All Aboard the Santa Express Train – A Magical Holiday Ride Through the Royal Gorge
Starting November 20 and running through December 31 each year, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad transforms into Colorado’s most enchanting holiday experience: The Santa Express Train.
Families, couples, and holiday adventurers from across the country come to Cañon City to step aboard this festive journey, where sparkling lights, classic carols, hot cocoa, cookies, and Santa himself bring the magic of the season to life.
If you’re searching for a holiday tradition that feels warm, nostalgic, and unforgettable, the Santa Express Train is the ride you won’t want to miss.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers daily departures at 9:15 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:30 pm, with 6:30 pm departures on weekends.
A Holiday Journey Like No Other
The magic begins the second you step onto the platform. The Santa Express isn’t just decorated; it’s transformed. Twinkling lights dance across every surface, cheerful music fills the air, and those beautifully adorned railcars? They’re practically glowing with holiday spirit.
This isn’t just a train ride. This is stepping straight into a snow globe, where every detail whispers (or maybe shouts!), “Christmas is HERE!” And then? Oh, then the train starts moving. You’re gliding alongside the Arkansas River, with those absolutely jaw-dropping 1,000-foot granite cliffs rising up on either side like ancient sentinels guarding a secret winter village.
The Royal Gorge doesn’t just impress; it stuns. And in winter? When everything’s touched with frost and that impossibly crisp mountain air? It’s the kind of beautiful that makes you catch your breath and reach for your camera again and again.
But here’s where it gets even better. While outside you’re drinking in some of Colorado’s most spectacular scenery, inside the train is its own little world of cozy holiday perfection!
❄️ Freshly baked cookies and steaming hot cocoa arrive at your seat (because what’s Christmas without cookies?)
❄️ Shimmering holiday décor turns every railcar into a winter wonderland on wheels
❄️ Classic Christmas stories and sing-along carols fill the air (go ahead, belt out “Jingle Bells” with complete abandon)
❄️ Santa himself makes an appearance, spreading joy and handing out special gifts that make kids’ eyes light up like, well, Christmas trees
❄️ Photo ops galore: capture those candid giggles, warm family moments, and yes, that perfect shot with Santa.
Whether you’re creating core memories with wide-eyed little ones, stealing some quality time with the people you love most, or just treating yourself to the most festive adventure Colorado has to offer, the Santa Express delivers something precious: pure, unfiltered holiday magic. This is the kind of experience you’ll be talking about next December. And the December after that.
