Finally it was back to the Union Station depot by midday to catch the east bound California Zephyr for a leisurely ride back to Denver in time for dinner. We rode the first alpine coaster in the United States there, formally named Canyon Flyer which is a near-neck snapping, switch-back, hair-pin turn thrill ride down the side of Iron Mountain as well taking in several other great sights and adventure. The caverns and park are reached by boarding an aerial tram gondola that carries you to the top of the Iron Mountain which dominates the entire north side of the city of Glenwood Springs at 7,160 ft. We ate a delicious breakfast of freshly made omelets with sides of fresh fruit and oatmeal before we set out to tackle the sights, thrills and daredevil rides at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park,51000 Two Rivers Plaza Rd. The greatest way to shake off a day of travel, even if Amtrak had done all the driving, is to relax in the 100+ degree hot spring pool and watch the stars come out in Glenwood. Time for sunglasses as we headed to check in at Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, 415 E 6th St. As we began to descend the western slope of the continental divide, now rolling along with the streams that would turn into rivers headed for the great Pacific ocean, we began to escape the snowfall that had descended upon Denver earlier that morning and when we stepped off the Zephyr in early afternoon, the sky was bright, sunny and in the 70's. Up and over the continental divide through 11 train tunnels or various lengths and between mountain walls of sheer rock face climbing out of sight we rode all the while enjoying the beauty from the observation car with fresh hot snacks and cold beverages. Upward we climbed with a brief stop at the Winter Park Resort in Fraser CO. The train ride ascending the mountains out of Denver was an actual winter wonderland of fresh snowfall, fluffy and soft, filling the branches of fir and pine trees just a few feet from our train window. An unusually late snowfall greeted us on the following morning in Denver as departed the Hotel Indigo and we boarded the California Zephyr headed West to Glenwood Springs. On and off the MALLRIDE bus all afternoon can be huge fun and highly entertaining. The steps at the Capital building allow a photo op on 1 specific, and well marked, step which places you at exactly 1 Mile High Above Sea Level! There's the US Mint and the Denver Museum of Modern Art. There is every kind of food and shopping up and down the mall. After check-in, our first afternoon in Denver involved site seeing along the mile long MALLRIDE which is a FREE shuttle bus making a loop from Union Station to the State Capital building grounds and back again with only 5 minute wait times at any corner along the route. The art in the lobby is modern and the Hearth & Dram is an excellent respite for good food and drink. The room was excellent and nicely quiet for a large, urban, city center. The staff was ready with our room, they were pleasant and cheerful. From the airport, we hopped the new electric train connection to Denver's downtown Union station, a modest $9 each and strolled about a block to our first night hotel stay at the Hotel Indigo. Arriving in Denver airport I connected with my old college buddy for a jam-packed, fun-filled, 3 night adventure centered on a round trip excursion to Glenwood Springs, but the Hotel Indigo, 1801 Wewatta St, was our starting point. A leisurely train ride through the Rocky Mountains had been a dream of mine for years and I never had the time or the opportunity until May 2017.
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