Verde Canyon Railroad, Clarkdale

OutsideJun 15

The Best Stargazing Train Journeys Across the Country

From steam-powered star trains to moonlit railbike rides through redwood forests, these are the best night sky train adventures across America.

offers Saturday Starlight Adventures

25 things in this story

Verde Canyon RailroadPlaceoffers Saturday Starlight Adventures
Taawaki InnHotelnew boutique hotel next to the depot
Tuzigoot National MonumentSightviews toward monument from Taawaki Inn
Elsewhere
Sky RailwayPlaceSanta Fe, United Statesruns 'Stargazer' service from Santa Fe depot
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RailroadPlaceChama, United Statesoperates Dark Sky Train excursions
Continental Divide TrailTrailChama, United Statesroute crosses remote mountain terrain
Nevada Northern RailwayPlaceEly, United Statesruns nighttime astronomy trains
Great Basin National ParkSightEly, United Statesnearby park with Dark Sky Rangers
Santa Fe Sky RailwayPlaceSanta Fe, United Statesco-founded by George R. R. Martin
Galisteo BasinNeighborhoodSanta Fe, United Statesdark skies south of Santa Fe
Skunk TrainPlaceFort Bragg, United Statesruns Moonlight Railbikes to Glen Blair Bar Junction
Glen Blair Bar JunctionSightFort Bragg, United Statesoff-grid bar destination for railbikes
Allentown & Auburn RailroadPlaceKutztown, United StatesFirefly Express runs through Pennsylvania Dutch countryside
Oregon Coast Scenic RailroadPlaceGaribaldi, United Statesadults-only Moonlight Excursion
Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern RailroadPlaceKempton, United StatesHarvest Moon Special timed to annual harvest moon
Catskill Mountain RailroadPlaceKingston, United Statesruns Twilight Limited train
Napa Valley Wine TrainPlaceNapa, United StatesVista Dome Dinner rolls through wine country
Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumPlaceChattanooga, United StatesEvening Ridge Runner departs Chattanooga
Railyard Arts DistrictNeighborhoodSanta Fe, United Statesrefurbished depot area in downtown Santa Fe
Pelican BrewingRestaurantGaribaldi, United Stateslocal beer sampled on excursion
Nehalem Bay WineryPlaceGaribaldi, United Stateswine sampled on excursion
Twin’s Ranch CafeRestaurantGaribaldi, United Statesprepared charcuterie boxes and sandwiches
Overboard Stride SocietyPlaceKempton, United Statesperform live music after excursion
Saratoga Corinth & Hudson RailwayPlaceCorinth, United StatesMoonlight Moonshine Express offers whiskey tastings
C9 BridgeSightKingston, United Statescrosses Esopus Creek

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Atlas ObscuraDec 29, 2025

Discover Arizona’s Majesty

Arizona is wild in its environmental diversity, boasting five of the six distinct types of ecological biomes. Tundra, forest, woodland, scrub, grassland, and desert biomes are spread across the state, with four deserts, over 210 named mountain ranges, a biblical-scale monsoon season—and, of course, the Grand Canyon. The Sonoran Desert, which stretches across much of the state’s southern half, i…

Heritage railroad running through vibrant wilderness landscape.

22 things in this story

Verde Canyon RailroadPlaceHeritage railroad running through vibrant wilderness landscape.
Perkinsville TrestleSightA metal trestle crossed by the Verde Canyon Railroad.
Arizona Copper Art MuseumMuseumTestament to the creative uses of copper.
Elsewhere
Petrified Forest National ParkSightHolbrook, United StatesFeatures largest and most colorful displays of petrified wood.
Rainbow ForestSightHolbrook, United StatesFeatures huge, vibrant rocks, petrified over millions of years.
Lowell ObservatoryMuseumFlagstaff, United StatesWorld-class astronomy destination, Pluto was discovered here.
Mars HillSightFlagstaff, United StatesSite of the apocryphal origin story of dark matter theory.
Clark RefractorSightFlagstaff, United StatesIconic dome of a telescope dating back to the 1800s.
Anderson MesaSightFlagstaff, United StatesFlattop plateau hosting a dark-sky astronomical observatory.
Anderson Mesa StationSightFlagstaff, United StatesA dark-sky astronomical observatory.
Rainbow Forest MuseumMuseumHolbrook, United StatesLearn about geological and cultural history of the land.
Painted DesertSightHolbrook, United StatesRegion with unique geological characteristics and visible layers.
Montezuma Castle National MonumentSightCamp Verde, United StatesPreserves prehistoric cliff dwelling architecture of the Sinagua people.
Montezuma WellSightCamp Verde, United StatesNaturally occurring spring-fed limestone sinkhole.
Jerome’s Sliding JailSightJerome, United StatesA jail structure that slid down a mountain.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife RefugeSightSasabe, United StatesEcological reserve with habitat restoration for endangered species.
Bisbee Breakfast ClubRestaurantBisbee, United StatesOriginal location in a classic American diner with Southwestern twist.
Old Bisbee Brewing Co.RestaurantBisbee, United StatesOffers eclectic menu of draft beers brewed on-site.
Tubac Center for the ArtsSightTubac, United StatesArts and leisure complex with galleries, performance space, library.
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic TrailTrailTubac, United StatesTrail system connecting Tubac arts complex.
Paton Center for HummingbirdsSightPatagonia, United StatesConservation space for over 250 bird species.
Chiricahua National MonumentSightWillcox, United StatesFeatures physics-defying rock stacks and 17 miles of trails.

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Verde Canyon Railroad

In the coverage2 stories

The Best Stargazing Train Journeys Across the Country

Discover Arizona’s Majesty