The most scenic part of the Southwest Chief route (and how to ride it)

The most scenic part of the Southwest Chief is between Northern New Mexico and Southern California. Trains travel through Raton Pass in the Sangre Cristo Mountains, Apache Canyon, and the New Mexico desert, with views of interesting rock formations and red cliffs.

In this guide, learn how to plan a trip to see this scenery from the windows of the Southwest Chief.

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Where to start and end the trip

Start station: Raton (RAT) or Kansas City (KCY)
End station: Los Angeles (LAX)
Travel time: 22 hours (Raton) or 35 hours (Kansas City)

If you need airport access, start this trip in Kansas City, Missouri. You’ll board the train in the evening and the following morning you’ll have distant mountain views (Fishers Peak and the Spanish Peaks) on the way to Raton Pass.

Otherwise, Raton, New Mexico is at the base of the Raton Pass, and is the true start of the most scenic segment. After boarding the train, you’ll head straight into the mountains then travel through the desert for the remainder of the day. You’ll spend one night on the train.

Why this segment is the most scenic

The western half of the Southwest Chief has views of mountains and rock formations as the train follows parts of the historic Santa Fe Trail and Route 66. Plus, you’ll travel through the extremely narrow Apache Canyon. In contrast, the landscapes are mostly flat on the other half of the route with views of the Great Plains and Midwest farmland.

Westbound travel has also been intentionally selected for daylight in the Sangre Cristo Mountains, travel into the desert sunset, and better arrival times in Flagstaff (a popular stop near the Grand Canyon).

Getting to Kansas City and Raton

View logistical travel information for Raton and Kansas City below. If neither of these cities work for you, you can also board the Southwest Chief in Chicago, a city that has connections to many other Amtrak routes.

Kansas City

Book a flight to Kansas City or drive there if you live within a reasonable distance. There is overnight parking at Kansas City Union Station (get directions). If flying, you can use Lyft and Uber to get around before you board the train.

Raton

Raton is a small city at the base of the mountains (similar to Denver, but much smaller city and mountain peaks). It’s within a 3-hour drive of larger cities and overnight parking is available at the Amtrak station.

Drive times from nearby cities:

• Taos to Raton: 2 hours
• Santa Fe to Raton: 2.5 hours
• Colorado Springs to Raton: 2.5 hours
• Denver to Raton: 3.5 hours

Where to stay

Westbound Southwest Chief trains depart Raton in the morning, so you’ll need to arrive at least one day before your train trip. This will also give you time to check out nearby hiking trails. If you plan to board the train in Kansas City, an overnight stay is optional as trains depart at night. Explore places to stay in both locations below.

Raton Lodging

Accommodation options are limited as Raton is a small city. However, there are unique stays at historic homes and motels that are less than a 5-minute drive to the train station (Budget Host Melody Lane Motel and Raton Pass Motor Inn).

Kansas City Hotels

Kansas City is full of museums (including the National World World I Museum), jazz music, and barbecue, so there’s plenty to do if you decide to stay a night or more before your train trip.

The Westin Kansas City Crowne Center is the most convenient place to stay. It is a 5-minute walk from the Amtrak station, a shopping mall, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Museum of BBQ and the WWI museum. You can leave your bags with bell services after you check out to sightsee before the night train departure.

Los Angeles Hotels

L.A is a huge city so there are many places to stay, especially if you get a ride with Lyft or Uber after you arrive. Downtown LA hotels are close to the station, with the highest-rated option a 23-minute walk or 4-minute drive away (Conrad Los Angeles). Other popular areas to stay are West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.

You can also transfer to a Pacific Surfliner train at the L.A. Union Station to reach other California cities instead of staying in Los Angeles. Destinations include San Diego, Oceanside, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Anaheim, Burbank, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. View all stations on the route.

Return trip options

There are many airports in the Los Angeles area that you can use for your return trip, including LAX, Burbank, Santa Ana/John Wayne and Orange County.

Amtrak options include:

• Re-boarding the Southwest Chief the same day you arrive (or a later day)
• Pacific Surfliner to San Diego and many beach towns
• Coast Starlight for a scenic trip through California and the Pacific Northwest
• Sunset Limited to cities including Tucson, San Antonio, Houston, and New Orleans
• Texas Eagle to many Texas cities

Best time of year to travel

Summer has the most daylight for viewing the scenery, especially if you travel eastbound from Los Angeles on the Southwest Chief. You’ll have daylight for the journey through Cajon Pass in the San Bernardino Mountains and through Raton Pass (assuming no major delays).

Otherwise, spring and fall are great times to ride the Southwest Chief and visit destinations along the way, including the Grand Canyon via Flagstaff and Albuquerque, which as a hot air balloon festival in October.

Seating tips for the best views

The sightseer lounge (available to all passengers), family bedrooms, and the dining car have the best views due to windows on both sides of the train.

The left side of the train is also generally better for scenery, especially in the Raton Pass and into Albuquerque (for views of Sandia Peak). However, the historic train stations will be on the right side, making the sightseer lounge a good choice for viewing it all.

Turning this segment into a longer trip

You can extend your rail vacation by staying a night or more at destinations along the way. Top options include:

• Winslow: Small Route 66 town with a historic hotel next to the Amtrak station
• Flagstaff: Walkable city that’s great for stargazing, and with a rental car or guided day tour, you can visit the Grand Canyon
• Albuquerque: Southwest culture, hot air balloons, mountain tramway
• Dodge City: Wild West history
  

For the full Southwest Chief station list and onboard information, see the Southwest Chief route guide.

More Information

• 10 most scenic Amtrak routes
• Best things to do in Kansas City
• Best things to do in Los Angeles
• Southwest Chief vs California Zephyr
• 10 attractions on the Southwest Chief to plan a trip around

Top photo by Christopher Quinlan, Southwest Chief at Devil’s Throne, New Mexico (CC BY-SA 4.0)