound get faster when the engines were required to tow the train up a hill. It was also super fun to watch the steam shoot out. At one point on the ride, we stopped in Rockwood. We were preparing to go down a hill and over a bridge. One of our steam engines was briefly disconnected, probably to alleviate some of the extra weight on the bridge. Later on, when we had to go up a hill, the second engine was reattached. It was cool to see.
Between the sound of the whistle and the chugging, the ride could be a little loud if we were going fast. The train maxes out at speeds of 20 mph but travels around 10-12 mph through the most scenic parts of the ride. I found it difficult to speak to the people next to me for some of the ride.
The train rocks a lot, but I thought that was part of the fun. You can also smell the smoke in the air. We sat in the 9th of 15 cars and the smoke wasn’t too strong. I’ve read reviews that have said that soot actually can get on you if you are too close to the front. I also imagine it would be quite a bit louder. I loved being more toward the back because it was quieter and we were in a great spot to snap photos of the train as we turned corners.
GOOD TO KNOW: On a typical train ride, there isn’t much to eat on the train besides soda, coffee, popcorn, and muffins. That was no big deal to me because Silverton has plenty of great places to eat!
The first hour of the ride was leaving the city of Durango. It was a nice ride but the scenery was nothing too spectacular.
And then… we got into the San Juan Mountains and I couldn’t get enough. The Aspen trees had just turned a stunning golden yellow, the air got 10 degrees cooler, and I had never seen mountains so towering and gorgeous. The Animas River that flows through the canyon is a lighter, green-blue color and is striking. This sounds so cheesy, but I was so taken by the beauty that I felt a little emotional and had to hold back tears. I looked up and down my car and everyone was standing up for a good portion of the ride, trying to get a better view and snap pictures.
To be honest, I am NOT a train enthusiast. I was not too excited to be on a train ride for 3 1/2 hours. But, I was actually sad when we arrived in Silverton and the ride was over.
One thing that was lacking was a good narration. On most train rides I have been on, there has been a conductor in the car giving a narration and answering questions. Or, there will be a recording playing. This train had neither. This bothered me at first because I wanted to know more about the train and the area. But, I quickly overlooked my disappointment when I got my first view of the mountains. Of all the train rides I have been on (I’ve been on 6) this was hands-down my favorite!
HANDY TIP: There are restrooms on the train.
The History

In 1860, gold and silver were discovered in the Animas River and hundreds fled West in search of their fortune. Like the origins of many other railroads, the Durango & Silverton Railway was constructed to transport precious metals and supplies to and from the mining towns.
Something interesting about this train is that when it began running in 1882, it transported both goods and tourists! And… has been transporting tourists ever since. There have only been occasional brief pauses due to fires or rockslides.
In 1961, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. No mining takes place in this area anymore (the last mining operation closed in the 1990s), but today, the Durango & Silverton Railway transports over 220,000 guests a year!
FUN FACT: The Durango & Silverton Train has starred in many movies, including The Prestige, Around the World in 80 Days, and Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid.

Fun Facts About the Durango & Silverton Railway
- The ride from Durango to Silverton is 45.2 miles and takes 3 hours and 30 minutes each way
- Guests have two hours to explore Silverton
- The Durango & Silverton train usually travels around 10-12 mph but can reach speeds of 20 mph
- The length of the train changes but our train had 15 cars and 2 engines
- Guests can choose to ride on a steam train or a diesel train
- The train switches directions in Silverton so guests have a different view on the return trip
The Views
As I mentioned earlier, this is my favorite train ride of all time, and it is because of the views. Granite rocks, the beautiful Animas River, the towering San Juan mountains, a few waterfalls… it’s a fantastic experience.



DID YOU KNOW: People often see wildlife on this train ride too!
What made this train ride especially valuable to me was that the tracks go where roads DO NOT. I find it disappointing if I can get the same views driving on a road that runs next to railroad tracks.
HANDY TIP: Sit on the riverside (right side of the train). The other side has a view of the highway for the first of the ride. The rain does turn around in Silverton so you will see the other side on the way back, we only rode the train one way. More on that later.
Exploring Silverton
Silverton looks very much like what I imagine a mining town to look like in the 1800s. Mostly dirt roads with shops and restaurants nestled between the mountains.
Because hundreds of tourists hop off the train hungry for lunch and only have 2 hours to eat and explore the town, we made sure to know where we wanted to eat and get over there quickly.
We chose to eat at the Lacey Rose Saloon. It’s new (opened in 2023) and old (built in 1882) at the same time. They have an incredible wooden bar, great Western decor, and a cool old piano that someone is always playing.
Their most popular dish is the Grand Imperial Burger. I tried their apricot walnut salad and loved the combo of dried apricots, spring greens, feta cheese, walnuts, and fruity vinaigrette.






