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    Rail Explorers - Amador Division

    4.9 (64 reviews)
    Open 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    What a fun afternoon riding the rails. We enjoyed a two-person rail car although a number of four-person "car" were available as well. They are easy to us: you just pedal, although the motor takes all the effort out of it. The "driver" just needs to use the break and some hand signals to alert who is behind you. It's easy and fun! The track goes for about 4 miles, where you then stop and take a break while staff turn the rail cars around. It's then about 4 miles back, although it's downhill so even more fun. Staff is fun, helpful, and making sure it's a fun ride for all. Great way to spend a couple of hours out in the Foothills.

    The Posh Bathrooms
    Diane P.

    What a fantastic day! If you're looking for a thrill ride with adventure along with a beautiful nature journey you signed up for the best experience in the west! The crew are phenomenal and they are super cautious about safety! There are three railroad stops to cross the business highway! There is a 15 minute stop to take a break from pedaling before you return back! The bikes take you uphill on your way there and then you cruise downhill on your way back! Pedaling is effortless. They opened in March of 2024! It's well organized and there are 4 tours a day! Two in the morning and two in the evening. They have many sister companies back east, but this is the only one in the west! It's for all age groups! The person in right side pedals but they are electric bikes. If you're 2 people you get your own bike but if more than two you get a 4 seater! They assign your bike by your last name, so it's a hunt to find it!!! We were in the front then in the back on the way back which was a beautiful thing. We got to see the cows charging down the hill and stop and feed their young on the tracks. It was a great day and I would encourage you to come out and give this a try! They even have Posh bathrooms and a gift shop to take home a memory! I bought a T-shirt it came in a cute little brown box for easy packing.

    Beautiful scenery
    Natasha N.

    Family of five visited 03/28/26 for the twilight tour. The staff is incredible! Facilities were clean. The waiting and midway picnic areas are adorable. Felt very welcomed and safe. Great Adventure!

    Cianelyn N.

    WHAT A SPECTACULAR ACTIVITY! Today was my husband's birthday and frankly a lot of others celebrating as well, and this rail pedal activity is definitely the way to go about it. Throughout the week I was planning out the logistics because we're not from California, I originally wanted to plan the one in Sacramento but it was a different company but they were all booked out and found Rail Express as I continued to search. From all the reviews I've read I went ahead and called to place my booking. The sweet lady mentioned over the phone they also have one in a few states so now that I experienced this one here, I am definitely looking into trying out the one in the East Coast when I visit family there. She told me the views are captivating and the young woman (name is Makenzie) who worked for Rail Express here in Amador recommended to check the one in Iowa. Love that it's all good and positive talk about this. It was really cute they wrote a note saying Happy Birthday when they assign you where to sit with your group/partner. I didn't even mention it was his birthday, I assumed they paid attention to his birthdate and knew it's on the actual day so that was awesome of them to do that. When going over the rules and expectations, all of the staff were so sweet, kind, clear, and funny! The humor is needed during rule time. And they checked up on you and constantly asked if you needed help taking pictures, my gosh they were the best group of staff! The restrooms were clean and it was very organized, had you in and out type of deal. The ride was such a sweet ride and awesome workout I personally think. Being close to the cows was quite interesting too. My favorite part of this was going over this little bridge where the route is below you, it gave me a happy and exciting feeling when you can see cars down below, I thought that was cool. My hometown Reno peeps, come and join this experience here in Amador, CA! If you're having a day trip, make sure to add this to your to-do list! It's one thrill of a ride!

    Lizzy C.

