7 Best Train Rides for Fall Foliage
From California’s vibrant vineyards to crimson canyons in West Virginia, these routes will leave you in awe.
Settle into your seat and watch majestic trees and lush hillsides put on a show as you roll past some of the most beautiful autumn scenery in the United States and Europe. From a historic Pullman car that winds through golden- and orange-hued vineyards to a scenic, narrow-gauge international rail line showcasing Italy and Switzerland’s painted valleys and forests, here are seven immersive fall foliage train rides in the West and beyond that are sure to delight, excite, and inspire.
Vigezzina–Centovalli Railway
Switzerland to Italy
Opened in 1923, the Vigezzina–Centovalli Railway is a scenic, narrow-gauge international rail line connecting the Swiss town of Locarno with Domodossola, Italy. Each autumn, the railway offers limited-time Foliage Train tickets. This round-trip excursion, which runs from mid-October to mid-November, highlights the magnificent fiery oranges, deep crimsons, and golden yellow of the beech and chestnut forests as it travels through the Vigezzo and Centovalli valleys. The journey runs 32 miles each way, weaving through woodlands and gorges and past waterfalls and mountain villages as it goes. It also includes 83 bridges and 31 tunnels, with an optional stop at a mountain town of your choice en route.
Napa Valley Wine Train
Napa, California
Experience a different side of wine country on a train ride through vineyards drenched in shades of gold, fiery red, and deep amber, with the most vibrant colors appearing late October through November. Napa Valley Wine Train runs 36-miles round-trip from downtown Napa to St. Helena, with multiple excursions to choose from. The Vista Dome Lunch is a three-hour excursion aboard a 1952 glass-domed Pullman car, complete with 360-degree views of the changing leaves alongside a multi-course gourmet meal. The six-hour Legacy Experience invites passengers into vintage 1915 Pullman rail cars with an open air-tasting platform and includes stops for seated tastings at two historic wineries.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
Elbe, Washington
Take in the autumn beauty of the Pacific Northwest aboard a vintage steam locomotive. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad rolls along Washington’s Nisqually River and through the forested foothills of the region’s highest peak. The route showcases the unique, golden-hued shift of the local wilderness against the backdrop of Mount Rainier. Beginning in the historic town of Elbe, this 12-mile round-trip journey passes red vine maples, golden alders, and huckleberry bushes that turn a dazzling crimson. Deep green Douglas firs and cedars provide a striking contrast to the changing colors, and lucky riders get views of Mount Rainier on clear days. The best time for peak leaf-peeping is September through mid-October.
Roaring Camp Railroads
Felton, California
Climb aboard one of Roaring Camp’s narrow-gauge steam trains for a round-trip journey through redwood groves. Although these towering trees are evergreen, the surrounding Santa Cruz mountains are filled with black cottonwoods and western sycamores awash in yellow, chartreuse, and orange. Look for the seasonal foliage around the historic train depot in Felton and on the climb up Bear Mountain, as the train ascends a steep, winding incline on three-foot-wide tracks beneath the forest canopy.
Roaring Camp uses incredibly preserved, late-19th century to early-20th century steam locomotives to pull its trains, while conductors narrate the history of this recreated 1880s logging town, the railroad, and the landscape. Late October through November is prime time to see the changing foliage, and the excursions typically last between 75 and 90 minutes.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
Rockaway Beach, Oregon
From early October through mid-November, Oregon’s premier coastal heritage railway runs Fall Splendor excursions along the dramatic Tillamook shoreline. For approximately two-and-a-half hours, riders are treated to a roundtrip journey aboard both indoor and open-air railcars (with a roof or without), with views of the rugged Coast Range mountains and thick woodlands en route. But the biggest thrill is autumn’s brilliant hues: Golden-yellow bigleaf maple and yellow alder trees transform the mostly evergreen forest into an artist’s palette.
Trips run from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler, a small fishing village on the shores of Nehalem Bay. Here, you’ll have time for a cafe break before returning to the train’s starting point. Engines vary between historic steam and diesel locomotives, depending on the weekend, so check the schedule to plan accordingly.