Leadville Railroad

Fantastic experience: This was very fun and the scenery was beautiful! This was well worth it and I would love to go back!

Fantastic experience: Great ride. The speakers don't work half the time so you can't hear what the lady is talking about. When asked about food the lady said it's "gas station food" and it's more like "train station" food would highly recommend eating before getting on! The coffee was cold, but hot chocolate was hot . The views were amazing and the restroom was decent to be on a train

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience! Flew from NC, rented a car, & drove to Leadsville. The train was so festive & fun! Staff were friendly and welcoming. Beautiful views of the snow capped Rockies, good history, and an all great time. Def recommend!!

Fantastic experience: A unique journey among colorful and snowy mountains. You ride a train through the forest as if in a fairy tale! Special thanks to the staff!

Fantastic experience: Fast service, friendly staff, informative, comfortable seating, fun, beautiful views, perfect length of time!

Fantastic experience: I'm October 2024, we drove to Leadville to experience the train ride while on our honeymoon. They have open and closed cars and w see chose to ride in an open car. Your best views are facing the pink church while at the depot. Be sure and try to sit on that side of the train. We had a great time, with great narrative and highly recommend this experience. On the way back down, they stop so you can get off the train and take pictures at a really nice point.

Fantastic experience: Incredible experience. Ben was awesome the conductor. Great history and views of the tallest peaks in co

Fantastic experience: A great value for the 2-1/2 hr. narrated scenic train ride

Fantastic experience: It was great! My friend and I had a good time! The trees and canyons were beautiful! What a beautiful fall day!

Fantastic experience: Excellent experience!! We got lucky & managed to enjoy the leaves at their peak!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful scenery but construction on the tracks kept us from going all the way up to the mine

Fantastic experience: What a great train ride. Got to see some amazing views of the valley below. I went there just in time for some great fall colors. The Conductor provided a great tour providing fantastic insight to the old west and Colorado history.

Fantastic experience: Relaxing train ride thru the mountains. We sat in one of the lounge cars. Well worth the extra cost. About 2 1/2 hrs. The conductor was fantastic & Cricket was so sweet!

Fantastic experience: Amazing train ride! Great people awesome views

Fantastic experience: Wow this was incredible. The train ride was just over 2 and a half hours. Jake was our conductor and give amazing commentary about the history, nature, and wildlife of the city of Leadville. He even came around personally to punch everyone's tickets and chatted with every single passenger no matter which cart you sat in. Personally the best views were on the downhill side of the train but either side is beautiful. I sat in one of the couch cars and Sam was our attendant. He was wonderful to have, answered any questions we had, took our orders for any food or drinks we ordered, and just checked up on us. The whole crew was wonderful really. When we stopped half way through our train ride to get out and I was able to go to the front engine and talk with the engineer and take a look around. It was such a pleasant ride with beautiful scenery. They have bathrooms on board and you can bring your own food and drinks. Pets are allowed if they stay leashed. I highly recommend

Fantastic experience: We go every year and get to bring the dogs, which is great!

Fantastic experience: Took my grandparents on the train during our road trip, it was perfect! The colors and scenery were beautiful and the staff were all very friendly and accommodating. Very interesting history as well that the conductor talks about for half the trip. Would highly recommend this ride!

Fantastic experience: Went off-roading above Leadville then stopped in at the Two Mile Brewery. Perfect day.

Fantastic experience: We got to experience snowfor the first time! It was like Christmas. The ride was about 2.5 hrs and the views were magical. The staff was wonderful as well.

Positive experience: Beautiful scenery but company had IT issue and we only heard the commentary for 15 minutes of the 2.5 hour ride. Notice almost all rating summaries mention the commentary? We expected the same experience but we missed the info about the train, geography, and area history; one of the primary reasons we selected this activity. We even upgraded to lounge car which was the car that encountered the issue. Discussion with manager resulted in no compensation or solution. Buyer beware; they feel no obligation to provide what was promised upon payment. Too bad; we were really disappointed.

Fantastic experience: Love this ride!!!

