Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

Ride the rails this fall to see autumn’s colors

All aboard to see fall colors at their peak

By

No one is really sure when leaf-peeping became a thing, but one thing is for certain; parents loaded the kids in the car to take a look at autumn colors long before fall foliage posts on social media were trendy. It’s tough to predict just when those red, orange, and yellow hues will strike, but typically, the autumn colors begin to take hold in late September and early October, depending on where you live.

The Farmer’s Almanac does its best to provide leaf-peepers with dates when Mother Nature’s fall show is at its peak. Those are the times when it’s ideal to plan a hike or a road trip to see autumn colors in all their glory. It’s also the perfect opportunity to hop onboard one of the United States’ scenic railroads. Scenic or heritage railroads are a piece of living history along America’s railroads. Most states have at least one scenic railroad within its borders.

Recommended Videos

A train ride to see fall foliage is a fun daytrip for the whole family. A fall scenic railroad trip is a wonderful way to sit back, relax, and enjoy fall foliage at its peak. Riding the rails on a scenic railroad is a step back in time and appeals to kids of all ages. Even tweens and teens will get a kick riding the rails this fall. So, all aboard to ride the rails this autumn on some of America’s top heritage railroads.

View from a scenic railroad fall foliage ride
Bob Pool / Shutterstock

Best scenic railroads to see fall foliage

Scenic railroads really do take riders back to a simpler time. It’s an ideal way to capture the show Mother Nature puts on every autumn with amazing fall foliage. States from the East coast to out west operate scenic railroads. Fall excursions on the rails are extremely popular and make for a fun and different family outing. Here are eight scenic railroads to check out this fall.

Related

Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

New England is known for its stunning fall colors and a ride on the Essex Steam Train in Essex, Connecticut doesn’t disappoint. The scenic railroad has been running since 1971 along the beautiful Connecticut River Valley thanks to the Valley Railroad Company. Autumn is a great time to enjoy a ride on the steam train. The railroad also offers a combination train and riverboat ticket, which makes for a super fun day for all on the water and the rails.

Strasburg Railroad

This scenic railroad marked its 175th anniversary back in 2007 and takes riders to Paradise. Really! One of the stops along the train ride through picturesque Lancaster County in Pennsylvania is the town of Paradise. Train enthusiasts will love the sights and sounds of a fall ride on the Strasburg Railroad as well as the additional train-inspired things to do, which include the National Toy Train Museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. You can even sleep in a refurbished train car at the Red Caboose Motel. The unique accommodations are just up the road from the Strasburg Railroad.

 Green Mountain Railroad

Another New England hot spot to ride the scenic railroads is the Green Mountain Railroad. Two or one-hour fall foliage trips begin booking in August. The Wulfson family has been running the Green Mountain Railroad for over 50 years. Departures are available from Chester and Burlington, Vermont. Both offer sensational rides showcasing Vermont’s fall beauty.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway takes riders on a four-hour journey through the North Georgia countryside along the Toccoa River. The 26-mile round trip provides glimpses of the mountains along the Georgia and Tennessee border and includes a two-hour layover in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee where passengers can enjoy the historic towns. This heritage railway is a perfect pick for families with older kids, tweens, and teens. Younger kids might have a hard time with the lengthy time spent on the train.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

For a taste of the west and breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and the San Juan National Forest in fall, hop on board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This scenic railroad takes you back to the railroad days of old. The heritage passenger train is pulled by an old-fashioned steam engine.

Mount Hood Railroad

Enjoy a scenic slice of the Pacific Northwest when you climb on the Mount Hood Railroad in Oregon. Passengers can see fall colors in all their glory as the train winds its way through the Columbia River Gorge with Mt. Hood as a striking backdrop.

North Shore Scenic Railroad

For a Midwestern treat, hop on board the North Shore Scenic Railroad running between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota. The train runs along 28 miles of lakefront track that used to be a part of the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range railroad lines. Fall foliage rides begin in mid-September and continue through mid-October. The entire trip takes six hours and includes a two-hour stop in Two Harbors for lunch, shopping, and exploring.

