Amtrak California Zephyr from Grand Junction to Denver?

[simple girl]

We are planning a fall trip (1st week of October) to the following parks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Arches, Canyonlands, and Deadhorse State Park.

At the end of the trip we are contemplating riding the California Zephyr train from Grand Junction, CO to Denver. We would fly home from DEN.

Does anyone have any experiences to share regarding this leg of the train ride? Is it worth the add-on? If not, we would fly home from either Grand Junction or complete our return from Montrose, CO (where we plan to fly in).

Thanks much!

 

[Errollyn]

We are planning a fall trip (1st week of October) to the following parks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Arches, Canyonlands, and Deadhorse State Park.

At the end of the trip we are contemplating riding the California Zephyr train from Grand Junction, CO to Denver. We would fly home from DEN.

Does anyone have any experiences to share regarding this leg of the train ride? Is it worth the add-on? If not, we would fly home from either Grand Junction or complete our return from Montrose, CO (where we plan to fly in).

Thanks much!

I'm not familiar with that section, so go ahead and ignore me. But I do ride Amtrak's Missouri River Runner all the time, and would always choose a train ride over a flight if given the option. Even if it's not all that scenic, I just enjoy my time on trains.

 

[audreyh1]

Seems like a short leg? Not, wow 8.5 hours.

 

[Aerides]

Some of that zephyr ride are truly scenic, so I'd look for videos to find out of that's a good leg. But either way, train for 8 hours vs. even a short flight? Choo-Choo!

 

[audreyh1]

Some of that zephyr ride are truly scenic, so I'd look for videos to find out of that's a good leg. But either way, train for 8 hours vs. even a short flight? Choo-Choo!

It crosses the Rockies and goes through the Colorado River Glenwood Canyon which is reported to be spectacular.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

I have taken it several times, as part of a longer Davis,CA to Denver. Definitively worth it, one of the most scenic routes in the US.

 

[COcheesehead]

It’s goes through the best part of the Rockies. It takes 8.5 hours because of the altitude gain and also because track priority goes to the freight trains.
Make sure to also visit the Colorado National Monument and do a side trip to Sego Canyon to see the spectacular pictographs

Colorado National Monument | National Park in Colorado

Hike, road bike, and explore Colorado National Monument (CNM)! Take Rim Rock Drive over CNM to discover Grand Junction's nature. View guides and trip ideas.

www.visitgrandjunction.com

 

[simple girl]

I have taken it several times, as part of a longer Davis,CA to Denver. Definitively worth it, one of the most scenic routes in the US.

That's what I had read. I just was hoping to hear it first hand, so thank you for sharing your experience!

FYI for those weighing train vs plane - this is in addition to a plane ride required for us to get home to Florida. Was thinking of adding it just for a lovely train experience at the end of our trip.

 

[Mark1]

IIRC you would leave Grand Junction around 10:20 and arrive in Denver that evening around 6:00. We have taken it once to Denver and back. I probably won't do it again due to the additional time and the return from Denver was very full and therefore not as enjoyable. However, I did really enjoy the route through the mountains.

I would probably just fly from Montrose or GJ if you really hate big cities/airport. If not, then a one way trip would be worth it. The first week of October might be towards the back end of the aspen leaves change, but it still should be very colorful through the mountains.

If you don't take the train, it's probably worth looking at a website below and incorporate a drive through the aspens while on your trip. None of the parks you mentioned have much aspen leave changing, but you're really close to some great locations.

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) extent, North America | Data Basin

These maps are a digital representation of the individual tree species range maps of the Atlas of the United States Trees by Elbert L. Little, Jr. The atlas...

databasin.org

 

[simple girl]

It’s goes through the best part of the Rockies. It takes 8.5 hours because of the altitude gain and also because track priority goes to the freight trains.
Make sure to also visit the Colorado National Monument and do a side trip to Sego Canyon to see the spectacular pictographs

Colorado National Monument | National Park in Colorado

Hike, road bike, and explore Colorado National Monument (CNM)! Take Rim Rock Drive over CNM to discover Grand Junction's nature. View guides and trip ideas.

www.visitgrandjunction.com

View attachment 64125

Thank you!