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience on the train! The ride took about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The scenery was beautiful and the conductor provided commentary that was informative and entertaining! The concessions were reasonably priced, and you stop halfway through the ride with an opportunity to take photos and explore other parts of the train. The only issue we had was that the microphone wasn’t very loud so there was a lot of the commentary that we missed, but that might depend on which car you choose to sit in. I would recommend sitting on one side on the way up, and switching sides on the way back down (if there are extra seats) so you can see both views!

Fantastic experience: This was the most organized and the most breathtaking excursion I’ve ever done. Recently became a resident in Leadville and had heard so much about this railroad excursion…. It was very beautiful and scenic. The history behind this was very intriguing and I recommend this for the whole family

Fantastic experience: We loved the train ride. The attendant in our lounge car was amazing! His name was Sam. We booked a lounge car seat. The weather was supposed to be cold and possibly rainy. It was cold . But we were very comfortable. I'd recommend this trip! But we experienced the worst traffic jam possible on way out of area. It took us 2.5 hours to about 20 miles. It was horrible. .. Not sure if this happens every Sunday afternoon, or if we had extra traffic for some reason. .. it was 5 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic for hours... Creeping down the mountain .

Positive experience: While we enjoyed the train ride and the views, we did not expect the train to backup 14 miles and then follow the same track back to the station. It was a bit disappointing to not actually make a 28 mile trek through the mountains going forward.

Fantastic experience: A lot of fun and great sites to see. Ride was just right and fun even in the rain. Had a food and souvenir train cart.

Fantastic experience: Such a fun experience! We had a group of six, ranging from 5 to 68, and we all had a wonderful time. The views were spectacular, our conductor, Josiah, was knowledgeable and super friendly, and our kids loved getting out and exploring at the end of the route before we went back to the depot. Leadville itself has a cool downtown that we wandered around after our ride, too.

Fantastic experience: Took a day trip to Leadville on June 24th from Denver to escape the heat. We did the 2:00 train. What a fun experience and beautiful views. Will definitely be back with friends and family.

Fantastic experience: What a fun time! My bud and I hadn’t been before while his dad had been already. Commentary by the conductor was interesting and went all the way through the first half of the ride. It was fun to get off for a minute and walk around the old water tower. Nice amount of local gifts inside. Food and drink available on the train.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful and relaxing ride. Definitely a fun activity to check out while in the area. We thought it was overpriced, but it is a tourist activity.

Positive experience: Train ride was nice, but almost $60 for one adult ticket is a lot.

Fantastic experience: Enjoyed the train ride. Very friendly people.

Fantastic experience: Our family had so much fun on the BBQ train ride!! Great staff, views, and experience. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Enjoyed the ride. Very peaceful!! You will not regret taking the 2 1/2 hour ride. The scenery is so beautiful.

Fantastic experience: Nice trip through beautiful country.

Fantastic experience: So fun!! Beautiful scenery, reasonable price, dog friendly and friendly staff.

Fantastic experience: The Leadville railroad is a must do! This cute town was almost the capital of Colorado and this train tour is an amazing way to learn about the history of Leadville, Colorado and the rail system! Bring sun screen! There is a lot of sun in both the open top and closed cars, but it’s worth it for the break taking views!

Fantastic experience: Definitely something to do when visiting the Avon-Vale area. Our conductor gave a great commentary during the ride to the end point. And it's dog friendly! My only recommendation is to sit on the left side of the train - the side away from the depot. Another recommendation here says to sit on the right side (nearest the depot) and you just have views of rocks and trees on your ride if you sit there (like we did)

Fantastic experience: If you're looking for a nostalgic train ride with awesome scenery. This is the one. Good value for all ages.

Fantastic experience: Very entertaining ride through the mountains with great views

Fantastic experience: This is a very cool tour. We booked a lounge car table for our family where you can order snack foods and adult beverages. You can also walk to the dining car to get these items and there is a small gift shop in the same car. The view on the ride is incredible and there is historical narration from the conductor. Halfway through, they stop the train and you can take photos and tour the engine car.

