The affordable two-hour train ride was pleasant and had wonderful views.
I loved dodging traffic and not having to drive — plus, the train tracks were steps from the resort.
Those who want to visit the mountains in Colorado without the hassle of driving may want to try the Amtrak Winter Park Express.
Affectionately nicknamed the "Ski Train," it is a fantastic option for going from Denver to Winter Park ski resort for a day in the snow. Its service typically begins in late December and runs through the end of March.
Fares for the two-hour ride start at $19, depending on the date you book tickets. My round-trip ticket from Friday, December 20, to Saturday, December 21, cost $58.
Here's what my "Ski Train" ride was like.
The trains felt perfectly scheduled for maximum skiing time in Winter Park.
My train left early to get us to Winter Park as the lifts opened.
Molly O'Brien
My train was scheduled to leave Denver Union Station around 7 a.m. to arrive in Winter Park around 9 a.m. — right as its ski lifts open for the day.
I live just outside downtown Denver, so I woke up at 6 a.m. to drive to the parking garage adjacent to Union Station, where I'd booked an overnight parking spot. I arrived at the tracks around 6:20 for my 6:30 boarding time.
My return trip would depart Winter Park at 4:35 p.m. (right after the ski lifts close) and arrive in Denver around 7 p.m.
Boarding was pretty easy.
The train has a special compartment for ski gear.
Molly O'Brien
The train allows riders to take their skis or snowboards as a single carry-on item.
Since passengers can bring two carry-on items and one personal item on board, I was able to travel with my skis, overnight bag, and a small backpack.
While boarding the train, I passed my equipment to a volunteer, who placed it in a special storage area.
I had no problem finding a seat on the train.
The train's seats are in pairs.
Molly O'Brien
All seats on this train are coach — there are no business or first-class options. As the train filled up, I had no trouble finding a seat.
Seats were arranged in pairs (or clusters of four), and I felt quite comfortable. They can recline slightly and most have pull-down tray tables, similar to what you'd find on a plane.
The energy on the train was excellent.
The views made the trip even better.
Molly O'Brien
Many of my fellow passengers seemed excited and buzzing with energy — you'd never know it was barely 7 a.m. As the train exited the station, some of them started cheering.
The vibes on the train ride were excellent overall. Even our lively conductor made sure to stop and chat with each passenger while checking tickets.
I tried to get work done but ended up looking out the window for most of the trip.
The mountain scenery along the way was stunning to look at.
Molly O'Brien
I and many other passengers had our laptops out to use during the ride. Unfortunately, we lost cellphone service about 30 minutes into the trip, and I wasn't able to use my hot spot or do much on my computer after that.
Fortunately, I was able to spend most of the trip looking out the window at the stunning mountain scenery.
I spent most of my trip in the lounge car because I loved its windows.
This Amtrak lounge car had domed windows on top.
Molly O'Brien
My favorite spot on the train was the lounge car, which had domed windows on top and large ones on either side. It had the best views.
This car also had snacks and drinks for sale, so I bought myself a hot coffee.
After almost two hours, we began to approach our final stop.
I spent a lot of my Amtrak ride looking out the windows.
Molly O'Brien
The highly relaxing trip took roughly two hours in total.
When we went through Moffat Tunnel on the final stretch of the journey, an Amtrak employee told us it was time to put on our ski gear because we were just minutes away from Winter Park Resort.
Our train stop was wildly close to the Winter Park slopes.
Amtrak employees helped us unload our ski gear from the train.
Molly O'Brien
We pulled into the train platform shortly after 9 a.m., and I could see the ski runs right out the train windows.
Amtrak employees unloaded our skis and snowboards for us, and we stepped off the train platform and right onto Winter Park grounds.
Seriously, I couldn't believe how close the train tracks were to the ski hill.
We barely had to walk from the train stop to get to the ski lift and village.
Molly O'Brien
We were less than 50 steps from Winter Park's base ski lift and village area, where we could grab a bite to eat, rent a ski locker or equipment for the day, and buy a lift pass.
Overall, the train could be an excellent alternative to driving to Winter Park.
Getting to Winter Park was a breeze with the Amtrak train.
Molly O'Brien
The Amtrak journey to Winter Park wasn't overly expensive and felt highly efficient. It was a great alternative to driving to the mountain.
Although I've been told driving from downtown Denver can be a slightly shorter trip at around 90 minutes, that doesn't factor in traffic.
Winter Park can get really congested during peak ski seasons, so I was happy to not be stuck in a car. Plus, since I wasn't driving, I was able to fully embrace the stunning mountain views around me.
The only real downside for me was that I couldn't bring my dog as the train is not pet-friendly.