The Best of Colorado’s Historic Railroads

Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. Orientation. 4:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. As a special feature of this program, we will be accompanied throughout by a Colorado history and railroad expert who will serve as our resident instructor, provide commentary en route, and lead field trips. Travel and transfers other than railroad field trips will be by comfortable motorcoach. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In the hotel dining room.

We will begin the fascinating journey of discovery for the amazing rail adventures ahead with an introductory lecture by our resident Colorado Railroad expert. Our expert will accompany us throughout the entire program and provide vivid descriptions along the route. Often in the motorcoach, we’ll learn the fascinating history of Colorado and the impacts railroads made on the settlement of the state. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check out of the hotel and board a motorcoach for a field trip to the well preserved historic mining town of Georgetown, nestled in the mountains at an elevation of 8,530 feet. We will spend some time exploring the Historic District. Original Victorian architecture adds to the experience of exploring the town.

A box lunch will be provided, water included.

We’ll then take our first historic railway field trip aboard the Georgetown Loop Narrow Gauge Railroad. An impressive engineering feat, this railroad connecting the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume became a popular attraction in Colorado after it was completed in 1884. Though only two miles between sites as the crow flies, the railroad is twice that length as it navigates the narrow canyon of Clear Creek up steep grades, totaling a 600-foot gain in elevation with switchback turns. Of the four bridges we will cross along the wending journey, one is the Devil’s Gate High Bridge at 95 feet high over the gorge. Following our train field trip, we’ll continue our journey to Colorado Springs via motorcoach.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board our motorcoach and travel with viewing stops through the Garden of the Gods, so named by a surveyor in 1859 who said it was a fit place for the Gods to assemble. Now a registered National Natural Landmark, there are dramatic views of towering 300' sandstone rock formations in the foreground and Pikes Peak in the background. We then head to Manitou Springs for a field trip riding the Cog Railway to 14,115 feet Pikes Peak Summit, where Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write her famous poem, “America the Beautiful.” Newly re-opened and refurbished in 2021, the Pikes Peak Cog railroad uses a “cog wheel” gear meshing into a special rack rail mounted between the outer rails, which allow climbing much steeper grades than a standard adhesion railroad. The first passenger train made it to the summit on June 30, 1891. A lively narration from the conductor will inform participants about the scenery and history.

At a local restaurant located in the historic Colorado Central Railroad Roundhouse.

e spend independent time exploring the grounds and historic structures of the Broadmoor Hotel. Businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Spencer Penrose built the Broadmoor in 1918 with the goal of making it the finest hotel in the U.S. It was certainly grand for its day: designed by the same architects who created the Ritz-Carlton and Biltmore hotels; with thousands of surrounding acres landscaped by Frederick Law Olmstead of NY Central Park fame; and filled with artwork from Europe and the Far East. Many visitors came for the clean mountain air, thought to provide relief from tuberculosis and other maladies, and stayed for the exceptional hospitality. The Broadmoor is now a member of Historic Hotels of America of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Time permitting, our next destination is the Glen Eyrie estate, popularly known as the Castle. It began as the estate of Civil War veteran General William Jackson Palmer, founder of several railroads and the city of Colorado Springs. The name refers to the eagle's nest that overlooks the canyon. The original frame house was enlarged and remodeled in 1881 to resemble a Tudor-style castle. We will drive through the grounds with views of the beautiful castle and red rock setting. We return to our hotel.

This meal has been excluded to allow participants to enjoy varied cuisine in downtown Colorado Springs. Group leader will help with dining choices and directions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel and boarding our motorcoach, we will ride to Canon City. Our resident expert will brief us along the way about the history and sights to come. Upon arrival, we’ll climb aboard one of Colorado’s most scenic trains for a 24-mile journey through the spectacular Royal Gorge. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad was established in 1879, making it Colorado’s oldest scenic railroad as well as one of the most exhilarating rides. We’ll learn about its dramatic, complex, sometimes violent history as we traverse tracks that follow the Arkansas River amid 1,000-foot granite cliffs. A unique feature is the suspension bridge devised to transit the narrowest point in the gorge. Back at the starting point of our field trip, we’ll take the motorcoach to our lunch stop.

