Colorado's New Year-Round Train Will Offer A Scenic Round-Trip Journey From Denver To The Rockies

The Rocky Mountains are a dream destination for many travelers, but not always practical to reach in terms of transportation. Whether heading to its world class ski resorts in winter or visiting the underrated Rocky Mountain National Park in summer, if you're driving, chances are you'll hit traffic jams somewhere along Interstate 70. The Bustang Outrider bus is an option if you're traveling between Denver and the remote Colorado mountain town of Craig, but it is limited to one round trip available per day. You could fly to Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) in Hayden from Denver International Airport (DEN), on one of three daily flights, but then you'd miss out on the beautiful scenery. This problem will be solved, however, with a new year-round rail service, Colorado Mountain Rail, which will connect Denver with some of the smaller Rocky Mountain towns.

Rail travel already offers several possibilities to experience the mountain landscape in the Centennial State. Services such as the California Zephyr, the longest train route in America, and Canyon Spirit, the tourist train passing by several national parks, are proof of the growing demand for scenic rail journeys. The highly anticipated Colorado Mountain Rail, arriving in November 2026, will be the newest addition.

Making use of existing rail corridors, Colorado Mountain Rail is expected to run round trip between Denver and the affordably charming mountain town of Granby in its first phase, with future plans to extend the route northwest as far as Craig, the county seat of Moffat County, Colorado. As well as opening up new tourism opportunities, it will also provide much needed transportation options for residents living in the remote mountain towns. Although the schedule, journey times, and fares have not yet been released, regular services are expected to run throughout the year.

With the new Colorado Mountain Rail expected to be up and running from November 2026, phase one of the journey will take you 76 miles from Denver Union Station to Granby, passing through the existing Winter Park Resort and Fraser-Winter Park stations. There could be potential new stations at Arvada and Rollinsville in the future. Using existing Union Pacific Railroad tracks, the scenic journey begins by leaving Denver and the High Plains behind to climb into the dramatic peaks and valleys of the Front Range, on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains. Next, the train will pass through the Continental Divide by way of the 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel, which, upon completion in 1927, was the longest railroad tunnel in the Western Hemisphere, cutting hours from the previous route over Rollins Pass. Passage through this famous tunnel is possible thanks to a new 25-year lease between the state of Colorado and Union Pacific.

After emerging from the darkness of the tunnel, you'll find yourself in prime ski country among the pristine forested slopes of Winter Park Resort, and then a few miles on, the outdoor recreation town of Fraser, which is also served by the California Zephyr. The final stop, for now, will be Granby, where the mountainous landscape opens up into wide valleys, and the Fraser River joins forces with the Colorado River. The route, when completed (potentially in 2029), will continue to Craig, following the historic Yampa Valley railroad route north on a line that hasn't seen a passenger train since 1968, although freight trains hauling coal have continued using it. While stations at Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, and Hayden have been proposed along this northwestern Colorado corridor, at the time of writing, nothing has been confirmed.

Although the plan is to launch the new rail service before the end of 2026, the schedule and fare prices have not yet been announced. What is known so far is that there will initially be one Denver to Granby round trip per day, throughout the year. The Amtrak Winter Park Express currently serves Winter Park Resort, but only operates from around December to March, on certain days. The new year-round service is good news for visitors hoping to enjoy the resort and the wider Fraser Valley in every season.

As a major stop on Colorado Mountain Rail, Winter Park Resort is a popular winter destination for experienced skiers and beginners alike. Only 66 miles from Denver, the resort has more than 170 trails and offers a selection of other activities such as snow tubing, gondola rides, ski-biking, ice skating, and snowshoeing, as well as accommodations and dining. Head there in the summer, and there are plenty of hiking trails to explore and fishing along the Fraser River. 

As one of Colorado's best mountain biking destinations, one of the biggest attractions is Trestle Bike Park and its 40 miles of lift-served downhill trails. It's not all adrenaline-fueled riding though, with hundreds of miles of bike trails throughout the Fraser Valley. Although Rocky Mountain National Park isn't too far from Granby, you'll need to organize your own transport to get there. Colorado Mountain Trail will leave from Denver Union Station. If flying into Denver International Airport, take the RTD A Line, which connects directly to the station, removing the need to rent a car.