Just outside Santa Cruz, California, Roaring Camp Railroads takes visitors back in time while connecting them with the outdoors. The destination accomplishes this task with an old-school steam train that carries guests through a stunning redwood grove and up nearby Bear Mountain. Hop aboard and see what makes this attraction worth visiting.
Steam train service at Roaring Camp began on April 6, 1963. The Redwood Forest Steam Train continues running today, taking families, couples, friends, and all other guests on a journey through the forest.
The trip is somehow both serene and thrilling. It’s all thanks to Roaring Camp combining heavy 1800s steam engines with timeless views of nature. On every ride, a conductor’s voice crackles throughout the open-air train cars to provide insight into local history as redwoods tower above the train. For tourists who appreciate their sightseeing with a side of storytelling, Roaring Camp’s redwood train ride is a can’t-miss stop.
While Roaring Camp’s inaugural steam train service began in 1963, the area’s history dates back a little further. In the 1830s, a “mountain man” named Isaac Graham settled in the region with plans to start a logging operation. On my recent visit to Roaring Camp, a train conductor claimed that Graham’s daughter and wife convinced Graham to keep the forest intact. Twenty-five years later, the redwood grove “became the first virgin stand of coastal redwoods to be protected from logging.”
Guests board the Redwood Forest Steam Train at the little station across from Roaring Camp’s retro, western-themed general store. During the festive season, visitors can expect to see yellow-leafed trees and pumpkins or colorful twinkling lights decorating the area. For Halloween this year, Roaring Camp is hosting “Thomas the Tank Engine”-themed events for families. Later in the year, guests can enjoy a Holiday Lights Train and Chanukah Train. See what else Roaring Camp has to offer on its website.
Disclaimer: While this article was not sponsored, Outdoors Wire did visit Roaring Camp during a press trip to Santa Cruz, California. As always, Outdoors Wire operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