At Canon City Dinosaur Experience we’ll have boxed lunches.

We will have time for a self-directed exploration of the Canon City Dinosaur Experience. The 10,000 square-foot museum is focused on dinosaurs that once lived in the area and stories of their discovery. Dinosaur fossils continue to be discovered in the area. Next, we will re-board the motorcoach and ride to Alamosa, our destination for the night. The valley is surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges that will punctuate the drive. Alamosa is located in the historic San Luis Valley. At altitudes above 7,000 feet, the San Luis Valley is technically a high desert but the surface is underlain by shallow aquifers that form lakes, marshlands, and warm springs in places. We will also traverse “Los Caminos Antiguos”, a network of ancient trails that live on as modern paved highways, following the footsteps of Apaches and Utes, Spanish missionaries, and Western explorers such as Zebulon Pike and Kit Carson, settlers, Buffalo Soldiers, miners, and railroaders.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach for a scenic drive along the San Luis Valley to the town of Antonito, CO. There, we’ll board the Cumbres and Toltec Historic Narrow-Gauge Railroad. Like stepping back in time, the steam engine will start its winding journeys to the top of Cumbres Pass. The line was constructed in 1880 as an extension of the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, but its gauge of only 3 feet between the rails — rather than what would soon become the standard of just under 5 feet — made it an anachronism almost from the start. Nevertheless, it operated off and on until the 1960s. It was on the verge of being completely abandoned and dismantled until a group of enthusiastic railroad enthusiasts persuaded the states of Colorado and New Mexico to purchase the most scenic stretch of the line. Congress authorized an interstate agency to operate it in 1974, while a non-profit organization preserves these assets for the public as a living history museum that interprets railroad history and heritage. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad’s equipment and structures, and the vast landscape of the Colorado and New Mexico border, exist today as they were generations ago. Our resident expert will be available in a designated location for narration and to answer questions. During our ride, we will have assigned seats but are welcome to visit the open observation car and snack bar where food and drink items will be available for purchase.

Our lunch stop is at Osier Station, a midway point on the rail journey. Lunch is provided by the railroad.

We’ll re-board our train and continue our journey to Cumbres Pass, learning as we go. The train ride will end at the top of Cumbres Pass — elevation 10,015 feet — where we will disembark, board our motorcoach, and ride to Durango, with estimated arrival in the late afternoon.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Durango. The hotel is in walking distance of the colorful Victorian downtown with numerous restaurants. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

Boarding the motorcoach after hotel checkout, we’ll make the short transfer to the train station. There will be some time for independent exploration of the roundhouse museum in the historic train depot. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in continuous operation since 1882, taking passengers and mine ores from Durango at an altitude 6,512 feet to Silverton at 9,305 feet. In addition to a federally designated National Historic Landmark status, the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized it as an historic civil engineering landmark. National Geographic Traveler has also been named one of the Top Ten North American Train Trips. We will have the same kind of experience as passengers of old, boarding at the original 1882 depot and riding the line pulled by a vintage steam locomotive. The leisurely pace of about 18 miles an hour provides wonderful opportunities to appreciate the spectacular scenery experienced by Native Americans, settlers, cowboys, and miners. We will have ticketed assigned seats. The conductor will narrate along the route and our resident expert will circulate for commentary and to answer questions. We’ll get off the train upon arrival in Silverton and walk a short distance to our lunch venue.

At a local restaurant in Silverton.