    Booked the seasonal "Ghosts of Gold Country" evening tour. My boyfriend & I were celebrating our anniversary and we have wanted to ride the rail cars for quite some time. It was such an amazing experience, we rode at our own pace in between other cars, a lead and follow car with their staff surrounded all the riders as well as they would go around to all the road crossings making sure we were safe when crossing the 3 road sections on the tour. The Ghost of Gold Country tour begins at 6pm, so you start the ride just before Sundown. You get to ride through the country side with an amazing view of the sunset. It takes about an hour to get to the turn around point, where there were tables and chairs to sit while they turn all the rail cars around, and one of the staff members tells you a ghost story about the ghost train in that area back in the mining days. You ride back in the dark and all of their Halloween decorations are on along the trail. They have chairs and fire pits at the check in and end points, a small gift shop, restrooms and they offer water and coffee before and after your trip. You can also purchase smore kits at the gift shops to roast marshmallows on the fire. Over all it was an amazing experience and we had a blast. I would definitely do it again.

    waiting area
    Toan T.

    Great experience! This is my family first time and will not be our last. The crew was amazing and very accommodating to everyone. excellent customer service and safety was their priority! The entire time / i felt that my family was safe and were guided to enjoy the beautiful outdoors on their great quad car! Here are some pictures and videos for your viewing pleasures!

    Granddaughters loved it!
    Wayne S.

    We took our 2 young granddaughters (7,8yo) to try something new and different. The experience far exceeded our expectations. My wife and thoroughly enjoyed the event. Our granddaughters had so much fun that they were still talking about it for days after. The crew of young gals and guys were so professional and organized. All were very friendly and knowledgeable. The entire experience from website ticket purchase, tour prep, actual tour, and even the gift shop was positive. My only critique is that I wish it was a bit longer. On the other hand, the 2 hrs fit our schedule nicely. Wife and I are looking forward to coming back, perhaps without the kids...

    Rail explorer
    Pooja V.

    Super fun family adventure Took our mom for Mother's Day weekend - highly recommend it! Lot of up and down hill, definitely thrilling. Not Appropriate for kids under 5 years of age. Will come for the evening sunset experience

    Wonderful Experience - Highly Recommend! The majority of our family came from Hawaii, so this was definitely something different for us -- but absolutely worth trying! My family and I had such a great time with Railway Express in Amador County. From start to finish, the customer service was excellent -- the staff was friendly, welcoming, and very informative. They really took the time to explain things and made the experience smooth and enjoyable. The ride itself was so much fun and worked for all ages. My aunty, my sisters and I rode on a quad while most of our other family members were on the tandem ride. The pedaling wasn't nearly as hard as it looked, and everyone managed just fine. Even my little nephew, under 2 years old, rode as a lap rider and ended up taking a nap during the ride! Going up the trail was so worth it -- at the end, we were able to disembark, stretch, and take a nice little break while enjoying the stunning mountain scenery. On the way back down, we were treated to a magical view of horses and cattle grazing right alongside the rail. It was such a memorable and unique experience for our whole family. If you're looking for something unique, kid-friendly, and full of character, I highly recommend Railway Express. We left with smiles, laughter, and memories we'll never forget -- and we'll definitely be back!

    Cynthia R.

    Highly recommend!! Staff was very attentive, friendly, and engaging. I would do this again. Highly recommend the sunset hour. You get beautiful views.

    Turn around spot
    Susan M.

    We decided to try Rail Express on the spur of the moment this week. Made a reservation the night before. Arrived, checked in and listened to the safety guidelines. All the employees seemed knowledgeable and friendly. Their website states that it is a 2 hour experience. We went out and back in an hour and a half. The scenery was lovely this time of year. I can't imagine taking this ride in the dead of summer. It was alot more fun than I thought it might be, especially on the way back which is downhill. At the turn around point, you spend about 30 minutes. There are lots of red chairs and a picnic table or two. Bring a snack and water. Would I do it again, probably not but I would recommend those interested to give it a try. It really is fun and you don't spend very much energy peddling ( the engine kicks in).

    Elizabeth T.

    Beautiful Experience, Kat was amazing! She was super informative & made the experience 10xs better. Thank you so much Kat you're amazing.

    View of route.
    Jodie E.

    We had so much fun! The guides and other staff were very personable and helpful. We really enjoyed ourselves and definitely recommend going! PS. They give each rider a wristband for discounts at the local restaurants and businesses. It's a great way to support local!!

