I look forward to admiring fall foliage each year, but there’s one thing I dread each time: fighting traffic and the driving.
If I volunteer as the driver among my friends, it means I’m stuck looking at asphalt instead of actually savoring the changing leaves all around me. Throw in traffic and parking nightmares, and driving puts a damper on leaf peeping entirely.
But many train routes offer the best front-row views. Everyone gets a fantastic view of fall colors, and some even come with glass-domed windows, fun themes, and layover stops that can help turn a scenic ride into a multi-day vacation.
In this article
- Amtrak’s Vermonter From D.C. to St. Albans, Vermont
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad to and From Elbe, Washington
- Agawa Canyon Train to and From Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Amtrak’s California Zephyr Between Emeryville, California, and Chicago, Illinois
- Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado
- The Shortcut
Amtrak’s Vermonter From D.C. to St. Albans, Vermont
If there’s one part of the United States that’s known for its fall foliage, it’s New England. And one of the best ways to experience the sweeping scenery is on Amtrak’s Vermonter route.
Start in Washington, D.C. and make your way up through Vermont before disembarking in St. Albans. On the way, you cross cities like Philadelphia and smaller towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
While the 13-hour trip is filled with remarkable views, pay attention when you hit Springfield, Massachusetts. Here, the path follows the Connecticut River along the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Between the forests of changing leaves, you travel through small towns like Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, and White River Junction before ending in St. Albans. For the best views, sit on the right side of the train when traveling north.
Once in St. Albans, you can get off and head to towns like Stowe, Vermont, where fall activities like apple picking, gondola rides, and hiking are in abundance. Foliage in Vermont typically peaks from late September through mid-October, though timing changes every year. One-way coach seats for the daily route start around $70.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad to and From Elbe, Washington
On the other side of the country, the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad train route allows for gorgeous leaf peeping in the Pacific Northwest.
The train is run by the nonprofit Western Forest Industries Museum, which offers multiple departures Friday through Sunday and some weekdays.
The ride starts and ends in Elbe, Washington, with a stop in Mineral, Washington. From the train windows, Pacific Northwest views unfold along the Nisqually River and beside Mount Rainier, all while being pulled by a vintage steam locomotive.
The 1-hour-and-15-minute train ride is open seating, and while most of the train cars are enclosed, there’s a café car as well as an open-air car. Time your visit right and the nonprofit also runs special seasonal train rides each fall, including a Halloween-themed one, and others focused on cider and whiskey tastings.
Fall foliage in the area typically peaks between September and October, making either month a great time to ride. Round-trip fares start at approximately $35 per person.
Agawa Canyon Train to and From Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
In Ontario, the daylong excursion onboard the Agawa Canyon Train takes travelers through some of Canada’s most spectacular fall foliage.
The 114-mile route starts and ends in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where you'll journey through remote landscapes, alongside the St. Marys River, and through the Agawa Canyon. You’ll catch glimpses of the Canadian Shield’s forests, which come alive with color during the fall months. Typically, leaves peak around the third week of September.
After roughly 4 hours on the train, you reach the halfway point at the floor of the Agawa Canyon. Here, you can get off and explore for 90 minutes. There are short hikes, picnic areas, and two waterfalls, all accessible from the stop. Since it’s round-trip, both sides of the train offer stunning views, and tickets start at $112 (USD).
Amtrak’s California Zephyr Between Emeryville, California, and Chicago, Illinois
If you’re looking to cover multiple autumnal landscapes across the country, the California Zephyr is your answer.
This Amtrak ride starts in California and ends in Chicago, but the stretch through the Sierra Nevada is especially appealing for leaf peepers. After leaving Sacramento, the train climbs into the mountains, passing through the Sierra Nevada toward Donner Pass and Truckee before heading into Nevada.
As for fall colors, the stretch between Colfax and Truckee is a highlight. Riders navigate through the Sierra Nevada’s forests, Donner Lake, and alongside the Truckee River. For this section, head to the train’s bi-level Superliner Sightseer Lounge car and catch views from its glass-domed windows.
The Sierra Nevada's fall foliage is expected to peak from late-September to mid-October, and the full route takes about 51 hours, while the Sacramento to Reno section is 5 hours long. Coach seats cost around $80 for the shorter section.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado
For spectacular fall foliage in the heart of the U.S., board Colorado’s Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This train journey involves a steam locomotive and a ride through the San Juan Mountains along the Animas River with views of Colorado’s changing aspen trees, which are known for their vibrant gold foliage.
Passengers can choose between one-way or round-trip tickets. The former takes 3.5 hours and covers 45 miles between two historic Colorado mining towns. The High Bridge and Horseshoe Curve sections of the journey offer striking views of the Animas River Gorge and aspen-covered mountains.
Foliage typically peaks mid-September near Silverton, and one-way steam tickets start at $118.
The Shortcut
Amtrak's Vermonter runs 13 hours, but there's one side of the train you want and one stretch of the route that earns the trip.
The Agawa Canyon run isn't just a ride. It parks you at the canyon floor long enough to actually get out and walk.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is the cheapest one, and it's pulled by a vintage steam locomotive. Check out the themed rides in fall for an extra spirited experience.
On the California Zephyr, the Sierra Nevada section is the payoff. Find the Sightseer Lounge car with the glass-domed windows.
Peak color runs mid-September to mid-October across most of these, but Silverton and Sault Ste. Marie hit earlier than New England.
