I had a free day in Denver and decided to take a sleigh ride

This story has been updated to reflect the 2023 Winter Park Express ski train schedule.

Colorado is home to some best ski townnot only United States but In the world.

The only problem is that it’s not always easy to get to the towns — most require a few hours’ drive, a flight, or both. So it’s exciting for Amtrak to announce the return of Winter Park Express “snow train” after a hiatus for the 2020-2021 season.

Now, I must admit that I am not a skier. Having spent most of my life in sunny Southern California, the only skiing I’ve done in the past has been on the water.

However, the idea of ​​taking the train straight from a major city center to the slopes of a top ski resort intrigued me. So when I recently found myself having a free day in Denver, the ski train was the perfect excuse for me to try the slopes.

It departs from Denver Union Station (DEN) at 7 a.m. and arrives at Winter Park Resort (WPR) at 9 a.m. The return trip departs from the resort at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:40 p.m. This schedule perfectly fits the resort’s operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. So basically, you’re guaranteed to have a full day on the slide.

It is worth mentioning that Union Station is connected to Denver International Airport (DEN) by commuter trains, so it’s possible to fly to and from the slopes entirely by rail.

Booking the Winter Park Express is no different than booking any other train. Go to Amtrak’s website and enter DEN as the departure point and WPR as the destination.

One-way fares start at $34, with special rates of $17 for children 2 to 12 years old. Don’t worry about paying extra to bring your skis or snowboards on board. You are allowed two carry-on items, including skis and snowboards, as well as two personal items at no additional charge. Just remember lift tickets must be purchased separately through the resort.

Unfortunately, this route cannot be booked with Amtrak khách Guest Reward point.

Ship

Amtrak has dedicated backup trains for this route. They are painted in a custom Winter Park color on the outside and have special branding on the inside.

The trains have seats for all coaches spread over two levels. Most cars are equipped with typical Amtrak seats, some in leather and others in fabric. Both models have ample legroom, comfortable backrests and power outlets in each row.

Related: Why Winter Park Resort should be your next vacation destination

The best seats, at least in my opinion, are those in the observation car – aka the Sightseeing Lounge. While you’ll give up some legroom and recline if you sit here, the floor-to-ceiling windows make up for it, especially on this scenic route.

In addition to single seats, there are family chairs with tables for groups of 4. As in other cars, all seats have direct access to electrical outlets.

Seats in the first-come, first-served observation car and they fill up quickly. I recommend going there immediately if you want a spot. Car observation is a unique feature usually only found on long distance train but is a Winter Park Express staple.

Below the multi-windowed lounge is a cafe that serves a variety of snacks and packaged drinks but no hot food.

Experience

My morning begins at dawn at Denver’s historic Beaux Arts Union Station. I was staying at the Crawford Hotel inside the train station (review coming soon), so I was only a short walk from the train.

The Winter Park Express always departs from Union Station from 5th Street. I rented gear from the resort, so I travel light. However, volunteers were available to help load skis and snowboards into the dedicated luggage storage area.

Additional storage space is available onboard at the end of the carriage, as well as on the overhead shelves. While people are allowed two carry-on items and two personal items, that doesn’t seem to be strictly enforced.

Despite departing early in the morning, there is plenty of energy on board. Everyone – both passengers and crew – seemed excited to be boarding the sled. This helped make the experience even more special. The conductor is also very talkative and often goes through the cabin to check on passengers.

What impressed me the most were the volunteers. In addition to helping passengers pack, there are volunteers on board who point out attractions along the way, share various stories and, perhaps most importantly, answer questions about Season Park. bronze.

There’s no Wi-Fi on board, but people don’t seem to mind — everyone’s eyes were glued to the windows for most of the 67-mile ride anyway.

The view is really amazing and the passengers, myself included, can’t help but take pictures all the time. It certainly beats the congested traffic on Interstate 70 that you usually drive to Winter Park.

Two hours later, the brakes blared and we arrived at Winter Park. Those returning to Denver later that day have the option to leave some belongings on board (as long as they don’t mind not being able to retrieve them until they return later in the day).

Read more: The Winter Park Express ski train is back — and tickets start at $34 one-way

Once again, there were volunteers to assist in unloading the ship.

The train stop couldn’t be more convenient. Upon arrival, we descended to a heated platform – just 100 feet from the nearest ski lift. Rental shops and riding and ski schools are also right there so no shuttle is required.

After a successful day of skiing lessons, I returned to the ship, greeted by the same crew members from the morning. Before I knew it, I was on my way back to Denver. Easy as pie.

bottom line

Thanks to the Winter Park Express, I was able to make the most of an extra day in Denver and learn how to ski in just a few hours.

It may not be the Polar Express, but it feels like the next best thing. It’s not every day that you wake up in a big metropolis, go skiing for the day, and get home for dinner on time.

Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner.