We are still a major summer – on historic days, tomatoes are plentiful and packed beaches – but autumn enthusiasts are already looking forward to the leaves starting to turn. Beautiful leaves last so limited that it is essential to plan your autumn leaves viewing. You can go on a backroad drive or hiking, but consider the most relaxed alternative: the scenic train. From New Hampshire to the Swiss Alps, here are 13 of our favorite autumn leaves train rides.
1. Conway scenery railway climber
- root: North Conway to Fabian, New Hampshire
- interval: 4-4.5 hours of return
- Book Now: conwayscenic.com
- Starting at $75
Conway’s scenic rail climbers in the 1950s, Ella streamlined passenger cars feature some of New Hampshire’s most scenic landscapes. Book an hourly valet rain excursion (starting from $24) for the taste of riding this scenic train without a half day promise.
2. Washington Mount Cog Railroad
- root: Marshfield Base Station at Mount Washington Summit, New Hampshire
- interval: 3 hours of travel
- Book Now: thecog.com
- Starting at $84
The rails are placed on the summit of Mount Washington on a three-hour round trip, an attraction in New Hampshire’s White Mountain since 1869. The railway still operates two vintage steam locomotives, but most travel takes place with biodiesel locomotives to reduce emissions. Visit by mid-October and see the autumn colors of Peak, a forest of orange, red and gold.
On the 9-day “New England in Fall” tour of the railroad, you can combine a ride on the Cog Railroad on Mount Washington with a trip to Conway’s scenic railroad and down East Amtrak.
3. Alaska Railroad Denar Star Train
- root: Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska
- interval: 12 hours one way
- Book Now: Alaskarailroad.com
- Starting at $221
Distant contributor Bailey Berg explains the beauty of seeing autumn leaves in Alaska on a train. “It’s cleaned in all directions, like the blue of the fast moving Chul River, the red of the shrubs along the banks, the yellow of the lower white re trees, and the distances of the dried ones.
The leaves change early in Alaska and peak in late August and the first weeks of September each year. On the 12-hour (one-way) ride from mid-May to mid-September, you’ll see a variety of red, orange and yellow leaves through the windows of the dome car, as well as views of Denali, the best peak in North America.
Related: Autumn is the ideal time to visit these eight charming small towns in the US
4. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Tuckazeghee Steam Locomotive
- root: Bryson City to Dillsboro, North Carolina
- interval: 4 hours of travel
- Book Now: GSMR.com
- Starting at $63.72
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad operates several itineraries throughout the year. The Tuckasegie River excursion by vintage diesel train is the most scenic in autumn. The four-hour round-trip journey features a panoramic train window with views of River Valley, and explores a handful of shops and restaurants in the small town of Dilsboro during the 80-minute labor.
Looking for something more than a day trip? Aboard the train is part of a nine-day “Smoky Mountain Rail Adventure” holiday on the rail, with additional stops to take tourists from Nashville to Asheville and ride the slopes at the Tennessee Valley Railroad and Chattanooga Lookout Mountain.
5. CuyahogaValley Scenic Railroad
- root: Rockside Station or Peninsula Depot to Akron, Ohio
- interval: 2 or 3.5 hours of return
- Book Now: cvsr.com
- Starting at $20
You can ride this scenic train, but take a look to see the various colours of sugar maple and dogwood trees in October, going back and forth between Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a two- or 3.5-hour round trip. There are usually two trains daily from Rockside, three from Peninsula Depot and the other from Akron, at 11am, 00:50am, departing from Peninsula Depot, but young children travel back and forth for two hours. For your day’s fun, you’re free to explore the park (boards at Lockside, Peninsula, or Akron North Side Station) by selecting all-day tickets, hop-on, or hop-off options.
Related: 9 Best National Parks for Amazing Fall Leaves
6. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway
- root: To Antonito, Colorado or Cambres, Chama, New Mexico
- interval: Approximately 8 hours round trip (Antonito to Chama); 4 hours 15 minutes round trip (Canbles to Chama)
- Book Now: cumbrestoltec.com
- $135 (Anthonyto/Flame), $115 (gather)
Until October 25th, 2025, this narrow gauge steam train will be on a daily excursion between two small towns on Colorado’s new Mexican border, except on Monday. Ticket prices include access to an outdoor gondola car for a better photo shoot of the Aspen trees, which turn bright yellow in the fall, in addition to a buffet lunch at Midway Point in Aussier, Colorado.
7. Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railway
- root: Milford to Cooperstown, New York
- interval: 2.5 hours of travel
- Book Now: lrhs.com
- Starting at $27
The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad Autumn Leaf Excursion runs for three weeks from Saturday, September 27th to Sunday, October 12th, 2025. All rides begin at Milford Depot, a drive about 15 minutes south of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
8. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
- root: To Blue Ridge, Georgia, Copper Hill, Tennessee
- interval: 2 or 4 hours of return
- Book Now: brcenic.com
- Starting at $61
Between September 18th and November 4th, 2025, take the season’s colour on this scenic 2- or 4-hour round trip along the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest. You can book tickets for car seating on the enclosed climate controlled train or enjoy the calm autumn weather on the outdoor train.
Travelers can book a 2- or 4-hour ride. The former is a quick trip focused on downtown Blue Ridge, but the four-hour trip includes a visit to the small towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copper Hill, Tennessee. Trains depart from 10am (4 hours trip) and 3pm (2 hours trip) daily from Thursday to Monday.
9. Amtrak Adirondack
- root: From New York City to Montreal, Canada
- interval: 13 hours (New York City to Montreal); 11 hours (Montreal to New York City)
- Book Now: amtrak.com
- Starting at $79
Aboard this train is the definition of a slow, scenic route, with an emphasis on travelling as much as your destination. The Amtrak Adirondacks take you to the train’s same name from Moynihan (Penn) station in New York, through the Hudson Valley and its handsome maple tree rows. It then continued along the shore of Lake Champlain and arrived in Montreal 13 hours later (the return trip is 2 hours shorter).
10. Acoc Canyon Tour Train
- root: Sulul Ste. Marie to Orton Canyon, Canada
- interval: About 10 hours of travel
- Book Now: agawatrain.com
- Starting at about $109 (CA $150)
The scenic Agawa train takes you on a day trip from Saultcent, the city of Lakeside. Marie, Ontario, chuggles north to Agawa Canyon Park 114 miles. There, it is 90 minutes to go on a hike or stop at a picnic near the Agawa River. If you are thinking of booking this trip, hurry. Tickets for the peak season (September 15 to October 14, 2025) tend to sell out quickly.
11. Jacobite
- root: From Fort William to Marigue, Scotland
- interval: About 4 hours of travel
- Book Now: westcoastrailways.co.uk
- Starting at about $93 (£69)
Harry Potter fans will recognize this vintage steam locomotive as an actual version of the Hogwarts Express, which is beyond the Glenn Finnan viaduct in the film. You may not be on your way to Hogwarts, but you will take the magical scenery along the 84-mile train that runs every day. Morning services begin in early April and run until October 24th, 2025, while afternoon services begin from early May until September 26th, 2025.
12. Bernina Express
- root: Swiss Tulle to Tyrano, Italy
- interval: 4.5 hours one-way
- Book Now: rhb.ch
- Starting at about $45 each way (CHF36)
The Lezia railway, passing through the Alps and Bernina pass, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, and its outstanding architectural and civil engineering achievements have crossed hundreds of viaducts and bridges and through alpine passes. The train runs all year round, but autumn is particularly beautiful in this part of Switzerland, as opposed to the green pine trees of the golden larch trees. Please note that this route sells out very quickly.
13. Sagano romantic train
- root: Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station, Japan
- interval: 25 minutes each way
- Book Now: Sagano-kanko.co.jp
- Starting at about $6 (880 yen) each way
20 minutes in Kyoto is one of the best value “date” that can be continued in Japan. It’s a trip to take a romantic train. It’s a ride that takes you through the valley of Hozukiko for 25 minutes. This is lined with Japanese maple trees that turn red and orange in autumn, finishing at a cameoca trolley station. You can then return the same lovely ride back to Sagano or take it to a regular JR train for 30 minutes (320 yen).
This article was originally published in 2018 and was recently updated on August 20, 2025, with current information.
