Explore the Rocky Mountains by Train with Special Journeys!  This trip is the first in our series of Train trips to be offered so hop aboard and join in on the fun.

We’ll begin our time in the Rocky Mountains by starting just outside of Denver by hopping aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad.  This monster steam engine train doesn’t burn coal for fuel, but instead recycled waste oil or corn oil.  This train has been running since the late 1880s and at its height of popularity was running 7 trains a day.  Georgetown sits at an elevation of 8,530 feet where we’ll see some of the best views of the mountains as we wind around for the 1.5 train ride.

The next train ride brings us to Leadville, Colorado.  Leadville is nicknamed “Cloud City” as it sits at a staggering elevation of 10,152 feet and holds a significant place in Colorado’s history as one of the most important mining towns in the late 1800s.  As the booming town grew, the ‘highline’ rail was finished in 1884.  The railroad was purchased by a local family in 1987 where they worked hard to transform the trains into what they are today.  We’ll have sweeping views of mountain ranges, valleys, and the Arkansas River.

Once the Leadville train ride comes to an end, we’ll head into town to explore the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum.  This amazing Museum is a monument to the memory to the people who pioneered the development, discovery and processing of the country’s natural resources.  The museum’s thoughtful curation has won Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award making it one the of the top 10 attractions worldwide!  Here we will explore the expansive exhibits known as the ‘Smithsonian of the Rockies’.  Housing over 25,000 square feet of interactive and informative exhibits we’ll see sparkling crystals, model railroad showing life in historic Colorado mining town, hear stories of real-life miners, and walk through memorable modeled mines.

After finishing exploring Leadville we’ll make our way to Cripple Creek to hop aboard the 100 year old Cripple Creek Railroad.  This open-air, coal-fired locomotive will bring us through sweeping, scenic views of the surrounding mountains.  The journey will begin at the train depot which dates back to 1894.  Along the ride we’ll listen to the history of the region and about the miners who came to the area to find their fortunes.  While this isn’t the longest ride of our trip, it certainly has the richest history.  In the late 1890’s the area became known as the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp” and produced over 11 billion dollars in gold!

Next stop on this epic train adventure brings us to the top, over 14,000 feet, at Pikes Peak where we’ll ride along the mountain known as “America’s Mountain”.  The mountain is the start attraction of this 3.5 hour journey where we’ll embark on a 9-mile trek where we’ll be surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife.  At the top on a clear day, you will have a 360-degree view of the Pikes Peak region, from the eastern plains to the Continental Divide and the skyscrapers of downtown Denver.

While our train trips may be over, we can’t forget about all the other wonderful things we’ll see in Colorado that make this state so special.  Wildlife such as elk, deer, and marmot’s abound.  Along with stunning greenery such as Ponderosa pine, and Bristle cone pines, some of which are estimated to be about 2000 years old on the top of Pikes Peak!  We’ll travel along majestic rivers, see stunning waterfalls, and enjoy the fresh air of the Colorado mountains.

If you enjoy this trip, make sure you keep an eye out for our second Steam Train Trip Series where we will hop aboard other classics such as the Durango & Silverton Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and the Royal Gorge.