Colorado Ski Train: Real Life Polar Express

Did you know that you can take an Amtrak train to the slopes of Winter Park and ski for the day? This means you get to avoid the I-70 parking lot AND check out some great scenery over the Continental Divide in the comforts of a train car. Over the holidays we took the family on the train to Winter Park and made a long weekend out of it.

Disembarking in Fraser

On the way up we saw a herd of elk and bald eagles, then were greeted by moose on the way back home. Another cool feature is that the train goes through several tunnels ending with a 6-mile long tunnel (Moffat Tunnel) at the Continental Divide that emerges at Winter Park!

Route of train. The long straight section near Winter Park (left side) is the Moffat Tunnel

Completion of the Moffat Tunnel

To help you plan a train trip, let’s start with a few of the train logistic details as there are 2 trains that can take you to Winter Park from Denver.

1. Winter Park Express: This ski specific train is the easiest way to get to the slopes. It leaves from Union Station in Denver and stops literally at the slopes of Winter Park! Prices start at $29 each way and you can return the same or different day. Children 2-12 are half-price when accompanied by an adult ticket. On board you can store your skis, grab a snack/drink, and ride in a viewing car with full glass walls.

Comfortable train car with great viewing

Keeping an eye out for wildlife

Here is the train schedule:

• Departs Union station at 7:00am (loading begins at 6:15am!)

• Arrives in Winter Park at 9:00am

• Departs Winter Park at 4:30pm (loading begins 4pm)

• Arrives at Union station at 6:40pm

Each passenger can bring 2 pieces of luggage plus skis and you can leave items on the train you don’t need during the day.

The catch with this option is that it only runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January 10th - March 29th. So if you want to head up at a different time, you need to take the other train option below.

2. The Amtrak Zephyr Train: This train runs from Chicago to San Francisco daily and is a year-round options. It stops in Denver where you can board and delivers you to Fraser (town 5 miles from Winter Park). This is the train we took recently as we traveled before Jan 10th. The Zephyr train option offers more booking flexibility but requires a few more logistical hurdles as the train is geared towards long haul trips. That does, however, mean that you can eat a real meal in the dining car which is pretty cool. There is one sightseer car (pictured above) with big windows that you can ask to sit in but it is first come first serve. The other cars have seats more like a plane but with lots more room.

Pricing is similar to the ski train but you can’t check bags and there is limited space for skis, etc. Our trip included 10 people staying in Winter Park for 2-nights so one person drove a truck up with all our gear.

Here is the train schedule:

• Departs Union station at 8:05am (loading begins at 7:15am)

• Arrives in Fraser at 10:07am

• Departs Fraser at 3:05pm

• Arrives at Union station at 6:38pm

Since the train is coming from other parts of the country, you can imagine it is often delayed but you can get updates through an Amtrak app. For our trip both trains were delayed by about 40mins but the train home made-up the time (passenger trains have to give way to freight trains so sometimes you have to wait places).

The last piece to figure out is getting from the Fraser train station to Winter Park. There is a free public bus that makes the trip both ways but be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make it to the train in Fraser. There is a small building at the train station to wait in, but it fills up quickly. If you are staying the night, ask if your accommodation will pick you up/drop off.

Catching the train home at the Fraser station

If you are making the trip, check out things to do at Winter Park. It is $26 for an hour (you book a 1hr time slot ahead of time) and you get about 10 runs in. They allow you to link up with other tubs for some fast rides. Riders must be 36” tall.

Making own train of tubes

Riding the covered moving carpet

End of the tubing run

Lastly, if the early departures from Union Station seem daunting, we stayed the night before at a hotel nearby. Check out the Born or Crawford for a very fun stay before the trip.

Overall we had a great trip and the train was a hit, particularly with the kids. We think others should try it out and now you know a little more of what to expect.