We’ll have some time to stroll in downtown Silverton’s Historic District before boarding our motorcoach. We’ll then ride along the most spectacular highway journey of our program, the “Million Dollar Highway” (U.S. Route 550) to Ouray. Built in the 1930s, the 25-mile stretch follows the old miners’ trail through the magnificent San Juan Mountains, some of the most rugged and scenic of all Colorado’s mountain ranges. The highway cuts through steep cliffs in several places with hairpin turns that might give you a few butterflies, but the reward in awesome views makes it well worthwhile. Late melting snows encourage Summer wildflowers, while stands of Aspen trees turn golden in the Fall. We will check in to our hotel upon arrival in the late afternoon.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

In the hotel

Ouray is sometimes called the Switzerland of America for its alpine landscape surrounded by mountains. Among the many natural wonders is Uncompahgre National Forest covering more than 950,000 acres and Yankee Boy Basin within the forest. We will board specially converted 4-wheel-drive vehicles for an exciting field trip to the beautiful alpine meadows at an elevation of 12,526 feet. Driving up and along Canyon Creek, we’ll go under dramatic cliffs, past the lower Camp Bird Mine, through the ghost town of Sneffels, past the Revenue, Atlas and Ruby Trust mines, and up to the beautiful Twin Falls surrounded by rugged mountain peaks. Arriving at the Basin in summer, we will be surrounded by fabulous wildflowers including the Colorado state flower, the Blue Columbine. In autumn, the magnificent fall colors of golden aspen and red shrubs await. Camp Bird Mine, which we passed en route, is one of the most famous and highly productive old gold mines in the San Juan Mountains. It was discovered in 1896 by Irish immigrant Thomas F. Walsh, who became one of the richest men in America and — highly unusual for his time — a progressive advocate for laborers. As a result, Camp Bird Mine did not experience the violent strikes that many western mines of the era underwent. We’ll then hop aboard our motorcoach for a short ride to the town of Ridgway.

At a local restaurant.

Next, we will walk the short distance to the Ridgway Railroad Museum dedicated to preserving Colorado railroad history with a focus on restoration, education, and research. (Those who wish to take the motorcoach are welcome to do so). Our resident expert will lead a walk through the facility with an opportunity to explore the collection independently. The site includes railroad equipment, artifacts, plus exhibits and displays of railroad rolling stock. Most notable is the museum’s “Galloping Goose” rail-motorcar — a unique combination of locomotives and cars designed and built by adapting gasoline powered autos and trucks into small rail vehicles. Returning to Ouray, the remainder of the afternoon will be free to enjoy on your own. Our resident expert will give recommendations about local historic sites and museums.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

At leisure. Ouray, named for the most famous chief of the Ute people, has much to offer for a small mining town. About two-thirds of the original Victorian structures are still occupied and have been restored. You might like to visit the Ouray County Museum housed in the original St. Joseph Miners’ Hospital or take a dip in the renowned, sulfur-free Hot Springs pool (open until 10:00 p.m.). Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

In the hotel

Our primary objective today is to safely return to Denver. The itinerary described is the planned route, however recent year's have seen flooding and destroyed highways that alter the routing, we will make every effort to travel as planned, but unexpected last minute changes may occur. After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach for a drive to Montrose and the Ute Indian Museum. While here, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of the history and the living culture of Colorado's longest continuous residents. We’ll then continue our journey via motorcoach over McClure Pass at an elevation 8,755 feet before continuing to the town of Redstone, our lunch stop.

At the historic Redstone Inn.

We will set out on the final leg of our ride back to Denver via the Glenwood Canyon scenic byway, a uniquely engineered section of Interstate 70, and learn as we go. We’ll pass the ski resorts of Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper Mountain, and Loveland along the route, as well as going through the Eisenhower Tunnel. With a maximum elevation of 11,158 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest vehicular tunnels in the world. The tunnel is the longest mountain tunnel and highest point on the Interstate Highway system. Completed in 1979, it was one of the last major pieces of the Interstate Highway system to be completed. We will expect to arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon and check in.

In the hotel dining room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!