Ride the New Santa Express Train!
This year, we’re introducing our ALL NEW Santa Express Train holiday locomotive, which will lead the train through the Royal Gorge to the North Pole and back. It’s an absolute holiday masterpiece and will delight children of all ages.
After one year and more than 5,000 hours of craftsmanship, our stunning Santa Express Train locomotive is unlike any other in the world, featuring hand-spun gold-leaf paint, 313 hand-painted snowflakes, 40 hand-painted pine trees, and of course, Santa’s magical sleigh and reindeer flying through the sky under a full moon.
Experience the magic!
Join us for a journey to the North Pole in Colorado’s Royal Gorge and meet Santa Claus himself. The Santa Express Train is a winter wonderland, where children of all ages gather to make memories you’ll treasure year after year.
The Santa Express Train travels to the North Pole in the Royal Gorge up to four times daily: 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Holiday spirit abounds aboard each train, where you’ll enjoy your favorite Christmas tunes and cheerful decor. During the journey, you and your family are welcome to order and enjoy lunch or dinner, as well as your favorites from our full bar, while we make our way through the Royal Gorge to pick up St. Nick.
Once the guest of honor boards the train, Santa will greet every child and give each of them a very special gift.
Just like the Santa Express Train, the Holiday Train travels through the Royal Gorge for a round-trip journey. While Santa does not join us aboard the Holiday Train, railcars are decorated beautifully to celebrate the season. The Holiday Train is a relaxed affair for guests of all ages. To learn more about the Holiday Train, click here.
What’s Included in your Santa Express Train ticket?
Each Santa Express Ticket includes your journey, meeting Santa Claus aboard the train, cocoa and cookies, and a very special gift from St. Nick for each ticketed child.
Our 403 Grill and full bar are additional — and open on every trip aboard Vista Dome and Deluxe railcars. We cook from scratch and offer several limited-time holiday favorites, so feel free to pre-order your meals when booking your tickets, or order when you board the train. Dining, drinks and service charge are not included in the cost of your Santa Express Train ticket.
50,000 lights!
Prepare to be dazzled by a holiday display featuring more than 50,000 lights in the North Pole. On the return trip during evening departures, enjoy the festive Northern lights dancing against the sheer rock wall of Colorado’s grandest canyon.
40,000 smiles!
More than 40,000 guests ride the Santa Express Train each year, so tickets sell out quickly. Book your trip today and find out why the Santa Express Train is Colorado’s top Christmas train experience.
NOV. 17 – DEC 24 and DEC 26-30
UP TO FOUR DAILY DEPARTURES!
9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Santa Express Train journey is approximately 1.5 hours.
Please arrive at least 45 minutes prior to departure to pick up your tickets.
When you get here.
We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes in advance of your scheduled departure time to get your photos and golden tickets to take onboard. Early arriving passengers may be allowed to pre-board to get settled in for the unforgettable journey ahead. Please note that all guests are assigned seating and arriving early does not allow you to pick your seats.
Ticket includes your journey aboard the train, hot cocoa, meeting Santa and a special gift for ticketed children.
$124 Adult /$114 Child (ages 1-12) – Vista Dome: Offers the most spectacular views of the breathtaking Royal Gorge and the mighty Arkansas River. Vista Dome offers comfortable booth-styled seats for a relaxing trip through this meandering canyon. Dining and drinks are available for purchase aboard this class of service.
$124 Adult / $114 Child (ages 1-12) – Deluxe Class: Comfortable table style seating in one of our historic Deluxe cars. Featuring unique warm woods and large picture windows that showcases the beautiful canyon during our majestic winter season. Dining and drinks are available for purchase aboard this class of service.
$94 Adult / $84 Child (ages 1-12) – Coach Class: Comfortable seats with expansive windows that showcase pristine views throughout one of Colorado’s grandest canyons). Drinks are available for purchase aboard this class of service.