We were already contemplating touring the Colorado National Monument via the Rim Rock Drive the day before the train, so your recommendation really seals the deal on that one. Thank you! Will research Sego Canyon and see if we have time to add it on.

 

[COcheesehead]

Thank you!

We were already contemplating touring the Colorado National Monument via the Rim Rock Drive the day before the train, so your recommendation really seals the deal on that one. Thank you! Will research Sego Canyon and see if we have time to add it on.

To add to Mark1’s comment. You’re 90 minutes from Ridgway and can probably still catch some Fall color. We love doing Owl Creek/Silver Jack just east of town.

 

[cathy63]

If you're going to be at Arches and Canyonlands anyway, then I suggest you take a look at the Canyon Spirit train from Moab to Denver and see if that can be worked into your itinerary.

Train Journey Through America's Southwest | Canyon Spirit

DH and I took my Mom on this trip a few years ago when it was part of the Rocky Mountaineer (I think they're a subsidiary or sister companies, or something like that now). The train travels only during the day. You spend the night in a hotel in Glenwood Springs CO and then go on to Denver the next day. The food onboard is fantastic and in early October we had the leaves changing color. It was really a great trip.

 

[audreyh1]

That's what I had read. I just was hoping to hear it first hand, so thank you for sharing your experience!

FYI for those weighing train vs plane - this is in addition to a plane ride required for us to get home to Florida. Was thinking of adding it just for a lovely train experience at the end of our trip.

I’ve really enjoyed trains in Europe, so I’ve been a bit leery about US trains which are reportedly not as comfortable. But that run sounds spectacular.

 

[audreyh1]

If you're going to be at Arches and Canyonlands anyway, then I suggest you take a look at the Canyon Spirit train from Moab to Denver and see if that can be worked into your itinerary.

Train Journey Through America's Southwest | Canyon Spirit

DH and I took my Mom on this trip a few years ago when it was part of the Rocky Mountaineer (I think they're a subsidiary or sister companies, or something like that now). The train travels only during the day. You spend the night in a hotel in Glenwood Springs CO and then go on to Denver the next day. The food onboard is fantastic and in early October we had the leaves changing color. It was really a great trip.

I saw that luxury train option with hotel stay on the way.

Do you know which hotel they stay at in Glenwood Springs?

 

[simple girl]

If you're going to be at Arches and Canyonlands anyway, then I suggest you take a look at the Canyon Spirit train from Moab to Denver and see if that can be worked into your itinerary.

Train Journey Through America's Southwest | Canyon Spirit

DH and I took my Mom on this trip a few years ago when it was part of the Rocky Mountaineer (I think they're a subsidiary or sister companies, or something like that now). The train travels only during the day. You spend the night in a hotel in Glenwood Springs CO and then go on to Denver the next day. The food onboard is fantastic and in early October we had the leaves changing color. It was really a great trip.

Would love to do this but not quite ready (mentally) to BTD stage yet!

 

[Mark1]

OK, my two cents. Minimize your time at Black Canyon unless you're really interested in wild fire recovery (it burnt last summer) and the hiking on the south rim is just OK compared to the other options in the area.

I won't worry about going to every overlook at Island in the Sky and Dead horse as they all look the same to me (very beautiful, but the same). I like the Grand view overlook (Island in the sky) the best. I really enjoyed the museum in the bottom of Dead Horse Visitor center, but then I like cattle/sheep wars, Taylor Grazing Act, etc. so it was additional info. Needles District is my favorite place to hike in the area, but it is long drive and kills a lot of time getting there.

Here is why I'm trying to save you some time. You can easily hike Professor Creek/Mary Jane Canyon if you are in reasonably decent shape (i.e can you walk 8 miles?). DW and I always talk about our moms and all the stuff they know they will never do again. This might be the last chance EVER to get to walk up a creek like we all did as kids. It's awesome. Short road to TH that a rental can easily make if it not rainy. Besides the last 1.5 mile of the canyon has zero egress, so don't do it if it rainy anyway. The parking lot has ~28 slots and don't park on the road. Get there by 8;30/9:00 for sure if it's the weekend. Bring an old pair of hiking/tennis shoes and don't even take them home if there that old (I like to wear waterproof socks, do they work, not entirely ). At first you focus on keeping your feet dry by stepping on the rocks for the 100+ stream crossing, but on the way out you don't even care anymore. Just like a kid.

