Aboard the California Zephyr

Denver, Colorado, was always on the cards. But when I came across a story last year, on San Francisco to Chicago (through Denver) being one of the most scenic...
California Zephyr
California Zephyr, Rocky Mountains
California Zephyr going around a bend in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Denver, Colorado, was always on the cards. But when I came across a story last year, on San Francisco to Chicago (through Denver) being one of the most scenic train routes in the United States, I wished we could travel by train — one way at least. And travel we did,  aboard the California Zephyr.

The California Zephyr (an Amtrak Train) which rolls from San Francisco to Chicago travels through seven states on its charted route. As we were only going as far as Denver, Colorado, it took us through four states and showed some awesome sights along the way. If you were to do a one-way trip on this train, I would suggest traveling from SF to Denver rather than the other way around. That way the scene changes from a big city to the countryside, and then some mountains and deserts before you ride through some lofty canyons.

Day 1 on California Zephyr

We began our journey from the other side of the Bay β€” Emeryville, CA. As such, our scenic train ride began with scenes of harbors, and factories that chose to come up close to water transportation facilities. As we approached the state capital, we passed Suisun Bay, where we saw a fleet of ships from World War II. Then there were farms and ranches and soon we were riding into the conifers of the Sierra Nevada. On the mountainous route through Truckee, we saw a lot of fall colors in between the evergreen trees. And some snow too. By evening we had crossed into the state of Nevada. And we got to see the station at Reno just before sundown.

Here are the sights from the train ride to Denver —

Day 2 on the Zephyr

Early next morning when I drew the curtain of my roomette on the California Zephyr, I was greeted by some of Utah’s dry rocky landscapes. We had crossed another state-line in the wee hours of the morning and for the next few hours the huge rock formations we passed,  kept changing in color and in its vegetation. After a few hours of these majestic scenes, Zephyr coursed its way into Grand Junction and in Colorado we were!

Sights from the California Zephyr - Rocky deserts of Utah.
Utah
Sights from the California Zephyr - Rocky deserts of Utah.
Grand Junction. CO
Grand Junction, Colorado.
Colorado River from the California Zephyr
Colorado River, CO

For most of the rest of the day, we passed through the grand Rocky Mountains, the seemingly never-ending Colorado River, dozens of tunnels, and quaint little stations until the Amtrak train chugged its way into Denver and made a good, long sojourn. We alighted there. And I must say, our train journey from EMY to DEN on the California Zephyr was an experience like no other.

Route Guide of the California Zephyr.
California Zephyr’s Route Guide.

Next post on Tipsy From the Trip – a photo feature on the scenes from California Zephyr. 
Denver on Dwellable

This post featured in Blogadda’s  Spicy Saturday Picks
for the first week of December, 2012. Thank you Blogadda. πŸ™‚
 

Denver on Dwellable
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Lithic LandscapesMountainsNatural WondersScenic DrivesScenic Routes

Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. πŸ“Έ Loves tripping.πŸ›£ Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!πŸ₯‚πŸ˜‰
67 Comments on this post.
  • Dheeraj Sharma
    21 November 2012 at 2:55 am
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    Lovely pictures with some nice details

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 8:53 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Deeraj. See, I'm getting influenced by some really great bloggers. Your Ladakh photographs are so awe-inspiring. πŸ™‚

  • Rahul Bhatia
    21 November 2012 at 6:36 am
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    Thank you Divya for taking us on this fabulous train trip from SFO to Denver> The pictures are awesome:)

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:14 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Sharing all this was such a pleasure. It was like re-living that beautiful trip.
      Thank you, Mr. Bhatia.

  • TTT
    21 November 2012 at 8:11 am
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    wow !!!!!!!!!! Its so beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so damn lucky ! and thanks for sharing πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 8:57 am
      Leave a Reply

      Ain't I? πŸ˜‰
      I really do feel very fortunate to have gotten to do this trip. I was excited for weeks before it happened and really enjoyed every bit of the train ride.
      Thank you so much, TTT. πŸ™‚

  • umashankar
    21 November 2012 at 8:20 am
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    Those crystalline images left me with no doubt of the breathtakingly scenic rout of California Zephyr. Beauty oozed right from the title to the photographs through the narration. It is hard to find a favourite but the river shots and that of the Utah are wallhangers. Thank you for sharing, Divya.

