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

Mon 23 Jun

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $184.49

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Jun

Starting at $184.49

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

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.

Verde Canyon Railroad

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 (62)

Dior_C

Sep 2024

This was a wonderful experience! First of all, the staff at Verde Canyon are friendly and professional and made the entire experience enjoyable. I didn’t realize our tickets included a meal from the cafe so that was a nice surprise. The gift shop was quaint with some really fun items. The trainride itself was amazing! Comfortable seats inside, outdoor seating, snacks & drinks! The views and history were incredible. The tour guides were really great at pointing out the most unique sites/views. The ONLY thing that would have put the trainride over the top for me would have been available blankets as it was very chilly in the train especially at night. Otherwise the whole experience was unforgettable and we will definitely be going back!

Response from Host

Sep 2024

Dior, thanks for joining on one of our seasonal summer Starlight journeys and sharing this excellent review! Tickets booked through Viator do include a cafe voucher and we're happy this was a nice surprise for you. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again!

Mark_N

Sep 2024

It was a cloudy day all day. Then like magic the skies cleared and it was an amazing stargazing experience. Staff was wonderful too!

Response from Host

Sep 2024

Mark, we're happy the stars shined for you! Thanks for your kind compliments about our crew,

Jesus_C

Aug 2024

First train ride ever, best train ride ever. The views were something of the imagination come to life. The staff was fantastic, the music was perfect and the history lesson about the region was the icing on the cake. 10/10 would do it again.

Response from Host

Aug 2024

Thank you, Jesus! We are so delighted you loved so much about the train ride, the views, the staff, the music and the history. We look forward to welcoming you back!