These 5 U.S. Scenic Train Rides Offer The Best Fall Views This Year

With the shut of summer time, it signifies that fall is beginning to make its approach into the minds of most of us. To many individuals throughout the U.S., fall means cozy nights, apple cider, heat sweaters, and, after all, the autumn foliage craze that begins to take over the nation.

Foliage fever is actual, and whereas street journeys and nationwide park hikes are nice, why not expertise America’s lovely autumn views by rail this 12 months? Right here at Journey Off Path, we’ve seen that practice journey is having a significant second. It’s an opportunity to sit down again, chill out, and soak within the beautiful views with out the stress of driving.

Primarily based on the scenic railways vacationers have been raving about final 12 months, listed here are 5 U.S. practice rides that supply a few of the greatest fall views for 2025.

🚂 Conway Scenic Railroad, New Hampshire

The Angle: Basic New England Magnificence

In order for you the quintessential New England fall expertise, that is it. Whereas there are lots of foliage trains within the area, vacationers in 2024 constantly gushed that the Mountaineer route on the Conway Scenic Railroad is likely one of the most spectacular rail journeys within the nation. Winding by the guts of the White Mountains and the dramatic Crawford Notch, this journey provides cliffside views, historic trestles, and a sea of vibrant crimson and orange maple timber.

• The Expertise: It is a longer, extra immersive journey, providing a eating automobile and a real feeling of golden-era practice journey.
• Finest Time To Go: The primary two weeks of October are sometimes peak season for this a part of New Hampshire.

🏞️ Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Ohio

The Angle: A Nationwide Park by Rail

There’s a cause this Ohio favourite stays on the checklist: it’s one of many solely scenic railways that runs immediately by a U.S. Nationwide Park. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad provides you a front-row seat to the deep forests and rolling hills of the park as they explode into fiery shades of crimson, orange, and purple. It’s an extremely accessible method to expertise a nationwide park’s fall magnificence.

• The Expertise: Search for themed rides just like the “Ales on Rails” beer-tasting excursions for a enjoyable, adults-only journey.
• Finest Time To Go: Mid-to-late October is the candy spot for peak coloration on this area.

⛰️ Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia

The Angle: Genuine Appalachian Journey

For a very distinctive and historic expertise, head to the mountains of West Virginia. The Cass Scenic Railroad is just not a typical vacationer practice; it is an genuine, historic logging railroad that makes use of highly effective steam locomotives to chug its approach up a mountain. The journey by the rugged Appalachian wilderness is spectacular, culminating in a panoramic view from Bald Knob, the third-highest level within the state.

• The Expertise: It is a loud, highly effective, and genuine steam practice experience that appears like stepping again in time. The views from the highest are completely breathtaking.
• Finest Time To Go: The primary three weeks of October provide one of the best probability for vibrant colours.

🏜️ Verde Canyon Railroad, Arizona

The Angle: Shocking Desert Magnificence

A fall foliage journey within the Arizona desert? Completely! That is our “underrated gem” decide that vacationers raved about final 12 months for being so surprising. The Verde Canyon Railroad follows the Verde River by a shocking crimson rock canyon. Within the fall, the cottonwood and sycamore timber that line the river flip a superb, stunning yellow, creating an unbelievable distinction in opposition to the crimson cliffs and blue sky.

• The Expertise: Guide a seat in an open-air viewing automobile to get one of the best, unobstructed images of the canyon and the colourful ribbon of gold under.
• Finest Time To Go: Late October by the primary two weeks of November.

🏔️ Durango & Silverton Slender Gauge Railroad, Colorado

The Angle: The Rocky Mountain Epic

It is a true bucket-list journey. The historic Durango & Silverton steam train winds its approach by the distant wilderness of the San Juan Nationwide Forest, carving by canyons alongside the dashing Animas River. Within the fall, the route is lined with hundreds of thousands of golden aspen timber, making a world-class spectacle of coloration. It is an unforgettable, epic journey that constantly ranks as the most effective practice rides on the planet.

• The Expertise: That is an all-day journey. The practice climbs almost 3,000 toes on its method to the historic mining city of Silverton.
• Finest Time To Go: The final two weeks of September are prime time for the “aspen gold” rush.

So this fall, commerce the freeway visitors for a window seat and let another person do the driving for a change. It’s an ideal method to expertise the magic of the season with out the stress. Joyful Fall Travels! 🚂