Mountain Rail Adventure

For a true fall escapade in the mountains, book a trip on the Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad in Elkins, West Virginia. Different trips are available including a two-hour, open-car excursion that is ideal for kids. There are overnight and weekend trips ideal for tweens and teens for families looking for a different vacation. Don’t delay if you’re planning on booking the weekend photography excursion, especially during the fall. This scenic railroad is popular and trips book up quickly.

Beautiful fall foliage
amowery / Shutterstock

All aboard!

Life rolls by pretty quickly all year, so it’s kind of nice to sit back and take in how transportation used to be with a ride along one of America’s many heritage railroads. These scenic railroads are often staffed by volunteers and preserve the rich history of the rails in the United States. Fall is the perfect time to climb aboard a scenic railroad for some leaf-peeping. It’s a great family-friendly activity showing off nature in all its fall glory while giving kids and adults a taste of what life used to be like when railroads were the primary transportation in the US. So, go ahead and hop on board one of these eight scenic railroads, and be sure to grab a window seat because the views really will be captivating.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
12 amazing indoor activities for kids this winter
Keep cozy and warm inside with these indoor activities
A mother reading a child a Christmas story.

Kids live for that first snow when they can have snowball fights, build snowmen, and make snow angels. But some days, there is no way anyone is going outside. Kids get sick more often, the temperature gets too cold, and it gets dark so early in the winter, and the activities move from outside to inside.

You now have to come up with ways to keep everyone entertained that the kids won't say is boring. Make fun core memories and do all these amazing indoor activities for kids this winter when playing outside is not an option.
Activities to get everyone moving

Read more
9 fun things to do at a sleepover: A checklist for your kids
Try these fun and entertaining sleepover activities for kids of any age
Kids at a sleepover

The time has come. You have agreed to let your child invite their friends to your home for a sleepover. Now, you need to figure out how to keep a group of kids entertained for the night. There's no need to start having a panic attack. It can be easy if you break down the activities a bit. If you need help with how to keep the kids occupied, we have a list of things to do at a sleepover, no matter what age group, so everyone is tuckered out by bedtime.
Food-related activities

Make your own pizza
Who would say no to pizza? Making your own pizza at home is easier than it seems. This way, each child can create their own. You know they will eat the whole thing because kids who help cook are more likely to eat the food. You could use English muffins, flatbread, mini bagels, or whatever else as the base and let the children pick their toppings.
Put together themed charcuterie boards
From holiday to movie themes, let the kids pick out what kind of charcuterie board they want to create and gather the ingredients. Children are so creative, and everyone will love to see what the finished projects look like. You could turn it into a contest and have everyone vote on their favorites, but any activity where you get to eat at the end is a winner for everyone.
Make baked goods
Have you been meaning to make those cookies for weeks? Well, make it a fun activity for the kids to do at the sleepover. Children love to bake and be in the kitchen, and it boosts their self-esteem, but the best part is everyone gets to enjoy the baked goods. If you have any of those themed cookbooks, let the kids pick out a couple of things to bake from there.
More relaxed activities

Read more
6 creative family game night ideas
These fun games will entertain the whole family
Parents with children playing a board game.

If you're frustrated with how much time everyone in your family spends in front of screens, family game night can be a great way to disconnect and have fun at the same time. And even though board games are fun, there are lots of other games you can play as a family that can be done both in and outdoors. We have some fun and creative games to share that will have your family laughing, giggling, and having the best time together.
Family game night ideas

The alphabet game
This is a rather fun trivia game that everyone can enjoy. It is a simple game that begins with choosing a category. That category could be anything, whether you want it to be desserts, music, or fruit. After that, say, your category was animals, the first person can say whatever animal they want that begins with an 'A.' But the next person has to continue it on, answering with an animal that begins with 'B.' If you can't figure out an animal within an allotted time frame of your choosing, you have to wait until the next go-round.
Family Olympics
Much unlike the actual Olympics, you do not have to be an acrobatic high-flying gymnast or a figure skater. All you have to do is bring your sense of humor. There are all kinds of games that the whole family can play. Some of them include:

Read more