Fantastic experience: Great day of fun. The conductor and guide was excellent, new material and kept you entertained during the whole trip. He accommodated our large family without any issues

Positive experience: A fun train ride for all ages, but way too long. Beautiful views and fun facts and history are shared. We were excited for an activity for our whole group to do together. We range in age from 6 months to 88. We were all ready to get off half way through. Cars and seats were clean. Use the bathroom before boarding. The ones on board are not clean.

Fantastic experience: Amazing experience the conductor was very nice and was very good with his history highly recommend this even with the family! Can’t wait to come back!

Negative experience: They honked the horn so many times it was so disturbing to many. The conductor was stressful and the speaker was ineligible. The photographer was invasive and rude, and printed a photo of us for some reason? Unfortunately, would not do again

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful time going on the Railroad trip for Easter! It was a 2 hour long ride, concessions & restrooms were available on board. The scenery was BEAUTIFUL! It was well worth it! The staff were very friendly & attentive during the ride. We would have liked to have a little bit less narrative during the ride and more relaxing music. And the restrooms could use some attention.

Fantastic experience: This is a picture taken near the top of the Leadville RR ride. The sights I saw on this trip were awesome! HOWEVER... In Sept of 2023, my wife and I took a tour from the Chicago area to 6 of the historic railroads in Colorado, including this one and ending with the Pikes Peak Cog RR, which goes to the top of the mountain, over 14,000 feet! Shortly before the trip, I did some calculating, and drawing on some things I learned in the Air Force and later as a pilot, figured that from when we left O'Hare airport to when we returned a week and a half later, we would not be below 1 mile in elevation...in fact, the average elevation for that we experienced was almost 9000'. As someone in his 70's, and a former smoker with a heart condition, I'd advise anyone who is in a high risk condition to think about your health risks before attempting this. Most younger people on the tour had no problem, but I did see an older lady whose lips turned blue at the top of Pikes Peak. She was ok a the end of the train ride, but she had me a little worried. Amazon has some supplimental O2 for hikers in a small can for those who need it. And when you get back, us older folks need to take it easy for a few days because of something called "reverse altitude sickness". It can make you feel weak and tired for a while. Everything turned out fine, and the trip gave us some lasting memories, but I thought a word of caution may be needed here.

Fantastic experience: Very much enjoyed the trained ride!! Drinks beer hot coco and snacks available was a plus!!!! And that open section of the train was the icing on the cake Will come again next time i bring my folks over

Positive experience: Great experience. Beautiful viws. Could do without the cheese guide announcing and jokes but the kids might like it

Fantastic experience: Super fun, kid friendly and the best hot chocolate for reasonable price

Positive experience: I think overall this is a great train ride for the price compared to other options in Colorado. Beautiful views, but the other lower ratings are correct when they mention narration in the first half of the ride. My group was actually interested in learning the history, but the noise of the train as well as passengers were much louder than the person talking. I wish it was louder or that passengers who are interested in learning have earbuds or something to listen in. I still rate this high because for the price, it was still a good experience. The train does ride slow because its a scenic ride, so 2 hours may feel long for many.

Fantastic experience: We did the Leadville train ride in the fall. It was beautiful and the guide was fantastic. He had a lot of great jokes and educational information on the area without being overly cheesy. I’d love to go again one day.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful time aboard the Leadville Holiday Express! The staff were all intent on creating a memorable and fun experience for everyone. The hot cocoa and popcorn were great for keeping warm on a cold, November day. The scenery was spectacular! Highly recommend this trip!

Positive experience: ** Updated. The Leadville Train Co reached out and were super accommodating & helpful. I appreciate the follow up and am looking forward to riding the train in the future. Unfortunately, leaving a review on the terrible customer service we received. The transfer policy on the ticket states you can transfer to another date if needed. A big winter storm rolled in so we asked to move to another date when the road conditions would be better to drive up. I was told our only option was to come today, as tickets can’t be transferred “between season” (which is not listed anywhere!), I then suggested we push to next year - also not an option. Not only is the policy listed unclear, but the woman was extremely rude. Understand they can’t control the weather, but they can control their attitude!

