Glenwood Springs, CO

I had never even heard of Glenwood Springs, one of the stops we made in western Colorado, but evidently it is a very popular and well known resort town, famous for its hot springs. Directly across the river from the train station is the famous Glenwood Hot Springs (above), which boasts the largest hot springs pool in the world.

Colorado River continued

This went on for many miles, and for most of the way Interstate 70 could be seen on the other side of the river. Did you know that part of the Colorado River used to be called the Grand River after its source in Grand County, CO? The name was officially changed in 1921.

Colorado and the Colorado

At some point the train began running alongside the Colorado River and the landscape felt more like Colorado than Utah.

Book Cliffs part 2

Book Cliffs

The following day, having passed through Nevada and Salt Lake City in the night, the train finds itself in the middle of the Utah desert running alongside the other-worldly Book Cliffs - so called because some of the cliffs are said to resemble book shelves (below?). As a desert enthusiast, I did not mind.

 

more snowy desert

snowy deserts

The Nevada desert, dusted with snow, in the evening sunlight.