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This 13-day Train Trip Will Take You to 5 National Parks Across the U.S.

See the American West in style.

Vacations by Rail invites you to take the slow route to see a few of America's most beautiful national parks .

The vacation company is well-known for its delightful trips by train across the globe, but one of its most popular journeys is its 13-day trip through the American West to visit five stellar national parks along the way.

The trip begins at Chicago's Union Station, where guests will board Amtrak's Empire Builder train and settle into their accommodations. They'll take the overnight train to the first official stop at Glacier National Park. Guests will have time to explore the park, hike through its awe-inspiring terrain, and see its 25 glaciers, hundreds of lakes, and flowing waterfalls. And in the mid-morning, guests will take a vintage open-air Red Jammer bus for a tour of the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road while they cross the Continental Divide.

From there, the journey continues to Yellowstone National Park. At the park, guests will get the chance to tour its famed attractions, including Upper and Lower Falls, Hayden Valley, Old Faithful, Fountain Paint Pots, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

The trip next takes guests to Grand Teton National Park for a float along the Snake River. On the water, guests can view the glorious Teton mountain range and maybe even spot a few bison, elk, and moose along the way.

The trip concludes with a visit to Utah to see both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, where guests can enjoy the gorgeous natural arches, red rocks, and incredible, vibrantly colorful sunsets.

The trip includes all rail travel, hotel accommodations for 12 nights (including four nights at Glacier Park Lodge or Grouse Mountain Lodge and two nights inside Yellowstone National Park), excursions and national park entrance fees, and all meals on board the train when guests upgrade to private sleeping accommodations.

The 13-day trip begins at $5,695 per person (double occupancy). There are still a few spots left for the June departure, but for more flexibility, check out its 2024 calendar , which includes departures June through September.

9 Best Train Rides for Exploring National Parks

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Even in the age of air and automobile travel, many people still prefer to travel by rail. One of the best aspects of train travel is that you can sit back, relax, and watch some of the country's most beautiful scenery roll past right outside your window. Trains are a particularly attractive way to travel in more rural areas, and they are an ideal option for getting to and going through America's best national parks and natural areas.

Here are nine trips that combine train travel with sightseeing in national parks and scenic locations.

California Zephyr and Yosemite National Park

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Regional services can certainly put people in touch with the kind of scenery that makes train travel special, but for true aficionados, a real rail adventure involves cross-country travel.

Because it passes through the Plains, the Rockies, rural Utah, and the Sierras, the Zephyr, which makes the 2,400-mile east-west trip three times per week, is a good train for sightseeing. Plus, Zephyr riders can easily get to Yosemite from the Bay Area.

Once inside the park, visitors can take a totally different kind of journey: a four-mile steam train trip on the Sugar Pine Railroad. This route was formerly used to haul lumberjack-chopped logs down the mountain.

Coast Starlight and the Pacific Northwest

Loco Steve / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Amtrak's Coast Starlight runs three days a week between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. It runs along the Cascade Range, the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest, and California's Central Coast. It also passes through some of the West Coast’s biggest cities: Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles.

Trails and Rails, a partnership between Amtrak and the U.S. National Park Service, has guides on select routes, including the Coast Starlight. These local guides provide onboard programs about national, state, and local parks. Travelers who want to get off the Starlight in San Francisco can get to Bay Area sites like Muir Woods National Monument with relative ease.

Ethan Allen Express and Green Mountain National Forest

Denis Tangney Jr. / Getty Images

The Ethan Allen Express is an Amtrak train that travels daily between New York City and Rutland, Vermont. The 241-mile journey takes just over five hours one way. The route passes through the Catskill Mountain region, the Adirondacks, and the Green Mountains, so there is plenty of scenery beside the rails.

During the winter, skiers use the Ethan Allen to get to Killington, Vermont, one of the best ski destinations in the Eastern U.S. During the summer, nature-seekers can use the train to get from New York City to upstate destinations like Albany and Lake George. The scenery starts right outside of New York City as the train enters the heart of the Hudson River Valley.

Alaska Coastal Classic and Kenai Fjords National Park

Ken Wiedemann / Getty Images

The Alaska Coastal Classic, which travels between Anchorage and Seward, is considered the most scenic train ride in the 49th state. During the 114-mile trip, the train passes the Cook Inlet and goes through the Kenai Mountains. Both the Kenai Fjords National Park and Chugach National Forest are accessible from Seward.

The train has two cabin classes, a viewing "dome" car, and dining and lounge areas. There are guides aboard to provide insights into the wild scenery that the train passes. Much of Alaska is still roadless wilderness, so trains like the Alaska Coastal Classic are the only way to see the landscapes without having to fly.

Grand Canyon Railway and the South Rim

Ingus Kruklitis / Getty Images

The Grand Canyon Railway has been in operation for more than a century. The Train, as it is sometimes called, took its first passengers to the South Rim in 1901 . It replaced stagecoaches as the main mode of transportation for canyon visitors and started a travel boom. The firm that built the rail line, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, helped to develop the South Rim of the Canyon for tourism.