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:01 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, USP. I did have to do some 'sharpening' here as these pics except for the Sacramento station one, were taken through the glass of the train's window. There's nothing like seeing it in person. The landscapes are gorgeous!
      It was one-of-a-kind of a train journey and I'm still tipsy from it. πŸ˜‰

  • Desi Traveler
    21 November 2012 at 8:32 am
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    Amazing landscape… a flight can never offer these beautiful views and the time one gets to reflect in a train….thanks

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:04 am
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      You're so right, Desi Traveller. I'd chose the train over the flights, any day. And the ride of the California Zephyr was a total treat. (But next time, I do some flying, I'm going to think of you and 'your' most memorable airplane journey. πŸ™‚ That was a fun post.)

      Reflect! yes indeed.:)

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:17 pm
      Leave a Reply

      *the ride on the California Zephyr. πŸ™‚

    • Desi Traveler
      22 November 2012 at 1:31 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks I appreciate you talking about my post in your blog…

    • dNambiar
      22 November 2012 at 7:48 pm
      Leave a Reply

      :)I hope it makes a few people want to check out your very-interesting blog. πŸ™‚

  • Mridula
    21 November 2012 at 8:48 am
    Leave a Reply

    Lovely pictures!

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:05 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Mridula. πŸ™‚

  • AmitAag
    21 November 2012 at 8:55 am
    Leave a Reply

    Amazing! So well presented!! I loved it! Thank you Divya:)

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:07 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank YOU for your regular visits and your constant support, Amit. I'm so glad you like it. But then, how would you not — you're a poet. πŸ™‚
      Thanks again. Have a great day.

    • AmitAag
      22 November 2012 at 5:08 am
      Leave a Reply

      The pleasure is all mine Divya:) Your posts attract and pull me like a magnet…I keep waiting for the next..:):)

    • dNambiar
      28 November 2012 at 12:53 am
      Leave a Reply

      You made my day, Amit. πŸ™‚

  • Pattu Raj
    21 November 2012 at 10:10 am
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    This is so interesting. In US people travel more by air. But the trains do have their charm.

    Lovely photographs too. Cant wait to read the next installment.Thanks.

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:22 pm
      Leave a Reply

      That's right. Not a lot of people travel this way because it's time-consuming. Our journey from San Francisco to Denver was around 32 hours and the flight back took us a little over 2 hours. πŸ™‚
      But seriously, travelling through these scenic routes is a whole new way of seeing America.
      The photo post will be up soon. πŸ™‚ I'm so happy you liked these pictures.

  • Bikramjit
    21 November 2012 at 11:35 am
    Leave a Reply

    mere ko yeh sab dekhna hai .. πŸ™

    I so want to od thissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

    beautiful picutresssssssssssssss awesomeeeeeeeeeee πŸ™‚

    Bikram's

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:11 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Bikram, it CRAAAAZy!! You'll love it. These pictures are nothing compared to all that this train actually shows you.
      But then, because I have a whole lot of pictures it doesn't feel right not share it, so they'll soon be up in another post. πŸ™‚

    • Bikramjit
      23 November 2012 at 9:40 am
      Leave a Reply

      yes yes yes do put them on please .. I am planning to visit usa for a holiday next year for sure and lets see if i get to do it .. I plan to hire a car and driveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

    • dNambiar
      28 November 2012 at 12:54 am
      Leave a Reply

      Great idea. Lemme know if you are in California ok. πŸ™‚

  • R Niranjan Das
    21 November 2012 at 12:34 pm
    Leave a Reply
    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 8:53 pm
      Leave a Reply

      It really was ONE great train journey. First of all it was my first proper train journey in the US. Secondly, the landscapes we passed through made that a trip like no other.
      Thanks, Niranjan. There's a whole lot more coming, ok. πŸ™‚

  • Rajesh
    21 November 2012 at 2:06 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Wonderful shots of the place.

