Winter Park Resort and Amtrak plan to resume Winter Park Express service in 2022. Amtrak and the resort will use the 2020-21 season to look for ways to make the Winter Park Express even better when it relaunches.
THE RIDE
The Winter Park Express ski train ties together the area’s rich skiing and railroad history as it carries passengers through some of Colorado’s most beautiful landscapes. The ride begins at Denver Union Station, a newly renovated 1914 Beaux-Arts train station in the heart of the city. The station is the city’s transportation hub with direct rail access to Denver International Airport, making it possible to touch down from anywhere in the world and ride the rails all the way to the pristine slopes at Winter Park Resort.
The double-decker Amtrak Superliner train leaves Union Station and heads north and west as it climbs toward the Rocky Mountains, offering views of the famous Flatirons above Boulder and the surrounding plains. It snakes its way up gentle grades as it glides through the remains of the area’s pioneering past. One of the more striking aspects of the journey is the number of tunnels, many of which were built by hand in remote areas. Of the 31 tunnels, the Moffat Tunnel is the longest at 6.2 miles as it cuts through the Continental Divide some 50 miles from Denver. From there, it’s a short ride to Winter Park.
Passengers depart the train on a new heated platform and walk 100 feet to the nearest ski lift.
WINTER PARK SKI TRAIN SCHEDULE 2022 TBA
SKI TRAIN HISTORY
The original Ski Train ran continuously from 1940-2009 and was brought back temporarily for a weekend in 2015 to celebrate Winter Park’s 75th anniversary. Tickets sold out quickly, which renewed interest in resurrecting the concept under a new partnership arrangement through Amtrak, Union Pacific and the resort.
Check out the infographic below showing Colorado as a top winter destination and Winter Park in the top 10 places to visit. The information was researched by FlipKey in association with Trip Advisors.