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    Alex C.

    The sunset ride is so beautiful! Thank you.

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    Wonderful Experience - Highly Recommend!

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Preston Castle - Preston's Castle

    Preston Castle

    4.1(138 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Preston Castle Haunt - what a yearly tradition! My wife, my parents, and I have been making the…read morespooky pilgrimage for years now, and it never disappoints. You just can't beat a haunted house that takes place inside an actual haunted prison. The vibe alone gives you goosebumps before you even step inside. Add in the scare actors (who I'm convinced are local kids living their best creepy dreams), the friendly staff, and the affordable merch, and you've got the full package. This year's haunt felt longer with even more scares tucked around the corners--right up my alley! Preston keeps stepping it up, and I'm here for it. Until next year, Castle... we'll be back.

    Came here for the haunted house event about a week ago and I'm not sure if I would come back again…read more Tickets were $35 each (purchased online) and you have to park and walk about 10-15 minutes to the castle or you can take the little van that drives you there which also takes the same amount of time. We took the van to the castle but they don't drop you off directly in front of the castle so you still have to walk down through security and then to the castle. Porte potty's are available right before security and once you walk up the hill to wait in line to enter the castle. There were a couple food trucks when we went, we were expecting a few based on what was said online but not sure if it depends on the time. We waited over an hour in line to enter the haunted house and if you do really believe in ghosts this place is pretty haunted. The event itself wasn't scary, the actors aren't able to touch you but there's obviously loud screaming and they may be a bit too close for comfort to get a reaction out of you. You do have to climb up and down quite a few stairs and then there's a second part lead outside and back in the castle (barely any lighting and it's a dirt road so you have to carefully walk). Many strobing lights as well so do avoid if you are triggered by that. The energy throughout the castle was not pleasant or welcoming, I was very excited for it to be over as the haunted house itself was not very good and I was mostly tired from all the walking. There's a merch truck outside at the end of the castle as well. We also decided to walk back instead of waiting for the shuttle but there absolutely no lighting and many ditches with uneven flooring so you have to be very careful. Overall experience was not my favorite and I wouldn't come back again.

    Photos
    Preston Castle - The castle with the haunt ticket you receive before security.

    The castle with the haunt ticket you receive before security.

    Preston Castle - Enter if you dare.

    Enter if you dare.

    Preston Castle - The viewing walking in.

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    The viewing walking in.

    California Cavern State Historic Landmark - Inside the cave

    California Cavern State Historic Landmark

    4.6(97 reviews)
    25.1 mi

    What a cool experience. Got there for the 10:00 am tour, and I was the only guest. The walk to…read morethe cave is only about five minutes, but there's no shade so the earlier the better as the temps heat up. Inside the cave is about 50°. I have no issues with claustrophobia, but if you do there is one tight squeeze that might be a problem. Cash, my tour guide, turned off the lights (after asking my permission) and we experienced total darkness for maybe thirty seconds. It felt like two hours, and I hated it , but still neat and recommend trying if offered. Use the hand rails. They are there for your safety.

    The drive here is much more involved than Mercer Caverns with more windy and narrow roads. Once you…read moreget closer the space opens up to a large parking lot and shop you meet at. We were the only ones that signed up for the earliest tour that day and were lucky to have a private tour. The tour has informative history about the caverns with landmarks along the way. The most interesting thing we didn't know about is they have caving adventure tours where you shimny through holes and narrow spaces with a guide but our kids aren't old enough to partake. This was the first show cave in California and townspeople lived in them during harsh winters in the 1800s. There was a bar inside and a church and nails were even given to people to carve on the walls. Because of this there are signs of harm everywhere with soot, broken formations, and dirty coloration from human hand oils and even champagne poured on a rock formation. The caverns are huge and beautiful with some jaw-dropoing rooms. The walking tour is very safe though we loved the slight danger and claustrophobic feel of the Mercer Caverns. When you leave the shop has some cool historical items pulled from the caves on display like glass bottles, etc .. that are worth checking out.

