I don’t know about you, but Steve and I have a fascination with traveling by train. So while in Camp Verde, Arizona we felt compelled to take the Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route.
Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route
Growing up I was used to taking trains. Not the romantic train trips like on the Orient Express in Europe; just commuter trains and subways. It was an efficient way to get to downtown Philadelphia or to New York City, or even to Atlantic City, from where I lived, in suburban Philly.
I can’t say that I remember my very first train trip. But, I sort of do. I used to have a recurring dream about a train ride to Pittsburgh for my mom’s 1st cousin Harry’s wedding. The dream was very disjointed. It went like this: I was in a crib and the crib was rocking from the motion of the train. Next thing I know, I’m being pushed in a carriage up and down streets with rows of houses that had lots of steps leading to the front doors. I always woke up at that point. I finally told my mother about my dreams when I was about 17 years old. She told me that we indeed took a train trip to Pittsburgh when I was a baby. The homes in Pittsburgh where we stayed with family were exactly as I had described. The funny thing is, once I told my mom about my dream, I never had it again!
My next big train trip was when I was a senior in high school. A couple of my girlfriends and I took the train from Philly to Miami Beach for winter break. The one thing that I will never forget is my dinner on the train. I ordered Ham, Mashed Potatoes and Peas. Can you imagine trying to corral a few peas on a fork while the train is jerking to and fro? Nearly impossible! I finally gave up chasing the peas all over the plate, and stabbed as many as I could at one time. The trip took 24 hours and for the entire next day we still felt like we were on that train. That’s when I decided that I would try an airplane for my next long trip.
Steve and I have taken a few fun train trips for sightseeing purposes. We had a very elegant brunch on the Napa Valley Wine Train, rode up to the top of Pike’s Peak on a cog railway, we took an old gold mining train in Skagway, Alaska and a train from Silverton, Colorado to Durango. Every single one of those train rides was memorable and fun.
So when we got to Camp Verde AZ and learned about seeing the Wilderness Route by train, we knew we had to go!
Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route
The casual grace of train travel never goes out of style. From the moment we stepped aboard the renovated vintage train, we were whisked back to a time of luxurious and leisurely train travel. This 4-hour excursion took us on a 20-mile journey through 110 years of history.
John Bell Museum
Steve enjoyed his chat with this train engineer at the Verde Canyon Railroad’s John Bell Museum
John Bell Museum lantern collection
Antique Apothecary Bottles
We arrived at the station in Clarkdale with time to spare. So before we boarded the Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route train we took a stroll down the sidewalk bordering the outdoor dining area to the John Bell Museum. The museum is in a renovated boxcar packed with the interesting history of the train line, the Canyon and neighboring communities all told through a collection of train memorabilia and historic artifacts spanning more than 100 years.
Storyboards Educate and Excite
Eye-catching storyboards, overflowing with details on the Verde Canyon, Arizona pioneer spirit and railroad lore line the quarter-mile length of the train’s loading platform.
We were able to gather fascinating facts about the many animals, plants and people that have imprinted the Verde Valley and the Canyon through which the train passes. Specifics on the railroad’s vintage FP7 locomotives and historic rail cars also are shared via these storyboards.
Powerful Iron Horses
The FP7 locomotives, two of only 10 remaining in North America, are the muscle that pulls the quarter-mile length of passenger cars. The classic iron horses, built in 1953 for the Alaska Railroad, debuted on Verde Canyon Railroad tracks on March 8, 1997. The meticulously cared for engines received a facelift in 2019 with an updated distinctive American bald eagle motif.
Riding in Comfort
All of the passenger cars are climate-controlled and each one has a restroom. Comfortable seating, thoughtful décor and friendly, informative attendants add to the beauty of this remote wilderness without sacrificing the luxury of comfort. Each car has large panoramic windows and access to an open-air viewing car for 360-degree viewing and lots of fresh canyon air.
Throughout the trip, we heard an insightful narration about the 4-hour, 40-mile roundtrip which was paired with a great selection of classic railroad tunes. Access to open-air viewing cars and narration are elite amenities which make our train experience unlike any other.
Passenger Cars
With the welcoming accommodations, Steve and I were able to relax in living room style seating in our “Cottonwood” passenger car while soaking up the scenery streaming past us during our journey.
