Royal Gorge Route Railroad

Royal Gorge Route Railroad travels through a canyon with steep rock walls of red and gray granite rising over 1,000 feet. The tracks run right along the riverbank and pass through several tunnels carved into the rock formation.

The route came into being in 1879 when two competing railway companies fought for the right to lay their tracks through the narrow canyon. This conflict ended with a settlement that gave Denver and Rio Grande Railroad control over the route.

The train uses dining cars from the 1950s where guests are served at set tables during the journey. Many travelers choose these cars to watch the canyon through large windows while enjoying a multi-course meal.

The ride lasts about two hours and passes through both open sections with clear views of the rock walls and shaded passages close to the river. Visitors should bring layered clothing as temperature can shift depending on sun exposure and section of the journey.

One section of the track runs on a steel structure embedded directly into the smooth granite wall and extends above the rushing water. This passage came about from the need to guide the train through a particularly narrow section where there was no room for regular track at ground level.