11 New York Train Rides With Incredible Views You’ll Never Forget
Traveling by train through New York offers something truly special. You get to see landscapes most people miss when they drive or fly.
From mountain peaks to waterfront vistas, these rail journeys showcase the Empire State’s natural beauty in ways that will stick with you long after the trip ends.
1. Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Mountains tower on both sides as this train winds through wilderness that looks untouched by time. Your journey takes you past crystal-clear lakes where loons call and forests stretch endlessly.
Running from Utica to Thendara, the railroad offers different seasonal experiences. Summer brings lush greenery, while autumn transforms the landscape into a fiery canvas of reds and golds.
2. Long Island Rail Road – Montauk Branch
Salt air fills your lungs as the train hugs the coastline toward the island’s eastern tip. Beach towns flash by, each with its own personality and charm.
The final stretch into Montauk delivers stunning ocean panoramas that rival any coastal drive. Watch surfers catching waves and fishermen casting lines from weathered docks as you roll past seaside communities.
3. Catskill Mountain Railroad
Esopus Creek rushes beside the tracks, creating a soundtrack of bubbling water throughout your ride. Dense forests climb the mountainsides, hiding waterfalls and wildlife from casual observers.
This route between Kingston and Highmount showcases why the Catskills inspired generations of artists. Each curve reveals another postcard-worthy scene that makes you reach for your camera repeatedly.
4. Empire Service Route – Albany to Buffalo
Following the historic Erie Canal corridor means you’re tracing the path that built New York’s economy. Small towns with church steeples appear between stretches of agricultural land that feed the entire region.
The Mohawk Valley section offers particularly beautiful views where rivers meet rolling hills. You’ll understand why settlers chose this route westward generations ago.
5. Metro-North Harlem Line
Wealthy estates and horse farms create an unexpected countryside feeling just miles from Manhattan’s skyscrapers. Stone walls built centuries ago still mark property boundaries along the tracks.
Heading north to Wassaic, you’ll pass through charming villages where autumn festivals draw crowds every fall. The landscape gradually shifts from suburban to genuinely rural, offering peaceful views that calm busy minds.
6. New York City Subway Elevated Lines
Who says city trains can’t deliver incredible views? Elevated sections give you a bird’s eye perspective of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that ground-level residents never experience.
Watching neighborhoods change from your window tells New York’s diverse story better than any guidebook. Bridges, rooftops, and distant skyscrapers create an urban landscape that constantly evolves.
7. Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad
Rolling through the heartland where baseball legends were born, this heritage railroad showcases the gentle beauty of central New York’s farming country. Passengers ride in restored vintage cars that creak and sway just like trains did a century ago.
The route winds past family farms where Holstein cows graze peacefully and red barns stand against emerald fields. Susquehanna River tributaries sparkle between tree-lined banks, creating perfect fishing spots.
Engineers often slow down near particularly scenic overlooks, giving everyone time to snap photos. The relaxed pace lets you appreciate details most modern travelers miss completely.
8. Metro-North Hudson Line
Riding along the Hudson River feels like watching a painting come alive outside your window. I love how the water sparkles as you pass historic estates and dramatic cliffs.
The route runs between New York City and Poughkeepsie, giving you about two hours of riverside magic. You’ll spot sailboats, lighthouses, and the famous Bear Mountain Bridge along the way.
9. Arcade & Attica Railroad
Steam whistles echo across western New York’s countryside as this authentic steam-powered train chugs through landscapes that time forgot. Black smoke puffs rhythmically from the locomotive while it pulls lovingly restored coaches through rolling agricultural land.
Cornfields stretch endlessly toward distant horizons, interrupted only by weathered farmhouses and meandering creeks. The clickety-clack of steel wheels on rails creates a hypnotic soundtrack.
Kids press their faces against windows, mesmerized by the working steam engine’s mechanical ballet. Adults find themselves transported back to an era when train travel meant adventure and discovery around every bend.
10. Batten Kill Railroad – Salem to Shushan Route
Following one of America’s legendary trout streams, this short-line railroad offers intimate views of pristine wilderness that anglers travel worldwide to experience. The Batten Kill River sparkles alongside the tracks, its clear waters revealing smooth river stones and darting fish.
Dense forests press close to the rails, occasionally opening to reveal beaver ponds and meadows where deer browse. Historic covered bridges and stone foundations hint at the region’s colonial past.
The small-scale operation feels personal and unhurried, like riding through a friend’s private nature preserve. It’s wilderness appreciation at its most accessible and enchanting.
11. Amtrak Lake Shore Limited – Hudson River to Buffalo
Spanning New York from east to west, this legendary route showcases the state’s incredible geographic diversity in a single journey. After departing the Hudson Valley, the train parallels the historic Erie Canal, where pleasure boats navigate the same waters that once powered America’s westward expansion.
The Mohawk River valley spreads wide and fertile, flanked by gentle hills. Industrial heritage sites stand beside modern towns, telling stories of innovation and reinvention.
As the train approaches Buffalo, glimpses of Lake Erie appear, reminding passengers that New York touches not just oceans but Great Lakes too. It’s American history and geography rolled into one magnificent ride.