The current Grand Canyon Railway train features six cabin classes, including an observation dome and a luxury parlor. Though the train started the tourism rush to the Grand Canyon , it is now helping to temper the traffic at the famous landmark. This is because a number of people take the train instead of driving to the South Rim. The train runs round trip once per day, with passengers given several hours after the morning ride to explore the canyon before they return to Williams, Arizona, in the late afternoon.

South Shore Line and Indiana Dunes National Park

Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The South Shore Line, a commuter train line that runs between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana, is a great way to get to Indiana Dunes National Park. The 15,000-acre park became the nation's 61st national park in 2019. It has everything from shoreline and beaches along Lake Michigan to hiking trails through forests, wetlands, and prairies.

The South Shore Line has four stops throughout the national park. One station — Dune Park Station — allows passengers to bring bicycles on the train.

Alaska Denali Star and Denali National Park

Len Turner / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

The Denali Star travels through rural Alaska between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The journey takes 12 hours and includes a stop at Denali National Park . Like its sister train, the Coastal Classic, the Star travels through Alaskan landscapes that are usually only seen from the windows of a bush plane.

Another Alaska train, the McKinley Explorer, features domed cars that offer 360-degree views of the surroundings. The Explorer does not make the entire trip between Anchorage and Fairbanks like the Denali Star. Instead, it only travels as far as Denali National Park. It is popular among cruisers and is actually operated by Holland America and Princess Cruises.

Durango and Silverton Railroad and the Colorado Rockies

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The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is certainly not one of the longest or fastest of America's scenic train trips, but it just might be the most breathtaking. The trip on this historic narrow-gauge railway starts in Durango, Colorado, at 6,500 feet above sea level. Over the 45-mile line, the early-20th-century steam engine climbs almost 3,000 feet to the town of Silverton.

The Durango and Silverton inches along at less than 20 miles per hour. The slow speed just means there is more time to take in the scenery of some of the tallest mountains in the Colorado Rockies and the trees of the Rio Grande National Forest.

Empire Builder and Glacier National Park

Hal Bergman / Getty Images

In addition to making its way to Glacier National Park, the Empire Builder train follows a portion of Lewis and Clark’s route in North Dakota and Montana. On the journey from Chicago, riders can spot a variety of terrain, from expansive plains to stunning mountain ranges.

The overnight trip runs three days a week. The station in Whitefish, Montana, is less than 30 miles from the park. After departing Montana, Empire Builder continues on to Portland, Oregon, or Seattle.

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National Parks Tours by Train | Escorted National Parks

National Parks tours by train will have you exploring Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion National Parks in a way no other method of transportation could ever provide... Although, America's National Parks by themselves draw a lot of attention whether you're walking, hiking, climbing or driving, National Parks railroad tours adds a fantastic element to the experience.

There are different trains for every destination, for instance in Alaska there are three trains that cover Alaska and even some of the same places like Denali National Park... There's Alaska Railroad, Wilderness Express and McKinley Explorer. There's Grand Luxe Rail Journeys, formerly Oreient Express. Amtrak Vacations is another company with many itineraries throughout the National Parks.

Seriously, National Parks rail tours through the national parks are incomparible to anything else. Taking a motor-coach from park to park is one thing, but taking a train is quite another experience. National Parks railroad tours take you into the wilderness, which means more nature and more wildlife to see.

Here are just some of the trains that operate throughout the national parks:

• Grand Canyon Railway > Grand Canyon
• The Empire Builder > Glacier National Park
• The Logger > Yosemite's South Gate
• The Denali Star > Anchorage to Fairbanks
• Alaska's Coastal Classic > Kenai Fjords National Park

Colorado Rockies (9 Days, Standard)

CODE: CV-282-S-9 OPERATOR: Collette Tours Popularity: 10 -->

Colorados Historic Trains 2024

CODE: MFT-436 OPERATOR: Mayflower Tours Popularity: 0 -->

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Alerts in effect, scenic train ride.

*Stations with an asterisk are close to river access. Know your destination before you get on the train; bikes are arranged by stops. Remove all items from bikes and kayaks before boarding. Detach trailers so they may be loaded separately. Use the CVSR's Train Tracker App to keep track of the train. Learn more about the Explorer program on CVSR's website . Check our Current Conditions page for any Towpath Trail closure alerts.

Over a Century of Train Service

The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley. It also provided passenger service. For people living in the industrial cities, leisure excursions into the countryside provided relief from the pressures, pollution, and crowding of urban life. After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 1900s, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service. Interest in the line was renewed in 1972 as a scenic excursion route. The Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association was born. Originally known as the Cuyahoga Valley Line, the scenic railroad now operates as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

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Last updated: March 7, 2024

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15610 Vaughn Road Brecksville, OH 44141

440 717-3890

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Denali National Park Rail Tours

Denali, set in the interior of Alaska, is six million acres of wild land bisected by one ribbon of road and crowned by North America's highest peak.