Fantastic experience: The train and the ride itself was excellent. Everything was well kept, clean and the views of the Rockies are unbeatable. What really sets this place off though are the people. We went for my sons birthday. He is quite the train enthusiast and had been looking forward to the trip for some time. When we went into the station to get our tickets, and it came up why we were there, the girl asked if we wanted to ride in the engine on the way down the mountain and upgraded our tickets! She mentioned the engineer was her brother at that time. We graciously accepted the offer, and after the short stop on top of the mountain , climbed aboard the engine with Derrick for the ride down. He was super friendly, and talkative teaching my son and I how the locomotive worked and he even let my son blown the horn. Over the next hour or so we learned how the business is family owned and talked about the challenges of keeping the route and train maintained in the brutal climate and 10,000 plus feet elevation, and how they’re constantly working to improve the track, and the distance and speed they will be able to travel. Most of the crew is trained in multiple jobs and everyone helps with maintenance and care of the entire operation. We had such a great time and appreciate what these folks are providing and the history they’re maintaining. We will definitely be back!

Fantastic experience: The activity is nice bc the view and nature but it needs something else like music , live music, and Cocktails more fun !!!

Positive experience: Train was awesome great scenery. Conductors non stop facts on the PA ruined the relaxing vibes. Don’t care that the valley is called power line valley because it has power lines in it. Lounge car was worth it to get heat.

Fantastic experience: Ride is probably an hour too long lol but otherwise it’s a great experience. Went in early October just in time to see the end of some good foliage. Loved that I could take my dog and it was a unique lovely trip. Recommend going to twin lakes when you’re close as that was truly the highlight of the day!

Fantastic experience: This is the best fall color train in Colorado. Make sure you show up fairly well before the train departs to get a good seat. Make sure your facing Mount Massive/downtown as well for the best views. They have food and drink as well as bathrooms on board. Well worth it!

Positive experience: Just ok for me. Booked a booth seat for BFF and myself. If the Aspens hadn't been in fall colors scenery is sort of blah. Snacks for sale,best to bring your own. Bathrooms were a little stinky,but clean. Staff friendly. One did a running commentary on the history of railroad and area. Quick stop and old water tank and souvenirs. If you just want to ride an old train,take a child this might be awesome. Up and back same way.

Positive experience: The Railroad is the major attraction of Leadville. The train ride through the rockies is definitely worth. I would suggest buying tickets in advance if you are visiting in the weekend. They have plenty of parking, restrooms and small souvenir shop. Must visit in Leadville. Highly recommend. The town of Leadville does not have too many food options so be ready to wait at the restaurants

Negative experience: Overall, this was a big disappointment, particularly when compared to other western tourist trains. The scenery was beautiful as the view of the surrounding mountains was stunning. Unfortunately, the atmosphere in the train cars was a loud commercial circus. There were dogs on the train! Passengers were crammed in very tight row seating. There are no doors on the ends of the cars so the train noise is very loud. On top of the train and passenger noise, the conductor provided a non-stop commentary the whole first half and you can’t hear it anyway because of the aforementioned noise. The floors had gaps and I could see the tracks, so sub-par construction. I did not enjoy this at all. Go ride the beautiful, peaceful Cumbres Toltec instead!

Positive experience: Beautiful scenery, friendly staff, this ride will take your breath away, especially during the fall colors. The train travels 9 miles out, then back for a 2.5 hour trip. The train itself has standing, open air cars for viewing the sights. We spent most of the time there. The passenger cars are older and in rough shape, but nothing worrying - some windows won't open. If you are a dog lover, they are allowed! If not, there will be dogs onboard. Snacks are available onboard, and bathrooms, but the bathrooms are unusual.

Fantastic experience: The aspen were changing and the weather was beautiful!! All employees were helpful, but could have used a little more directions about handicap help.

Positive experience: Such a relaxing way to enjoy the changing of the leaves. Train ride was 2.5 hours with a stop in the middle at their beautiful water tower in the middle of an Aspen Grove. Great for kids. There's a little food cart for quick snacks or soda or alcohol. Parking was super easy. A must for the fall!

Fantastic experience: It was a beautiful day for an open car train ride. The aspens were just beginning to turn their brilliant colors. It's a great view from the side of the mountain on this about 10 mile train ride.

