All aboard for autumn color! From New England’s red maple groves to stands of golden Rocky Mountain aspen, Leaf spotter specials have something for everybody. Grown-ups get to enjoy the fall foliage while the kids enjoy the ride, and nobody gets stuck behind the wheel watching traffic instead of the scenery.
Autumn colors vary by region and amazing train rides through dazzling fall foliage can be found in some surprising places. Trains vary too. Featured among those we’ve chosen are dome cars, on-board dining, and coal-fired steam engines. Check out our choices for 10 of the best fall foliage train rides in the US… and be sure to tell us about any favorites we might have missed.
Conway Scenic Railroad, New Hampshire
Conway Scenic Railroad
North Conway, New Hampshire
+1 (800) 232-5251
Along a historic line layed nearly 140 years ago, Conway Scenic Railroad passengers set out on an awe-striking journey toward Crawford Notch. Dizzying cliffs, plunging ravines and cascading brooks give way to the infamous Frankenstein Trestle.
A 19th century engineering marvel, the trestle provides the train with a precarious overpass through the notch offering bird’s eye views of the sprawling wilderness ablaze with crimsons, ochres, and golds, and of the White Mountain peaks beyond. An alternative Valley Train offers on-board dining and an authentic steam experience.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Peninsula, Ohio
+1 (800) 468-4070
Mother Nature’s paintbrush transforms the Buckeye State’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park into what About.com calls one of the country’s top national parks for fall foliage — and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is at the center of it all.
The CVSR plays a unique role in this 51.5 sq mi (133 sq km) national parkland. The railroad’s three-buck bike fare allows cyclists to go by bike in one direction and by train in the other. Its seven park stations place visitors within easy reach of bike paths, hiking trails and the charming Peninsula Village Historic District.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Bryson City, North Carolina
+1 (800) 872-4681
Thanks to its high elevations, the Smokies experience a pageant of fall foliage usually found only farther north. Colors are in brilliant array as the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s half-day excursion to Nantahala Gorge unfolds. Tracing the Little Tennessee and Nantahala rivers and crossing Fontana Lake, spectacular Appalachian panoramas form a stunning backdrop.
The excursion’s timetable makes time for lunch or exploring the Gorge with a one-hour layover. Open-air gondolas are a must for anyone able to shrug off autumn’s nip. A shorter Tuckasegee River round trip to Dillsboro is also a hit.
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Utica, New York
+1 (800) 819-2291
The largest protected wilderness area in the contiguous United States is home to the longest fall foliage season in the northeast, and the Adirondack Scenic Railroad offers unparalleled views. Amid the far-off peaks and autumn-splashed woodlands of vast Adirondack Park, the railroad skirts and crosses rivers and streams on a memorable day trip between Utica and the hamlets of Thendara and Old Forge.
A half-day layover leaves plenty of time for dining, shopping and recreation and overnight stays are encouraged!
Tioga Central Railroad
Tioga Central Railroad
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
+1 (570) 724-0990
Pennsylvania’s self-proclaimed “most scenic railroad excursion” delivers — especially in the fall. Located in the Keystone State’s “Canyon Country,” the Tioga Central Railroad’s route to Lake Hammond offers everything a leaf-peeping rail fan could desire. The railroad’s 34-mile round trip traces a hill and dale landscape that is ablaze with color and offers keen-eyed observers the chance to glimpse eagles soaring above.
For those ready to weather North Central Pennsylvania’s brisk autumn temperatures, the open-air gondola offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Dinner train service is increased and moved to an earlier hour during foliage time.
Tennessee Valley Railroad
Tennessee Valley Railroad
Chattanooga, Tennessee
+1 (423) 894-8028 (EXT 0).
Through Cherokee National Forest, along the beautiful and scenic Hiwassee River and through secluded Hiwassee River Gorge, the Tennessee Valley Railroad’s Hiwassee River Rail Adventure has something for everyone. A leaf peeper’s delight, the train’s new dome car showcases woodlands brimming with brilliant bursts of orange, yellow, and red.
The route’s Hiwassee Loop makes it a thrill-seeker’s delight as well, with the train’s corkscrew climb up Bald Mountain a dizzying and unforgettable high point. Extended trips to the old mining town of Copperhill, and separate excursions out of Chattanooga are additional options.
Durango & Silverton Railroad
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Durango, Colorado
+1 (888) 872-4607
An unforgettable trip in any season, the journey from Durango to Silverton takes on a special glow in the fall. The whiffs of coal smoke and the steam train’s gentle sways add to the magic of this autumn rail excursion, but it is the Aspens that steal the show!
Deep within the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains’ San Juan Range, the train follows a 130+ year-old route through Animas River Gorge, its rugged landscape painted with golden Aspens interspersed with dabs of orange and red. Trains also depart from Silverton.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Cumberland, Maryland
+1 (800) 872-4650
Through the rugged Allegheny Mountains, Mountain Thunder, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0 diesel engine, leads passengers on a spectacular autumn rail experience.
Along the way, the route’s seemingly endless explosion of scarlet maples, orange oaks and golden hickories compete for attention with the 1,652-foot Lovers’ Leap and hairpin Helmstetter’s Curve, a rail fan’s delight that gives rear cars a full view of the engine. The train’s destination is the charming “Mountain City” of Frostburg, where a layover allows time to explore local history and activities.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex Steam Train
Essex, Connecticut
+1 (860) 767-0103
Named by the Nature Conservancy as one of the “last great places” on Earth, the Connecticut River Valley sets the stage for a nostalgia-filled fall experience. Foliage lovers who board one of the vintage coaches of the Essex Steam Train soon find themselves transported on an old-fashioned steam journey through some of the world’s most magnificent autumn landscapes.
The train is met by the historic Becky Thatcher Riverboat at Deep River Landing where the option to continue the journey aboard the historic three-deck boat is a choice well taken. Essex Clipper Dinner Train excursions are also options.
Mount Hood Railroad
Mount Hood Railroad
Hood River, Oregon
+1 (800) 872-4661
From the heart of the majestic Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to the foot of Oregon’s highest peak (11,235 ft / 3,424 m), the Mount Hood Railroad treats passengers to an ever-changing panorama of orchards, vineyards, and woodlands.
The railroad’s vintage diesels roll along the Upper Valley of the Hood River and through the Mount Hood National Scenic Area where an eye-popping show of fall color is sure to please even the finickiest foliage chaser. Box lunches are available for pre-order. Selected runs feature tastings of Oregon wines.
