Advice needed: C&TS from Amtrak

Dear All,

I'm contemplating a visit to the C&TS later this summer, my first since 1989 (25 years ago!). I will be coming from New York, but purist that I am I would prefer to travel as far as possible by train rather than flying out from the East Coast.

So, what I'm thinking of doing is to take the Southwest Chief to Raton, NM and then rent a car and drive the rest of the way to Chama. Google is telling me this is about a 3.5 hour drive, going via Trinidad, Walsenburg, Alamosa, and Antonito. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

I'd also welcome any suggestions on hiking or other outdoor recreation spots in the area. (I'm a botanist and forest ecologist by profession so I like to combine trains with trees and wildflowers whenever possible.) I'm a single guy and expect to be traveling alone, so there's no wife or family to worry about here.

Thanks!

-Philip Marshall