Published August 31, 2026 02:46PM
Train travel’s having a moment across America. In 2025, a record 34.5 million people rode an Amtrak train, a 5.1 percent jump from the previous year. It’s easy to understand why: no fussing with TSA lines, no hunting for parking, and a more relaxed experience overall.
While most folks ride the train to arrive at a final destination, fewer take the train as a means to hop off and adventure along the journey. No route makes the case for it better than The Empire Builder. This is one of the country’s most legendary and historic routes. It follows the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, traveling through cities, national parks, and forests of the Pacific Northwest between Chicago and Seattle. The two-day trip rides rails that hug the Mississippi River bluffs, roll across the wide-open prairies of North Dakota and Montana, climb into the high-alpine terrain of the Rockies, and wind through the canyons of the Cascades.
A non-stop Amtrak ride along the Empire Builder Route takes three days and two nights. But it’d be a miss not to hop out and enjoy the trails that make this route more than just a scenic ride. All you need is your boots, a backpack, and a train ticket. Round-trip Amtrak fares for the Empire Builder Route average $600 for a Coach seat and upwards of $1,500 for a private bedroom in peak summer. Rates vary by season.
Here’s where to hop off and hike in every state along Amtrak’s Empire Builder route, heading east to west.
Departure: Chicago, IL
Departs: 3:05 p.m.
Trail: The Outerbelt
Trail type: Thruhike
Mileage: 210 miles
Stretch your legs before your cross-country journey on a lesser-known thru-hike that starts in the heart of downtown Chicago. The Outerbelt, a 210-mile backpacking route that connects Chicago’s urban greenway of forest preserves, travels along a mix of paved trails, gravel paths, and single-track dirt trails. Hikers can camp at a mix of Cook County campgrounds like the lakeside Camp Bullfrog Lake and tree-engulfed Camp Shabbona Woods. Or, take advantage of this trail’s metropolitan adjacency. You can stay overnight in Airbnbs or hotels for a more glamping-forward thru-hike.
The Empire Builder train departs Chicago’s Union Station at 3:05 p.m. daily. So, consider ending your route’s loop downtown to begin your train trip west.
Stop 1: Wisconsin Dells, WI
Train arrives: 6:42 p.m.
Trail area: Devil’s Lake and the Ice Age Trail
Trail type: Day hikes or backpacking
Mileage: 30-40 miles
Views from the train start in the Wisconsin Dells. Over 100-foot-tall sandstone cliffs, pine-filled forests, and the tannin-tented caramel waters of the Wisconsin River characterize the Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area. Sure, you’ll find your fair share of waterparks and tourist attractions here. However, it’s worth hopping off the train to explore the wilder side of Wisconsin. This hiking spot is even in view from the train window when you pull up to the stop in the heart of the Dells.
The best way to hike the Dells is piecing together scenic day hikes. Favorites include hiking to the river’s edge through quiet pine forest on the just-under-two-mile Chapel Gorge Trail. There’s also the short but stunning hidden slot canyon trail at Witches Gulch. It winds through towering sandstone walls draped in moss. For a more rugged adventure, order a rideshare down to Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin’s most-visited state park. Soak in the view atop the famous quartzite bluffs at East Bluff Trail. You can also go long-distance on the Ice Age Trail.
Stop 2: Winona, MN
Train arrives: 8:34 p.m.
Trail area: Perrot State Park and Great River Bluffs State Park
Trail type: Day hikes
Mileage: 30+ miles
Day hikers will find a plethora of paths to explore in Perrot State Park and Great River Bluffs State Park off the Winona, Minnesota, Amtrak stop. Much of the early Minnesota section of the Empire Builder route (heading west) follows the edge of the Mississippi River. Before the train splits from the Mississippi at Minneapolis-St. Paul, it’s worth spending a day exploring this storied waterway and its neighboring trails.
