KCRag Forum

Going next month and want to do something on a train.  Staying in Keystone, anyone have any recommendations?

grovester wrote: Going next month and want to do something on a train.  Staying in Keystone, anyone have any recommendations?

Well, it's kind of touristy but there is always the Durango - Silverton train in SW Colorado.  The drive down 550 to Durango is among the most scenic in the state through the San Juans and the scenery along the Durango - Silverton railway (coal powered) will not disappoint.  I actually have a few pictures posted from hikes from the Needleton stop in the SW Colorado thread here        http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php?topic=16575.0re: 

There are incredible hikes, climbs and Mountain bike rides in that area too but it's a few hours from Keystone....but a lot more interesting than around Keystone. 

Here are a few others:

www.cripplecreekrailroad.com
www.georgetownlooprr.com
www.leadville-train.com
www.royalgorgeroute.com

Some are steam-powered and some are diesel. Any of them are a fun diversion.

amtrak's california zephyr runs through denver, granby, winter park, glenwood springs, and grand junction.

When I was a teenager, I applied to get a job at some dude ranch that was at, or near, the end of the Durango-Silverton line.  The only way to get there was on the train.  I didn't get that job, which is probably best, since the owners appeared to be born-again Christians.  However, I did land a job at a dude ranch near Estes Park, Colorado. No train there, but I had some good times.

I believe that Union Pacific is doing track work and Amtrak doesn't go through Glenwood Canyon right now.  I'd check on it.  Otherwise, it's a beautiful ride along the Colorado River.  If you're lucky, you'll see river rafters moon the train.  You’d had to check the schedule to see if it’s doable as a day trip. 

You can't go wrong with any of those trains.  Colorado has some beautiful scenery. 

Cripple Creek is near Colorado Springs and is the wrong direction from Keystone.  The town itself has been ruined by casinos.

Leadville is doable from Keystone, depending on the schedule.    Royal Gorge & Durango would require an overnight stay.

Lots of old mining towns to look at.  We used to go looking for ghost towns. 

mlind wrote: Royal Gorge & Durango would require an overnight stay.

True about the overnight stay, probably two nights, but well worth it.  If there is any place in the US that should have been preserved as a national park and wasn't, it's the western part of the San Juan Mountains.  The most supreme scenery in Colorado and it has a truly wild west feel to it.  Too bad the hideous abomination that is modern Telluride destroyed much of the ambience of that particular part of the area. 

Thanks all, think we'll do the Leadville one this time and scope out future areas.

Lots of history in Leadville. It's the highest (altitude) incorporated town in the US.  My sister's father-in-law was stationed there during WWII to train for winter and mountain fighting.

mlind wrote: Lots of history in Leadville. It's the highest (altitude) incorporated town in the US.  My sister's father-in-law was stationed there during WWII to train for winter and mountain fighting.

10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale I suspect.  I came across a monument to the division while I was hiking around up there.  Leadville has never been my favorite spot in the state although it is an interesting city at a considerable altitude (10,000').  It's essentially the roof of Colorado with the number 1, 2 and 3 highest peaks visible from the city.  The city is so high that the relief isn't that great so you would never guess these were the highest peaks in Colorado if you did not know.

Highway 24 between Leadville and Midturn through Redcliff is just incredibly scenic and I highly recommend it, it's further as it requires a going over Vail Pass but so much more interesting than hwy 91 from Frisco to Leadville.

