As fall foliage reaches its peak, leaf-lovers race against the clock to make it to all of the best leaf-peeping locations.
But Appalachia’s best-kept secret is the ‘best’ scenic train ride for enjoying all of the fall views that the Northeast has to offer: the Greenbrier Express.
A steam-powered train leaves from the unincorporated community of Cass, West Virginia and takes passengers on a 15-mile unobstructed route through the Monongahela National Forest.
WV Tourism representative Lauren Bodnar said: ‘There is something really special about fall in the Mountain State.’
Every passenger gets to enjoy the scenery from one of the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s 100-year-old steam locomotives on the company’s newest excursion.
At the halfway point, passengers are treated to a lunch that is included in the price of their ticket.
They can then briefly explore the town of Durbin, stopping for a souvenir at the Rail & Trail Store.
Ticket prices run at $93 which included the $10 upcharge to meet the demand of the autumn season. Tickets are almost all sold out through the end of October, but those that are left are available for purchase online.
They began offering this excursion in 2023.
The Greenbrier express is a five and a half hour train trip through the Monongahela Forest
The train ride offers premium views of Cass and Durbin in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia
The trip allows customers seated on both sides of the train to enjoy the scenery
According to the website: ‘The ride upriver to Durbin passes through a secluded wilderness portion of the 950,000-acre Monongahela National Forest featuring beautiful scenes of forested mountains at each turn of the river.’
The original 95-mile stretch of the railway was constructed in 1902. For this excursion, passengers are taken on a refurbished 15-mile course.
Walter Scriptunas II, the marketing director of the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, told the Daily Mail: ‘Passengers are often surprised by the amount of wildlife seen throughout the trip.
‘Glimpses of eagles and deer are common during the ride. So keep your eyes peeled!’
Since the train turns around after the halfway point of the ride, no matter where passengers sit, they can experience optimal views.
The train runs across a 15 mile stretch of refurbished railroad
Scriptunas said: ‘The slow-paced train ride gives riders great views of the colorful foliage throughout the journey. The route closely follows the Greenbrier River and provides colorful reflections around each bend.’
However, passengers can choose between window or aisle seat and bus-style or table tickets.
Scriptunas told Travel + Leisure that the best views aren’t in the ticketed seats at all: ‘Ask the conductor on board for directions to the baggage car – the large, open doors on this car offer great views of the surrounding scenery.’
The train only runs May through October. The roundtrip between Cass and Durbin, WV leaves at 10am and returns by 3.30pm.
Bodnar said: ‘West Virginia, the third most forested state in the U.S., offers unmatched leaf-peeping opportunities aboard the Greenbrier Express.
‘… unlike busier tourist routes in other states, these mountains remain uncrowded, giving riders a close-up view of untouched autumn scenery.’
The best time for optimal fall colors is before mid-October
Tickets cost $93 dollars for adults, including a $10 upcharge to meet the season’s demand
The five-hour ride has received rave reviews from many passengers on TripAdvisor.
One visitor wrote: ‘The weather was great. The train ride was wonderful, the views were more than I could have imaged.
‘The people were kind and pleasant, very knowledgeable about the area and the train. Highly recommend this as day trip.’
Another wrote: ‘This was one of the most satisfying trips we ever took.
‘The big Shay locomotives are a piece of history, one I would encourage everyone to experience. It will take you back to another era. Families should take children, for sure! The staff makes it a pleasant day.
Train excursions run regularly between May and October, with special rides on select weekends in the winter
An aerial view of the West Virginia State Capitol Building and downtown Charleston with fall foliage
‘There is available restrooms, food, and plenty to see and hear. The West Virginia mountain views are spectacular. All in all, a perfect day, even in the rain!’
According to the Fall Foliage Map, the best time to enjoy vibrant fall colors in Pocahontas County is before mid-October.
But Bodnar said: ‘Due to the wide range in elevations that we have here, we have an extended fall season that lasts more than eight weeks, giving leaf peepers plenty of time to come experience what our state has to offer.’
Weather in North Eastern West Virginia during the autumn months boasts a high of 61 degrees and a low of 46 degrees. Greenbrier Express employees recommend that passengers dress in layers, as temperatures drop quickly.
For prospective passengers that can’t make it to Cass to enjoy fall in the Monongahela National Forest, Cass Scenic Railroad also offers train rides through the snow-covered woods on select weekends in the winter.
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