Which side of the train is best for fall foliage?

It depends on the route. Rivers and valleys are usually on one side, so ask or check a map of the line before you board. On trains along the Hudson River between New York City and Albany, the river is on the left heading north.

When is the best time for a fall foliage train ride?

Near the typical peak for the area the line runs through. Mountain sections peak earlier than valley stations, so check the dates for destinations along the route.

Are foliage train rides good for people who can’t hike?

Yes. Trains are one of the easiest ways to see deep-woods color without walking, and many have accessible cars. Ask when booking.

Foliage map / Fall foliage tours

Fall foliage train rides

Few ways to see fall color are as relaxing as a train. Someone else watches the road, the tracks often follow rivers and valleys that no highway reaches, and big windows frame the hillsides as they roll past.

Kinds of foliage train rides

Scenic and heritage railroads. Many restored rail lines run special sightseeing trips in fall, usually out and back from a historic depot. Some use vintage coaches, dome cars, or open-air cars that let you feel the cool air and smell the leaves.

Regular passenger trains. Some ordinary intercity routes pass through beautiful country, so a regular ticket can double as a foliage tour, with the bonus that you arrive somewhere at the end.

Dinner and themed trains. Some excursions pair the view with a meal or a seasonal theme. They’re slower and more social, and they often run in the late afternoon, when low sun lights up the hillsides.

Where they’re popular

Foliage trains run in many states, but they cluster where old rail lines meet hardwood hills. In New England, North Conway in the White Mountains is a classic railroad town, and in Pennsylvania, excursion trains run from Jim Thorpe into the Lehigh Gorge. Other popular areas include the Adirondacks and the Catskills in New York, the southern Appalachians in North Carolina and Tennessee, and the high country of Colorado, where rail lines climb through golden aspen.

Along the Hudson River, passenger trains between New York City and Albany run up the east bank for much of the way. Heading north, sit on the left side of the train for river views across to the Palisades and the Hudson Highlands.

How to time a ride

A train route can cover a lot of ground, and often a lot of elevation, so the color won’t be the same along the whole line. Look up the destinations near the route on the foliage map to see when each part typically peaks. In the White Mountains, for example, North Conway typically peaks around Oct 10, while Franconia Notch, higher up, typically peaks around Oct 3.

Peak weekends are the busiest, so book early if you have a date in mind. If you can be flexible, a weekday ride near peak is usually quieter, and a ride a few days before peak still has plenty of color. The fall foliage calendar shows which regions peak each week.

Tips for the ride

Ask which side of the train faces the best views on the way out, and on the way back if it’s a round trip. Bring layers, especially for open-air cars, since a moving train in October is cold. For photos through a window, put your lens or phone right against the glass to cut reflections, and shoot a little ahead of the train rather than straight out the side to reduce blur.