It’s not the destination; it’s always been the journey
No reason to mess with perfection
100 years of Service, 20 years of Style
The best part of school for many kids was looking forward to summer. Vacations and summer are forever entwined in our consciousness. Adults may not have the luxury of three languid months of freedom, but everyone still looks for ways to escape, travel and seize a new experience. That’s what makes the Verde Canyon Railroad such an idyllic summer getaway.
Above the harsh heat of the low desert and the chill of the high country, the Verde Valley makes the perfect place to spend Summer Outside the City. Every train that departs the Verde Canyon Railroad depot plunges into the peaceful backcountry, far from the clamor and hubbub of urban life. Passengers relax in the comfort of climate-controlled cars before stepping out onto open-air viewing platforms to soak in the lush scenery. Stress and tension slip away as the train curves through towering canyons following the tree-shaded, graceful Verde River.
The Verde Canyon cannot be accessed by road or path. It can only be seen by those fortunate passengers riding the rails. Vintage diesel locomotives pull the train over track laid nearly a century ago. Along the way it passes prehistoric Native American ruins and remnants of pioneering settlements. It’s the kind of adventure we dreamed about as kids, and as adults, we feel blessed to be able to share the journey with our own children.
All summer long passengers can choose between a dramatic daylight trip or a romantic evening ride aboard the Saturday Starlight Tours, including Grape Train Escape and Sunset Tequila Limited. The evening trains leave the depot on select Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. As they traverse the canyon, shadows lengthen and high cliffs are bathed in amber hues. Trains arrive in Perkinsville amidst a sprawling sunset. The return trip offers a serene glimpse of the nocturnal stirrings of wildlife and a dazzling canvas of moon and stars. Other than Starlight Tours, trains depart the depot at 1:00 p.m. and return at 5:00 p.m..
The Verde Canyon Railroad depot is located in Clarkdale, Arizona, 25 minutes from Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix. For more information visit Verde Canyon Railroad.
*Article provided by Verde Canyon Railroad.
