18 of America's great train routes and heritage lines.
From steam-powered narrow-gauge lines climbing the Rockies to Amtrak's great transcontinental routes, America's scenic railways are some of the best ways to see the country. This is a curated checklist of 18 of the best train rides and heritage lines, grouped by region, with each route's location and what makes it worth riding.
| Railway | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge | Durango, CO | 1882 · 45 mi · steam still active |
| Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad | Chama, NM | 64 mi · NM-CO |
| Royal Gorge Route Railroad | Cañon City, CO | Through the 1000-ft canyon |
| Pikes Peak Cog Railway | Manitou Springs, CO | World's highest cog railway |
| Grand Canyon Railway | Williams, AZ | Williams → Grand Canyon Village |
| Railway | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Strasburg Rail Road | Strasburg, PA | Oldest continuously operating in U.S. |
| Conway Scenic Railroad | North Conway, NH | Crawford Notch · White Mountains |
| Cass Scenic Railroad | Cass, WV | 1901 Shay locomotive |
| Tweetsie Railroad | Blowing Rock, NC | Coal-fired steam |
| Mt. Washington Cog Railway | Bretton Woods, NH | Oldest mountain-climbing cog rail in world |
| Railway | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Napa Valley Wine Train | Napa, CA | 1864 vintage train · wine country |
| Skunk Train | Fort Bragg, CA | Redwoods · Fort Bragg-Willits |
| Mt. Hood Railroad | Hood River, OR | Hood River, OR |
| Niles Canyon Railway | Sunol, CA | Original transcontinental segment |
| Railway | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| California Zephyr (Chicago→Bay Area) | Chicago → Emeryville | Rockies + Sierras · 2,438 mi · 51 hr |
| Coast Starlight (Seattle→LA) | Seattle → Los Angeles | Pacific coastline · 35 hr |
| Empire Builder (Chicago→Portland or Seattle) | Chicago → PNW | Glacier National Park |
| Alaska Railroad (Anchorage→Seward + Anchorage→Fairbanks) | Anchorage, AK | Stunning glacier views |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Scenic Railways Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each line, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Book fall-foliage rides months ahead; the New England and Rocky Mountain heritage lines sell out their peak-color weekends quickly. Splurge on a dome or open-air car where offered — the view is the whole point. Ride the steam trains like the Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec for the full experience; the sound and smell are half the appeal. Do at least one Amtrak long-distance route — the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight rival any tourist line for scenery at a fraction of the cost.
The Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec narrow-gauge railroads in Colorado and New Mexico are among the most celebrated, both running historic steam locomotives through dramatic mountain scenery.
Heritage lines in New England and the Appalachians are famous for autumn color, and their peak-foliage weekends sell out fast. Book well ahead if you're chasing fall leaves.
Most heritage and tourist railways are half-day or full-day round trips. Amtrak's long-distance routes, like the California Zephyr, are multi-day journeys with sleeping cars.
No, but a dome car, observation car, or open-air gondola — where offered — dramatically improves the view and is usually worth the upgrade.
A printable scenic railways passport — a curated checklist grouped by region, a detail page for each line, suggested routes, and achievement badges — makes it easy to mark off each ride.