We had a little sweet tooth after lunch so we checked out the Rocky Mountain Funnel Cake Factory I ordered the huckleberry ice cream (awesome!) and Matt got the strawberry cheesecake funnel cake. It was ok and we think a plain funnel cake would have been best.
The 2 hour stop didn’t let us enjoy Silverton as long as we wanted. I would have loved to check out the shops a little longer but Matt thought that two hours was just perfect.
Helpful Tips
- It’s $10 to park your car at the train station and there can be a long line to get into the parking lot. Get there at least 30 minutes early so you aren’t rushed.
- Wear sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a jacket and maybe earplugs.
- No cell service on the ride.
- Make sure you get a seat on the “river side” (right side) of the train if you are only riding from Durango to Silverton. If you are taking the train back, the train does turn around so you will see the other side of the canyon on the way back. The right side of the train has spectacular views of the river and the mountains on the way to Silverton.
- Sit towards the back. There is less noise and less soot, and it’s the best picture spot.
- Buy the brochure at the gift shop. It has good info in it.
- If you are going to eat in Silverton, get right off the train and head to your restaurant because the service can be slow. Check out the restaurants before you go because some are closed on certain days or have limited hours.
GOOD TO KNOW: Have a plan B in place in case your trip gets canceled. Tracks were closed earlier in the summer because of a rock slide and they can also cancel if there is a wildfire warning in the area. If they do cancel they will try to rebook your trip or offer a full refund.
Types of Train Rides
There are a few different combinations that travelers can choose from when picking which train ride is best for them.
The main season for riding the train is May through October so I’ll go over what is offered.
Steam or Diesel?
Each day, both a steam engine train and a diesel engine train depart from Durango. They journey 3 1/2 hours to Silverton, have a 2-hour rest while guests enjoy the town, and then make the 3 1/2 hour trek back to Durango. It is a total of 9 hours.
We took the steam engine and it is the most popular of the two. Not sure of the difference?

Steam Engines
Steam engines are the OG, and people are very nostalgic about them. They are loud, less smooth, and emit a ton of smoke, but we love their whistle, their chug, chug, chug sound, and feeling like we have gone 140 years back in time.
Diesel Engines
Diesel Engines are more modern. Many passenger trains running today use diesel engines. You can expect a smoother, quieter, less smelly ride but will lose some of the charm.
Full Day or Half Day?
Most people choose to do the full-day excursion. It’s great and tickets start at ~$100 per person. If you are short on time or just don’t want to spend the entire day riding the train, you have a couple of options.
Cascade Canyon
The Cascade Canyon Ride is only 5 hours and travels 26 miles. It departs from Durango and makes a one-hour stop in Cascade Canyon. Travelers ride in heated carts and can order a boxed lunch or food from the food cart on the train. This ride is available November through early May and tickets start ~$97.
Bus Option

For an additional $29 for the Durango to Silverton route, you can take the 3 1/2 hour train ride one way and then take the bus back. This is what we did and it shortened our day by 2 hours, allowing us more time to enjoy Durango that evening. You can choose to ride the bus to Silverton or ride the bus back to Durango (we rode the bus back from Silverton).
The buses they use are very comfortable. They hold 55 passengers and have A/C, roomy seats, and luggage storage like an airplane. There is also a restroom available.
HANDY TIP: Seats aren’t assigned on the bus. If you can, sit on the driver’s side of the bus for the best views.
The ride goes along the Million Dollar Highway. It’s very beautiful and has completely different views than the train ride. Our driver was really funny and gave a great narration about the area. You can drive this road in your own car but it was nice to have someone else drive so we could both relax and enjoy the awesome scenery.
The bus drops you off at the front of the depot so if you parked in the railroad parking lot it’s a short walk to your car.
GOOD TO KNOW: At the train depot in Durango, there is a great museum. It’s free and has some old train cars, taxidermy, model trains, and a few other interesting displays. It’s a fun little collection.
Types of Cars
You can read all about the different types of cars available on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It’s broken down into Standard Class, Deluxe Class, First Class, and Presidential Class with a few different cars available in each.
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are available free of charge for First and Presidential Class. If you are riding in a different class, you can purchase these items in the dining car.
We loved riding in the Standard Class Gondola Car. We loved the open air and that our views weren’t obstructed by a window. The car is covered so we did have some protection from the sun and elements. We didn’t mind not having snacks because we were planning on eating in Silverton anyway.

