Steamscape: Mt. Garfield and the Grenadier Range. Just a hundred yards or so from the Animas Footbridge on the Colorado Trail, we watch a Silverton Mixed Train, behind K-28 #473, charging north at Milepost 491.25, with the towering Mt. Garfield (right) and the Grenadier Range as a backdrop.
The area depicted here is very popular with hard-core hikers, many of whom will spend several days in the wilderness, summiting some of the peaks you see and camping near picturesque lakes at altitudes in the vicinity of 10,000 ft. above sea level. Hikers can park up at Molas Pass, just to the west and hike down into the canyon to this location.....or take the easy way in and simply ride the one of the Durango & Silverton's daily tourist trains, utilizing the flag stop at Elk Park, just about 6/10ths of a mile south of here. For folks riding the train north from this site, the town of Silverton is just under 7 rail miles away, which is perhaps a 20-25 minute trip.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
