Tour departs in early morning from the Wyndham Activities Center in Pagosa Springs. The first leg of our journey is a 60 mile drive to Durango where we'll board the 1880's Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Train.

The 100% coal-fired, steam operated train travesses 50 miles through the picturesque Animas River Valley with 14,000 foot mountain peaks overhead. You'll view gorgeous alpine scenery and the deep, rugged Animas River Canyon as the train climbs up to Silverton. The train trip requires 3.5 - 4 hours.

Around noon, we'll arrive in the old mining town of Silverton, a National Historic Landmark. You'll have a a couple of hours to eat lunch, shop and explore. Be sure to visit the Shady Lady on notorious Blair Street if you want a really scandalous souvenir! The shopping is fabulous with authentic Indian crafts, old fashioned fudge or funnel cake and much, much more.

Then our historian/driver will meet you for a tour of the mining district above Silverton to view the 100+- year- old mining structures nestled among the soaring mountain peaks.

In mid-afternoon we'll leave Silverton by bus or van and head out over the Million Dollar Highway which has awesome views of the Needles Mountain high country passes that are nearly 11,000 feet in elevation. This approximate 1 hour ride goes along the spine of the nation — the famous Continental Divide — where you'll see snowcapped, jagged 14,000 foot alp-like peaks, high mountain meadows and lakes, quaint cabins, beautiful wildflowers, marmots, deer and elk.

After arriving back in historic Durango you'll have time to stretch your legs. You can visit the train museum, the historic Victorian hotels and downtown shops before we return to Pagosa Springs in the early evening.

Tour departs in early morning from the Wyndham Activities Center in Pagosa Springs. We'll travel by van or bus south to Chama, New Mexico, over the La Monga and Cumbres mountain passes that are just over an elevation of 10,000 feet, and then east to Antonito, Colorado. Herds of elk and deer are often sighted along this route as well as an occasional bear and other forest creatures.

At the historic Antonito depot we'll board the Cumbres to Toltec Scenic Railroad. The train meanders back and forth between southern Colorado and northern New Mexico and goes over high mountain passes with panoramic views of canyons and majestic valleys. It goes through a rock tunnel, by many historic sites, and over the Toltec Gorge, putting you 600 feet above the Rio de Los Pinos.

We'll break for a cafeteria lunch at the old railroad town of Osier. After lunch we'll reboard the train to complete the trip to Cumbres Pass above Chama where our van or bus will be waiting for the short drive back to Pagosa.

Tour departs in early morning from the Wyndham Activities Center in Pagosa Springs. You'll travel 60 miles to Durango by van with one of our well versed guides who'll give a running commentary on the pioneer and gold rush history of Pagosa, Durango and the train.

The train leaves Durango mid-morning for a scenic ride up the spectacular Animas River Gorge. Beautiful ranches and colorful cliffs are the highlights of the morning's travel with an opportunity to see herds of elk and deer. The train creeps up the narrow canyon above the raging Animas River which is over 500 feet below. The train cars are heated.

You can buy lunch in the concession car in Cascade Canyon, or bring your own picnic lunch. After lunch, the train turns around for the return trip to Durango, arriving there by mid-afternoon. You'll have an hour or so in historic Durango for shopping and sightseeing before returning to Pagosa by early evening.