Fantastic experience: Fun, family friendly train trip thru the mountains in Leadville. 2.5 hour trip with fun facts and history presented by train personnel. Train cars had both covered and open-air seats. Friendly, accommodating staff. We had nearly 100 people in our group and everything went well. No hiccups. Clean restroom.

Positive experience: If you are searching for amazing views, a comfortable ride, and a great value, then this train is for you! The route is "out and back" going around a mountain. There is excellent narration giving lots of facts and stats. Food and beverage are available for purchase while the train is en route. Wonderful train trip!

Fantastic experience: This experience was so worth it! We took our kids (11 and 8) on the fall special train ride, and everyone had such a great time! It was too early for the fall colors, but this was the only weekend we could get up there, and it didn’t make the train ride any less memorable! The kids loved being able to get hot chocolate on the train ride and the apple cider was good too:) My husband got his apple cider spiked and he loved it. It was chilly, but sunny and we brought jackets and hats, which were needed! They have a nice-sized concession car on board, so you can get food/drinks and momentos. I got a hoodie and a magnet. They also come around offering to take a family photo, which they were selling later for 20 dollars for one:) The views on the ride were spectacular and the conductor was knowledgeable and fun to listen to! All of the people working were happy and helpful- you could tell they loved their job:) If you have the chance to get out to Leadville, I highly recommend this excursion. It was a highlight of our trip and we loved it so much!

Fantastic experience: Went for my daughter's 5th bday. She had never been on a train before. She and all of us had had a great time. Also learned a lot. Would recommend this experience to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely gorgeous scenery and awesome experience. The conductor was so knowledgeable and funny. You can relax in a seat or stand, covered car or open. They sell food and drinks on board, or you can pack your own.

Positive experience: This is almost exactly like the Georgetown loop, but with a snack/gift car. 2 hour drive for a 2.5hr ride and then a 2-hour drive home. I do not recommend this with a toddler who gets grumpy on long car rides. The train ride itself is decent, and the conductor guy who takes the tickets and tells history is cool. The way there is all talk, the way back is silent.

Fantastic experience: Guest from Arkansas here. My husband and I really enjoyed being able to take a break from driving to relax and see the scenery! The train and staff were really nice and props to the conductor for having commentary the whole first half and spending the second half visiting and answering questions with all the guests!

Positive experience: This ride is just ... ok. Good - A couple of scenic views. Mostly trees. Bad - Could not hear the narration over the squeaks of the train at all. - The engine exhaust while in the front open car was terrible.

Fantastic experience: Loved the ride. The conductor, Jamie, was awesome and informative.

Fantastic experience: Very friendly crew. Breathtaking views up and down. Nice gift shop and beverages on board train. Very informative conductor.

Positive experience: Nice but definitely lacking the refinement of similar outings. You don’t get to see the mine. It’s kind of the one thing you should see. Views are very one directional as you proceed up the valley and really only awesome in a couple places. You don’t get very high at all which is weird. The crew is super enthusiastic and entertaining. Plenty of seating. Food and snacks fine but nothing special. The town is way more fun and charming. Still it’s a must do once right?

Fantastic experience: The was an awesome experience! The train ride was awesome and the staff was phenomenal!!!

Fantastic experience: Enjoyed this train ride. Say a couple deer. Great scenery and told us a lot of history.

Fantastic experience: Wow! Was not expecting such a great ride and such wonderful service. What a great team! Loved chatting with Dawn when she was distributing her pictures. Loved the low prices in the gift shop. The narration was very interesting.

Fantastic experience: Great price for a fun trip on a great train. The Conductor had historic and helpful information. We'll run, fun guests and a memorial to time.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful scenery. We were fortunate to have a mix of weather - sunny and warm to hail and cold - and that added to the experience. There are both open and enclosed cars and you could move between them as desired. The conductor was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend if you have a few hours.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful Train ride, our toddler loved it too! Definitely do not come hungry because the train food is slightly below gas station fare, the pretzel was an abomination to pretzels everywhere. The conductor seemed very nice and was indisputably knowledgeable about the Leadville area, HOWEVER he literally talked non stop ALL THE WAY up the mountain and halfway back down. It was actually giving me a panic attack because I was hoping for peace & silence. Luckily I brought my earbuds so I listened to music, but it would have been more ideal to be able to hear & interact with my family. The conductor needs to reign it in and realize that empty space is okay, not every moment needs to be filled with words. Also, definitely bring rain jacket and layers, maybe even a light blanket, it’s pretty cold up there!

