Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad

Overview

Hop aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad for a 4-hour rail journey through the untouched and unspoiled Verde Valley. With first class seating, you will enjoy unobstructed views of Arizona’s geological wonders, wildlife, and archaeological finds of the ancient Sinagua people who once lived in the area. The Verde Canyon Railroad offers Starlight and Moonlight excursions on select Fridays and Saturdays May through September, departing the depot during the cooler temperatures of later afternoon and traveling through sunset and into the moon glow of twilight. Sandwiched between two protected national forests and adjacent to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Verde Canyon Railroad brings its passengers into a untamed and unspoiled terrain, the exceedingly rare ribbon where high desert meets the river.

City: Sedona

Sun 23 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $145.64

Make a reservation

Sun 23 Feb

Starting at $145.64

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Appetizers

First class seating

Bottled water

Snacks

In 2023, all Verde Canyon Railroad tickets purchased through Viator include a cafe voucher for a meal at the depot cafe which may be carried aboard the train.

Champagne toast

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infant age is 0-1 year. Any guest aged 1 and over will be charged an adult rate. Guests cannot board the train without a paid ticket
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
All complimentary first-class appetizers will be individually-packaged for customers.

What To Expect

Verde Canyon Railroad

Make your way to the Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot in Clarkdale, Arizona, not far from Sedona, to begin your Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight adventure. This rail adventure offers a wilderness train ride through the remote Verde Canyon which is known for its picturesque setting and abundant wildlife. Though it’s possible to hike in the canyon, by far the easiest way to experience it is by riding this scenic wilderness train. The train is made up of exquisitely-renovated passenger coaches and open-air viewing cars pulled by vintage locomotives and travels a route along the Verde River between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. After embarking from the Clarkdale depot, sit back for a 4-hour, 40-mile round trip that includes views of historic mining sites, geological wonders, Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings and wildlife from bald eagles to antelope.

John Bell Railroad Museum

At the depot, be sure to visit the John Bell Museum, home to the railroad's history and artifacts from its early days, as well as a wealth of information on Clarkdale, Jerome and the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

Verde River

The train runs on the same tracks that were created following the Verde River back in 1911. The river is visible for most of your journey.

Perkinsville Ghost Town

Discover the history of Perkinsville Ghost Town through on-board commentary on your train journey. This is the turn-around point of your trip.

Tuzigoot National Monument

You'll ride past Tuzigoot National Monument on your train journey.

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (33)

NancyBluz

Oct 2022

This was the second time my sister and I rode this train. As wonderful as the indoor cars are, it is so much better to sit on one of the outdoor cars. The scenery is breathtaking! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and took great care of us. You can tell everyone is well-trained (pun intended) and that everyone loves their job. Looking forward to ride #3 someday!

Response from Host

Nov 2022

Thank you so much Nancy.

G4736UOdebrak

Oct 2022

The experience is a once in a lifetime! The team were well versed and knew their history. This is an event you definitely want to put on your list.

Response from Host

Oct 2022

Thank you so much.

SummerLCook

Sep 2022

The train ride was very relaxing and soothing. I love the layout of the cars and the accessibility to go outdoors at anytime. The hostess was great too.

Response from Host

Sep 2022

Thank you so much Summer!