On the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, three-foot-gauge trains, pulled by original Baldwin steam locomotives, operate through mountains and deserts over tracks laid down in the 1880s. This 64-mile line, once part of the Denver & Rio Grande Western, is America’s longest and highest narrow-gauge railroad and features steep grades and magnificent vistas of western landscapes. The tracks crest Cumbres Pass at 10,015 ft., pass by the rugged 600-foot Toltec Gorge, cross several bridges, and steam through two tunnels on the journey between Chama, N.M., and Antonito, Colo.
Choices
Several excursions are available on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Full-day trips from Antonito or Chama to the halfway point of Osier Station are popular and include a hot lunch. Half-day trips geared toward families are offered at Chama on select dates. For the adventurous, take the full 64-mile, all-day, one-way trip from either terminal and return by motor coach.
When to go
The railroad runs from early June until mid-October. Special trains, including geology and wildflower/botany excursions, are scheduled throughout the year.
Good to know
The Cumbres & Toltec is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2012. It is world-renowned as one of the best-preserved historic railroad lines.
Worth doing
Special excursions featuring Denver & Rio Grande steam locomotive No. 168, built in 1883, operate on select dates throughout the year. This locomotive, which was returned to service in 2020, pulls a train of all original 19th-century wooden coaches dating back to the 1870s that have been meticulously restored to their original Victorian splendor.
Don’t miss
The rail yard at Chama is preserved much as it was 100 years ago. The yard is open for self-guided tours and gives visitors a unique opportunity to photograph working steam locomotives as well as the railroad’s extensive collection of wooden freight and passenger cars.
Getting there
The railroad is located between Colorado Springs, Colo., and Santa Fe, N.M. Highway 285 takes you to Antonito. To reach Chama from Santa Fe, take Highway 285 to Highway 84.
Location: 5234 B Hwy 285, Antonito, CO; 500 Terrace Avenue, Chama, NM
Phone: 888-286-2737 or 719-376-5483
Website: cumbrestoltec.com
E-mail: info@cumbrestoltec.com
