Day 1: Denver to Glenwood
We arrived in Denver the night before, and the train departed early the following morning. The first day travel was awsomely scenic. First climbing further into the Rockies, and then following some rivers as we headed west through mountains and gorges.
The train arrived in Glennwood Springs late afternoon of the first day, so we had time for a nice dinner and walk around the small town center.
Click on an image to pop up a larger version.
Rocky Mountianeer Departs from Here
The day before, we took a train from the airport to Union Station, which was a short walk from the hotel. The next morning, we boarded a Rocky Mountaineer bus to the train.
Scenic Small Lake Creek
I'm unsure of the location, but it's a beautiful scene with the hills, the small lake, and the cabin.
Ranch Creek House with View
Notice the house on the bluff; it must have a wonderful view of the creek and valley below. It appears to be an excellent place to escape from "it all."
Fun Rafting Colorado River
The Colorado River, long before it reached the Grand Canyon, has carved many beautiful gorges through the mountains. Here, a rafter navigates the rapids.
Train Rounding the Bend
This picture of the Colorado River also shows the train, albeit barely, on the right side of the image as it rounds the bend.
Cliffs Above I70 and the River
At the bottom of the image lies the Colorado River, and at the top are beautifully eroded cliffs, with the plain concrete of Interstate 70 in between.
Denver Skyline from Hotel
We had sufficient time in Denver for dinner and a quick breakfast. After leaving our luggage in the room, we set off for the train. We would reunite with our bags in Glenwood Springs.
Boulder Creek
One of the first rivers the train passed was Boulder Creek, which flows through this gorge. Unsurprisingly, the first rivers encountered flow from west to east.
Passing the Fraser River
This image depicts a river flowing eastward through a valley framed by rolling hills.
Following Colorado River Gorge
Here, a somewhat larger Colorado River wanders (a little more calmly) through a gorge.
Red Rocks above the River
As we continued, we began to see red rock formations similar to those found in the national parks of Utah, Colorado, and Arizona.
Hanging Lake Dam
The view of the dam isn't particularly scenic. Hanging Lake is reportedly a popular hiking spot and an extremely picturesque destination located not far from Glenwood Springs.
Train's Initial Ascent
After departing the Denver suburbs, the train ascends into the mountains. This shot captures the train as it navigates a turn, allowing me to see the cars and engine.
Tolland School House
This little yellow schoolhouse appears to be in the middle of nowhere, resting alone in a valley nestled beneath some rolling hills.
Near the beginning of the Colorado
The Rocky Mountaineer's route follows the Colorado River for much of the day. After crossing the peak of the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River flows westward to the Pacific.
Colorado River Near Radium Spring
The Colorado River traverses a verdant valley floor.
Beautiful Terrain Above the River
More scenic red rocks. By the end of our trip, we had seen numerous lovely and unusual rock formations. We were nearly (but not quite) worn out by the scenery.
Arrived in Glenwood Springs
It would have been nice to spend a day in Glenwood Springs visiting sights like Hanging Lake, but we only had time for dinner and a short walk around town.