The timeless allure of train travel offers a distinctive way to experience America’s diverse landscapes. From coastal routes hugging the Pacific to historic railways winding through mountain passes, these journeys provide a front-row seat to breathtaking scenery that is often inaccessible by car or foot.
Here is a list of 20 magnificent train rides across the United States that showcase the country’s natural beauty, historical significance, and engineering marvels.
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr traverses the heart of America between Chicago and San Francisco, crossing the Continental Divide through the Rocky Mountains. Passengers witness the dramatic transition from the Midwestern plains to the rugged Colorado mountains and red rock formations of Utah.
The route’s highlight comes during the crossing of the Sierra Nevada range, where the train winds through dense forests with glimpses of pristine alpine lakes.
Coast Starlight
This magnificent journey along the Pacific shoreline connects Los Angeles and Seattle with panoramic ocean views. The Coast Starlight passes through Santa Barbara’s palm-lined beaches, the green valleys of Oregon, and the majestic Cascade Range.
The parlor car offers floor-to-ceiling windows perfect for watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean during one of America’s most photographed rail segments.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Operating continuously since 1882, this historic narrow-gauge line climbs through Colorado’s stunning San Juan Mountains. The vintage steam locomotives follow the Animas River through wilderness inaccessible by road, offering views of towering peaks and dense forests.
The journey between Durango and Silverton features breathtaking cliffs alongside canyon walls that showcase the engineering ingenuity of 19th-century railway builders.
Grand Canyon Railway
This historic line delivers passengers from Williams, Arizona, directly to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The journey traverses high desert plateaus and ancient ponderosa pine forests while musicians and cowboy characters entertain onboard. The final approach provides a unique perspective on the Grand Canyon’s magnitude that is unlike arriving by car.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow-gauge railway climbs nearly 3,000 feet in just 20 miles from Skagway, Alaska. Passengers cross the Canadian border while enjoying views of glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, and the original Klondike Trail.
The vintage parlor cars feature panoramic windows that showcase the dramatic mountain terrain once traversed by hopeful gold seekers.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
America’s highest and longest coal-fired steam railroad operates between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado. The 64-mile journey crosses the state line 11 times while traversing remote wilderness areas through the southern Rocky Mountains.
The highlight comes at 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, where passengers can sometimes spot elk and bear in the surrounding meadows and forests.
Empire Builder
Following much of Lewis and Clark’s historic route, Amtrak’s Empire Builder connects Chicago with Seattle through America’s northern plains and mountains. The most spectacular section cuts through Glacier National Park, where jagged peaks, pristine lakes, and possible wildlife sightings captivate passengers.
The observation car provides panoramic views as the train winds alongside rivers carved by ancient glaciers.
Verde Canyon Railroad
This Arizona treasure takes passengers through a riparian wilderness often called “Arizona’s other Grand Canyon.” The Verde Canyon’s red rock formations and desert landscapes are complemented by the lush greenery along the Verde River.
Open-air viewing cars allow passengers to feel the desert air while spotting ancient Native American cliff dwellings and eagles soaring overhead.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Winding through western North Carolina’s remote mountains, this heritage railroad follows historic routes once vital to the region’s timber industry. The Nantahala Gorge excursion features river views and dense forests, while the Tuckasegee River journey passes filming locations from ‘The Fugitive.’
Both routes showcase the misty blue ridges that give the Great Smoky Mountains their name.
Mount Washington Cog Railway
The world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway has been ascending New Hampshire’s highest peak since 1869. This engineering marvel uses a center cog rail to climb grades approaching 37 percent, steeper than any conventional adhesion railway could manage.
The three-mile journey rises from the base station through forest and alpine zones to the 6,288-foot summit, where passengers can sometimes view five states, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic
This daily summer service between Anchorage and Seward offers unparalleled views of the Alaskan wilderness. The route skirts the Turnagain Arm, where beluga whales often swim alongside the tracks, before entering the pristine Kenai Mountains.
