This Winter: Take a Ride on the Southwest Chief and Save

Want to get away? Book 14 days in advance now through February 29 and you can save big on a trip of a lifetime. This winter, go the distance on our Southwest Chief by traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago or switch it up and take a shorter ride from Albuquerque to Los Angeles. If the thought of savings haven’t pulled you in yet then peek at four Southwest Chief sites you’ll see along the way.

Mississippi River
As the second longest river in the U.S., the Mississippi River gets its source from Lake Itasca in Minnesota. Its total length is 2,320 miles and flows through 10 states and was used to define the borders between them.

Mojave Desert
Named after the Native American Mohave tribe, and known locally as the High Desert, the Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and three other states. Its boundaries are generally defined by the presence of Joshua Trees, and its climate varies between bitter cold and intensely hot, with high and low elevations ranging between 12,000 ft. and 282 ft. below sea level in Death Valley.

Canyon Diablo
Popular among rail fans, Canyon Diablo includes a scenic railroad bridge that gives riders a unique view of the canyon. Over 40,000 year ago, a meteorite of the same name fell near here, and was long the center of dispute over the origin of craters that showed little evidence of volcanism.

Sandia Mountains
Located immediately to the northeast of Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains are thought to be named for the watermelon (Sandia in Spanish) because of their reddish color at sunset coupled with a thin zone of green conifers (the “rind”) near the top. In addition to a tramway, one may access the mountain by New Mexico 536, a road from the east to the bottom of the ski area, with a scenic overlook, communications center, gift shop and restaurant.

Want more facts about site along our Southwest Chief? Just head here.