Wildflower hiking season pops off in Perrot State Park between March and May. Hikers will most commonly spot fluorescent purple shooting stars, delicate white Dutchman’s breeches, and ombre faded bird’s-foot violets, among other species. The 3.5-mile Perrot Ridge to Brady’s Bluff Loop bags two Perrot park summits. Hike counter-clockwise for the best reveal of both overlooks.
Across the river in Minnesota, Great River Bluffs State Park serves up more of the same natural beauty. The 2.5-mile out-and-back King’s Bluff Trail climbs through pine and prairie. It opens up on an open blufftop perch 500 feet above the river, with a front-row view of Queen’s Bluff. You’ll need an Uber or Lyft to get you to the trailhead and back. However, it’s worth the pit stop for exploring this stretch of the Mississippi on foot.
Stop 3: Williston, ND
Train arrives: 11:59 a.m.
Trail area: Little Missouri State Park
Trail type: Day hikes
Mileage: 25+ miles
Williston certainly feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere (because, honestly, it is). This stop will require a car rental (rent from Williston Basin International Airport) to reach the trailheads. It’s worth it to wander some of the least-explored parts of the North Dakota badlands.
Little Missouri State Park sits 90 minutes from downtown Williston. It packs more than 45 miles of trail into some of the most rugged badlands terrain in the region. Hikers can travel through a maze of buttes, careen their way through coulees, and peer from the top of canyons in this lesser-visited North Dakota park.
The Lakota called this land “Mako Shika,” which roughly translates to “bad land” or “where the land breaks.” Rugged, barren terrain defines most of this park. The majority of the explorable land throughout the park is reachable on foot or by horseback. Watch for golden eagles overhead and rattlesnakes underfoot. Hiking the 6.9-mile Little Missouri Loop gives you a taste of both serene grasslands and dramatic sculpted rock formations, which the North Dakota badlands are coveted for. Turns out the middle of nowhere has its perks.
Stop 4: East Glacier, MT
Train arrives: 7:48 p.m.
Trail area: Glacier National Park
Trail type: Day hikes or backpacking
Mileage: 700+ miles of combined trails
No Empire Builder hiking trail roundup is complete without mention of Glacier National Park. It’s by far the most scenic viewing of this entire train route. Heading west from Chicago, you’ll catch a view of Glacier as the sun sets. Opt to head east, and you’ll have more daylight hours to view the Rockies in all their glory from the train.
Either way, visitors will get off at East Glacier Park and head for Two Medicine, the park’s quieter southeast corner. This is the OG Glacier experience. Railroad-era visitors arrived the same way you just did, stepping off the train at this very stop, which dates back to 1913. Today, this part of the park sees a fraction of Glacier’s overall crowds. However, the hikes in this area punch way above their foot traffic volume.
You can opt for day hikes or thru-hikes from the East Glacier stop. Climb the 7.4-mile round-trip Scenic Point Trail to see where the Great Plains crash into the Rockies. Or, stroll the accessible Running Eagle Falls Trail, a flat half-mile to a waterfall pouring from a hidden cave. To access these trails, take the East Side Shuttle from Glacier Park Lodge. The shuttle has pickups within walking distance of the platform. It runs from June through September. The shuttle drops you directly at Two Medicine Lake and St. Mary Village, where you can walk to nearby trailheads.
For a longer challenge, tackle the 18-mile Dawson-Pitamakan Loop from Two Medicine, which overlaps the Continental Divide Trail as it climbs over Pitamakan Pass.
You can also catch the National Park Service Shuttle from St. Mary Village. It travels the entire length of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. There are multiple roadside trailhead stops along the way where you can hop off and hike.
Stop 5: Sandpoint, ID
Train arrives: 12:55 a.m.
Trails: Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail and the Sandpoint Trail
Trail type: Day hikes
Mileage: 25+ miles of trails
Idaho has exactly one Amtrak stop in its panhandle in Sandpoint. It’s one of the trickiest stops on this list to recommend for hikers as the Empire Builder rolls through early in the morning when traveling east. If you’re itching to hop off the train to hike this quiet region sandwiched between Canada, Washington, Montana, and Oregon, plan for an overnight. This stop drops you between two local trailheads on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille. There is the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail as well as the Sandpoint Trail.
Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is an unpaved three-mile out-and-back lakeshore path that starts a few blocks north of Sandpoint City Beach. You’ll catch amazing views of the Cabinet Mountains in the distance. They are arguably most photogenic when larches turn gold mid-to-late October on the high-elevation slopes.
For a longer day hike adventure, head to the Little Sand Creek Basin Trails in the Selkirk Mountains. Over 25 miles of trails descend nearly 4,000 feet from Schweitzer Mountain Resort to the valley floor. These trails are all accessible via a chair lift. Trails here wind through dense, temperate rainforest full of towering pines, lush ferns, and massive huckleberry bushes. Heads up: these trails are multi-use and are frequented by mountain bikers. Just keep an eye out for riders while you’re hiking.
Arrival: Seattle, WA
Train arrives: 11:29 a.m.
Trail area: Discovery Park, Warren G. Magnuson Park, and Seward Park
Trail type: Day hikes
Mileage: 20 miles of combined trails
Of course, there’s plenty of hiking at other stops in Washington. Leavenworth drops you near the Enchantments Loop. Wenatchee offers quick access to Sage Hills and Horse Lake Reserve trail systems, sitting right on the foothills above downtown.
However, we recommend taking the train all the way into Seattle instead, to explore the city’s under-the-radar urban trails. Seattle’s urban parks are a simple Metro bus ride from King Street Station. You can step off the Empire Builder and hit the trail within an hour, tops.
Discovery Park is the city’s largest nature area by square footage. This 534-acre oceanside escape can be explored via the 2.8-mile Discovery Loop Trail. It balances wildflower-filled meadows, thick mossy forests, and sea cliffs with views across Puget Sound to the Olympics.
On the other side of town, Warren G. Magnuson Park trades saltwater for Lake Washington shoreline with flat wetland paths. These wind past ponds, native grasses, and also offer some of the best birdwatching in the city.
Or, if dense mossy, fern-filled old-growth forests that ooze with PNW vibes are more your style, the Seward Park Perimeter Loop circles 2.4 miles around the Bailey Peninsula on Lake Washington.
What to Know About Hiking via Amtrak Empire Builder
Can I bring hiking gear (or a backpack) on Amtrak?
Amtrak allows a generous amount of gear. You can bring one personal item and two carry-on bags, up to 50 pounds, including larger backpacks for multi-day hikes. Stash your luggage and/or packs in the storage areas near the train car doors. If you’re in coach, you can also use the rack above your seat. One caveat: stove fuel counts as a flammable item. Neither it nor bear spray can be brought on board. So, plan to buy canisters and spray as needed wherever you’re hiking.
Do I need a car to reach these trails?
It depends! Some stops, like the Wisconsin Dells and Whitefish, are so close to the trailhead you can walk there. Other stops, like East Glacier, offer hotel-to-trailhead shuttle services for easy access to the trailhead. But if you want to hike in more remote areas or on longer-distance trails, most stops are near major towns with access to Uber and Lyft rideshare services.
Can I stay in town overnight and get back on the train?
Yes. You’ll want to book your tickets as a multi-city itinerary, treating each stopover as its own segment along the full route. The Empire Builder train runs daily in both directions (between Chicago and Seattle). So you can easily plan your stops, step off, hike, and sleep in town. Then, when you’re ready, catch the next train to head west (or east).
When’s the best time to take the Empire Builder route?
Popular high-alpine hiking spots, such as Glacier and the Cascades near Leavenworth, WA, are often covered in snow well into the summer. Opt for July through September to book a hiking-focused Amtrak trip. The longer daylight also means you’ll have more hours on the trail. More daylight also means you can catch the sights from the train car longer into the evening. Bonus: September makes for great leaf peeping in Minnesota and also offers a chance to spot golden larches in Montana.
