1 / 2Royal Gorge Route Railroad
📍 Cañon City, NY
A scenic train journey through the Royal Gorge featuring spectacular canyon views, wildlife spotting, and onboard dining. Great for families with multiple seating options from coach to vista dome.
Vista Dome Experience We rode the Royal Gorge Train on January 9th at noon, and it was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Before boarding, there’s a beautiful park near the station overlooking the Arkansas River, so peaceful and perfect for photos. The customer service at the Happy Endings Café immediately made us feel welcomed. We sat in the Vista Dome, which was the perfect choice to fully enjoy the breathtaking views while dining. My date had the turkey hoagie with chips, which he really enjoyed. I chose the chicken nachos. They were okay, but I’d probably try something different next time. The true stars of the experience were the outdoor car, where you can fully take in the majestic beauty of the gorge, and our incredible host Brett! Brett was full of fun facts and fascinating stories, and we absolutely loved chatting with him. He truly enhanced the entire experience. This train ride is a must-do and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. An unforgettable experience!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
This scenic train ride is excellent for families with children of all ages, offering kid activities plus adult amenities like mimosas. The regular coach seating provides great value and gorge access, while vista dome upgrades offer tables and comfort but cost significantly more. Be prepared for potential bathroom odors in enclosed cars.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →9,257 Google reviews
Martina Wilson
2 months ago
“Vista Dome Experience We rode the Royal Gorge Train on January 9th at noon, and it was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Before boarding, there’s a beautiful park near the station overlooking the Arkansas River, so peaceful and perfect for photos. The customer service at the Happy Endings Café immediately made us feel welcomed. We sat in the Vista Dome, which was the perfect choice to fully enjoy the breathtaking views while dining. My date had the turkey hoagie with chips, which he really enjoyed. I chose the chicken nachos. They were okay, but I’d probably try something different next time. The true stars of the experience were the outdoor car, where you can fully take in the majestic beauty of the gorge, and our incredible host Brett! Brett was full of fun facts and fascinating stories, and we absolutely loved chatting with him. He truly enhanced the entire experience. This train ride is a must-do and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. An unforgettable experience!”
Bonnie Nomunkhan
3 months ago
“My family and I had such an amazing time on this train ride! The staff were all very kind, fun, and helpful! The extra money to be on the 2nd level of the train is DEFINITELY worth it! Super comfortable experience! And you get a table to eat your food on because you have to eat your meal in your lap on the lower level of the train. It is also a very family friendly experience with little activities for the kids while mama can have her morning Mimosa 🥂 This train ride is sooo worth the visit!”
Debra Heim
2 months ago
“This was an amazing experience! The views were spectacular, the train was so nice and relaxing and the food was delish! We did the dome car and then walked out to the open car and both were wonderful! The servers were ALL amazing and the knowledge they held about The train and the Gorge was so impressive, we really learned alot. The Chocolate cake was Amazing!! Its kind of pricey but worth every penny!”
Thalia Velasquez
3 months ago
“What a smooth ride and super comfortable. Everyone was very friendly and helpful throughout the ride. The prices for coach are very reasonable and close to the open train cart where you can enjoy the beautiful view. Please note that if the train is stopped for a while it means that they have stopped to view beautiful sights and or the bridge 🌉. So don’t stay inside, enjoy the view.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers scenic train rides through Colorado's Royal Gorge canyon with towering granite walls and Arkansas River views. The journey features open-air cars for wildlife spotting, onboard dining prepared fresh, and multiple seating classes including coach, deluxe, and vista dome options. Special experiences include evening laser light shows, engineer rides, and themed dining trains with up to four daily departures year-round.