Passengers frequently spot moose, bears, and eagles while traveling through landscapes inaccessible by road.
Napa Valley Wine Train
This luxurious excursion combines gourmet dining with stunning views of America’s premier wine region. Restored vintage Pullman cars glide past famous vineyards and charming towns while passengers enjoy multi-course meals prepared in the train’s galley.
The three-hour journey provides a relaxed perspective on the rolling hills and neatly arranged rows of grapevines that define this celebrated landscape.
Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks
This relatively new luxury service connects Denver, Colorado, with Moab, Utah, through some of America’s most dramatic landscapes. The two-day journey features massive sandstone formations, deep river canyons, and the towering Rocky Mountains.
Glass-domed coaches ensure passengers don’t miss a moment of the ever-changing scenery between Colorado’s alpine meadows and Utah’s desert splendor.
Strasburg Rail Road
America’s oldest continuously operating railroad has transported passengers through Pennsylvania’s Amish Country since 1832. The meticulously restored steam locomotives pull vintage coaches past working farms where farmers still plow with horses and travel by buggy.
This 45-minute round trip offers a peaceful journey through landscapes that have changed little in the past century.
Cass Scenic Railroad
Located in West Virginia, this former logging line features the largest collection of operating geared Shay locomotives in the world. The steep climb up Bald Knob offers spectacular views of the Appalachian highlands and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s massive telescope.
The distinctive sound of the Shay locomotives echoes through the mountains as they power up grades that once challenged trains hauling massive timber loads.
Denali Star
The Alaska Railroad’s flagship route connects Anchorage and Fairbanks with stunning views of Denali National Park. Lucky passengers may glimpse North America’s tallest peak rising 20,310 feet above the surrounding landscape.
The route passes through the remote wilderness of the Alaska Range, where wildlife sightings of moose, caribou, and sometimes bears delight travelers.
Adirondack
Amtrak’s service between New York City and Montreal shines brightest during autumn when the forested hills explode with fall colors. The route follows the historic Hudson River Valley before tracing the western shore of Lake Champlain with views of New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains.
The ten-hour journey offers constantly changing vistas through dense forests, historic towns, and alongside tranquil waterways.
Tennessee Valley Railroad
Based in Chattanooga, this moving museum operates several routes that showcase the region’s railroad heritage and natural beauty. The Missionary Ridge Local crosses one of the oldest railroad tunnels in the Southeast and features a demonstration of a manual turntable.
Longer excursions venture into the Tennessee River Gorge, where passengers enjoy views of the winding river from historic bridges and remote hillsides.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Departing from a historic 1905 depot in Blue Ridge, Georgia, this railway follows the Toccoa River along the Tennessee border. The two-hour round trip passes through the Chattahoochee National Forest with mountain views and riverside scenery.
A two-hour layover in the charming sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, allows time to explore before the return journey.
Southwest Chief
Running between Chicago and Los Angeles, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief offers one of the most varied long-distance journeys in the country. This route traverses the Great Plains, climbs into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, and descends into the dramatic red rock canyons of Arizona.
Highlights include crossing Raton Pass, a historic mountain pass used by Santa Fe Trail pioneers, and gliding through the vast deserts of the Southwest. With observation cars and generous legroom, the Southwest Chief is ideal for relaxed sightseeing across America’s heartland and high desert.
Rails Through American Splendor
These rail journeys represent more than transportation—they offer immersion experiences into America’s diverse landscapes and rich history. From luxurious modern trains to historic steam locomotives, each journey provides a distinctive perspective on the country’s natural wonders.
Whether crossing mighty mountain ranges or following winding river valleys, these scenic train rides reveal America at its most magnificent through the timeless romance of rail travel.
More from Travel Pug
- Cities Growing so Fast You Won’t Recognize Them in 10 Years
- 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
- 16 U.S. Cities That Are Quietly Becoming Travel Hotspots
- Where to Travel If You Love Long Bus Rides and Daydreams
- 20 Cities Perfect for Solo Travelers Who Crave Adventure & Culture
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.