    Photos
    California Cavern State Historic Landmark - Toward the exit, some parts are a bit wet

    Toward the exit, some parts are a bit wet

    California Cavern State Historic Landmark - Stairs and path wind through amazing formations. People used to live in these caves in the 1800s!

    Stairs and path wind through amazing formations. People used to live in these caves in the 1800s!

    California Cavern State Historic Landmark

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    River Fox Train - River Fox Christmas Train

    River Fox Train

    3.0(309 reviews)
    43.9 mi

    Holiday train review - Absolutely spectacular and warm heartening experience for our 3 and 4 year…read moreold girls! I don't know what other low rating patrons are expecting... fireworks? High class service? Jazz band playing in every train car with speakers interconnected? We came expecting nothing and ended up having an incredible experience with beautiful decorations well suited for a sweet, memorable Christmas train experience. Online reservations were simple, easy to obtain, and a lot more affordable compared to the exorbant Polar Express tickets. We're extremely happy that we chose this over Sacramento's Polar Express. It's obvious that their staff spent a lot of time putting work into the trains inner and outter decor - beautiful and creative! Parents and adults FYI - on your way to your reserved train car, there's a small bar after boarding the train. It's very important to load up on your magic drinks before heading to your seat. (Drinks.. not drink! But drink responsibly, of course.) Parking isn't far and although limited, it shouldn't be a problem with reservations handled appropriately. We sang a few Christmas songs with the elves, threw snowballs at the grinch (best part, IMO), met Santa, and had a little fun at Santa's (little) village after the ride. Every sip of their hot cocoa (included with your tickets) was warming and delicious, perfect for cold weather. Couple of cookies came along with it, perfect for our kids to snack on. Overall, this was an incredible experience for our kids! Service was fantastic, ambiance was very jolly and felt like home, staff members are very friendly, and the experience is fantastic for all occasions - family, friends, and dates! The memories are ever lasting and hopefully it becomes a core memory that lasts a lifetime. Highly recommended to experience, at least once, for your little loved ones. We'll be back next year!

    We were NEVER SERVED ANY FOOD during our 2-hour Tea Train and could barely get water…read more About 30 minutes after boarding we were given hot water but no tea bags. We eventually found our own. Refills of hot water, cream, and drinking water required chasing down staff. After 45 minutes we began asking where the food was, while people in another section of the car had already ordered and eaten their meals. Staff kept saying the food would come "soon." It never did. At 1 hour 45 minutes the staff disappeared, and the train returned to the station at 2 hours. No food and no explanation. I had to insist on speaking with a manager and got a refund. I still don't understand how this could happen.

    Photos
    River Fox Train - Boba train! (Lisa_vs_food)

    Boba train! (Lisa_vs_food)

    River Fox Train - Table setting

    Table setting

    River Fox Train - Small, but memorable, Santa's village

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    Small, but memorable, Santa's village

    Howard Park - Grassy

    Howard Park

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Such a beautiful park slightly hidden away in the small city of Ione. The park is HUGE offering 4…read morebaseball diamonds, 4 soccer fields, a skate park, disc golf, and 2 tennis courts. If that wasn't enough 2 play structures AND a designated dog park and of course lots and lots of grass to relax under the trees. The bathroom facilities we're ok, with toilet paper available. ps. Make sure to tour the small surrounding towns to grab a bite to eat and help the small local shops survive during these trying times.