Positive experience: This was beautiful, long train ride. There are toilets on the train, which is a plus. There are snacks for purchase, but be prepared to pay $3.50 for can of soda. Lovely scenery.

Positive experience: This was a Rotary Club fellowship for the District..nice get together....it was a real good trip on this train, learned more about the area. It should be on your bucket list

Fantastic experience: Beautiful views and dog friendly! Funny and friendly staff too! My dog loved it!!

Fantastic experience: Great train ride with beautiful views through your. Good amenities (snacks and drinks on the train.). Great value compared to other train rides nearby. A little long for 2 young children, could maybe shave 20-30 min.

Fantastic experience: I have ridden many trains and this is one of the best diesel rides in the country. It is a good length with excellent scenery any time of year and easy movement between closed cars and open cars. The conductor was so knowledgeable about the railroad and the area.

Fantastic experience: Amazing experience! The views were spectacular and the crew running the train were wonderful, knowledgable people who care about telling the history of the rail line and trains in the area. The conductor did a wonderful job answering our questions and really making our trip super special! Thank you so much for giving us a magical experience!

Fantastic experience: The 1:30 train was a great winter treat. Each family has the ability to reserve a table in one of the indoor train cars. The conductor was very informative and knew the history of Leadville and the train construction quite well. We ordered hot cider, hot cocoa, and popcorn during the ride. Prices were reasonable. This is our second trip. We also did the summer ride but this was more fun!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience. Bathroom reading material is a nice touch

Fantastic experience: This is a fantastic way to spend a few hours. Locally owned, super friendly and the scenery is outstanding. There is so much history in this area and you get a bit of it all along the journey. Lots of different cars and seating options, all very affordable. My daughter made me go and I'm glad I did. I am now a fan, this is a gem.

Fantastic experience: Great views of the mountains. I recommend sitting in an open car towards the middle facing town for best views. Bathroom was disgusting, do not use.

Fantastic experience: 2nd time riding this train, and it just gets better and better. Highly recommend trying it. Dress warm and sit in the open car. You won't regret it. They serve food, drinks and alcohol on board the train. Very kid friendly. My 4year old loved it.

Fantastic experience: I loved the history that was shred about the railroad. Our conductor spoke as we cruised up the line to a final stop below the Climax Molybdenum mine. The fall color and the mountain views were spectacular!

Fantastic experience: My husband and I recently took part in the BBQ train option for our anniversary. We had a fabulous time and the buffet was awesome

Fantastic experience: We enjoyed the trip. I would recommend it to everyone.

Fantastic experience: Awesome trip through the mountains, my kid loved it.

Fantastic experience: I would do this trip again. A very nice trip up the mountains. There are some great views and conductor added a lot to the trip with history, facts and jokes about the area. Very informative and fun.

Positive experience: Went the first week of Aug on a Monday on the 2 PM train. Booked 11 seats for a group of friends visiting from CA and BC and family. It was raining for the first few minutes so we moved to a car with overhead cover but no windows for unobstructed views and no rain coming down on us. The conductor kept things interesting on the ride out talking about the history of Leadville and the area and the history of railroads in Leadville. Of course this history is steeped in mining and so we learned about the metals that were mined in the past to present day. Makes everything more interesting when you know the history IMO. Train made a stop on the way back so we could stretch our legs and tour some of the old train cars no longer in use. After the stop we rode back in silence enjoying the views. 2.5 hours. Out and back. Don't recall the distance exactly but I think 22 miles total. You can bring food on the train but they also have a store that sells food on the train (and on the way back the food is heavily discounted as they need to sell it or have to toss it at the end.) On the expensive side IMO but folks liked it (so maybe I'm cheap ).