Taking the 'blue' highways in western Colorado is always full of surprises.  Some are not for the faint of heart.  One time we went west of Glenwood Springs and discovered Redstone that has a historic mansion, Marble with an abandoned quarry that supplied Marble for the Lincoln Memorial, and Crystal City with it's often photographed power plant. 

http://www.rockymountainprofiles.com/Crystal.htm

As planned, did the Leadville train.  Very cool.  Went on the Sunday trip which is 3 vs 2.5 hrs.  Straight up  and back with a stop at the old water tower to peruse the caboose and engine.  Great sweeping vistas of the vally, trip goes from about 10500 to 11700 or so.  3 kinds of cars, fully enclosed, open air covered and open air uncovered, 2 of each I think, plus a snack/commode car.  Just enough info over the loudspeaker without being obnoxious.  Here's some pix

Great pictures. I love Leadville. I've actually ridden that road in the valley from Salida. A great day of 60 miles of constant climbing. That area changed my negative view of Colorado as a state full of resorts, condos and snow bunnies. Absolutely beautiful.

staubio wrote: Great pictures. I love Leadville. I've actually ridden that road in the valley from Salida. A great day of 60 miles of constant climbing. That area changed my negative view of Colorado as a state full of resorts, condos and snow bunnies. Absolutely beautiful.

Try going south of Salida on hwy 285 some time.  The San Luis Valley, which begins 35/40 miles south of Salida is a beautiful valley which is the far northern end of the spanish empire and still exists much as Colorado did in 1950. 

Valuable Tip:  Valley View Hot Springs, east of Villa Grove.

Tip to families - kids love riding the train. 

I'll second that, though playing around the space between cars sure made me nervous.  It's all in good fun til someone get hurt!!  Prevent that tragedy!!!

loftguy wrote: Try going south of Salida on hwy 285 some time.  The San Luis Valley, which begins 35/40 miles south of Salida is a beautiful valley which is the far northern end of the spanish empire and still exists much as Colorado did in 1950. 

Valuable Tip:  Valley View Hot Springs, east of Villa Grove.

While there, a visit to the quirky town of Crestone is worthwhile. The view of the Sangre De Cristos are wonderful while driving south in the valley and the Great Sand Dunes is a nice place to camp for a couple of nights. 

Crestone is also a great place to start a climbing trip into the Crestones (see the eponymously named 14'ers)  if you are not put off by a long and steep backpack. 

Highlander wrote: While there, a visit to the quirky town of Crestone is worthwhile. The view of the Sangre De Cristos are wonderful while driving south in the valley and the Great Sand Dunes is a nice place to camp for a couple of nights. 

Crestone is also a great place to start a climbing trip into the Crestones (see the eponymously named 14'ers)  if you are not put off by a long and steep backpack. 

Good call, Highlander.  Quirky is definately appropriate for Crestone, but it's well earned.  There are seventeen major religious organizations with retreats, centers, ashrams, etc...in this community of fewer than 1,000 people.

The Hopi tribe believes that Crestone is the location where their ancestors came forth from the center of the earth, to live above ground.

There are also many people who believe Crestone is the docking point for intergalactic travelers.

Over Labor day, Crestone is home to a sustainable energy fair that has gone on for 20 plus years. They cover the normal solar, wind, hydro options and building straw bale homes, but they also get some pretty interesting innovators.  A couple of years ago I was a bit amazed by a 4x6 trailer mounted generator that was powered by a wood burning stove and created enough electricity to power an average 1,200 sf home, other than a/c and clothes dryer.

Crestone also has one of my favorite restaurants, in a victorian house, run by a family from Tibet.  Don't even know that it has a name.

loftguy wrote: The Hopi tribe believes that Crestone is the location where their ancestors came forth from the center of the earth, to live above ground.

I'm so glad you posted that. It helps explain the last song ("Star People") on the Brule album, "The Collection."  If you get a chance, please listen to this wonderful piece of music. Actually, the whole album is good. Here is the review I posted:

"While on vacation in the Southwest, primarily to visit the Grand Canyon, I heard music from this album over a loudspeaker at a restaurant where we stopped for dinner. When the last song played--it was "Star People"--I had to know what this music was. So I asked the restaurant owner, he told me, and I bought the CD right then and there. Both my husband and I listen to it quite frequently. For some odd reason, it brings about peace, contentment, excitement, and joy. It is both upbeat and serene. We like all kinds of music, but this album is turning out to be our favorite."