Most Scenic Amtrak Train Trip | California Zephyr | Rocky Mountains

Most Scenic Amtrak Train Trip | California Zephyr | Rocky Mountains

Amtrak train trip from Denver to California on the California Zephyr. This is our second overnight trip on this train.

We take public transportation to get to Denver, and stay in one of the nearby IHG rewards Hotels, to catch the 8:45 am daily train out of Union Station.

We love this nostalgic, slow mode of transportation choice giving us efficient, calm, down time to work or read and relax instead of flying because we can travel in comfort through the stunning Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas, on one of the top, most scenic train rides.

This time we are reserving a sleeper car, a roomette for one night, and going all the way to San Francisco to embark on the Ruby Princess to Hawaii. We give insights into Coach and roomette seating experiences for long-distance, overnight travel.

🚂 We took the popular, long-distance Amtrak train, the California Zephyr, offering transportation with comfortable coach seating and 1st Class sleeper room options and dining. We started by taking the Bustang public transit from Fort Collins to Denver, opting to stay overnight in an IHG rewards hotel close to Union Station.
🏜️Scenic highlights include: (our beloved Colorado) Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, Moffat Tunnel, Colorado’s Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyons, Winter Park, Truckee River, Donner Lake, San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait.
🤩 Going west, the best views are mostly on the left or south side especially through Colorado. Spend at least a little bit of time in the observation car to get 360 views, especially of Glenwood Canyon and Colorado National Monument areas. There is one Observation Car on the train that has almost floor to ceiling windows on both sides of the upper floor of the car offering a more immersive view of these stunning landscapes. Claiming a space is on a first-come, first-served basis for the side facing, casual seating, so for the most scenic portions you’ll want to get there early. However, sitting time will be limited if needed to give all guests an opportunity to enjoy the landscapes from this car.
🍔 A small cafe downstairs has some sandwiches, simple microwave meals, snacks and drinks. 1st Class guests are afforded three meals in the dinning car, complimentary bottled water in the sleeper cars at the water station and cabin service. Coach seats can pay for a meal in the dinning car if there is available seating.

We are Bill and Christina and we travel full time in our RV across the US and beyond as we are chasing 70 degrees. Have a good night on the trail wherever you are on your journey.

https://chasing70degrees.com

Amtrak California Zephyr
https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train

Coach VS 1st Class Roomette, Bedroom, Suite or Family Room
https://www.amtrak.com/sleeper-car-accommodations#:~:text=Roomette,boarding%20and%20complimentary%20meals%20onboard.

The Moffat Tunnel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moffat_Tunnel
The railroad tunnel is 24 feet (7.3 m) high, 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, and 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long. The apex of the tunnel is at 9,239 feet (2,816 m) above sea level. It follows South Boulder Creek making a shortcut through the mountains from Rollinsville at I-70 to Winter Park. The tunnel has a gradient of 1 in 125 (0.8%).[3]

Colorado Department of Transportation
Bustang /Snowtang /Pegasus

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