Five of Amtrak’s Best Routes for Snowy Views
Five of Amtrak’s Best Routes for Snowy Views
If you’re a Winter Wonderland kind of person who can’t wait for the first snow days of the year, Amtrak has train routes that can take you through some of the best snowy views around the U.S. — minus the traffic and winter driving woes. Here are five recommendations for train routes that offer unforgettable views of snow-covered natural landscapes.
1. Winter Park Express
Park the car and sail past I-70 traffic for an easy metro-to-mountain trip to Colorado’s Winter Park, only on Amtrak's Winter Park Express. Bring your board or skis at no extra cost and hop off right in the heart of the Winter Park Ski Resort, rated one of North America’s best. Arrive rested and ready to hit the trails and when the day is done, sit back and let Amtrak get you back to Denver.
Railfans have done wonderful work in capturing the chilling beauty of this route and its iconic ski resort destination. See for yourself at #winterparkexpress on Instagram.
1. Winter Park Express
Park the car and sail past I-70 traffic for an easy metro-to-mountain trip to Colorado’s Winter Park, only on Amtrak's Winter Park Express. Bring your board or skis at no extra cost and hop off right in the heart of the Winter Park Ski Resort, rated one of North America’s best. Arrive rested and ready to hit the trails and when the day is done, sit back and let Amtrak get you back to Denver.
Railfans have done wonderful work in capturing the chilling beauty of this route and its iconic ski resort destination. See for yourself at #winterparkexpress on Instagram.
2. Vermonter
Glide into some of the Northeast’s top ski destinations, including Okemo, Quechee and Stowe aboard Amtrak’s Vermonter. Your gear rides for free while you enjoy quaint New England villages and towns tucked beneath the beautiful backdrop of the snowcapped Green Mountains.
The views are fantastic all year round — snow or no — as you can see by following the #amtrakvermonter tag on Instagram.
2. Vermonter
Glide into some of the Northeast’s top ski destinations, including Okemo, Quechee and Stowe aboard Amtrak’s Vermonter. Your gear rides for free while you enjoy quaint New England villages and towns tucked beneath the beautiful backdrop of the snowcapped Green Mountains.
The views are fantastic all year round — snow or no — as you can see by following the #amtrakvermonter tag on Instagram.
3. California Zephyr
Whether you shred, schuss or slalom, you can hit some of America’s premier ski spots on Amtrak’s California Zephyr. From former Olympic venues such as Lake Tahoe (Squaw Valley) and Park City, to the quieter and family-friendly slopes of Sunlight Mountain in Glenwood Springs in the Colorado Rockies, Amtrak is a great way to sample different mountains across different states.
Check out the #californiazephyr tag on Instagram as a treat to yourself to some snowy views whenever the wintry mood strikes you.
3. California Zephyr
Whether you shred, schuss or slalom, you can hit some of America’s premier ski spots on Amtrak’s California Zephyr. From former Olympic venues such as Lake Tahoe (Squaw Valley) and Park City, to the quieter and family-friendly slopes of Sunlight Mountain in Glenwood Springs in the Colorado Rockies, Amtrak is a great way to sample different mountains across different states.
Check out the #californiazephyr tag on Instagram as a treat to yourself to some snowy views whenever the wintry mood strikes you.
4. Adirondack
Travel north from New York City to Montreal aboard the Adirondack train. Hop off in the Hudson Valley for snowshoeing or winter hikes, then warm up at a local award-winning winery. Or roll all the way to Canada, where Mount Royal Park invites you to cross-country ski or snow tube before you savor the international flavors of Montreal, including the charming architecture and cobblestone streets of the city’s historic quarter, Vieux-Montréal.
For a slightly milder seasonal flavor, the Fall foliage views from the Adirondack train are also legendary and belong on your radar.
4. Adirondack
Travel north from New York City to Montreal aboard the Adirondack train. Hop off in the Hudson Valley for snowshoeing or winter hikes, then warm up at a local award-winning winery. Or roll all the way to Canada, where Mount Royal Park invites you to cross-country ski or snow tube before you savor the international flavors of Montreal, including the charming architecture and cobblestone streets of the city’s historic quarter, Vieux-Montréal.
For a slightly milder seasonal flavor, the Fall foliage views from the Adirondack train are also legendary and belong on your radar.
5. Empire Builder
If you want to simply enjoy the ride, the Empire Builder takes you through the northern Rockies, where snow-capped peaks and frosted white valleys create stunning vistas. Explore the slopes of Glacier National Park, stop in Leavenworth, Wash., for a horse-drawn sleigh ride, or hop off in Seattle or Portland for winter fun at Mount Rainier, Mount Baker or Mount Hood.
One more tag to follow (you won't regret it): the #amtrakempirebuilder tag on Instagram showcases a wide array of landscapes across America, but "snowy" is very much the fan-favorite flavor.
5. Empire Builder
If you want to simply enjoy the ride, the Empire Builder takes you through the northern Rockies, where snow-capped peaks and frosted white valleys create stunning vistas. Explore the slopes of Glacier National Park, stop in Leavenworth, Wash., for a horse-drawn sleigh ride, or hop off in Seattle or Portland for winter fun at Mount Rainier, Mount Baker or Mount Hood.
One more tag to follow (you won't regret it): the #amtrakempirebuilder tag on Instagram showcases a wide array of landscapes across America, but "snowy" is very much the fan-favorite flavor.
Whether enjoying the scenery or playing in the snow, snow much fun is just an Amtrak away. But if playing is your aim, you can bring your snow gear with you for free on Amtrak. Learn more about how Amtrak keeps rolling even when the snow is falling. And, finally, for even more inspiration, check out an alternative perspective on the top 5 Amtrak winter routes from our official YouTube channel:
