Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Chama, New Mexico · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrains run late May to late October, plus holiday trains

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad runs 64 miles of 1880 Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge between Chama and Antonito, and its Chama end is where coal-fired steam locomotives start the hard climb to 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass.

  • Narrow gauge line built in 1880
  • National Historic Landmark since 2012
  • Climbs to 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass
  • Five operating steam locomotives
  • Rotary snowplows OY and OM in Chama
  • Hot lunch included on full-day trips

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad at a glance

Hours
Trains run late May to late October; one morning departure each way
Admission
Fares vary by trip and seating class; book at cumbrestoltec.com
Train rides
Full-day steam trips Chama to Osier or Antonito, late May to late October; lunch included
Seasonal events
Santa's Holiday Express, Dark Sky Train, Dinner Train, Geology Train, Centennial State Limited, Galloping Goose railcar runs
Plan for
A full day (about 6 to 8 hours on the train)
Best for
Rail fans, scenery lovers and school-age kids
Best ages
Ages 5 and up for full-day trips

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Chama.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

How two states saved the San Juan Extension

Track crews of the Denver & Rio Grande began laying the San Juan Extension south from Alamosa in February 1880, using three-foot narrow gauge because it was cheaper to build and could take tighter curves through rough country. The rails reached Chama on December 31, 1880, after 64 miles of track, two tunnels and a crossing of 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, on the way toward the mining country around Silverton. In Chama, the railroad set off a lumber economy, with mills west and south of town feeding the line until the late 1960s, and after World War II, oil from the Farmington boom and long pipe trains kept it alive.

Cumbres Pass was always the hard part. Snow could pile up to 500 inches in a heavy winter, so the railroad kept rotary snowplows on the line, and the winter of 1951 to 1952 was the worst on record. When the Denver & Rio Grande Western filed to abandon its narrow gauge lines in 1968, New Mexico moved first, authorizing the purchase of the Chama to Antonito track in April 1969. Colorado followed in 1970, and by 1971 the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was running as a jointly owned line.

Today a bi-state commission, created under an act of Congress in 1974 with two members from each state, sets policy, and Cumbres Toltec Operating, a nonprofit company formed in 2012, runs the trains. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, founded in 1988, help preserve the line's history and equipment and supply the volunteer docents who ride along. The railroad was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012, recognizing its engineering, its well-kept equipment and its role in the region.

Chama yard, the 4% grade and the ride to Osier

Trips from Chama start at the original depot from the late 1800s, which sells tickets and has a gift shop. The yard around it is open to the public, and the railroad hands out walking tour brochures. You can see part of the original Denver & Rio Grande Western roundhouse (a fire took most of it years ago), the two-stall shop where engines are readied for the next day, both rotary snowplows, OY and OM, and more than 100 freight cars on the south end, about 40 of them operational. Locomotive 483 is on display at the station.

Once aboard, the train crosses the Rio Chama and soon starts up a grade that averages 4%, among the steepest in North America, through aspen and pine forest and the S-curves above the Chama Valley. The full-day trains meet at Osier, Colorado, where passengers eat a hot lunch in the dining hall before returning or continuing to Antonito, with motorcoaches handling the return. The route crosses the Colorado and New Mexico state line 11 times. Riders can choose coach, deluxe or parlor seating, and an open gondola car lets you stand outside for the views.

Don’t miss

  1. Rotary snowplows OY and OMThese two rotaries fought the deep snows of Cumbres Pass and are both kept in the Chama yard.
  2. The Chama depotThe original depot from the late 1800s still sells tickets and is where trips from the New Mexico end begin.
  3. Locomotive 489One of the line's five working steam engines, it joined in 2008 and was converted to burn oil before the 2021 season.
  4. Locomotive 463Back in service since 2013, it is one of four operating engines on the roster that still burn coal.
  5. The roundhouse remainsWhat survives of the original Denver & Rio Grande Western roundhouse now stores parts beside the working shop.
  6. The open gondola carRiding outside lets you feel the climb up the 4% grade and see the curves ahead.

