Updated June 15, 2026 08:45AM
I’ll never forget my first stargazing train ride a few years ago aboard the Sky Railway’s ‘Stargazer’ service in my hometown, Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a dark sky expert and a self-professed railway nerd, nothing could delight me more than combining two of my passions—stargazing and trains—in one perfect evening activity. We boarded the train at the old depot, originally opened in 1880 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and now refurbished in the vibrant Railyard Arts District in downtown Santa Fe. With my strong welcome margarita in hand from the onboard bar, I stood on the open-air platform car while we slowly trundled out of town away from the city lights, the night sky gently revealing itself overhead.
In an empty patch of desert, the train came to a halt, and we stood transfixed, watching the stars twinkle overhead and trying to spot Venus before she dipped below the western horizon for the night.
In recent years, many heritage railroads and scenic train operators across the U.S. have started running dedicated nighttime train services themed around stargazing, the full moon, astronomy, dark skies, and nocturnal wildlife. You can rattle through the desert on a telescope-equipped dark sky train in New Mexico, spot fireflies aboard a 1930s diesel locomotive, or pedal your own moonlit railbike in a California redwood forest.
Whether you want to stargaze with a pro astronomer, drink something strong under a full moon, or simply enjoy the romance of a historic train ride after dark, these are some of the best stargazing and nighttime train experiences running.
Cumbres & Toltec’s Dark Sky Train, New Mexico and Colorado
Built in 1880 to haul silver ore through the San Juan Mountains, the narrow-gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad launched its new Dark Sky Train excursions between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado in 2025. The line operates five original, restored steam locomotives and 1880s railcars, including an open-air gondola carriage with views of the sky. The route crosses remote mountain terrain over Cumbres Pass, where it intersects with the Continental Divide Trail, and during the day, through-hikers sometimes hop on and ride into Chama for supplies and a night off the trail. After sunset, the train becomes a rolling observatory, with laser astronomy sessions led by guides from DarkSky New Mexico, and what appears to be the largest selection of astronomy equipment on board any stargazing train in the U.S., including Dobsonian telescopes, mounted binoculars, Seestar smart telescopes.
Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Adventures, Arizona
Verde Canyon Railroad’s Saturday Starlight Adventures run from March through December aboard a quarter-mile-long train powered by two rare 1953 FP7 locomotives originally built for the Alaska Railroad — there are only 10 left in North America. Departing from Clarkdale near the Cottonwood International Dark Sky Community, this is a four-hour round-trip journey that follows a remote rail line built in 1912 through the red-rock Verde Canyon. Along the way, you cross historic trestles, trundle alongside the Verde River, and pass through a 734-foot tunnel inaccessible by car. Every passenger gets first-class seating, a charcuterie tray, champagne or sparkling cider, and access to adjoining open-air viewing cars for stargazing. Summer departures also offer the Grape Train Escape wine-tasting upgrade, which includes onboard Arizona wine tastings and a souvenir glass.
This year, the railroad recently opened Taawaki Inn, a new boutique hotel next to the depot with views toward Tuzigoot National Monument and Sedona. A “Room & Ride” package combines overnight stays with first-class train tickets, breakfast, lunch, and drinks onboard.
Nevada Northern Railway Star Trains, Nevada
The Nevada Northern Railway runs nighttime astronomy trains out of Ely in the east-central part of the state. This is one of the best-preserved railroad complexes from the American West’s copper-mining era, founded in 1905 and now designated a National Historic Landmark. There are two options: the summer-only “Star Train” and the year-round “Sunset, Stars, and Champagne” train. The summer Star Train carries Dark Sky Rangers from nearby Great Basin National Park, who guide you through constellations and celestial objects as the train climbs above Steptoe Valley to Star Flat, a remote, extremely dark viewing site where telescopes are set up. The “Sunset, Stars, and Champagne” excursion offers panoramic views of the sunset, plus champagne or sparkling cider, and naked-eye stargazing on the return ride after dark.
Santa Fe Sky Railway Stargazer, New Mexico
Santa Fe Sky Railway was co-founded by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin and runs themed train journeys on restored midcentury railcars. The nighttime Stargazer train departs from the historic Santa Fe Depot and travels south to the dark skies of the Galisteo Basin, returning in around three hours. It’s one of the few in the country that has astronomers on board to guide you through the constellations as you travel. Plus, there’s live music on board and a champagne toast. There are vintage indoor carriages that are heated and cozy, but the open-air flatcar is the best place to see the unobstructed sky.
