On my last trip to Prescott, I had the pleasure of joining the Verde Canyon Railroad for one of the most scenic and historic train rides in Arizona. The Verde Valley is probably my favorite part of the state and it’s definitely where I’d live if I ever move back to the Grand Canyon state. Cooler weather, lush green landscapes, pine forests, plus lake and mountain views? Oh, and the red rock wonderland of Sedona is just 20 minutes away. HEAVEN! Normally I explore by driving or hiking, so it was nice to sit back and relax in the first-class car of the Verde Canyon Railroad. If you find yourself in Sedona or Prescott, you should seriously consider this scenic train tour of Northern Arizona.

Need more things to do in Prescott? I’ve got you covered!

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Verde Canyon Railroad History

Long before the railroad helped Arizona become the 48th state, Native Sinagua people made their homes in this verdant valley around 1100. The Verde River provides fertile soil and most importantly, water; surprisingly hospitable conditions for Arizona. You can visit some of the Native American ruins in this area at Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle National Monuments. In the late 1800s, Arizona mining was on the rise, and by 1911 a railroad was built to connect Drake to the mining town of Clarkdale, home of the United Verde Copper Company. Arizona remains the leading copper-producing state in the US, but the Clarkdale smelter shut down in 1962, although the railroad remained a freight route for several years. Just after leaving the station, the train passes through a slag dump from the smelter.

In 1988, the current owner purchased the railway and soon began transforming it into one of the only scenic train rides in Arizona. Riding in comfortable Pullman-Standard and Budd Chair rail cars, passengers are treated to a four-hour 20-mile journey from Perkinsville, including a temporary blackout as you pass through a 680-foot tunnel.

Learn more about Pullman rail cars with a visit to Pullman National Monument in Chicago!

Verde Canyon Railroad Tickets & Special Events

If you plan to take this scenic Arizona train ride, you definitely should purchase tickets ahead of time, as the seats do sell out! There are four ticket options for the Verde Canyon Railroad.

• Passenger Cars ($99/$109 in peak season)
• Caboose (private parties only)
• Locomotive Ride-Along (Adults only $350)

Normal daily departures are at 1:00 and there are many special tours and events on various days throughout the year. Check the website for the most up-to-date availability and events. Some of the special excursions this year include:

• Haunted Phantom Train
• Uncorked Wine Festival
• Wild Splendor featuring owls and raptors from Arizona’s Liberty Wildlife
• Eagle Watch
• Easter Bunny Express
• Spring in Bloom
• Summer Starlight and Moonlight Rides
• Grape Train Escape (wine tasting)
• Ales on Rails
• Haunted Halloween
• Fall Colors
• Magical Christmas Journey
• Chocolate Lover’s Special

For a 1:00 departure, they ask you to be at the train depot in Clarkdale at 12:00. This gives you enough time to claim your tickets at the visitor center, browse the gift shop and grab some food from the snack bar if you want. Boarding starts at 12:30 so the train can leave on time.

This Arizona train ride is the perfect addition to your Northern Arizona road trip!

First Class Cars

Assuming you are not doing the locomotive or the caboose, you’ll be traveling in a first-class train car. They have gotten rid of the coach class since I visited, so everyone gets the first-class experience now.

First Class cars are more spacious and comfortable, and they feed you. So, obviously, this car gets my vote! This car also has a server that starts the tour with a champagne toast (cider is also available) before the train takes off. They are available to order drinks throughout the train ride. The food consists of light snacks, starting with potato chips then a buffet of wings, southwest egg rolls, veggies, and fruit. The food is only out for the first two hours of the ride due to health regulations, so make sure you fill up on the first leg of the train tour.

Every car on this train has access to an open-air viewing car and that’s where I spent most of my time. So, the cushy first-class seat went unused for the most part, as I was outside taking the views. However, if you are traveling in cold or rainy weather, you will be glad to have a seat indoors to warm up.

Verde Canyon Train Route

The Verde Canyon Railroad travels 20 miles from Clarkdale to Perkinsville, along the Verde River. I have a whole new appreciation for rivers since moving to the desert, so I’m in love with rivers even more now. Right off the bat, the train passes some Sinagua cliff dwellings. In addition to a server, our car also had a tour guide who pointed out various landmarks and told us which side of the car to be on. For $3, you can purchase a magazine from the railroad, which includes a mile-by-mile guide of the trip. I recommend this because it was often hard to hear our guide, and the magazine gives a lot more detail.

After about two hours, the train reaches Perkinsville, a “hamlet” according to Wikipedia. At this point, the engine detaches from the train and moves around to the other end before setting off in the same direction towards Clarkdale. The cars don’t turn around, so you’ll see the same things on the way back as you did on the way out. (Another reason to spend most of your time in the open-air car.) Another two hours of amazing scenery, and you’re back in Clarkdale. The ghost town of Jerome is a great next stop on your Verde Valley tour!

Other Arizona Train Rides

Although this was my first experience with a scenic train in Arizona, there are a couple of other options worth checking out.

• Grand Canyon Railway – this scenic train takes passengers from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. They even have a lodge at the canyon if you want to stay overnight and take the train back in the morning! Book your Grand Canyon Railway tickets here!
• Polar Express – join the Grand Canyon Polar Express train which includes pickup and dropoff from your Phoenix hotel.
• In the Phoenix area, the Maricopa Live Steamers is a hobby club that offers rides on their miniature steam train from October through April.
• In Scottsdale, Stillman Railroad Park offers rails tours on a railroad car as well as a vintage carousel.

I would love to return for a starlight tour or a fall foliage tour. Have you taken any scenic train rides in Arizona? Tell me about it in the comments!

More Northern Arizona Tours

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I was a guest of the Verde Canyon Railroad. These are solely my personal experiences and I was not financially compensated for this post.