The Best Fall Foliage Train Trips to Take This Year

Built in 1880, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad take visitors on a 64-mile trip through two states on a train powered by a coal-fired steam engine. Riders can board in Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico from May to October, but boarding in the fall means seeing the lush foliage of the Southwest in its prime

Experience the rich red, orange, and gold leaves of the Smoky Mountains from the steam train that chugs along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Ride in open-air gondolas or enjoy the foliage in the luxury of the first-class car, which includeschic dining options and a private attendant. Board the train in Bryson, North Carolina, which is not too farfrom the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountain foliage, leaf-peepers typically travel roundtrip from Utica to Thendara, New York along the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Utica is about four hours from New York City, but you can take a long weekend in the fall and stop in Saratoga or Ithaca for a healthy dose of fresh fall air and homemade cider donuts.

About 60 miles east of Portland you’ll find the Mt. Hood Railroad in Hood River. It’s a 22-mile trip through the vibrant Oregon foliage surrounding the regal, snow-capped Mt. Hood. The Hood River, nestled in the Columbia River Gorge, is known for having some of the best autumnal views in the Pacific Northwest.

This luxe, vintage train transports riders back in time to a Victorian era where people donned their Sunday best for a meal in the exclusive dining car. The views of Napa are stunning, the dining car serves “Napa-style, multiple course gourmet meals," and the wine is incredible. The best car on the Napa Valley Wine Train to view the Northern California foliage is the two-story vista dome car. This three-hour train ride is a boozy and sumptuous way to interact with the West Coast’s foliage.

For a panoramic leaf-peeping experience, ride from Boston to Brunswick, Maine, in a vintage dome car on Amtrak’s Downeaster route. These old-fashioned dome cars from the 1950s show up on the Downeaster route and on Amtrak's Albany to Montreal route, which cuts through the Adirondack Mountains. If you're in the Northeast in the fall, you really can't miss the Downeaster.

Constructed in 1905, the Blue Ridge Railway winds through Georgia and parts of Tennessee. On this train, guests have the option of riding in open-air cars to breathe in the fall air while gazing at the near-blinding color scheme. The 26-mile trip takes four hours, with a two-hour stop in McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee for lunch. Technically, McCaysville and Copperhill are the same town but separated by the Georgia-Tennessee state line. Prime foliage touring on the Blue Ridge Railway is from September 28 to November 12.

This trek from Toronto to Vancouver takes you through the Rocky Mountains and Jasper National Park for some out-of-this-world fall foliage. Western Canada has world-renown hiking and waterfalls, brightly-colored lakes, and of course, leaves that turn gold in the fall. VIA Rail curates these train routes to showcase the best scenery in Canada.

This three-hour experience brings visitors to the summit of Mt. Washington, where visitors can see five states, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean. The entire experience consists of an hour ride up the mountain, an hour to take in the views from the top, and an hour back down. The multi-colored train of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway feels rustic and quintessentially New England, and the route, which runs through November, lights up in the fall.