Durango & Silverton Railroad – Scenic Ride

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been making this same 45-mile run through the San Juan Mountains since 1882, first to carry silver ore out of the Silverton mines, now to carry passengers who want to see one of Colorado’s most dramatic river canyons from a coal-fired steam locomotive. The 2026 season runs from early May through late October, with trains departing daily from the Durango Depot at 479 Main Avenue in Durango, Colorado. The journey follows the Animas River as it cuts through Animas Canyon, climbing through steep-walled gorges and alongside stretches of river accessible only by foot or by rail.

Standard round-trip service departs Durango in the morning and returns in the afternoon after a layover in Silverton. Silverton, a National Historic Landmark District at 9,318 feet elevation, packs more than a dozen restaurants, galleries, and working storefronts into its two main blocks on Greene Street. The Extended Silverton Adventure Express offers an evening return to Durango, giving you additional time to explore the town at a slower pace. Tickets are available online or by calling the reservation desk at 877-872-4607. Multiple car classes are available, from standard enclosed coaches to open-air gondola cars that put you directly in the canyon air and the coal smoke.

What to Expect on Board

The narrow gauge track measures three feet between rails, which gives the locomotive a different rhythm and sway than standard rail. The round trip covers roughly 90 miles and takes approximately nine hours including the Silverton stop. Open-air gondola cars offer the best views of the canyon and the river, but come with full weather exposure and soot from the stack. Enclosed coaches are heated and protected. For the best views of the Animas River Gorge, sit on the left side heading north from Durango. The locomotive hauls water cars and coal as part of its working consist, a detail that makes the ride feel genuinely operational rather than merely atmospheric.

If You’re Going with Kids
Children under 11 ride at reduced fares. The steady speed and enclosed car options make the trip manageable for most children, though nine hours is a long day. Pack snacks, a card game, and extra layers regardless of the forecast. Children who respond to trains will find this unlike anything a theme park replicates.

Durango and the Animas River

Durango sits at the confluence of the Animas and Florida rivers, and the Animas River Trail, a paved path running through town alongside the water, connects the Depot district to the college neighborhood and points north. Several outfitters on Main Avenue run half-day and full-day rafting trips on the Animas through town. For fly fishing, the Animas River through Durango carries gold medal-level water during spring and early summer runoff. Nearby Navajo Reservoir, roughly 35 miles south near Arboles, Colorado, is one of the state’s most productive fisheries for kokanee salmon and walleye and is worth a side trip for anglers extending their stay in the Four Corners region.

Where to Stay

Durango’s Main Avenue district has boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and a full range of dining within walking distance of the Depot. The Strater Hotel at 699 Main Avenue, open since 1887, is the most historically significant lodging option in town. For vacation rentals near the Animas River and broader Durango area, look on Lake.com for properties that position you close to both the train departure and the river trails.