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A Colorado Christmas Train Ride In Leadville!

Published: November 13, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Perched at 10,152 feet above sea level, the Leadville Railroad offers one of Colorado’s highest and most dramatic standard-gauge train rides. From its roots in the rough-and-tumble mining boom to its modern life as a year-round tourist line, this railroad tells the story of Leadville itself—especially when it transforms each winter into the sparkling Holiday Express.

From boomtown to tourist line

Leadville’s story is inseparable from railroads. In the late 19th century, silver strikes in the high country made the town one of the West’s most important mining centers. To tap that wealth, multiple railroads clawed their way up the mountains, including the narrow-gauge Denver, South Park & Pacific, which eventually reached Leadville over Boreas and Fremont passes.

After a series of financial reorganizations, the lines in this region became part of the Colorado & Southern Railway (C&S). The route climbing out of Leadville toward Fremont Pass served not only the town’s smelters and mines, but later one of the most critical industrial customers in the Rockies: the Climax molybdenum mine. During World War II, demand for moly steel was so great that the line was converted from narrow gauge to standard gauge in 1943 to handle heavier wartime traffic.

As mining declined in the later 20th century, freight business fell away. By the 1980s, the upper portion of the line no longer justified regular freight operations. Rather than see another Colorado mountain railroad vanish, local investors acquired the trackage from Leadville up the valley and reinvented it as a scenic tourist operation.

In 1988, the first season of the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad rolled out of the brick depot on East 7th Street, reusing the historic C&S right-of-way. Today the company brands itself simply as the Leadville Railroad, but the C&S heritage still shows in the lettering on the cars and in the stories told on board.

The route and the experience

The Leadville Railroad departs from the original red-brick depot at 326 E. 7th Street in Leadville, Colorado. From there, trains head north out of town, climbing the grade high above the Upper Arkansas River Valley. The line threads through stands of fir and aspen in the San Isabel National Forest, with sweeping views of Colorado’s two highest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, dominating the skyline.

Most excursions are roughly two to two and a half hours round-trip, giving passengers time to settle in, explore the train, and enjoy long pauses at scenic spots for photos.

The railroad typically uses vintage standard-gauge passenger cars pulled by a diesel locomotive, with both enclosed and open-air seating available in the warm months. Onboard commentary highlights Leadville’s colorful past—tales of silver kings, railroad rivalries, and the engineering challenges of building through such rugged country.

Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks, and many riders treat the trip as a rolling picnic with a constantly changing backdrop of mountains, forest, and old mining structures.

Families often gravitate toward the open cars for the best views, while those seeking a quieter experience can tuck into one of the lounge or coach cars and watch the scenery slide past the windows.

A year-round Rocky Mountain tourist line

Unlike some Colorado excursion railroads that close entirely for winter, the Leadville Railroad has steadily grown into a year-round attraction, with distinct seasonal personalities.

• Spring and summer emphasize wildflowers, rushing creeks, and cool high-altitude temperatures—a relief from the heat on the Front Range.
• Autumn brings fall foliage, especially golden aspen stands on the mountain slopes, often paired with special events like fall photo runs and barbecue trains. 
• Winter transforms the route into a quiet, snow-covered landscape, perfectly suited to the railroad’s Holiday and Winter Express trains.

Over the decades, the railroad has become a mainstay of Leadville’s tourism economy, drawing visitors who then explore the town’s museums, shops, and historic district. Local tourism boards consistently list the Leadville Railroad as one of the region’s signature experiences.

The Holiday Express: Christmas at 10,152 feet

Each winter, the railroad turns up the magic with its Holiday Express, a Christmas-themed train that has quickly become one of Colorado’s favorite seasonal excursions.

When It Runs

This holiday adventure typically begins in mid-November and continues through early January, with multiple departures most days during the heart of the season. Recent schedules have featured afternoon and early evening runs—often at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. on peak days—giving riders the chance to see both snowy daylight scenery and festive lights after sunset.

The ride is about two hours round-trip, just like the regular winter trains, making it an easy outing for families with younger children as well as older visitors.

(As always, exact dates and departure times vary by year, so guests should check the railroad’s current online schedule before planning a trip.)

Onboard Atmosphere

From the moment passengers arrive at the depot, the focus is on holiday cheer. The train is decorated for the season with lights, garland, and festive touches from end to end, creating a cozy atmosphere against the deep winter snow outside.

Once on board, guests settle into heated lounge cars or enclosed coaches, with big windows that frame snow-covered trees, historic mine sites, and the high peaks towering over the valley. The railroad offers a selection of warm drinks and seasonal treats for purchase, and many families come outfitted in matching pajamas or Christmas sweaters to turn the ride into a photo-friendly tradition.

Narration weaves together Leadville’s history with holiday-themed stories and music, while the train glides quietly through the winter forest. Kids watch for twinkling lights and decorations outside the windows; adults often comment on the unusual experience of being in a true alpine environment in mid-winter without needing to ski or snowshoe.

Seating Options and Amenities

The Holiday Express typically offers several types of seating, including standard coach, lounge-style seating, and limited-availability “table” arrangements—sometimes branded with names such as Fir and Spruce tables—to create an intimate, café-like feel for small groups. 

Key details include:

• All-ages ride: Children, parents, grandparents, and groups of friends all ride together; the train is designed for families but equally enjoyable for couples looking for a unique holiday date. 
• Two-hour duration: Long enough to feel like a true getaway, but short enough to fit into a busy holiday schedule. 
• Reserved tickets: Holiday Express departures are popular and often sell out, especially close to Christmas and New Year’s, so the railroad strongly encourages advance online booking. 

Because of the train’s popularity, guests are sometimes seated with other parties to make room for everyone—something the railroad notes in its schedule information.

A living link to Colorado’s railroading past

Today’s Leadville Railroad is more than just a scenic train ride. It is a living fragment of the Colorado & Southern high-line, preserved in operation and repurposed to share the story of mining, mountain railroading, and life in one of America’s highest cities. 

Whether you visit on a sunny summer afternoon or on a snowy December day aboard the Holiday Express, the experience is the same at its core: steel rails, mountain air, and the enduring rhythm of a train climbing through the Rockies. For railfans, history buffs, and families alike, the Leadville Railroad offers a memorable way to celebrate both Colorado’s past and the magic of the holiday season.  To learn more and booking information about this unique experience please click here to visit the railroad's website.