When you board, check which side you are on and make a plan to get to observation car, or dining car to see what you want to see. The cars are often put on in different orders and directions so on some trips a car may be facing the opposite direction. If you are riding in a sleeper car, you cannot guarantee which side of the train you’ll be on. If you are wanting to take photographs of the canyons from the train, follow these Amtrak train photography tips. This is less of a problem during the winter. During summer months we have seen trains limit the amount of time passengers can spend in the observation car due to crowding. The best thing you can do is get to the observation car before the canyon section of the trip and you’ll be able to see out both sides. As you get into California, and near the Donner Pass area, the views are better to the north. If you are facing the north side you’ll also see great views, but not the most stunning parts of the canyon. You’ll see the absolute best views and gorges during the Colorado section if you are on the south side of the train during this section. The views are best from the south side of the California Zephyr. This is our least favorite time to ride the train. The positive aspect of this time frame is that you’ll have more light in the day and should have good weather. You’ll be riding with more passengers and miss out on both fall colors and snow. The worst season to ride the California Zephyr is the summer. Spring is not our favorite time to be on the California Zephyr, but May is a good choice due to lower crowds if you need to visit in this time frame. As with other seasons you want to be careful to not be on board between seasons, when the snow is gone, but the new growth has not happened yet. In Spring the snow melts and gives way to green vistas again. It is an incredible feeling to see the snow capped Rocky Mountains outside your windows as you ride through Colorado. The views in winter are simply wonderful. February is the best winter month to ride the California Zephyr due to the heavy amounts of snow falling in the area. The early winter months of November and December are not ideal as there isn’t enough snow on the ground. Make sure you’ve given enough time for a decent snow fall before your trip. You’ll see snow covered mountains and gorges that will amaze you. Riding the California Zephyr in winter is a delight. California Zephyr in Fall California Zephyr in Winter November is the worst month to ride the California Zephyr as you’ll be dealing with colder temperatures and probably not have the best scenery. If you wait too long into the fall, such as late October and early November, you’ll miss the fall colors and be too early for the best snow scenery as well. Most years the fall colors peak between mid September and early October in Colorado. The Colorado section of the trip is the highlight, so plan your trip around the weather in that area only. The prettiest time to ride the California Zephyr is from mid September to late September when the fall colors are beautiful in the gorges of Colorado. Best Months to Ride the California Zephyr
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