HANDY TIP: You don’t need to purchase the most expensive ticket to have a great experience. We loved riding in coach! In our opinion, the most important factor to a good train ride is making sure you sit on the correct side. You’ll want to sit on the right (river side).
Our friend sat in the Presidential Car on the diesel train. She said it was pricey but worth it (starting ~ $279). She got a nice tote bag, souvenir drinking glasses, unlimited nonalcoholic beverages, a blueberry muffin, and a private bathroom for her car only. She loved the comfortable seating, individual windows that opened, and access to an outdoor platform. She had an amazing car attendant who offered great commentary about the history of the train and the surrounding areas between Durango and Silverton.
Special and Seasonal Rides
If you are into adventure and want the chance to camp along the railway route, they offer Wilderness Access, where the train will drop you off along the route, and then you can be picked up at a later time.
The main season runs May through October but there are some special events throughout the year.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride
This family-friendly event is based on the popular holiday story “The Polar Express.” Riders are treated to a magical Christmas experience, complete with hot cocoa, cookies, a reading of the book, and a visit from Santa Claus. This is a popular winter event, often selling out.
Wine & Rails
This adults-only excursion offers a scenic ride combined with a wine-tasting experience. Guests can enjoy a variety of wines paired with hors d’oeuvres as they travel through the stunning Colorado wilderness.
Pumpkin Patch Express
Held in the fall, this ride is designed for families. The train takes you to a pumpkin patch where kids can pick their own pumpkins, enjoy hayrides, and take part in other autumn-themed activities.
Winter Photographer’s Train
This special event is perfect for photography enthusiasts. The train makes several stops in scenic locations, allowing passengers to disembark and capture breathtaking shots of the train against the snowy landscape. The railroad positions the train specifically for photo opportunities.
Romance on the Rails
This Valentine’s Day-themed ride offers a romantic getaway with a scenic ride, dessert, and champagne for couples looking for a special experience in a stunning setting.
Brew Train
Similar to Wine & Rails, the Brew Train offers a craft beer-tasting experience while passengers enjoy the scenery. Various local breweries are featured, and guests can sample beers while taking in views of the San Juan Mountains.
Christmas Tree Train
This holiday event allows passengers to ride to a special location to cut down their own Christmas tree. Afterward, the tree is transported back to Durango by the train.
Railroad Historical Tours
Special historical excursions focus on the history of the railway itself, often including insights from historians or railroad experts. These tours might feature behind-the-scenes looks at the railroad’s operations or vintage cars.
Overnight Stays at the Grand Imperial Inn

Some people choose to spend the night at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Silverton. The train will transport your luggage from Durango and deliver it to your room. I met Steve and Cindy Skaggs on the train, who were doing just that, and Steve agreed to share information about his experience. I included his thoughts about this as a bonus section to the blog post at the end.
Final Thoughts
Taking a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway was an absolutely magical experience for me. I’m not a train enthusiast but I recommend riding it to anyone because it’s the best train ride I’ve ever done. The steam engine was great and the views of the San Juan Mountains and Animas Rivers were incredible.
Ride the Durango & Silverton Railway if you… | Don’t Ride the Durango and Silverton Railway if… |
Want to see some of the most incredible views of Colorado | You are on a tight budget |
Love riding trains (it’s great even if trains aren’t your thing) | Narration is really important to you |
Enjoy the open-air | |
Have a full day |
Colorado is incredible! Need a game plan so you don’t miss out on the best things to do? Check out our itinerary.
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid the crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times!
Not only that, but we’ll tell you about all the great cities and national park sites! Stop planning and start having the vacation of your dreams now!
A Night at the (Haunted?) Grand Imperial Hotel, Silverton, Colorado
Steve Skaggs, Kith & Kin
Cindy and I took the Durango-Silverton railway from . . . well, from Durango, Colorado, to Silverton, Colorado. Most visitors who ride the Durango-Silverton leave Durango, take the three-hour ride, spend a couple of hours in Silverton, and then return to Durango via train or bus.
Because I had wanted to take this train trip for years, I didn’t want the experience to be over too quickly. So Cindy and I took advantage of the Step Back in Time Train & Hotel Package, which allowed us to travel up to Silverton on one day and return to Durango the next. I highly recommend that you take advantage of this package if you’re able to when visiting Silverton. Not only did it give us more time to see Silverton—a town that truly makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time and might see Gary Cooper or John Wayne mosey out of a doorway at any moment—it allowed us to spend the night at the historically significant Grand Imperial Hotel.
Immersed in History
The Grand Imperial dates all the way back to 1883. Like any such structure, it has gone through many hands and many changes over the years, sometimes falling into disrepair. Thankfully, the Harper family, owners of the Durango-Silverton Railroad, purchased it in 2015 and have upgraded it to its present glory.
Because we were participating in the overnight package, our bags were transferred from the train directly to our hotel room—a very nice perk, considering the fact that our room was on the third floor and the hotel has no elevator. As I stepped into the lobby, I had to appreciate the décor, which harkens back to the Victorian era: patterned wallpaper, patterned carpet, a piano (“do not touch!”), the original check-in desk, wooden wainscoting, and a high ceiling. There’s also a full-length painting of Lillian Russell (1860 –1922), a singer, actress, writer, and political activist who stayed at the Grand Imperial on numerous occasions.
As I mentioned before, there are no elevators, so you have to climb quite a few stairs from the first floor to the third. This didn’t bother me at all when the front-desk clerk mentioned it to me—but what I had failed to consider was the altitude: Silverton is over 9300 feet above sea level, which puts it in the top 15 highest towns in the US. And the thinner air made any exertion more difficult. Even without heavy luggage, I had to stop for a brief rest on the second floor. (This experience may not be normative, however, as I am over sixty and out of shape!)