    Went here today for a company retreat. What fun! A fantastic venue for so many things. The…read moreweather was mild, the grounds beautiful, the kitchen and meeting auditorium, awesome and huge. There's a horse arena...a really big one with stands for the audience, plenty of places to explore and trail walk, lots of local wild flowers in bloom (watch out we did find a few patches of poison oak-"leaves of 3, let it be")! There's a lovely picnic area, many playgrounds for the kids, a baseball diamond and much more. We were fortunate enough to have our camp cooks on site for a remarkably good lunch with entrees consisting of a sun dried tomato pasta, bbq chicken with a ricotta cheese topping, pulled pork sandwiches, slaw, and a baby greens salad with cherry tomatoes; dessert cookies that were "out of this world" (smores-oatmeal and raisin & chocolate chip) Camp folks really know how to put on a good spread. Host your next event in Ione if you need lots of space, need to accommodate lots of people and would like a beautiful and nature filled venue!

    Photos
    Howard Park - 4 Diamonds, 2 Soccer Fields.

    4 Diamonds, 2 Soccer Fields.

    Howard Park - Playground

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    Playground

    Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours - The oak tree at Twisted Oak winery!

    Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours

    5.0(10 reviews)
    31.9 mi

    I planned my cousins bachlorette trip up here mid march (St. Patricks day weekend). I was trying to…read moreplan a girls day out, and definitely wanted to do some wine tasting but didn't really want to be a Designated driver. I found Courtwood by searching online, and I'm SO happy I found Chris @Courtwood! I was a little bummed I didn't find any available tours on their website, so I reached out via email. Chris promptly sent a reply with pricing, details, and that it would be quite packed in Murphy's, so she would take us on a private tour around the outlying wineries (good call, none of the wineries were too packed and we had a lot of "private time" at each vineyard). Chris picked us up right out front of our hotel right on time, had a smile and made sure she knew who the bride was and made her feel extra special! We stopped at Twisted Oak, Chatom, Ironstone (for lunch), and Aryael Vieux (TOP FAVE!! I'll be reviewing these wineries soon). Chris took care of everything, all we had to worry about was sipping wine and having a wonderful and relaxing time. Hanging out with Chris was like having another friend just along for the ride! We picked up a loaf of fresh bread at one of the wineries, and mentioned that we wanted to get some butter later on, Chris told us she needed to pick something up too and that we could come with her! I can't say enough good things, they even include a slideshow of your trip (chris takes photos throughout the tour) and email it to you promptly after your tour. If you are in the area, I would definitely come here and take a tour with Courtwood,

    I really don't have enough good things to say about Chris at Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours. I was…read moregiven the task of setting up a wine tasting tour in the Murphy's area for a bachelorette group of 9 people. We stayed in Angel's Camp in a friend's cabin, and being unfamiliar with the area, I completely put my trust in Chris to arrange everything for us. She exceeded my expectations (and made me look like I had done a lot more than I had!) She asked a lot of questions about our group and the types of wines we liked so that she could tailor the tour very specifically. Preferring the boutique wineries to the large scale Ironstone types, Chris took us to six different wineries that ranged significantly from Twisted Oak, to Prospect 772, to Aerial Vieux. As a large group Chris coordinated with Kristen, who also leads tours in the area to caravan us around in their large air conditioned vans. It seemed like she had personal relationships with the various winemakers and their staff and was able to get us some kind of behind the scenes cave tour/vineyard tour/private tasting room access everywhere we went. I have to say the best thing about the day was the lunch. Chris set it up on a long table outside Chatom winery and it literally looked like something straight out of Sunset Magazine. She brought local cheese and interesting dips, and the salads were presented in ball mason jars. It really was so well done, I think Chris might have a future in putting on lunches in addition to taking tours! After the tasting, Chris and Kristen took us into Murphy's, waited for us while we had dinner, and then took us all the way back to Angels Camp. I highly recommend Courtwood for small and large tours alike. Chris was just wonderful!

    Photos
    Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours - Bullfrogs are everywhere around Murphy's & Angel's Camp! A bullfrog at Twisted Oak.

    Bullfrogs are everywhere around Murphy's & Angel's Camp! A bullfrog at Twisted Oak.

    Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours - Tasting at Milliere!

    Tasting at Milliere!

    Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours - Picnic lunch

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    Picnic lunch

    Rail Explorers - Amador Division - tours - Updated May 2026

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