An easy and beautiful drive from Dillon to Durango punctuated only by a late afternoon downpour that scoured the countryside and the sky leaving every pine needle and aspen leaf sparkling. We arrived in plenty of time to explore Durango, find our way to the rail station in preparation for an early morning boarding and have a delicious meal in a great restaurant. Seasons, recommended by Kerri’s connoisseur friend Vickie, was wonderful as well as beautiful and popular with locals and tourists alike–definitely a destination.

Our narrow gauge train ride began early. We were seated in the caboose, a luxury car restored with period fixtures and salon furnishings. Other car passengers were less cosseted. Young families and hikers rode in open air freight cars with benches or simple passenger cars. Yet all were fun and festive. The entire ride up and back was amazingly varied and gorgeous.

Our arrival in Silverton was also our lunch break and the town was glad to see the train pull in and fill up local restaurants. Silverton is also accessible by highway and,  during the winter,  is popular as a ski and snowboard mecca promoted in part by the famous young Olympic snowboarder Shawn White. (For a great winter view of Silverton AND a thrill watching Shown White click on the linked U-tube video clip). The train only runs from May to mid-October when snow flurries begin and it is too hazardous.

We arrived back in Durango tired but savoring every moment of a fun filled adventure and all the glorious scenery we had seen.

We left Durango early the next morning and dropped down into the Canyonlands of Utah.