A holiday train from the Santa Fe Depot in Cañon City into the Royal Gorge, about an hour and a half round trip. Elves lead songs and games, then the train stops at a brightly lit North Pole where Santa boards and walks through every car with a bell for each child.
Know before you go. The railroad doesn't list a sensory-friendly ride. Here's what it does say about the seats, the lights, the sounds and Santa.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad: Santa Express
Address
Santa Fe Depot, 401 Water St., Cañon City 81212 Directions
Hours
Santa Express runs Nov 19 to Dec 30, 2026, with up to four departures a day; the booking calendar shows times. Each ride is about 1.5 hours.
“Please arrive 60-90 minutes prior to departure to pick up your tickets and get your photo taken.” Rides are “Approximately 1-1.5 Hours.” royalgorgeroute.com
Space
“all guests are assigned seating and arriving early does not allow you to pick your seats.” Parties of more than 4 are seated across the aisle or back to back. royalgorgeroute.com
Light
“we've doubled the Christmas lights at the North Pole in the gorge, and even more spectacular, we've added an all-new laser-light recreation of the Aurora Borealis.” royalgorgeroute.com
Sound
“holiday music fills the air.” “Elves greet families, lead sing-alongs, and play holiday games with children.” royalgorgeroute.com
Sound
The railroad describes “the unnatural, high-pitched metallic sounds that the Train makes as it goes over joints in the tracks.” royalgorgeroute.com
Rules
“For safety reasons, we do not allow carseats, strollers or booster seats on the train.” “All Bags are subject to search at the gate prior to boarding.” royalgorgeroute.com
“Santa takes his time, walking through every train car, greeting every child and family, with plenty of time for photos and handing out a special present to each child, a magical Christmas bell.”
Our note Santa comes to every car, so your kid doesn't have to stand in a line or walk up to him.
Our note The open-air car is open to every ticket holder and is standing room only. It can be a place to step away from the music, in cold air.
Three things to know
Peak tickets are $114 to $144 adult and $104 to $134 child (ages 1 to 12); non-peak $99 to $129 adult and $94 to $124 child, depending on the car. Fees, dining and tips are extra. Children under 1 can ride on a lap.
“We have a strict no-refund policy for our Santa Express train rides.” Book well ahead: most dates sell out weeks or months in advance.
No outside food or drinks except one bottle of water each. Tickets include hot cocoa, cookies and a gift for each ticketed child. Food from the grill is extra.
The railroad names these loud and bright moments itself
Louder or brighter
The North Pole stop (doubled holiday lights and a laser aurora)not stated
On board (holiday music and elf sing-alongs)not stated
Quieter
Quiet roomnot stated
There are several restrooms on the train; some are wheelchair accessible. The depot has accessible restrooms.
A lift helps anyone who can't climb the 5 to 7 outside stairs onto the train. Vista Dome seats need 14 steps and aren't wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair spaces are limited; call 719-276-4000 before you book.
Purses must be no larger than 10.75 by 7.5 by 4 inches, and backpacks no larger than 8.75 by 10.2 by 5.9 inches.
Only service animals ride. Parking at the depot is free. The train runs in rain and snow.
What the railroad doesn't say
not stated how loud the music and the sing-alongs are
not stated how many people ride in each car
not stated whether lights inside the cars are dimmed at the North Pole
Book well ahead; most dates sell out. Seats are assigned when you book. Arrive 60 to 90 minutes early to pick up tickets and get photos at the depot. On board, there are cocoa, cookies and holiday music, and elves lead sing-alongs and games. At the North Pole, the gorge is lit with lights and a laser aurora, and Santa walks through every car. The ride is about 1.5 hours, with restrooms on the train. Change anything.
Common questions
What if my child won't look at the schedule or story?
That is common at first. Leave it where the moment happens, point to one picture at a time, and keep it low-pressure. Many kids warm up to it after a few calm tries, in their own time.
Can I make this in Spanish?
Yes. Every tool and this page exist in Spanish, and the printed page comes out in the language you choose. Use the language switch at the top.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, and we don’t keep what you type; anything you save stays on your device. Make it, print it, done.
