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

With the shut of summer season, it implies 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 highway journeys and nationwide park hikes are nice, why not expertise America’s stunning autumn views by rail this yr? Here at Travel Off Path, we’ve seen that prepare journey is having a significant second. It’s an opportunity to take a seat again, calm down, and soak within the gorgeous 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.

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🚂 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 by way of the center of the White Mountains and the dramatic Crawford Notch, this journey presents cliffside views, historic trestles, and a sea of vibrant pink and orange maple bushes.

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

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🏞️ Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Ohio

The Angle: A National Park by Rail

There’s a purpose this Ohio favourite stays on the listing: it’s one of many solely scenic railways that runs immediately by way of a U.S. National 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 pink, orange, and purple. It’s an extremely accessible strategy 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 colour on this area.

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⛰️ Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia

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The Angle: Authentic Appalachian Adventure

For a really distinctive and historic expertise, head to the mountains of West Virginia. The Cass Scenic Railroad just isn’t a typical vacationer prepare; 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 way of 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 appears 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 perfect probability for vibrant colours.

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🏜️ Verde Canyon Railroad, Arizona

The Angle: Surprising Desert Beauty

A fall foliage journey within the Arizona desert? Absolutely! This is our “underrated gem” choose that vacationers raved about final yr for being so surprising. The Verde Canyon Railroad follows the Verde River by way of a shocking pink rock canyon. In the autumn, the cottonwood and sycamore bushes that line the river flip a superb, stunning yellow, creating an unimaginable distinction towards the pink cliffs and blue sky.

• The Experience: Book a seat in an open-air viewing automobile to get the perfect, unobstructed pictures of the canyon and the colourful ribbon of gold under.
• Best Time To Go: Late October by way of the primary two weeks of November.

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🏔️ 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 approach by way of the distant wilderness of the San Juan National Forest, carving by way of canyons alongside the dashing Animas River. In the autumn, the route is lined with hundreds of thousands of golden aspen bushes, making a world-class spectacle of colour. It’s an unforgettable, epic journey that constantly ranks as probably the greatest prepare rides on the earth.

• The Experience: This is an all-day journey. The prepare climbs practically 3,000 ft on its strategy 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.

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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 strategy to expertise the magic of the season with out the stress. Happy Fall Travels! 🚂