Dining Information:
Lunch and dinner is additional and may be pre-ordered while booking your tickets, or purchased while aboard the train. Soft drinks and beverages from the bar may also be ordered while aboard the train!
Visit our gift shop.
While waiting to board the train enjoy a little holiday shopping in our new Santa Fe Depot retail store, brimming with unique gifts for the holiday season. Gift certificates are also available.
Upgrade your experience.
Holiday Photo
Make your holiday memories last by taking home a beautiful custom Santa Express Premium Photo Folio. Our professional photographers will put your family in the middle of the holiday action with our custom winter, train-in-the-gorge holiday background. Folios include your family photo and a magical Santa Express Golden Ticket punched by the Conductor. Pre-purchase for $30 now, or purchase on site for $35 when you ride.
Holiday Ornaments
Our Santa Fe Depot retail experience is chock-full of holiday gifts, ornaments, decor, wearables and toys you’ll love. You may also pre-purchase our custom 2023 Santa Express Ornament. When pre-purchasing, your ornament gift voucher will be with your train tickets at the Santa Fe Depot. It can be redeemed in our Gift Shop before or after your journey aboard the Santa Express Train.
Grill Meal Package
Enjoy delicious entrees from our Santa Express 403 Grill Menu! You’re invited to pre-purchase our grill meal package for $25.00, or our grill meal package for $30.00 which includes a glass of house wine or pint of draft beer. You may also order on the train à la carte from our Santa Express Menu. Available for purchase aboard Vista Dome and Deluxe railcars.
The Royal Gorge Route has a no refund policy.
Virtually all of our guests understand that together, we engage in a common social contract: we provide a journey and dining experience aboard our train through the Royal Gorge. In exchange, guests pay for their ride aboard the train and the food, beverages and other special packages they order. Unfortunately, the pandemic has created a new phenomenon – guests who have no intention of paying are purchasing and enjoying hospitality, travel and restaurant experiences across the U.S., then, they are reversing charges and scamming businesses.
Please don’t purchase a ticket with this intention. Remember, really good people are working hard to provide a wonderful trip and dining experience for you. We promise to do our best and thank you in advance for being a gracious guest.
We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you aboard the Santa Express Train!
For same day booking please call the reservations department at 719.276.4000
Please note that we seat in parties of 4. In the tradition of railroad fine dining, parties of 2 will most likely be seated across from another couple. Most of our guests enjoy meeting fellow rail fans. When seated with another couple, you and your guest will be seated on the same side. Larger groups will be seated in adjacent rows.
Seating is limited and trains sell out quickly, so make your reservations early online or by calling us at: 719.276.4000.
Every effort will be made to accommodate any special dietary or physical needs. For questions about the accessibility of the train, its different classes, or if you would like to be seated with another party, please call the reservations department at 719.276.4000 prior to booking a reservation on our web site.
Wheelchair Accessibility: The train only can accommodate a limited number of wheelchair patrons per each train departure. The Vista Dome is not accessible to wheelchairs. Guests must be able to climb 14 steps themselves in order to sit in the Dome Cars.
Please call Reservations if you have a wheelchair (24″maximum at base), walker, or difficulties climbing stairs. For questions about the accessibility of the train and its different classes, please call prior to booking a reservation on our website. All seating is assigned/reserved and cannot be guaranteed.Please call a representative at 719.276.4000 to book your tickets for the entire party with a wheelchair or movement impaired passenger.
Only licensed, certified service animals are allowed on the train.
The Royal Gorge Route follows restaurant health codes. Only licensed, certified service animals are allowed on the train. Any other animals, including emotional support animals, are not allowed on the train.
Call our Group Sales Line at 719.276.4006 to book the entire car for groups of 60 or more guests.
TOP SANTA TRAIN IN COLORADO
Testimonials
SANTA EXPRESS TRAIN
Adventure awaits
Hop aboard the Santa Express Train and experience a one-of-a-kind holiday adventure through the Royal Gorge and Colorado Rockies. Departing daily from the Santa Fe Depot in Canon City from November 19 to December 26.