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 8:54 pm
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      Thanks Rajesh. That really was ONE scenic route.

  • muthu
    21 November 2012 at 2:20 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Wow – the abundance of beauty… My eyes just got pasted to the screen. πŸ˜€

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 8:56 pm
      Leave a Reply

      πŸ™‚ True Muthu. The places we passed through really were a feast for the eye.

  • Shrinidhi Hande
    21 November 2012 at 5:04 pm
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    should travel there by road one day, so that we can stop and take enough photos

    • dNambiar
      21 November 2012 at 9:04 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Actually the train's not too fast, so you can take a lot of not-so-bad pictures. They also have an observation car with huge windows that let you take better pictures.
      Of course if you could get down there, it would be superb for some great photography. πŸ™‚

  • manjulikapramod.com
    21 November 2012 at 10:53 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Lovely landscapes and a great description of your exciting journey… The pictures do most of the talking and add beauty to the great post..

    • dNambiar
      22 November 2012 at 7:31 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Manjulika. The scenery outside the train was breathtakingly beautiful. The landscapes keep changing so one doesn't get bored of looking out.

  • magiceye
    22 November 2012 at 12:45 am
    Leave a Reply

    Journey captured beautifully! Lovely landscapes!!

    • dNambiar
      22 November 2012 at 7:33 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you Magiceye. You would surely love this train ride. πŸ™‚

  • Meoww
    22 November 2012 at 1:24 am
    Leave a Reply

    I think Americans know to enjoy life. Such a lovely idea to be able to see all the beauties from the comfort of a train! This was supposed to be our final scenic ride before we moved from the US, but couldnt make it πŸ™ I am really kicking myself for missing this. Absolutely stunning views!

    • dNambiar
      22 November 2012 at 7:42 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Oh, :(. I'm so sorry Meoww. You should plan a holiday this side and do it. You will absolutely love it. Please… make it happen. And start from the SF side, ok.

  • Panchali
    22 November 2012 at 6:58 pm
    Leave a Reply

    WOW…Thanks for taking us on this train journey. The shots you took as the train was winding its way through the Rocky Mountains are just FABULOUS!!
    The scenes are absolutely breathtaking and your brilliant narration makes the travelogue even more interesting!My thirst to read a good travelogue got quenched here.Thanks for sharing…:))

    • dNambiar
      22 November 2012 at 7:47 pm
      Leave a Reply

      I'm totally flattered. :)Thank you sowwww much!
      It was one of my best journeys ever. I was in no hurry to get to our destination. As far as I was concerned, the California Zephyr was an attraction and a destination in itself.
      Wait there's more; will be putting up a whole lot of pictures real soon and making sure that you have a great vicarious trip. πŸ™‚
      Take care until then.

  • Barrack Romney :P
    23 November 2012 at 6:16 am
    Leave a Reply

    WOW πŸ™‚ it must be quite a ride

    • dNambiar
      26 November 2012 at 12:39 am
      Leave a Reply

      It was, Deepak.
      Long time, eh! Where have you been?
      Btw, the minute I saw 'Barack Romney, I guessed it was you. πŸ™‚

  • Ghazala Hossain
    23 November 2012 at 12:03 pm
    Leave a Reply

    You get to go to such awesome places, take me with you..! Lovely pictures and descriptions πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      26 November 2012 at 12:44 am
      Leave a Reply

      We love seeing places so we just make these trips happen. :)Come this way, and we'll go to some awesome place.
      Thank you so much Ghazala. These places have so much character, I just kept clicking away and actually, they need no descriptions. They're simply beautiful.

  • Arti
    24 November 2012 at 7:02 am
    Leave a Reply

    Stunning captures, Divya! The changing landscape makes for a wonderful visual
    feast and Your narration so wants me to make it to this train someday.

    How long was the train journey? Many thanks for sharing it. πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      26 November 2012 at 12:45 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks a ton, Arti. A wonderful visual feast — that's exactly what it was. The journey from Emeryville, CA to Denver was around 32 hours.