 

[cathy63]

I saw that luxury train option with hotel stay on the way.

Do you know which hotel they stay at in Glenwood Springs?

Looking at Google Maps, I think it was the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge. I know we walked across the bridge from the train station and turned right to get to the hotel. It could have been the Hotel Colorado, but I seem to remember walking a little farther than that. It was definitely one or the other of those. They did have a bus, but we were ready to stretch our legs. Luggage travels by truck and is delivered directly to your room before you even get there on the train, and then it's picked up from the rooms the next morning, so we didn't have to carry much and it was an easy walk.

In Moab, I know we stayed at the Hoodoo, and in Denver we were at The Rally. For those we needed buses to get to/from the stations.

 

[cathy63]

Would love to do this but not quite ready (mentally) to BTD stage yet!

When you are ready to BTD, if you like trains, it's totally worth it! DH is a train buff so every few years we incorporate one into a trip.

We had done the Rocky Mountaineer about 20 yrs previously, so when they expanded to the states and the pandemic was just ending and travel prices were still pretty low, we were interested. I also wanted to take my Mom (then age 86) somewhere she wouldn't need to be on her feet all day, so it worked out well for all of us.

 

[COcheesehead]

Looking at Google Maps, I think it was the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge. I know we walked across the bridge from the train station and turned right to get to the hotel. It could have been the Hotel Colorado, but I seem to remember walking a little farther than that. It was definitely one or the other of those. They did have a bus, but we were ready to stretch our legs. Luggage travels by truck and is delivered directly to your room before you even get there on the train, and then it's picked up from the rooms the next morning, so we didn't have to carry much and it was an easy walk.

In Moab, I know we stayed at the Hoodoo, and in Denver we were at The Rally. For those we needed buses to get to/from the stations.

The Hoodoo Hilton in Moab is our favorite Moab hotel.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I have done the Amtrak trip and it’s really a beautiful area you will see. 8 hours on Amtrak is comfortable.

 

[Soooretired]

Another Zephyr fan. We boarded in Denver and rode the rails to Jack London Square. Climbing the eastern face of the Rockies was a thrill but the ride through Grand Junction also memorable. So heading eastbound should be the same. Ditto the Sierras. When booking Amtrak direction matters, so check the times to be sure you have daylight for your “must see” sites. Enjoy your travels!

 

[simple girl]

Another Zephyr fan. We boarded in Denver and rode the rails to Jack London Square. Climbing the eastern face of the Rockies was a thrill but the ride through Grand Junction also memorable. So heading eastbound should be the same. Ditto the Sierras. When booking Amtrak direction matters, so check the times to be sure you have daylight for your “must see” sites. Enjoy your travels!

The day we are traveling it starts around 10 a.m. and arrives around 6 p.m. I've read that having the sun at our backs makes for beautiful vistas as we travel east. I hope that bears true!

 

[RetireRay]

You might be interested in this travel video.

 

[SMCOLTON]

We are planning a fall trip (1st week of October) to the following parks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Arches, Canyonlands, and Deadhorse State Park.

At the end of the trip we are contemplating riding the California Zephyr train from Grand Junction, CO to Denver. We would fly home from DEN.

Does anyone have any experiences to share regarding this leg of the train ride? Is it worth the add-on? If not, we would fly home from either Grand Junction or complete our return from Montrose, CO (where we plan to fly in).

Thanks much!

One of the best trips we have done is Glenwood to Denver on Amtrak. So much to see that you do not see while driving.

 

[StevenA]

I took the California Zephyr a few years ago from Reno to Chicago as part of a 3 train 5-day rail trip back home to Florida from a conference in Reno. I had sleeper accommodations, which is very expensive but the way to go on overnight trips. The scenery was spectacular both in the desert and going through the mountains. The train goes through a few tunnels in the mountains. Most are short, but during the longest tunnel I started to get sick from the diesel fumes before we exited the tunnel. Other than that, the trip was fantastic.