Historic train rides in the West
Historic train rides across the West, each compiled from its own sources: season, the depot, fares, and the line's history.
Point at a dot to see the place.Tap a dot to see the place.
Arizona
- Grand Canyon RailwayWilliams · Heritage railroadA daily train from Williams, Arizona, up the 1901 Santa Fe branch to the Grand Canyon's South Rim, on select days behind a steam engine burning waste vegetable oil.
- Verde Canyon RailroadClarkdale · Scenic excursion railroadScenic excursion railroad through Arizona with open-air cars.
California
- Niles Canyon RailwaySunol · Railroad museum where the exhibits come to lifeThe Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District is made up of the 11 mile-long section of the First Transcontinental Railroad that passes through Niles Canyon between the towns of Sunol and Fremont (Niles), north of San Jose, California.
- Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (Sierra Railway)Jamestown · State parkA working steam-era railroad from California's past with historic trains, maintenance shops, roundhouse, and stories that span industry, communities, and film history.
- Roaring Camp RailroadsFelton · 19th century steam trainsTravel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
- Sacramento Southern Railroad (California State Railroad Museum)Sacramento · Vintage excursion trainA 45-minute, 6-mile round trip from Old Sacramento Waterfront along the Sacramento River in our fleet of historic railroad cars.
- Skunk Train (California Western Railroad)
- Western Railway MuseumSuisun City · History museumA museum dedicated to preserving trains from California's past! Come visit us in Suisun City, CA.
- Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine RailroadFish Camp · Landmark & historical placeA California State Historic Landmark. Ride on a steam train and learn about the local history!
Colorado
- Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge RailroadCripple Creek · Heritage narrow-gauge railwayA two-foot-gauge, coal-fired steam railroad at Cripple Creek, Colorado, running a four-mile round trip over the old Midland Terminal roadbed from an 1894 depot.
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RailroadDurango · Landmark & historical placeA three-foot-gauge railroad running steam trains 45 miles from Durango up the Animas River canyon to Silverton, Colorado, through a stretch of wilderness no road reaches.
- Georgetown Loop RailroadGeorgetown · Georgetown loop historic mining & railroad park®A reconstructed narrow-gauge railroad between Georgetown and Silver Plume, Colorado, whose track crosses over itself on the Devil's Gate High Bridge to climb the steep valley.
- Leadville RailroadLeadville · Scenic train rideClimb aboard the Leadville Railroad for a scenic ride through the Colorado Rocky Mountains, winding through the San Isabel National Forest at high elevation.
Montana
Nevada
- Nevada Northern Railway MuseumEly · MuseumCome to Ely, #Nevada and ride a #steamtrain at our #historic #railroad #museum
- Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City (Nevada Southern Railway)Boulder City · Excursion train ridesTrain rides are offered Saturdays and Sundays except summer. Travel behind one of our historic diesel-electric locomotives in early 20th century rail cars along the original Boulder City Branch Line. This 10 mile round-trip between Boulder City and Paradise Hills last approximately 45 minutes.
- Virginia & Truckee RailroadVirginia City · Heritage railroadTake a narrated 35-minute scenic ride from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back aboard the legendary Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Travel historic rails once used to carry passengers, dignitaries, and millions of dollars in Comstock gold and silver ore.
New Mexico
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RailroadThe Cumbres & Toltec is a 64-mile, three-foot-gauge steam railroad between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, that climbs 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass and crosses the state line eleven times.
- Sky RailwaySanta Fe · Private train charters & lamy eventsEntertainment train rides departing from Santa Fe Depot. Choose your own adventure with live music, drinks & views!
Oregon
- Oregon Coast Scenic RailroadGaribaldi · 501(c)3 non-profit heritage railroadOregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) is 501(c)3 non-profit heritage railroad, offering interpreted train rides along the Tillamook Coast that tell the story of the area by giving passengers a journey back in time.
- Oregon Rail Heritage Center (Oregon Pacific Railroad excursions)Portland · Train ridesAll roundtrip excursions depart from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and travel along the east bank of the Willamette River. After passing the iconic Oaks Amusement Park, the train returns to the ORHC. Each ride lasts approximately 40 minutes.
- Sumpter Valley RailroadMcEwen · Narrow-gauge, steam-powered railroadTwo excursions: a 12-mile, approximately 2.5-hour round trip from the McEwen Depot through the valley, and a 6-mile, approximately 45-minute round trip from the Sumpter Depot.
- Willamette Shore TrolleyLake Oswego · Vintage trolleyRide in a Vintage Trolley from Lake Oswego into a dark tunnel and meander through posh neighborhoods.
Utah
Washington
- Chehalis-Centralia RailroadChehalis · Railroad companyA volunteer-built excursion railroad running 1920s coaches west from Chehalis, Washington, over former Milwaukee Road track, its 1916 Baldwin steam engine awaiting restoration.
- Chelatchie Prairie RailroadYacolt · Heritage railroadAn all-volunteer excursion railroad out of Yacolt, Washington, whose trains run backward from the station so caboose riders face forward through an old logging tunnel.
- Mt. Rainier Scenic RailroadElbe · Family halloween trainThe Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has run along a historic track near the base of Mount Rainier for many years; the steam engine is venturing north of its regular route for the first time in decades.
- Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie Valley Railroad)Snoqualmie · MuseumThe Northwest Railway Museum at Snoqualmie, Washington, runs historic coaches over 5.5 miles of 1880s track from an 1890 depot built, its registrar writes, as a marketing ploy.
- Yakima Valley TrolleysYakima · Interurban electric railroadEnjoy regularly scheduled rides all summer, or book a private event year-round!
More under The Road: Scenic Drives, Small Ferries, and Roadside Attractions.