  • win2vin
    28 November 2012 at 3:38 am
    Leave a Reply

    How lucky you are!

    • dNambiar
      30 November 2012 at 6:59 pm
      Leave a Reply

      If luck is what comes about when opportunity meets preparation, I am lucky. :)That surely was one of my best train journeys ever.

  • Krishna
    29 November 2012 at 5:04 am
    Leave a Reply

    good collection… each one expresses its best..

    good photography and nice place

    thanks

    • dNambiar
      30 November 2012 at 7:05 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, Krishna.
      The landscapes were incredible.

  • quetzalcoatl
    1 December 2012 at 3:35 am
    Leave a Reply

    Nothing beats a trainride…
    This is why I prefer to spend days on trains instead of hours on flights… Only if Indian trains were a bit more cleaner and less crowded πŸ˜›

    & love those fall colors… esp the one with the stream…

    • dNambiar
      4 December 2012 at 12:32 am
      Leave a Reply

      You're so right, Jitaditya. Nothing beats it.

      I actually do miss the train rides in India. I yearn to hear the sounds of the Indian Railway stations too. πŸ™‚

      Thank you. This trip showed me all kinds of sceneries. I love Fall Colours too. I'm enjoying every bit of it now. πŸ™‚

  • Rachna
    2 December 2012 at 6:02 am
    Leave a Reply

    Those are some amazing pics. I never took a long distance train in US — regret!

    • dNambiar
      4 December 2012 at 12:35 am
      Leave a Reply

      That was ONE fabulous trip. Not a lot of people do train trips. This was a long journey but as the pictures will tell you, it was worth every bit of it.
      The ride was comfortable too.

      You'd have loved it, Rachna. πŸ™‚

  • Rupertt Wind
    6 December 2012 at 11:39 am
    Leave a Reply

    The train is magnificent. I have read about this before D and these picture looks more beautiful than those words describing it.

    • dNambiar
      7 December 2012 at 5:53 pm
      Leave a Reply

      The words and the pictures don't match up to what these scenes really are like, Rupertt.
      This route IS magnificent.

  • deepak kripal
    13 December 2012 at 6:13 am
    Leave a Reply

    Whoa.. some great shots there.. my fav. is the truckee river one..

    great post DN.. πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      20 December 2012 at 1:29 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Deepak. πŸ™‚

  • Jack Witson
    31 May 2013 at 6:26 am
    Leave a Reply

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    • dNambiar
      6 September 2013 at 12:09 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you Jack.

  • David John
    20 June 2013 at 7:59 am
    Leave a Reply

    Interesting post and thank you for sharing. There are things here that I have not thought before.Thanks to make such a cool post which is really very well written.will refer a lot of friends about this. Keep blogging.

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  • Amos Joe
    29 September 2014 at 6:20 am
    Leave a Reply

    Looks good mate and i have personally experienced this thing because of getting a very decent package that made me get a very good travel deal and i was amazed to experience things that were quite decent so yeah bus from new york to columbus is a perfect way for knowing many things at the same time because it goes ahead we can make a mark.

  • Kokila Gupta
    13 January 2015 at 8:26 am
    Leave a Reply

    Oh! California Zephyr is the name of a train !! Thought its about the zephyr in California πŸ˜› Well D a nice post with nice captures… loved the farmlands caught in a blur in motion … and the Colorado river presented a contrast … truly nice photography.

    • dNambiar
      13 January 2015 at 11:07 am
      Leave a Reply

      Yeah, cool name for a train, right?
      Thanks a ton, Kokila.
      It turned out to be one of my most memorable train rides. So much scenery! So much beauty! It was such a visual treat.

      Thanks again, Kokila. πŸ™‚

  • DEESHANI BATRA
    22 July 2015 at 4:46 am
    Leave a Reply

    Wow! Nice post and the pictures are shot at a perfect timing. Some of them are exquisitely beautiful captures πŸ™‚

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    6 January 2017 at 4:32 am
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    […] from the Colorado trip: Aboard the California Zephyr Through Zephyr’s picture windowsΒ (a photo […]

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