For a unique city, train adventure and ski trip there is nothing better than to take The Winter Park Express. This seasonal train is in partnership with Amtrak and Winter Park Resort. It departs from Denver Union Station on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from the second week in January until end of March.
The train takes you through some of the most scenic and historic routes in the country, whilst offering you a comfortable and convenient way to reach the slopes.
On arrival at Denver International Airport, which has direct flights from the UK, catch the A-line directly into Union Station in Downtown Denver. There is much to explore in Denver, and this will help you to acclimatise to the altitude, after all Denver is know as the Mile High City!
The area around Union Street Station and Downtown Denver has been regenerated with plenty of upmarket restaurants, craft beer bars, shopping, American football, baseball and ice hockey stadiums, Coors Brewery and also being a cowboy town where people still wear traditional gear, you will find the world-famous Rockmount Cowboy Accessory shop which apparently has dressed many celebrities including Elvis.
The Winter Park Express departs from Union Station, and follows the historic Moffat Route, which was built in 1904 by David Moffat. Moffat was a railroad tycoon who wanted to connect Denver to the Pacific Coast. The route is 56 miles long and considered one of the most engineering feats in American history, as it crosses the Continental Divide through the 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel, the highest railroad tunnel in the country.
The route rises to 9,000ft above sea level and passes by some of the most beautiful and diverse red rock landscapes in Colorado, through former gold and silver mining towns such as the Flatirons, the South Boulder Canyon, and the Fraser River Valley. With large windows and video screens you cannot miss the stunning countryside rolling past. Holding around 300 passengers the journey takes approximately 2 hours and being already dressed for the slopes, you can literally head straight to the ski lift.
Winter Park Resort is one of the oldest and largest ski resorts in Colorado, with over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, 166 trails, and 25 lifts. The resort caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels and abilities. You can also enjoy other activities, such as snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, and sleigh rides. The resort is very laid back and down to earth unlike its neighbouring resorts of Breckenridge and Aspen. Winter Park has a charming village feel with shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
Without the need of a car, you can sit back relax and enjoy the ride, admire the views, and take in the history of this area. Imagine following in the footsteps of the earliest settlers and the resting place of many famous names including Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill and of course John Denver.