Best Fall
Fall Foliage Trains Treat Riders to a Brilliant Confetti of Color
Suddenly, there’s a nip in the air… and, in most parts of the country, one needn’t travel far to catch a glimpse of fall’s annual pageant of colorful foliage. For those seeking more than a glimpse, some satisfaction will certainly be gained from a city park stroll or a countryside car trip. But, for those most dedicated of leaf peepers among us, there can only be one suitable course: a woodland rail safari through autumn’s color-drenched hills and glens.
Trains are a natural choice for fall color lovers. Narrow rail beds cut discrete and scenic pathways through sometimes remote and, often, otherwise inaccessible wilderness. The general absence of typical roadside distractions, like fast food joints, billboards and gas stations, heightens possibilities for viewing foliage and wildlife alike! And, eco-friendly trains leave greener footprints than their roadway counterparts.
Onboard, panoramic windows offer sweeping forest views and many trains feature extras ranging from snack-bars and photo ops to dome seating, fine dining, bar services and tour guides. A number of excursions incorporate off-train opportunities for hand picking one’s own pumpkin straight from the field!
Tracking down a foliage train may be easier than you think. Scenic and heritage railways offering leaf-peeper expeditions can be found in dozens of states. The 2009 guide to fall foliage train rides (http://www.traintraveling.com/events/fall-foliage-trains), posted on TrainTraveling.com, features an extensive list of such railways. A surprising roster of mainline Amtrak routes also offer opportunities to catch autumn’s brilliant array.
Out West
Among the most unlikely destinations for the dedicated leaf-ophile, the Western US is full of foliage surprises. Thanks to its vast native stands of Aspen, the state of Colorado hosts a unique seasonal color change known locally as the “Gold Rush.” Outside Colorado Springs, changing climatic zones turn tree-spotting into a high-altitude adventure aboard the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway. For Denverites, Amtrak’s California Zephyr provides a unique chance to commune with autumn’s colorful bounty.
In the Pacific Northwest, the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway’s always-memorable roll through the famous mountain’s foothills is made all the more spectacular when its leafy route is ablaze with seasonal color.
Just Off the Prairie
Despite its close association with unending flatlands of cattle, corn and grain, America’s heartland is gifted with an abundance of vibrant foliage. On Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Toonerville Trolley Train and Riverboat host a Tahquamenon Falls Wilderness Excursion that ranks high on any foliage follower’s list.
When fall’s colors splash across the Midwest’s best known resort towns, local tourist railway trips rise in popularity. The French Lick Scenic Railway, at French Lick’s Indiana Railway Museum, treats foliage fans to a colorful run through the Hoosier National Forest. In Missouri’s Ozarks, the Branson Scenic Railway adds extra trains to accommodate the increased demand.
Down in Dixie
Appalachian ranges give rise to impressive autumn forest canopies across much of the South. With its mountain-climbing steam train, West Virginia’s Cass Mountain Railway State Park annually thrills thousands to sweeping vistas of red and gold wilderness and occasional sightings of moose or eagle. North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountain Railway transports visitors along a colorful route through its namesake Appalachian range.
Known for their famous horse farms, the bucolic blue hills of Kentucky provide perfect fodder for seasonal passengers to enjoy fall color excursions hosted by the Bluegrass Scenic Railway & Museum.
Back East
Of course, for autumn’s richest golds, deepest ambers and most vivid reds, all tracks lead to — or through — the Northeast. The world’s oldest steam-driven rack railway, the Mount Washington Cog Railway, scales New England’s loftiest mountain, offering stunning autumn panoramas along the way. Back on earth, dozens of tourist trains ferry foliage followers on unique woodland journeys. The Berkshire Scenic Railway in Massachusetts, Green Mountain Railroad in Vermont, New York’s Catskill Mountain Railroad and Delaware’s Wilmington & Western Railroad are among the best.
Thanks to Amtrak, even city dwellers can join the leaf peep party. The Adirondack, Ethan Allen Express and The Vermonter are among the trains that give New Yorkers a genuine sampling of autumn’s palette. Philadelphians and Pittsburghers hop aboard The Pennsylvanian for a colorful cruise through Amish Country and the Allegheny Mountains.
Ready to Go
To catch changing foliage at its seasonal peak, go by the calendar. The TrainTraveling.com website features a 2009 guide to fall foliage train rides (http://www.traintraveling.com/events/fall-foliage-trains). Listings include locations and scheduled dates for railways across the U.S.A. as well as Canada. Leaves change earliest in the country’s north and mid-section, generally between late September and mid October. In more southerly locales, leaves change later with some color often lingering into early November.
Temperature and precipitation directly impact the quality and duration of peak color periods. Media resources like The Weather Channel provide updated information regarding local foliage view-ability. In any event, remember to dress appropriately: much of the best fall color is found in higher elevations where colder temperatures prevail.
About the Author
Michael Gleason publishes TrainTraveling.com, a passenger rail travel guide for commuters and tourists in Europe, North America and worldwide.
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