Our plentiful Charcuterie Boxes that we enjoyed aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route
When we were seated we were each given a glass of Champagne for a toast and a lovely box filled with charcuterie to enjoy. Additional snacks, drinks and cocktails were available for purchase throughout the trip. And since our tour was not completely sold out, we even had extra charcuterie boxes to fill us up!
Open-Air Viewing Cars
Great view from the open air train car! What may look like piles of coal are mountains along our route.
All of the train cars had access to the open-air viewing cars which were equipped with canopies for shade. Outdoor attendants, well-versed in the canyon’s history, geology and wildlife, shared highlights with us and answered our questions about our wilderness adventure. Being outdoors brought us face to face with the sounds and sights of the high desert that characterizes the Verde Canyon.
In the Canyon
Who lives in them thar hills?
The four-hour ride on Verde Canyon Railroad’s historic wilderness route from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back takes you into what is considered Arizona’s other “grand canyon”. It is an unforgettable adventure. Captivating panoramic views are revealed in every direction, and we got to view it from the relaxed atmosphere of the train. This historic ribbon of rail runs through a protected corridor at the Verde River’s edge, lined with towering red rock pinnacles, near ancient Indian ruins, over fortified bridges and through an invigorating 734-foot manmade tunnel carved through solid rock over a century ago. As far as the eye can see, wildlife, high-desert foliage and rugged terrain are visible.
The Verde Canyon, featuring an abundance of native flora and fauna, rugged, high-desert rock faces and spectacular vistas, is only accessible by rail.
The old Perkinsville RR Station along our route
The ride from Clarkdale to the turn-around point of Perkinsville is scheduled so passengers can enjoy the progress of daylight as it dances over the rippling green waters of the Verde River, then tiptoes across the canyon floor through canopies of foliage before escaping up the towering canyon walls into the brilliant azure skies of this celebrated gorge. On the return trip to Clarkdale, the Canyon took on an entirely new dimension with further shifting of illumination and shadows.
Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences
The Verde River which runs through the Prescott National Forest along our train route.
Sandwiched between two protected sanctuaries, the Coconino National Forest and the Prescott National Forest, the Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route runs a rare ribbon where dramatic high desert meets a precious riparian area.
Since 1912, the train has existed in harmony with the wilderness and its native inhabitants, and since 1990 it has offered a glimpse of these treasured landscapes to train passengers, providing unforgettable experiences that transcend the generations.
Red Rock Canyons Near Sedona
More than any other feature, Arizona is defined by canyons. All across the state, these great gorges in the landscape harbor scenery and secrets. One of the most spectacular is Verde Canyon.
Our Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route train passing red rock mountains in Sedona AZ
Try to imagine Sedona and its world famous landscape without the development. Picture the towering red rock buttes and haunting formations with no roads or resorts, no homes or hotels. You’ve just conjured up an image of Verde Canyon.
Inspired by nature, conducted by experts, Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route travels through this wall-to-wall wonderland.
We saw lots of Nopales (Paddle Cactus) along the Verde River in Arizona
High cliff walls adorned with cactus and agave overlook this splashy oasis, while graceful cottonwoods and sycamores adorned with mistletoe canopy the water.
Tour of Flora and Fauna
This collision of ecosystems lures a variety of wildlife, a fur and feather roster that makes Verde Canyon Railroad the envy of other excursion trains and adventure tours.
These mountains looked like they had rows of houses on top!
History comes alive above, below, and around every turn. Ancient Sinagua ruins in towering cliffs stand sentinel over the tracks.
Sturdy trestles and elegant bridges span side gorges as testaments to the hard work and ingenuity of the men who built them over 100 years ago. Blasted through solid rock, a 680-foot man-made tunnel envelopes passengers in total darkness before delivering the train back into glorious Arizona sunshine.
As we pulled into the train station at the end of our Verde Canyon Railroad Wilderness Route we noticed that the moon was visible. It was only 3:30 in the afternoon!
This bewitching scenery forms an unforgettable backdrop for the slow rolling journey of Verde Canyon Railroad. Towering red rock buttes, steep ravines, bald eagles and other wildlife viewing in one of the world’s most beautiful canyons. And we got to experience it all from the comfort of our train car!
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