Explore Two National Parks and the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival on This Scenic Fall Train Trip

Itinerary Overview

National parks, historic cities, and a spectacular hot air balloon festival—this unique American train trip showcases the best of the southwest during the fall. iBestTravel’s Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta offers an exceptional opportunity to tick off many items from your travel bucket list.

“This well-planned tour delivers an unforgettable experience: overnight train travel, visits to two national parks, and of course, attending Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta—twice,” says Todd Powell, co-founder of Vacations By Rail. “Our itinerary includes two visits to this annual event: once in the morning for the mass ascension and again in the evening for the glowing balloon display.”

Travelers can board the train in Chicago or San Francisco and will experience what Powell describes as “a classic overnight rail experience.” A highlight is the “dramatic vistas as the train travels through the Rocky Mountains between Denver and Grand Junction.”

Unique Rail Experience

After the scenic train journey, participants will visit two national parks: Arches and Mesa Verde. The tour includes a ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which offers stunning views through the Animas River Gorge to Silverton. This is followed by the opportunity to explore Santa Fe with a guided historic walking tour. The adventure culminates in Albuquerque at the festival, renowned as the “largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world.”

Why Visit in Autumn

This itinerary’s uniqueness lies in its combination of experiences, especially during the autumn season. Powell highlights, “The southwest in autumn is a wonderful time of year. Summer heat gives way to milder temperatures, there are fewer visitors in the National Parks, and the colorful foliage from the changing colors of aspen, cottonwood, and willow trees creates a stunning backdrop for the hundreds of hot air balloons that fill the sky.”

The itinerary also weaves in rich history and culture, from a historic walking tour of Santa Fe to the amazing cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. “Travelers will be thrilled to learn that Mesa Verde National Park is an International Dark Sky Park with our hotel located within the park, offering a wonderful opportunity for stargazing,” he mentions.

Ultimately, the highlight of this journey is the train travel itself. “The rail journeys are an integral part of the adventure on our Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tour,” Powell notes. “One of the best aspects of any rail journey is the chance to see parts of the country that aren’t accessible by other modes of transportation. Travelers can enjoy this on two unique train rides.”

For those interested, more details on the upcoming tour, priced at $3,095 per person for 2024, can be found at vacationsbyrail.com.