Skunk Train Moonlight Railbikes, California
California’s Skunk Train runs several nighttime redwood experiences out of Fort Bragg and Willits, but the most unusual is its Moonlight Railbikes to Glen Blair Bar Junction. Rather than a traditional train, this is a passenger-powered, electric-assist railbike that you pedal down tracks that weave through redwood forests along Pudding Creek. The ride begins at 6 pm, and you arrive at the off-grid Glen Blair Bar in time for the stars to come out, the fire pits to be lit, and to grab a drink and make some s’mores with the kit included in the ride. The return ride takes place under moonlight. Skunk Train also runs more traditional nighttime train rides to Glen Blair Bar using restored 1920s Southern Pacific coach cars and an open-air flatcar built in 1947 for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Allentown & Auburn Railroad Firefly Express, Pennsylvania
The Allentown & Auburn Railroad’s Firefly Express runs on select July evenings through the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside aboard vintage railcars pulled by historic diesel locomotives from the former Reading Railroad. Departing from Kutztown at 8 p.m., the train travels roughly eight miles through Mennonite farmland and along quiet rural stretches timed to coincide with peak firefly season, when thousands of lightning bugs flicker across the fields at dusk. Midway through the 90-minute to two-hour ride, the train pauses at the railroad’s picnic grove for ice cream and sunset views before returning through the darkening countryside after nightfall.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Moonlight Excursion
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad’s adults-only Moonlight Excursion is a three-hour journey along Tillamook Bay and the Pacific coast aboard the 101-year-old McCloud River Railroad #25 steam locomotive. Departing from Garibaldi around sunset, the train travels north to Wheeler before returning under evening skies, with open-air cars for coastal views and moongazing. On board, you can sample local beer from Pelican Brewing, wine from Nehalem Bay Winery, and charcuterie boxes or croissant sandwiches prepared by Twin’s Ranch Cafe. Every rider also gets a complimentary sweet treat midway through the journey.
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad Harvest Moon Special, Pennsylvania
The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad’s once-a-year Harvest Moon Special turns a short heritage rail excursion through rural Pennsylvania into a moonwatching event timed to the annual harvest moon. The train includes an open observation car that allows you to stand for the journey and enjoy the sunset and night sky. On the return journey, the crew stops at the Lehigh/Berks County line beside an open field with unobstructed eastern views to wait for the moon to rise. After the 45-minute ride, you return to Kempton Station for refreshments and live ragtime, stride piano, and early jazz performed by the Overboard Stride Society in the outdoor patio area.
Catskill Mountain Railroad Twilight Limited, New York
On summer evenings in the Hudson River Valley, the Catskill Mountain Railroad runs its 90-minute Twilight Limited train through farmland, forests, and creek valleys north of Kingston while local musicians play onboard. The route follows part of a historic rail corridor that once linked Catskills resorts and industries with the Hudson Valley, crossing Esopus Creek on the restored C9 Bridge before climbing into the woods of Hurley Mountain as the sky darkens. You can stay indoors in enclosed heritage coaches or head for the canopied open-air flatcars, which are the best place to watch the stars come out on the return journey to Kingston.
Evening Drink and Dine Trains
Some nighttime rail experiences focus less on stargazing and more on the atmosphere of traveling after dark. In New York’s Adirondack foothills, the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway’s Moonlight Moonshine Express runs evening departures through the upper Hudson River valley aboard vintage railcars pulled by 1950s Alco locomotives, with New York whiskey, bourbon, and cocktail tastings served onboard and open-air cars for views of the river after dark. Across the country, the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Vista Dome Dinner rolls through California wine country in restored 1915 Pullman railcars, including a glass-domed upper-level dining car where you’re served a multi-course dinner with Napa wine pairings as the sun sets and the stars come out over the vineyards outside.
Sunset Trains
Some railroads time their departures not for stars but for the golden hour, turning sunset into the main event. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Evening Ridge Runner departs Chattanooga with restored passenger cars from the 1940s–60s, passing through the pre–Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel before ending with a live turntable demonstration at East Chattanooga Depot as the sun goes down. You’ll also get the history of the area and the railroad during the 6-mile round-trip journey. In West Virginia, Potomac Eagle’s Sunset Trough train service follows the South Branch Potomac River through the Trough—a narrow canyon accessible mainly by river or rail that’s known for its bald eagle population, and you may spot one while on board. Meals are served on board, and there are open-air gondola cars for sky-viewing and wildlife watching during those long golden-hour views across Sycamore Bridge and beneath glowing canyon walls.
Megan Eaves is a travel writer and advocate for dark skies based in London. She is the editor of DarkSky International’s quarterly magazine and her writing appears in National Geographic, Afar, The Times, The Telegraph, the BBC, and Lonely Planet, where she was also a staff editor for many years. Her new book, Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness, recounts her journeys to experience darkness and the night sky around the world.
