( CNN ) -- Many skiers who visit Colorado prefer the slopes of Aspen , Vail or Breckenridge . But there 's a cool little day trip from Denver that often gets overlooked by out-of-towners . The Ski Train begins its round-trip journey to Winter Park at Union Station in Denver , Colorado . The Ski Train is a 68-year-old local favorite that shuttles about 750 people between Denver and Winter Park . It runs on weekend days -- leaving Denver 's Union Station at 7:15 a.m. -- and begins the return leg nine hours later . The 56-mile trip takes about two hours each way , and many riders say it 's worth the cost to avoid the traffic hassles of the oft-congested I-70 . A roundtrip ticket costs between $ 49 and $ 85 . There are additional expenses , such as parking at the train station in Denver and lift tickets for skiers . If someone chooses to shop instead of ski , a free shuttle into Winter Park is available . Train riders love the trip route , which winds through the Rockies and climbs to 9,000 feet . It also travels through almost 30 tunnels , including the 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel , which passes underneath the Continental Divide . `` The train ride up there is spectacular . You see wonderful vistas as you leave Denver through the northern plains and into the mountains , '' Kristal Kraft , a real estate agent in Denver , says . `` And once you get through the Moffat Tunnel , you 're right there at Winter Park . '' Kraft says she enjoyed her maiden voyage on the train , which came courtesy of a local home builder that bought group tickets in one of the club cars . `` I loved the convenience [ of the train ] , ' she says . `` We relaxed , talked , socialized . And when you get off the train , you are right there at the slopes . '' According to skitrain.com , three additional cars are available for charter and one for company retreats . The Web site lists the price for the presentation car at $ 5,000 for a winter trip . The site says the current train cars were purchased after Ansco Investment Company bought the Ski Train in 1988 . Kraft says the cars are comfortably heated and there is ample room to move around . Kraft , an amateur photography buff , enjoyed switching from window to window , side to side , to take pictures . There is one occasional hitch to riding the train . It shares the track with the Union Pacific Railroad and at times has to stop or pullover to make way for a freight train or Amtrak . And there are instances where another train has an accident . One time a coal train derailed in a tunnel and the Union Pacific officials told the Ski Train operators it would take two days to clear the tracks , says Ski Train media relations director Jim Bain . They called the passengers together in a cafeteria in Winter Park and advised them to call friends and family to come pick them up . The company also arranged for a few buses to come gather the remaining passengers and Bain says they were all headed back to Denver by 8:30 p.m . It was a worst-case scenario , he says , and it only happened once . There are occasional delays of a few hours . The bad news is you 're delayed ; the good news is you 're on a full service train with food service and restrooms . And there 's the ability to find a beverage . One reviewer on the Web site yelp.com said there 's another bonus to the train . `` What 's great is that once you get back into Denver you can hit Wynkoop brewery or any other bars around there to keep the party rolling , '' Ramon G. wrote .
Ski Train from Denver to Winter Park has been a local favorite for 68 years . Train ferries skiers to slopes in Colorado 's Rocky Mountains . `` The train ride up there is spectacular , '' says Denver resident . Train passes through 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel underneath the Continental Divide .