Where to ride the rails in California

All Aboard!

Ready to plan a unique spring or summer family getaway? Look no further than the fascinating and historically rich train experiences throughout the state of California. How fun would it be to plan entire family vacation dedicated to train exploration? No matter where you’re headed, there’s probably a train ride nearby.

World-Famous Skunk Train

Fort Bragg Take the Pudding Creek Express on a seven-mile scenic round trip along Pudding Creek Estuary and through ancient redwood trees. The 75-minute experience includes a short stop at Glen Blair Junction, where passengers can explore the trails. Or, take a longer trip on the Wolf Tree Turn route, which departs from Willits (about an hour east of Fort Bragg). www.skunktrain.com

Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

Sonoma Kids love the quarter-scale railroad and train-themed rides at TrainTown. Each train ride is 20 minutes long, venturing through tunnels and over bridges, stopping at the petting zoo. Open weekends; daily during the summer. www.traintown.com

Redwood Valley Railway

Orinda (Berkeley) Families love riding this miniature steam train that is commonly known as Tilden Steam Train because of its location in Tilden Regional Park. Enjoy a 12-minute ride through the redwoods covered hills of Berkeley. Open daily in the summer; weekends only during winter months. https://redwood-valleyrailway.business.site

Redwood Forest Steam Train

Felton (Santa Cruz) Visitors to Roaring Camp can ride a steam engine through towering redwood groves and up a narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain. Trains run daily (except Christmas); a 1941 Plymouth Diesel may be used on weekdays January through March. www.roaringcamp.com

Discover wine and beer trains just for parents in the online version of this article at www.sandiegofamily.com/ things-to-do/travel.

Angels Flight Railway

Los Angeles If you’ve seen the movie “La La Land,” you’ve gotten a glimpse of Angels Flight, a funicular that takes passengers on a very short ride up Bunker Hill. Fare is only $1 each way. Consider purchasing a souvenir round-trip ticket for this historic railway car, which originally opened in 1901. www.angelsflight.org

Griffith Park Train Rides

Los Angeles There are five miniature locomotives and 21 passenger coaches in operation between Griffith Park & Southern Railroad (open daily, except Christmas Day) and Travel Town Railroad (closed Wednesdays), both located at LA’s expansive Griffith Park. Leave time to explore vintage railroad locomotives at Travel Town, too. www.griffithparktrainrides.com

California State Railroad

Museum, Sacramento Take a 50-minute round-trip ride on Sacramento Southern Railroad’s historic steam or diesel locomotive, which operate April through September. Experience railroading as it was in the early 20th century while riding along the scenic Sacramento River. www.californiarailroad.museum

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine

Railroad, Fish Camp Hop aboard the Logger Steam Train or Lil’ Logger Diesel on a narrated, one-hour ride through the Sierra National Forest. The Moonlight Special evening ride includes dinner and live entertainment during a stop at Lewis Creek Canyon. Trains run April through November. www.ymsprr.com

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Jamestown Get a taste of California’s scenic gold country on a six-mile, 45-minute ride aboard the historic Sierra Railway in Tuolumne County. Then, explore Railtown, a 26-acre park also known as “The Movie Railroad” since its trains have been seen in more than 300 movies (including Back to the Future III). Don’t miss the active roundhouse tour! www.railtown1897.org

So. California Railway Museum

Perris Don’t miss the Dinosaur Train STEAM Festival March 19 & 20, a unique experience created in partnership with PBS featuring all-day train and trolley rides, and activities such as making dino lava lamps and straw rockets. www.socalrailway.org

Pacific Southwest Railway

Campo Ride the Golden State on an eight-mile trek through San Diego County’s rugged back-country. Want to ride the train from an engineer’s point of view? A limited number of locomotive cab rides are available for ages 6+ with a paying adult. Visit website for details. Trains run on weekends. www.psrm.org v

Railbike Excursions, Fort Bragg

Ride the rails on an open-air railbike and experience the train tracks in a whole new way—immersed in nature! The two-person electric bikes are so much fun! Feel the breeze and breathe fresh air as you pedal along Pudding Creek. For ages 6+ (with parent). A more challenging 25-mile excursion is also available along the Noyo River. www.skunktrain.com

Lisa Gipson, who is always up for a road trip, is still discovering fun things to do in her home state of California.

Looking for train experiences closer to home? Read our article “Fun Train Experiences in San Diego” at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/outabout/7-fun-train-experiences-in-san-diego.

March 2022 • SanDiegofamily.com • 25