Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
A coal-fired narrow-gauge line running the same route since 1882, along a ledge cut into a gorge above the Animas River.
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The line was built in 1881 and 1882 to bring silver and gold ore out of the San Juan Mountains, on three-foot gauge because narrow track could take tighter curves in the terrain, and it has operated continuously on the same route ever since - never abandoned, never regauged. Coal-fired steam locomotives still pull it. The most striking stretch is the High Line, where the track runs on a shelf blasted into the rock wall about a hundred metres above the Animas River with nothing between the carriage and the drop. The round trip takes most of a day with a layover in Silverton. Cinders from the stack have been implicated in wildfire starts, including the 416 Fire in 2018.
What you actually see
- Continuous operation since 1882 - same route, same gauge.
- Coal-fired steam locomotives - still pulling the trains.
- The High Line - a rock shelf about a hundred metres above the river.
- A layover in Silverton - before the return run.
When to go
May to October for the full route; a shorter winter train runs. A full day.
Honest expectations
The full trip takes most of the day and books out in summer. Open gondola cars mean cinders and smoke - do not wear anything you mind burning. Fire restrictions have shortened or diesel-hauled services in dry years. It is not cheap.
Nearby
Mesa Verde is west of Durango; Ouray is north over the pass.
What to pack for Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.