The air is crisp, and the leaves are bursting into vivid hues. Maybe you’re planning a road trip to admire the beauty. But getting your fill of fall foliage from behind the wheel can turn into an awkward juggle between admiring the vistas and navigating traffic. If you hop on a train, you can give the scenery your full attention and view some sights you just can’t see from the highway. Here are five great American train rides that offer day trips for peak-autumn panoramas.
Pennsylvania
East Broad Top Railroad
Tucked away in central Pennsylvania, the East Broad Top Railroad offers a nine-mile round-trip fall foliage excursion from the tiny town of Orbisonia through the picturesque Aughwick Valley. Passengers can choose from enclosed and open-air cars on the line, the only remaining narrow-gauge railroad east of the Rocky Mountains, as the train winds through colorful hills and valleys. Red and sugar maple trees, two common species en route, put on a show as their falling leaves spin in a delicate dance. A stop at Colgate Grove gives passengers a chance to explore the serene surroundings, enjoy a picnic lunch and take a later train back.
From the 1870s until 1956, trains on the East Broad Top hauled millions of pounds of coal from local mines. After its closure, the line seemed destined for scrap, but in 1960, it got a reprieve and began running as a tourist attraction. It became a national historical landmark in 1964. Guided tours of the railroad’s shop facilities give visitors a look at Pennsylvania’s rich railroad history.
Fall foliage trains run through late October. On weekends, three-hour Peanuts-cartoon-themed train rides, including pumpkin picking and children’s activities at Colgate Grove, depart at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 to $35 for adults and $16 to $29 for children 2 to 12.
Arizona
Grand Canyon Railway