This Is America’s Most Beautiful Train Ride According To Travel Experts

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Turns out John Denver wasn't really full of you know what, after all! USA Today has crowned a stunning Colorado adventure as the most scenic train journey this year.

This 9-hour excursion runs through an array of majestic scenery, offering some of the best up-close views of Colorado's stunning landscapes.

While many travelers opt for city breaks in our nation's bustling metropolises, the soundtrack of car horns, sirens, and constant crowd babble isn't for everyone; a key reason why low and slow train travel has made an epic comeback.

If you're seeking summer thrills, fun for all ages, then USA Today nailed this one on the head, giving the trophy to historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad as America's most beautiful train ride.

Depart From Durango

Just north of the New Mexico border lies Durango, one of Colorado's most underrated destinations, overshadowed by Denver, Colorado Springs, Aspen, and the likes.

This rugged town steeped in gold mining history has revived a major piece of its fascinating timeline.

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad might be a mouthful to say, but its certainly worth the extra syllables and 9-hour travel time as the railroad itself says, “to all of the passengers and friends of the Durango Train, we make a solemn commitment to you to provide a taste of authentic railroading history presented as it was in 1882”.

With all the flashy gizmos and gadgets we become addicted too nowadays, oddly enough, many of us find ourselves seeking peace and serenity through a taste of yesteryear, and there's no better experience than the D&SNGRR as we'll call it.

Despite being a rather small city, Durango is fairly easy to reach to hop aboard this old-timey train ride.

Both United and American offer flights to Durango's microscopic airport from Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix, and Houston.

Though a road trip through the winding mountains only adds to the coal-fired adventure you'll soon embark on.

Chug Along Through Astounding Nature

Much of the scenery remains from centuries ago. What you see today was the same that gold miners began and capped off their days passing through Southwest Colorado.

While you're unlikely to strike gold, this glimpse into the past still feels like a winning lottery ticket as the views are truly unmatched.

For perspective, there were 4 other Colorado train routes in USA Today's top 10 and the D&SNGRR came out on top for a reason.

Much of the route hugs the winding Animas River, carving through seemingly untouched canyons and lush green forestry worthy of a postcard.

You will truly feel like you've gone back in time. Sure, you can still snap epic photos of the scenic journey, but it's likely your phone won't have cell service, and this classic locomotive isn't equipped with Wi-Fi.

The train will climb as high as 3,000 feet in the staggering San Juan Mountains, at which point you'll definitely want a seat in the unobstructed open-air gondola.

The full ride between Durango and Silverton is roughly 3 and a half hours, and the same goes back. On a 2-hour stopover, you'll also have time to see the sites in Silverton.

Silverton: Colorado's Time Capsule

Silverton's downtown is a designated National Historic Landmark District, and some of the roads remain unpaved to this day.

Whether that's for aesthetics or their cheating citizens on where their taxes are being contributed is a different story, but needless to say, this rustic mountain town feels like a setting for a 1950s western movie, and it's anchored by the immaculately preserved Grand Imperial Hotel.

Not often can you see everything in town in a couple of hours, but Silverton a blip on the map with everything worthwhile in close proximity, such as Christ of the Mines Shrine, Railroad Park, Silverton Memorial Park, and local favorite Kendall Mountain Cafe to fuel up for the ride back.

Prices range from $109 – $289 for the full round-trip journey for both steam and diesel trains, which you can select when booking your trip online.