Cumbres & Toltec delays 2026 season

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad delayed the start of its 2026 season after citing severe drought and elevated wildfire danger across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The railroad said in a May 19 update that it would postpone opening-day operations that had been scheduled for Saturday, May 23. The line runs 64 miles between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, and is one of the region’s best-known heritage tourism attractions. As of Monday, May 25, the railroad’s website said the season had been postponed until June 9, pending a safety review. ### Why did the railroad delay the opening? The railroad said on May 19 that it was acting “out of an abundance of caution” because drought conditions and wildfire danger had raised the risk of operating steam trains in the region. The announcement said the decision covered the start of the 2026 operating season and applied across the railroad’s service area. Yahoo and Denver7 both reported that the railroad had originally planned to begin the season on Saturday before reversing course as fire danger worsened. The railroad’s own season-update page said the delay was tied to conditions “across the region,” which spans the Colorado-New Mexico border. ### What changed from the first reports? The railroad’s website now says June 9 is the new target date for the start of the 2026 season. Earlier coverage described the reopening date as pending, but the current company update gives a specific date while making clear it is still subject to review. The same update says the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission will conduct a review on June 2 to decide whether conditions have improved enough for trains to begin running. That gives the commission, rather than outside reporting, the next formal checkpoint for the reopening decision. ### Which trips are affected? May 23 was the original opening day, so the delay affects the first block of scheduled summer departures. The railroad has not published a broader suspension beyond the current postponement window, but any trips scheduled before June 9 are now in the affected period under the company’s latest notice. The route includes departures tied to Chama and Antonito, the two endpoint communities on the historic narrow-gauge line. The railroad describes its full trip as a 64-mile journey through mountain passes and the Toltec Gorge on the Colorado-New Mexico border. ### What is the railroad telling passengers to do? The company said passengers with impacted reservations will be offered options to rebook or request refunds. The railroad’s website directs customers to contact its reservations team for assistance with affected bookings. The FAQ and booking pages on the railroad’s website remain active, and the season-update notice is posted prominently on the home page. That makes the company website the clearest place for passengers to check whether the June 9 target date changes after the commission review. ### Why is wildfire risk such a concern for this railroad? The Cumbres & Toltec line is a steam railroad operating in dry mountain and high-desert terrain. The company’s statement did not detail specific ignition scenarios, but it linked the delay directly to drought conditions and elevated wildfire danger. Past coverage shows the railroad has faced similar fire-related operating disruptions before. In 2022, the line also delayed service during a period of severe wildfire risk in the Southwest, according to archived local reporting surfaced in current search results. ### When is the next decision point? June 2 is the next named date in the railroad’s update. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission said it will review conditions then, and the company’s website currently lists June 9 as the postponed start date for the 2026 season.