The topography and terrain is relatively low-elevation taiga forest, which then gives way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains., as such, entry to denali national park is only possible by joining a guided park tour from may to september.., denali national park introduction.

Denali National Park is full of wild and wonderful experiences. Here you’ll find North America's tallest peak, the 20,320-foot Mount Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) surrounded by forest, tundra and rivers. Wild animals large and small roam these unfenced lands, living as they have for ages in the solitude and tranquility of the last frontier. Embark on a scenic flight or backcountry adventure and keep an eye out for photo opportunities of bears, moose, wolves, caribou and Dall sheep.

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Alaska Rail Vacations REVIEWS

"We just came back from our winter adventure 5 days/4 nights in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. We had such a nice time and everything was great."

Ina Dominican Republic

"Excellent services!"

Polona Australia

"They were a pleasure to work with, very knowledgeable and responded timely."

Lori S Austin, TX

"Everything ran like clock work, the activities we did were extremely well organised, informative and above all fantastically enjoyable. "

Hazel Scotland

"They were professional and pleasant to work with."

Jemma L New York

"Alaska Rail Vacations were very helpful and had a quick turn around on price quotes."

Tracey Los Angeles, CA

"Excellent Trip and loved Alaska Railroad"

Paul Williams Canada

"Alaska by Design created a perfect itinerary for my clients."

Michael Figueriedo Spain

"It was good that you do Nome as many do not"

Wendy A Australia

"Agents were knowledgeable, easy to work with."

Elsie S Dallas, TX

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We'll be back soon!

We'll be returning to the rails on May 3. We're so excited!!

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National Park Scenic

Take in the beauty and wonders of the Cuyahoga Valley National park while meandering through miles of nature and cityscapes in a vintage rail car. Discover local history while making lasting memories!

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Breakfast Along the Cuyahoga

Come on board and enjoy breakfast on the train while traveling through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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• Family Fun Loop
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Volunteering For questions about volunteering please contact us. [email protected] 234-759-0091

Memberships Our membership office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. [email protected] 234-759-0093

At a Glance

$18 - $38 per person

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Join us for exclusive opportunities to create unique experiences and lasting memories aboard the train.

The most wonderous way to experience the Park!

Take in the beauty and wonders of the  Cuyahoga Valley National Park  while meandering through miles of nature and cityscapes in a vintage rail car. Discover local history while making lasting memories with family and friends on this leisurely two-hour excursion. Be sure to visit the Café Car for snacks, beverages and, of course, souvenirs!

Board at the Akron Northside Station or Peninsula Depot.   

Akron Northside Station

27 Ridge Street Akron, OH 44308 Departs 10:00 am – Returns 12:00 pm Departs 12:30 pm – Returns 2:30 pm Departs 3:00 pm – Returns 5:00 pm

Peninsula Depot

1630 Mill Street Peninsula, OH 44264 Departs 11:10 am – Returns 1:20 pm Departs 1:40 pm – Returns 3:50 pm Please plan to arrive 45 minutes before departure time.

Please note that on Friday May 10, May 31 and June 14 the only departure for the National Park Scenic Excursion will be at 10:00 am from the Akron Northside Station. 

Akron Northside Tickets

Peninsula Tickets

On-Board Train Safety

Never attempt to board or exit a moving train

Watch your step when boarding and de-boarding the train and hold on to the train car handrails

Use seat backs to steady yourself while walking through train

Watch your step when walking through the train, the vestibules can be very slippery

For additional safety information, please read our Visitor Safety & Policies FAQ.

View Safety Policies

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

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• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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15 people injured when tram collides with guardrail at Universal Studios theme park near Los Angeles

FILE - The Universal Studios Hollywood officially reopens to the public at 25% capacity with COVID-19 protocols in place in Los Angeles, on April 16, 2021. A tram accident at Universal Studios in Los Angeles injured multiple people Saturday night, April 20, 2024, authorities and the company said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — More than a dozen people suffered mostly minor injuries when a tram used for tours crashed into a railing at Universal Studios Hollywood near Los Angeles, authorities and the company said.

Los Angeles County Fire Department units responded shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday to the theme park in Universal City, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of downtown LA, the agency said in a social media post.

The California Highway Patrol said that while the tram was negotiating a turn, its last car collided with a metal guardrail, “causing it to tilt and eject multiple passengers.”

The fire department said 15 people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The highway patrol’s statement on Sunday said some of the injuries were moderate, but didn’t specify a number.

Universal Studios Hollywood said in a statement Sunday afternoon that tours have resumed with a modified route.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the guests who were involved, and we are thankful that based on agency reports, the injuries sustained were minor. We are working closely with public agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, as we continue our review of the incident and safety remains a top priority,” the statement said.

The highway patrol, which is leading the investigation, said alcohol and drugs were not considered a factor.

The tram circuit, called the World-Famous Studio Tour, offers a glimpse behind the scenes of Universal movies including “Jaws” and Jordan Peele’s “Nope.” The theme park will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tour starting Friday.