Travel & Safety
Health & Safety Tips
The wellbeing of guests and staff is our highest priority during your experience with us. Planning ahead can help enhance your enjoyment and keep your party as safe as possible. Please follow these tips before and during your adventure:
- Closed toe shoes are strongly recommended. Sturdy, comfortable footwear will help keep you safe and comfortable throughout the day.
- Areas of the property contain uneven surfaces so please exercise caution. Alert staff if a member of your party requires assistance with mobility issues, accessibility, or first aid.
- Weather conditions can change unexpectedly so please monitor forecasts closely and bring appropriate clothing layers.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses help protect from UV rays, especially at high altitude and during summer months.
- Don’t wait to hydrate. It’s a good idea to drink at least 4-6 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes. This is especially important during hot weather and at high altitude.
- Feeling sick? Please be considerate of other guests and staff if you’re not feeling well. Rebooking options may be available, so please consider joining us another time if you are feeling ill.
- Customers who wish to rebook their tickets are advised to email info@durangotrain.com with your reservation information and rebooking request. Customers may also call to rebook by phone at (970) 247-2733 or (888) 872-4607. Rebooking fees may apply.
D&SNGRR Parking
As an additional service for our guests, we now offer the option to purchase your parking ticket at the same time you purchase your train tickets. You can purchase online or over the phone with your credit card. You may also purchase your parking ticket with your credit card at the parking lot on the morning of your ride.
2026 Excursion Parking Lot fees are $10.00 for a car, truck or motorcycle and $20.00 for an RV, bus, trailer or any vehicle utilizing more than one standard parking space. Special event parking fees are $6.00. You will need to purchase a parking ticket for each date your vehicle is parked in the lot. Per city ordinance, there is no overnight camping allowed in the lot.
The D&SNGRR parking lot (209 W College Drive) is located next to the rail yard at the corner of U.S. Hwy 550 and College Drive, just west of the McDonald’s restaurant.
Once parked, please follow the directional signs or ask the Parking Lot attendant for assistance to get to the Depot.
For passengers who may have difficulty walking from the Parking Lot to the train station, we offer an ‘unloading zone’ on Main Avenue near the Depot to let off passengers before parking the vehicle. If you have a Handicapped Parking Permit placard or plates on your vehicle, you may park at any regular metered parking space for no charge. Please do not park at a “30 minute” meter.
The Route
The D&SNGRR travels 45.4 miles each way along the Animas River from Durango to Silverton during our summer season May through October. On our winter trips late November through early May, the train travels 26 miles each way to the wye at Cascade Station. The last point of highway access between Durango and Silverton is the Rockwood Station . Between Rockwood and Silverton it is a designated wilderness area and there is no motorized access.
The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. The Animas River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the entire western United States. The route along the Animas, which begins high in the San Juan Mountains and ends in a confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico, boasts some of Colorado’s most striking canyon scenery. Throughout the season, the river will rise from around 400 c.f.s (cubic feet per second) in April, to over 6,000 c.f.s at peak snowmelt runoff in June, and will mellow out again in September.
Additional Information
For best availability on any excursion, please make your reservation early! You will receive a confirmation when your reservation is made online or by phone. Passengers must be seated on the train 30 minutes prior to departure or seats may be released to waiting passengers. No-shows are not refundable. Due to the impact to overall capacity, we do not allow customers to book roundtrip seating in different products. If available the morning of your ride, we will happily change you to split seating services and any additional charges that apply based on ticket price would be due at that time. Customers wanting to reserve split seating going and returning would need to purchase one-way tickets accordingly.
Fares and schedules subject to change without notice.
Cancellation Fees: $14 per adult — $7 per child.
No refund within 5 days of train trip. Special and licensed events are non-refundable within 60 days of departure.
All seats are assigned.
Special Needs: The D&SNGRR offers a train car with wheelchair accessible restroom, lift service, and a spacious interior. Any special needs should be communicated with a reservation agent at the time of booking. The only animals allowed onboard the train are service animals.
