Exploring the 46 Most Visited National Parks by Train: A Scenic Railway Journey
National parks are a treasure trove of natural beauty, offering visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse themselves in stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich history. While many people choose to explore these national parks by car or on foot, there is an alternative way to experience their majesty – by train. Train travel not only provides a unique perspective of these parks but also allows for a more sustainable and eco-friendly way to explore them. In this blog post, we will take a scenic railway journey through the 46 most visited national parks in the United States, offering a glimpse into the breathtaking views and experiences that can be had along the way.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Our journey begins at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This park is known for its stunning mountain views, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural history. Visitors can hop on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, a historic steam train that takes passengers on a 4.5-hour journey through the park’s scenic valleys and waterfalls.
2. Grand Canyon National Park
Next stop, the Grand Canyon National Park – one of the most visited national parks in the country. The Grand Canyon Railway offers a unique way to experience this natural wonder, with a 65-mile journey from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim of the park. Along the way, passengers can take in the stunning views of the canyon and learn about its history and geology.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park
As we head west, we come to the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. This park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with its soaring peaks, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife. The historic Georgetown Loop Railroad offers a scenic journey through the park, passing through the rugged Clear Creek Canyon and offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
4. Zion National Park
Located in southern Utah, Zion National Park is a must-visit for its towering red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and picturesque hikes. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is a popular route for visitors, but for a unique experience, take the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, which offers breathtaking views of the park’s iconic landmarks. The highway also passes through the mile-long Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, an engineering marvel carved into the sandstone cliffs.
5. Yosemite National Park
Next, we make our way to California’s Yosemite National Park, famous for its towering granite cliffs, giant sequoia trees, and stunning waterfalls. The Yosemite Valley Railroad, now known as the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, offers a scenic journey through the park’s backcountry, complete with a stop at the historic logging camp of Lewis Creek.
6. Yellowstone National Park
Our journey takes us to the first national park in the United States – Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. This park is home to breathtaking geysers, colorful hot springs, and abundant wildlife. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Railway offers a unique way to explore the park’s northern region, passing through forests, meadows, and canyons.
7. Acadia National Park
Heading east, we come to Acadia National Park in Maine, known for its rugged coastline, rocky beaches, and dense forests. The Acadia National Park Tour Train takes passengers on a 2.5-hour journey through the park, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding landscapes.
8. Glacier National Park
Located in Montana, Glacier National Park is known for its stunning alpine lakes, towering peaks, and diverse wildlife. The historic Going-to-the-Sun Road is a popular route for visitors, but for a more unique experience, take the historic Red Bus Tour, which has been running since the park’s early days and offers breathtaking views of the park’s iconic landmarks.
9. Arches National Park
Next, we come to Utah’s Arches National Park, famous for its over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The Moab Scenic Railway offers a unique way to explore this park, with a 3.5-hour journey through the beautiful red rock canyons and vistas.
10. Grand Teton National Park
Our journey continues to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, known for its stunning mountain peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife. The Grand Teton Scenic Railway takes passengers on a 6-hour journey through the park, offering stunning views of the Teton Range and the Snake River.
11. Shenandoah National Park
Located in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is known for its scenic Skyline Drive, which offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park also offers a unique experience on the Skyline Drive Train, a 3.5-hour journey through the park’s scenic valleys and forests.
12. Bryce Canyon National Park
Next, we come to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its unique rock formations called hoodoos. The Bryce Canyon Railway offers a 3.5-hour journey through the park, passing through the beautiful red rock canyons and offering stunning views of the park’s iconic landmarks.
Exploring the 46 Most Visited National Parks by Train: A Scenic Railway Journey
13. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Heading east, we come to Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, known for its lush forests, rolling hills, and beautiful waterfalls. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers a unique way to explore the park, with a 3-hour journey through the Cuyahoga Valley, passing through charming towns and offering stunning views of the surrounding landscapes.
14. Haleakala National Park
Our journey takes us to Hawaii’s Haleakala National Park, home to the world’s largest dormant volcano. The beautiful Road to Hana offers a unique way to explore this park, with a scenic drive along the coast, passing through lush rainforests, waterfalls, and stunning coastal views.
15. Olympic National Park
Located in Washington state, Olympic National Park is known for its diverse ecosystems, from rugged coastlines to temperate rainforests. The Olympic Peninsula Railroad offers a 6-hour journey through the park, passing through stunning landscapes and offering a glimpse into the park’s rich history.
16. Sequoia National Park
Next, we come to California’s Sequoia National Park, famous for its giant sequoia trees, some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. The historic Yosemite-Madera Sugar Pine Railroad offers a unique experience, with a 4-mile journey through the park’s stunning forests and meadows.
17. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Our journey takes us to Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park, home to two active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The historic Kilauea Volcano Train offers a unique way to explore the park, with a 3-mile journey through the volcanic landscape, passing by steam vents and lava fields.
18. Mount Rainier National Park
Located in Washington state, Mount Rainier National Park is known for its towering peak, glaciers, and diverse wildlife. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad offers a 3-hour journey through the park, passing through lush forests, alpine meadows, and offering stunning views of the mountain.
19. Denali National Park
Next, we come to Alaska’s Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak – Denali. The Denali Star Train offers a unique way to experience this park, with a 12-hour journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks, passing through stunning landscapes and offering a glimpse into the park’s diverse wildlife.
20. Badlands National Park
Heading back to the lower 48, we come to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, known for its rugged landscapes and unique rock formations. The historic Black Hills Central Railroad offers a 2-hour journey through the park, passing through tunnels and over trestle bridges, and offering stunning views of the surrounding landscapes.
21. Death Valley National Park
Located in California and Nevada, Death Valley National Park is known for its scorching heat and unique landscapes, including the lowest point in North America. The historic Death Valley Railroad offers a unique journey through the park, passing through canyons, over mountains, and offering a glimpse into the park’s mining history.
22. Canyonlands National Park
Next, we come to Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, famous for its colorful canyons, towering mesas, and unique rock formations. The Moab Canyonlands Railroad offers a 3.5-hour journey through the park, passing through stunning landscapes and offering a unique perspective of the park’s iconic landmarks.
23. North Cascades National Park
Located in Washington state, North Cascades National Park is known for its rugged mountains, glaciers, and dense forests. The North Cascades Railway offers a unique way to explore this park, with a 4-hour journey through the park’s stunning landscapes and offering a glimpse into its rich history.
24. Everglades National Park
Heading south, we come to Florida’s Everglades National Park, home to the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The historic Okeechobee Lake Railroad offers a unique way to explore the park, with a 3-hour journey through the park’s diverse ecosystems, including sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and wetlands.
25. Big Bend National Park
Located in Texas, Big Bend National Park is known for its rugged mountains, desert landscapes, and diverse wildlife. The historic Texas State Railroad offers a unique way to experience this park, with a 9-hour journey through the Chisos Mountains and Rio Grande Valley, offering stunning views of the park’s iconic landmarks.
26. Capitol Reef National Park
Next, we come to Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, famous for its colorful rock formations and stunning landscapes. The historic Heber Valley Railroad offers a unique way to explore the park, with a 3.5-hour journey through the beautiful red rock canyons and offering a glimpse into the park