Big steam, a long day and room to move

The full trip from Chama is a long day, close to eight hours for the All Aboard Chama ride and over six for the Chama Limited lunch trip, so it suits school-age kids who can settle in for the scenery. Kids can walk between cars, step out to the open gondola car and watch the steam locomotive work hard on the grade. The lunch stop at Osier breaks up the day.

For younger children, the Chama yard is an easy win before or after a ride: freight cars, snowplows and engines being readied in the shop are all close at hand. Families with limited time can look at the shorter Cumbres Express, which departs from Cumbres Pass and returns by mid-afternoon.

Plan your visit: tips for Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

  • Book online ahead of time; special trains run on set dates and often sell out.
  • Leave time to walk the Chama yard with a walking tour brochure from the depot.
  • Bring layers: the route climbs to 10,015 feet at Cumbres Pass.
  • Groups of 20 or more can ask for special summer pricing.

In the holiday season the railroad runs Santa's Holiday Express from both Chama and Antonito, and riders have been encouraged to bring gifts or food for neighbors in need. Through the regular season, limited-date trains such as the Dark Sky Train, dinner trains and the Geology Train fill quickly. For more December ideas, see our list of Christmas train rides in New Mexico.

Two states, an operating company and the Friends

The line belongs to the people of Colorado and New Mexico, overseen by a four-member commission and run day to day by Cumbres Toltec Operating, a nonprofit company. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a nonprofit founded in 1988, provide the onboard docents and help care for the infrastructure and rolling stock. Riding, joining the Friends or volunteering all help keep the trains going.

More narrow gauge and New Mexico rail

The Colorado end of this same line is covered on our Cumbres & Toltec Antonito page, about 33 miles away. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the other surviving piece of the old network, is about 76 miles west, and Sky Railway in Santa Fe is about 91 miles south. See all New Mexico train museums and rides.

Every train museum in New Mexico

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally rides with his nose to an arched window, watching the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. On the Cumbres & Toltec there is no ocean, but there is an open gondola car and a whole canyon of aspens going by, and I can picture him leaning toward every view. My mom loved a good train window. Rally's window seat is waiting on our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Cumbres & Toltec from Chama: 20 questions riders ask

Is the Cumbres & Toltec railroad open?

The Cumbres & Toltec runs a seasonal schedule, with regular trains from late May to late October and special holiday trains such as Santa's Holiday Express afterward. As of October 2026, check cumbrestoltec.com or call 888-286-2737 for exact operating dates, since the season start and end change slightly from year to year.

Where does the Cumbres & Toltec train leave from in Chama?

Trains leave from the original Chama depot at 500 S Terrace Ave, Chama, NM 87520, built in the late 1800s. Tickets are sold there and there is a gift shop. The railroad's other terminal is at 5234 B US Hwy 285 in Antonito, Colorado, 64 miles away by rail.

How long is the Cumbres & Toltec trip from Chama?

The All Aboard Chama trip, which covers the full 64-mile line, takes about 7 hours and 50 minutes. The Chama Limited, a round trip to Osier with lunch, takes about 6 hours and 20 minutes. Shorter options start from Cumbres Pass on the Cumbres Express, which returns by mid-afternoon.

How much do Cumbres & Toltec tickets cost?

Fares depend on the trip and the seating class you pick: coach, deluxe, parlor or parlor observation. A hot lunch at Osier is included on full-day trips. The railroad posts current prices on its booking pages at cumbrestoltec.com, so check there or call 888-286-2737 for the price of your date and class.

What is the difference between Chama and Antonito departures?

From Chama, trains start with a climb averaging 4%, among the steepest in North America, through aspen and pine forest to Cumbres Pass. From Antonito, the line runs across high desert and along the Toltec Gorge, crossing the 137-foot Cascade Trestle. Both meet at Osier for lunch.

Are Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad reviews good?

The railroad was voted the top scenic train by USA Today 10Best readers in 2016, 2019 and 2020. Riders often point to the steam power, the slow pace that lets you see wildlife and aspens, and the docents who explain the history. Expect a full day, so read reviews about seating classes before booking.