The Third Floor
The third floor has a comfortable, welcoming seating area in its center, surrounded by rooms. Later that evening Cindy and I enjoyed sitting there and reading for a while.
Our room was 302: it took us a little searching to find it, back a hallway and around a corner. The accommodations were quite clean, with comfortable beds, two windows looking down onto Greene Street, and a bathroom that retained a historic appearance while providing modern comforts. The walls were painted a pale yellow above white wainscoting and were decorated with old photos of the hotel and surrounding area. The room also included a large-screen TV.
The GI has no central air conditioning, but it does have central heating. We were there in late September/early October, and, somewhat concerned about being too warm overnight, we asked the front desk for an oscillating fan. The staff was very accommodating: when we offered to bring it to our room ourselves, the clerk insisted that their staff deliver it to us.
Our night was very comfortable. We kept one of the windows open (they were very easy to operate!) and ran the ceiling fan and the oscillating fan and even though we are Southerners who are spoiled by central A/C, we slept very well.
One note—yes, the windows are easy to operate, but they have no screens, giving unhindered access to the outside. This accessibility is something parents with small children might keep in mind.
I had only one negative experience while there, but it wasn’t the fault of the hotel. I am not normally prone to claustrophobia, but when I got into the claw-foot bathtub and was surrounded by the opaque shower curtain, I felt uncomfortably confined. I also felt a little dizzy and had trouble breathing the steamy air. Opening the curtain a bit helped a little, but I was glad when I was finished and could step down from the high tub back onto the floor. I think, once again, that the altitude was part of the problem—I felt as though I could not get enough breath, and I always find that feeling very upsetting.
On the other hand, my wife, who is quite prone to claustrophobia, had no trouble at all in the shower, so . . . !?
Oh, yes, that stuff about the hotel being haunted. Well, we had no paranormal experiences while we were there. Or did we?


A Mystery
The hotel is supposedly haunted by Luigi Regalia, who committed suicide on the third floor in 1890. Did we see Luigi? No, sorry.
But as we were getting everything packed up and ready to go by our 11 am check-out time, Cindy and I separately noted that our room key was on the bedside table. I planned to pick it up and return it to the front desk when we checked out.
The next time I looked, the key was gone.
“Did you pick up the key?” I asked Cindy.
“No, I thought you did.”
I must admit that of the two of us, I am the one who is far more likely to pick something up and then forget that I did so. However, since we had both seen it in the same location recently, it had to be somewhere in the room, on our persons, or in our belongings.
We searched the room, under the beds, in the trash, in the closet, in the bathroom. We carried our bags to the seating area outside the room and proceeded to empty pockets, purse, backpacks, suitcases, digging through every possible (and impossible) place that the key could be. It was attached to a red plastic fob—certainly not so small that it could easily vanish.
But vanished it had. We could not find it anywhere, and a very nice hotel maid, noticing our distress (and our belongings strewn across the seating area), told us not to worry about it. So we packed everything up again and checked out, promising to send the key to the hotel when we came across it upon our return home.
But even after returning home, we never found it. How in the world could that have happened? I can’t help wondering now . . . Luigi?

Read more from Steve at Kith & Kin