A popular trip for first time visitors to the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado is a ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. You’ll be a passenger on a train that has been running the tracks back and forth between Durango and Silverton for more than a century.

The railroad was founded by a Civil War hero who first built a line from Denver to Colorado Springs and later envisioned a route to Silverton.

Originally built to haul gold and silver through the precipitous San Juan Mountains, it now carries visitors along the same 45 mile route. Seating is available in an enclosed coach or open-air car. Premium class parlor cars are available on every train, and you can even reserve an elegant private car for a special occasion.

The train moves slowly through town, and then winds out into the pastoral Animas Valley. As it climbs into the sheer walls of Animas Canyon, the river drops away until it is thousands of feet below. As the train curves around tight switchbacks, you can actually capture a photo of the front of the train from the rear cars.

Just before Cascade Station, and about two hours north of Durango, you...[continued]