Rules on Smoking, Alcohol and Firearms: There is no smoking in any car, platform, bathroom or any other area on board the train. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes and vapor pens. Due to liquor regulations, no personal alcohol can be brought on board the train. Premium cars have alcoholic beverages for purchase and standard class passengers can go to the Concession car to purchase alcohol. The minimum legal drinking age in Colorado is 21. Passengers are not permitted to carry firearms on the train. Backpackers and hunters may arrange for firearms to be transported as freight. Please contact Special Handling in the Reservation Office at info@durangotrain.com to make arrangements.
Preparing for the Ride: Because of the changing mountain climate and the increase in elevation from Durango to Silverton, we strongly encourage you to dress in layers of clothing. Sunglasses are highly recommended to protect eyes from possible cinders in the air. Final boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure.
Credit cards will be charged at the time of reservation. Without payment, we do not hold bookings for individual passengers. Final boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure.
Service Animals at the DSNGRR: Service animals are animals that are trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of a person with a disability and are permitted on DSNGRR passenger trains and in all locations that passengers are allowed. DSNGRR may ask what task(s) the service animal performs.
Pets and animals not considered service animals, including comfort animals or emotional support animals not trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability, but which are said to provide emotional support or to relieve anxiety simply by their presence (for example by the passenger holding or stroking the animal), are not permitted on-board DSNGRR trains or in public buildings.
Please call 1.888.872.4607 to make a reservation if someone in your party requires a service animal to travel with them. Service animals are not allowed to sit in aisles or block passenger walkways. Service animals should always be on a leash, harness, or other tether, unless that is not possible due to disability or if the leash, harness, or tether would interfere with the service animals safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control. DSNGRR personnel may require you to remove your service animal enroute or from railroad property if the animal is out of control, causes significant disturbance, is not housebroken or poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Photography License Agreement
This is an Authorization from Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Inc., a Colorado corporation, having a principal place of business at 479 Main Avenue, Durango, Colorado, (hereinafter “DSNGRR”) addressing use of pictures or images of the following:
WHEREAS, DSNGRR is the owner of exclusive rights of (1) “DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD”; (2) “DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD AND MUSEUM”; and (3) DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD AND MUSEUM and DESIGN”, (hereinafter collectively referred to as “D&SNGRR”);
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
D&SNGRR hereby grants the purchaser of this ticket (hereinafter referred to as “Purchaser”) the right to take, edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, distribute and makes use of any and pictures or video taken of D&SNGRR to be used in and/or for legally promotional materials including, but not limited to, newsletters, flyers, posters, brochures, advertisements, fundraising letters, annual reports, press kits and submissions to journalists, websites, social media, formats and markets now known or hereafter devised. This authorization shall continue indefinitely, unless D&SNGRR otherwise revokes said authorization in writing.
Quality Control. Purchaser agrees that all goods and services and related use of the images will be of a high standard, style, appearance and/or quality and D&SNGRR, in the reasonable exercise of its sole discretion, has the right to inspect and approve each use of the Images and all goods and services containing said Images offered by Purchaser for adherence to the high standards of quality of D&SNGRR.
Indemnification/Insurance. Purchaser assumes no liability to D&SNGRR with respect to the goods or services sold, offered, performed or advertised by D&SNGRR under the Images or in connection with any of the rights granted under this Agreement. Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless D&SNGRR’s agents and employees against all claims, demands, liability, suits, actions or losses, including all reasonable expenses and attorneys’ fees, incurred by or imposed on Purchasor, its agents or employees through claims, demands, suits or actions of third parties involving the goods or services provided by D&SNGRR or in connection with any rights granted under Authorization.
Rights of Use/ Use of Likeness Policy- Every ticketed guest may board the D&SNGRR on the condition, and by boarding any D&SNGRR train car agrees that the D&SNGRR and each of their respective agents and licensees, shall have the unrestricted rights and license to use his or her image, likenesses, name, voice, comments or other proprietary or public rights and that of any minor accompanying ticketed guest in any photograph and/or video and/or audio sound recording taken during the course of ticketed guest’s trip which includes but not limited to all property associated with the train such as yard, depots, event park, right of ways, departure and boarding areas in Durango and Silverton Colorado and the Cascade Wye, for all purposes, without consent or compensation. The rights granted herein to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are assignable.