Top U.S. Trains For Stargazing Trips Across California, Utah, And More
Have you ever wanted to watch stars twinkle above while riding a train through mountains and deserts? Trains offer a magical way to see the night sky without light pollution ruining your view.
I’m here to show you the best rail journeys that combine adventure with stargazing across America’s most beautiful landscapes!
1. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado
Picture yourself riding a vintage steam train through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains while stars pop out overhead. This historic railroad takes you 45 miles through canyons where city lights can’t reach. You’ll pass by the Animas River and climb into wilderness areas perfect for spotting constellations.
Summer evening rides give you front-row seats to Milky Way views that’ll make your jaw drop. The cool mountain air and old-fashioned train cars create an experience straight out of a Western movie. Book a moonlight ride for the ultimate stargazing adventure!
2. Grand Canyon Railway, Arizona
Arizona’s desert sky is famous for being crystal clear, making this train ride a stargazer’s dream come true. The journey from Williams to the Grand Canyon South Rim takes you through ponderosa pine forests and open prairie. When darkness falls, you’re in one of the darkest spots in America.
Special astronomy tours let you combine train travel with telescope viewing at the canyon rim. Rangers often point out planets and distant galaxies you can actually see with your own eyes. It’s like riding through space while staying on Earth!
3. California Zephyr, California / Colorado / Illinois
Did you know this legendary route covers 2,438 miles through some of America’s darkest skies? The California Zephyr connects Chicago to San Francisco, passing through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada. Your sleeping car becomes a private observatory as you roll through remote wilderness.
I recommend grabbing a seat in the observation car after dinner for unbeatable stargazing. You’ll cross Nevada’s vast emptiness where light pollution barely exists. The huge windows frame constellations like living paintings moving past your eyes!
4. Utah’s Heber Valley Railroad, Utah
Utah’s high-altitude location makes it perfect for catching shooting stars and planets shining bright. This charming railroad winds through Heber Valley with the Wasatch Mountains standing guard on both sides. When you’re 5,600 feet above sea level, stars look close enough to touch!
Special stargazing excursions run during meteor shower seasons, giving you prime viewing opportunities. The train stops at dark spots where astronomers set up telescopes for passengers. Bundle up because mountain nights get chilly, but the views are totally worth it!
5. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Colorado / New Mexico
Climbing to 10,015 feet above sea level, this railroad literally takes you closer to the stars than most trains ever could. The route crosses the Colorado-New Mexico border through areas so remote that darkness rules the night. Steam engines pull you through forests and meadows untouched by modern civilization.
Evening photo charters let photography fans capture stars above historic wooden trestles and mountain peaks. The thin air at this altitude makes stars appear extra bright and twinkly. It’s an adventure that combines history with astronomy!
6. Alaska Railroad, Alaska
How cool would it be to see the Northern Lights from a moving train? Alaska’s railroad offers exactly that magical experience during winter months.
You’ll travel through wilderness where grizzly bears outnumber people, and city lights are just distant memories. The train connects Anchorage to Fairbanks through 470 miles of pristine backcountry.
Summer brings midnight sun, but winter darkness reveals aurora borealis dancing across the sky. Glass-domed cars give you panoramic views of stars and maybe even glimpses of the Milky Way. Pack warm clothes because Alaskan nights are seriously cold!
7. Skunk Train, California
California’s coastal redwood forests create a natural tunnel where stars peek through gaps in the world’s tallest trees. This quirky train earned its nickname from the smell of its old engines, but now it’s famous for scenic beauty. The route from Fort Bragg to Willits takes you deep into ancient groves.
Special twilight rides let you experience the forest transitioning from day to night while stars appear overhead. Being surrounded by 300-foot-tall redwoods makes you feel tiny under the vast universe. The quiet forest amplifies the peaceful feeling of stargazing!
8. Napa Valley Wine Train, California
Rolling through California wine country under starlight turns dinner into an unforgettable experience. This elegant train features restored 1915-1917 Pullman cars with huge windows framing vineyard views.
When the sun sets over Napa Valley, you’re treated to sparkling grape juice and gourmet meals while stars emerge.
The valley’s rolling hills block out city lights from nearby towns, creating surprisingly dark skies. Moonlight rides during harvest season are especially magical when you can smell ripening grapes. It’s fancy dining meets astronomy in the most delicious way possible!
9. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Maryland
Though Maryland sits on the East Coast, the Appalachian Mountains here offer surprisingly dark skies for stargazing adventures. This railroad climbs from Cumberland to Frostburg through mountain passes and tunnels carved in the 1800s. Steam engines puff along tracks where coal trains once rumbled.
Fall foliage rides gain extra magic when extended into evening hours under autumn constellations. The mountains shield you from Baltimore and Washington D.C.’s light pollution. It’s proof you don’t need to travel west to find excellent stargazing opportunities by train!
10. Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia
Are you ready to ride the steepest standard-gauge railroad in America under a blanket of stars? This former logging railroad climbs Cheat Mountain using switchbacks and incredible grades.
West Virginia’s remote location means seriously dark skies perfect for spotting constellations you’ve only read about in books.
The train stops at Whittaker Station, 11 miles up the mountain, where darkness is almost total. Rangers sometimes lead astronomy programs explaining what you’re seeing overhead. Bring a flashlight because you’ll need it to find your way back to your seat!
