Ultimate Train & Trail Ride

By Laurie

Note: This post is one of a series about my 2015 Western Parks vacation with my daughter and grandson.  For our itinerary with links to other posts and an overview of this trip, please see 2015 Western Parks Vacation.

We first learned about the Ultimate Train & Trail Ride when planning to ride the Durango & Silverton Railroad¹. This package included riding the train partway to Silverton, riding horseback nearly to Silverton, and then returning to Durango by train.

We rode the train from Durango to Elk Park, which is an optional stop for campers and hikers. We were met at Elk Park by our guides with horses and a pack horse. We ate lunch at Elk Park and then started the trail ride, which follows part of the Colorado Trail, a 567 mile hiking and riding trail between Denver and Durango. The early part of the ride included a series of steep switchbacks in the forest, but later the trail went through open valleys with beautiful views of the San Juan Mountains. At a convenient spot with the San Juan Mountains in the background, our guides took many photos of us using our cameras and phones. Our trail ride ended near Molas Lake by US Rt. 550 and we were driven to Silverton and returned to Durango by train. The horseback ride was over two hours long and was one of the best parts of our entire 18 day trip.
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¹The Ultimate Train & Trail Ride is not listed on the Durango & Silverton Railroad’s website now but is still available through San Juan Sky Outfitters.

Additional Information

Trail location on Google Maps – the dashed line is the Colorado Trail.

The Ultimate Train & Trail Ride – San Juan Sky Outfitters

Durango & Silverton Railroad

Colorado Trail Foundation (we rode on segment 24)

Additional Images

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Technical Information