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Top Train Rides for Fall Foliage in the Southwest

These day trips showcase the stunning beauty of the region​

by Gigi Ragland, AARP, September 12, 2022

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway in Colorado

Damon Shaw / Alamy Stock Photo

En español

From the Collegiate Peaks in Colorado to the golden chamisa plants in New Mexico, the Southwest shimmers and glows in autumn. Mid-September through October is prime time for fall foliage, and one of the best ways to appreciate the dazzling shades of red, orange and yellow is by train. Many rail routes from 19th-century mining days still twist and turn through mountains and other landscapes seemingly impossible to navigate by car or otherwise. Here, you’ll find a variety of train trips offering the best of the Southwest. 

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Gigi Ragland is a Colorado-based travel and food writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Hemispheres, Sierra, AFAR, American Cowgirl and many other publications.

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