Is lunch included on the Cumbres & Toltec?

Yes, on full-day trips. Trains from Chama and Antonito meet at Osier, Colorado, where passengers eat a hot meal in the dining hall. The lunch is part of the ticket price. After lunch, riders either return to where they started or continue to the other end of the line.

How do you get back to Chama after riding to Antonito?

Passengers who ride the whole line return by motorcoach at the end of the day, a ride of about an hour. Riders headed west who reach Cumbres Pass can also choose to switch to a motorcoach there. The railroad arranges the bus as part of the through trip.

How high does the Cumbres & Toltec go?

The train crosses Cumbres Pass at 10,015 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest steam railroads in North America. The weather can change quickly at that height, and even summer days can feel cool, so bring layers and sun protection for the gondola car.

What steam locomotives does the Cumbres & Toltec run?

The railroad has five operating narrow gauge steam locomotives: Nos. 484, 487, 488, 489 and 463. No. 489 was converted to burn oil before the 2021 season, while the others burn coal. Guest locomotive No. 315 from the Durango Railroad Historical Society also runs on the line, and No. 483 is on display in Chama.

Can you tour the Chama rail yard?

Yes. The Chama yard is open to the public and can be explored on a self-guided walk, with brochures at the depot. You can see the rotary snowplows OY and OM, part of the original roundhouse, the engine shop and more than 100 freight cars. The railroad's app also has a yard map.

Is the Cumbres & Toltec good for kids?

School-age kids who can enjoy a long day tend to do best, since full trips last six to eight hours. They can move between cars, ride in the open gondola, and watch the engine work up the grade. Families with less time can try the shorter Cumbres Express from Cumbres Pass.

Does the Cumbres & Toltec run a Christmas train?

Yes. Santa's Holiday Express runs on set dates in the holiday season from both Chama and Antonito. Riders have been encouraged to bring gifts or food for the less fortunate. These trains have limited seating and often sell out, so book early through cumbrestoltec.com.

What special trains does the Cumbres & Toltec offer?

Beyond the daily trips, the railroad runs the Dark Sky Train, sunset dinner trains, a Geology Train, the Centennial State Limited and occasional runs of the Galloping Goose railcar. These run on specific dates with limited seats. Check the excursions page at cumbrestoltec.com for this season's calendar.

Can I book a group trip or charter on the Cumbres & Toltec?

Yes. Groups of 20 or more can get special summer pricing for birthdays, church outings, reunions, school tours and bus groups. You can also rent a caboose, reserve a coach car or charter a whole train. Call 888-286-2737 or email groups@cumbrestoltec.com or charters@cumbrestoltec.com.

When was the Cumbres & Toltec railroad built?

The Denver & Rio Grande built this line in 1880 as part of its San Juan Extension, reaching Chama on December 31, 1880. It carried lumber, oil and freight for decades. After the railroad filed to abandon it in 1968, New Mexico and Colorado bought the line, and the scenic railroad was running by 1971.

Who owns the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad?

The states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly own the railroad. A four-member bi-state commission, two members from each state appointed by the governors, sets policy. Cumbres Toltec Operating, a nonprofit company, handles daily operations and capital projects.

Is the Cumbres & Toltec a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012 for its engineering, well-preserved infrastructure and equipment, and its role in the region's development. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the American Society of Civil Engineers made it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1976.

How can I volunteer with the Cumbres & Toltec?

The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a nonprofit founded in 1988, help preserve the line's history, maintain equipment and infrastructure, and provide the onboard docents. Joining the Friends is the main way to volunteer. Call the railroad at 888-286-2737 to be pointed to the group.

What other train rides are near the Cumbres & Toltec in Chama?

The Antonito, Colorado end of the same line is about 33 miles away by road. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is about 76 miles west. In New Mexico, Sky Railway and the Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits are about 91 miles south in Santa Fe, and the New Mexico Railroad Museum in Las Vegas is about 92 miles away.

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