Our final trip on the California Zephyr went from Grand Junction to Denver. While the entire trip was wonderful, the section from Glenwood Springs to Denver was really astonishing! My husband and I were in Glenwood Springs several years ago and it is a spectacularly beautiful city! Known for its hot springs and mountain location, it was lovely viewing from the train.
We passed Glenwood Canyons with its cliffs and interesting, dramatic rock formations. Some of the canyon walls are over 1300 feet high! The canyon is home to many different wildlife species such as bighorn sheep, bears and birds of all sorts. Despite watching closely, we did not see any species other than several varieties of birds. At one point between Glenwood Springs and Denver, we did witness a beautiful rainbow, however!
Deep beneath the ground, there are numerous springs which supply Glenwood Springs with the mineral springs that it is known for. From the city, the Colorado River heads toward Utah, although some of its water is diverted into Denver.
As the train continued towards Denver, we went through the Moffat Tunnel, located near the Winter Park Ski Resort. The tunnel is 6.2 miles long and crosses under the Continental Divide. The elevation here is over 9,000 feet!
We observed most of this trip from the observation car on the train. With its floor to ceiling windows, it provided excellent views of the passing scenery. This section of our trip, with its towering cliffs and red rock canyons, was breathtaking! The train traveled slowly as it was about the journey rather than the destination!.
Everything you need is here.
thanks!
It sounds lovely, Barbara.
It really was, Karen. If you are interested and want some tips, feel free to get up with me!