The summer is a great time to hop a train for a scenic ride. With scenic trains transporting passengers through stunning scenery, it is really the journey that’s more important than the destination. Passengers can even find restored steam engines on some railroads. These historic routes were initially used for freight or passengers; now they are dedicated to sightseeing. Here are the most beautiful scenic train rides in the U.S.
The Most Beautiful Scenic Train Rides in the US
- Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona
- White Pass and Yukon Route in Alaska
- Coast Starlight in California
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado
- The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in New Mexico
- The Adirondack in New York
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina
- Cuyahoga Scenic Train in Ohio
- Texas State Railroad
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Take the train into Grand Canyon National Park. Credit: Xanterra Resorts Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona
Chugging out of Williams, bound for the log cabin depot at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad that carries passengers in restored vintage rail cars in six different classes.
Passengers will travel through the high desert and the Kaibab National Forest on the 64-mile route. Originally built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, it was completed on September 17, 1901.
Grand Canyon Railway offers multi-day packages with lodging at its depot in Williams and inside Grand Canyon National Park. A pet resort is also available when you visit the Grand Canyon.
Located at 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams. The train departs daily from Williams at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. Advance tickets are a must.
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White Pass and Yukon Route in Alaska
Skagway is the home of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway. The narrow-gauge scenic train trip is a stand-out for cruisers, not just families.
After blasting through rock, the first train rolled out of Skagway in 1898 at the height of the Alaska gold rush. The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway climbs 3,000 feet in 20 miles as passengers whisk by pristine mountain scenery. As a bonus, the train depot is a short walk from the cruise ship port.
Located at 201 2nd Ave. Open daily from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the cruise season. Advance tickets are a must, or book through your cruise line.
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Coast Starlight in California
The Coast Starlight runs between Los Angeles’s Union Station and Seattle, including Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. With limited stops, it offers reserved coach seats, business class, an observation/snack bar car, a dining car, a parlor car, plus sleeping cars.
Along the route, the train passes deserted beaches on the Pacific Ocean and in and out of quaint beach towns. The Coast Starlight passes the dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta. Passengers will also travel through the lush forests of California.
The journey takes 35 hours, with daily departures from both Los Angeles and Seattle. Advance tickets are a must for the best selection.
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Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45 miles between Durango and Silverton, high up in the Colorado Rockies. This railroad started in 1882 and is a National Historic Landmark, using a historic steam engine.
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers several classes of service from first-class to an open-air gondola car. Daily departures from the Durango Trail Depot at 479 Main Ave. There are also overnight trips. Several departures are available, and advance tickets are a must.
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the world’s highest cog train chugging up the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. Cog Railways use a tooth rail system to climb steep grades, usually in the center of two outer tracks.
One of three cog trains in the US, the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado started its operation in 1891. Passengers can see wildlife, like Marmots, and Bristlecone Pine Trees, the oldest things in the world.
At the summit, passengers stop at the top for a quick 45-minute visit to take a few pictures and snag the world’s highest donut. Stay longer, and you might feel the effects of altitude sickness, like lightheadedness and disorientation.
Departing from 515 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs. Several departures daily, and it is open year-round. Advance tickets are a must.
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Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in New Mexico
This might be my favorite scenic railroad in the U.S The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad in Northern Mexico and Southern Colorado.
Where the Durango Silverton travels up a narrow gorge for the majority of its journey, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad travels in the San Juan Mountains to the Conejos Valley. This route offers stunning views of the mountains and the sweeping valleys in between.
It is a National Historic Landmark, and its departures utilize an antique steam engine. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad offers departures from Chama, New Mexico; Antonito, Colorado; and Cumbres, Colorado. Advance tickets are a must.
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The Adirondack in New York
This area of New York offers views of the evergreen-covered Catskill Mountains. The route is often feet from the Hudson River. The Adirondack offers a stunning fall getaway.
Daily departures from NYC and Montreal, with stops along the way. Advance tickets often offer the best seat selection.
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina
Departing from Bryson City, North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad passes through the famed Blue Ridge Mountains. Originally, the Murphy Extension from the 1880s, regular passenger service ended in 1948 and freight ended a few decades later.
The Dillsboro to Nantahala route transitioned to a scenic train, and the rolling stock was acquired from other railways. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad features a steam locomotive on some routes, with several offered daily. Fall is particularly stunning.
The depot is located at 18 Fry St., Bryson City. Advance tickets are recommended.
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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio
All aboard a scenic train when you visit this national park. This train travels the entire length of Cuyahoga Valley National Park along its route. The train offers a unique way to see the park’s scenery, including wildlife.
With stations in several locations, visitors can hop aboard after securing reservations. Those on the park’s Tow Path can even bring their bikes.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers several departures a day during its season. Passengers can choose from different classes of service, from coach to observation dome, cars from the 1940s California Zephyr.
Trains operate from Wednesday to Sunday from April to December. Seasonal and themed rides also available. Advance tickets are recommended.
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Texas State Railroad
The Texas State Railroad, also referred to as the Lone Star and Eastern Railroad, is a historic 25-mile heritage railroad between Rusk and Palestine, Texas. Built by inmates, it was founded in 1883 by the state of Texas to haul raw materials for a smelter at the prison at Rusk.
Passengers travel through the Piney Woods of East Texas, and Spring is particularly stunning. Palestine offers a historic depot, and Rusk is a state park with camping. Advance tickets are recommended.
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