Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Historic narrow-gauge trains follow the Animas River through steep San Juan country on a line built for mining traffic in the 1880s. Decide between round-trip rail, rail-bus combinations, and shorter seasonal options before buying; the classic journey occupies most of a day.
Artwork inspired by William Henry Jackson
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45. 2 miles (72. 7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.
Decide between round-trip rail, rail-bus combinations, and shorter seasonal options before buying; the classic journey occupies most of a day. On the canyon section, watch the relationship between ledge, river, smoke, and grade rather than treating the ride as a moving postcard.
- Setting
- Historic steam railway through Animas Canyon
- Plan around
- Full round trip takes most of a day
- Allow
- Roughly 9 hours
Quick guide
- Route question
- Colorado history held in place
- Final evidence
- the surviving material, chronology, and later interpretation
Build an evidence-led visit to Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Begin
- Choose the route before the car class
- Notice
- Follow river, grade, and locomotive work
- Look closer
- Follow ledge, river, smoke, and grade through the canyon section.
- Confirm
- Locomotive, wildfire rules, and itinerary can change by date.
Good to know
Steam operations, wildfire restrictions, weather, locomotive type, and destination time vary, so the exact consist and itinerary should be checked for your date.
Notice these
- Historic narrow-gauge trains follow the Animas River through steep San Juan country on a line built for mining traffic in the 1880s.
- On the canyon section, watch the relationship between ledge, river, smoke, and grade rather than treating the ride as a moving postcard.