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 manner into the minds of most of us. To many individuals throughout the U.S., fall means cozy nights, apple cider, heat sweaters, and, in fact, the autumn foliage craze that begins to take over the nation.

Foliage fever is actual, and whereas highway journeys and nationwide park hikes are nice, why not expertise America’s lovely autumn views by rail this yr? Here at Travel Off Path, we’ve seen that prepare journey is having a serious second. It’s an opportunity to take a seat again, chill out, and soak within the beautiful views with out the stress of driving.

Based on the scenic railways vacationers have been raving about final yr, listed below are 5 U.S. prepare rides that provide among the greatest fall views for 2025.

🚂 Conway Scenic Railroad, New Hampshire

The Angle: Classic New England Beauty

If you need the quintessential New England fall expertise, that is it. While there are a lot of foliage trains within the area, vacationers in 2024 constantly gushed that the Mountaineer route on the Conway Scenic Railroad is among the most spectacular rail journeys within the nation. Winding via the guts of the White Mountains and the dramatic Crawford Notch, this journey gives cliffside views, historic trestles, and a sea of vibrant crimson and orange maple timber.

• The Experience: This is an extended, extra immersive journey, providing a eating automotive and a real feeling of golden-era prepare journey.
• Best Time To Go: The first two weeks of October are usually peak season for this a part of New Hampshire.

🏞️ Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Ohio

The Angle: A National Park by Rail

There’s a motive this Ohio favourite stays on the record: it’s one of many solely scenic railways that runs instantly via a U.S. National Park. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers 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 option to expertise a nationwide park’s fall magnificence.

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

⛰️ Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia

The Angle: Authentic Appalachian Adventure

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

• The Experience: This is a loud, highly effective, and genuine steam prepare experience that seems like stepping again in time. The views from the highest are completely breathtaking.
• Best Time To Go: The first three weeks of October supply the very best probability for vibrant colours.

🏜️ Verde Canyon Railroad, Arizona

The Angle: Surprising Desert Beauty

A fall foliage journey within the Arizona desert? Absolutely! This is our “underrated gem” decide that vacationers raved about final yr for being so sudden. The Verde Canyon Railroad follows the Verde River via a surprising crimson rock canyon. In the autumn, the cottonwood and sycamore timber that line the river flip an excellent, surprising yellow, creating an unbelievable distinction in opposition to the crimson cliffs and blue sky.

• The Experience: Book a seat in an open-air viewing automotive to get the very best, unobstructed photographs of the canyon and the colourful ribbon of gold beneath.
• Best Time To Go: Late October via the primary two weeks of November.

🏔️ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado

The Angle: The Rocky Mountain Epic

This is a real bucket-list journey. The historic Durango & Silverton steam train winds its manner via the distant wilderness of the San Juan National Forest, carving via canyons alongside the speeding Animas River. In the autumn, the route is lined with tens of millions of golden aspen timber, making a world-class spectacle of coloration. It’s an unforgettable, epic journey that constantly ranks as probably the greatest prepare rides on this planet.

• The Experience: This is an all-day journey. The prepare climbs practically 3,000 toes on its option to the historic mining city of Silverton.
• Best 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 option to expertise the magic of the season with out the stress. Happy Fall Travels! 🚂