Roaring Camp Railroads
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I travelled in the diesel train staring from Board Walk. In one hour it reached Roaring Camp. There I got 1 hour to explore Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It was a small but serene park. Beautiful tall trees. Then there was 1 hour travel back to Boardwalk. That way, I was able to spend my rest of the day in the Boardwalk. It was a fun slow ride through the nature.
Such a wonderful place to go with family. My husband and I went with my parents and brother for the redwood train. The whole experience was amazing, the steam engine and learning about the narrow gauge, steam engine history and also the coastal redwoods and the environment. We started at 10:30am and ended at 11:45 which was a decent ride with lots of fun info and wonderful calm scenery amongst the redwoods.
This is a great way to experience redwoods. - There is a $10 parking fee for Roaring Camp. but it's good all day; so after the train ride, you can hike Henry Cowell redwoods right next door, and not have to pay the Henry Cowell $10 day-use fee per car. - I took the beach train. Riding in the open-top car is great; you can see the towering redwoods. There is very good narration throughout the entire trip, with interesting factoids about the redwoods and Santa Cruz. - The train passes the Garden of Eden clothing-optinoal Skinny-dipping swimming hole, plus a very long tunnel when approaching the beach. There is also an interesting bridge from 1909, and a tressle.
Really cool experience! How often do you get to ride a steam-powered train through a redwood forest? Our conductor Colin was humorous, informative, and gave us plenty to knowledge bits and time to enjoy the redwoods. The train has two types of train cars: covered and uncovered. I would definitely recommend opting for the uncovered parking to fully enjoy the majestic redwoods! We went during Easter weekend, so the tickets were slightly more than usual, and there were lots of kids on the train with their Easter baskets. We didn't realize the Easter egg hunt was only for kids, so we were disappointed in that we didn't get to participate; although, now that I think about it, I guess they can't have a bunch of people running through the woods looking for Easter eggs...a disaster waiting to happen (LOL). Definitely recommend booking tickets ahead of time. Parking is $10. We got to the campgrounds early so watched a blacksmith demonstrating his craft, played some games, and walked the Nature Walk Loop at Henry Cowell Regional Park, which was literally right across the railroad tracks. They also had some shops, kid activities, and a musician. Food nothing to write home about, but it's available if needed. If you're making a trip to Santa Cruz, it's worth stopping by!
Omg such a cool place for railroad enthusiasts who love an old timey style! I took my line for a steam train ride and it's about 1.5 hours going through the redwoods. The conductor and staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable and we learned so much about the beautiful redwoods. We had a brief stop to get off and explore the trees and even spotted some banana slugs! Before or after the ride they have spots for food, shops for souvenirs, and can even do candle making or look for gold!
I visited Roaring Camp on a Saturday afternoon with my toddler. While we had a great time overall, the ride itself felt a bit monotonous after a while especially because not much changed once we started going up the SantaCruz mountains in terms of scenery and landscape. The Positives: Beautiful & Well-Maintained: The historic trains are very well-kept, and the views of the redwood forests are absolutely stunning. Great Amenities: There is ample food available on-site, so you won't go hungry. Location: It is within easy walking distance to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is another fantastic, toddler-friendly activity to pair with your trip. Tips for your visit: It can get tremendously crowded here on the weekends. Because of the heavy crowds, booking your tickets well in advance is highly recommended!
I came here on my own and went on a run beforehand. Good: - They really play up the acting and make the experience entertaining - I liked that it was a beautiful day and the train ride wasn't too slow and still fun for an adult - There are some nice food options in the area so you can grab food and coffee before riding - The area is super well themed, feels like you're transported into the past - Easy ticketing pickup and logistics - Area is good for a long run! Bad: - We didn't start on time, we were delayed by 20 min or so so I was confused where to go Overall this was a very calming experience and I felt super zen and refreshed as I was sitting on the train.
Felton, CA What a wonderful steam locomotive train ride through the redwoods. I will admit that I was not pleased with the parking attendant who did not direct us to the correct space for handicap accessible entry. When seeking more info, the staff on the property was more than accommodating once we got on the property and helped us navigate a drop off pick up point, a wheelchair since the place we parked was too far a distance to walk for someone in our party and even reserved a spot on the train for us while we made our way to the depot. Buying tickets agead of time is highly recommended. The train was completely full I think some people were not able to get on. The train ride through the forest is beautiful and scenic I would highly recommend it especially if you love trains and forests. The conductor was so great we had such a blast! Towards the end of the ride you will get steam mist in your face if you are sitting up in the front FYI.
After years of going to Henry Cowell and walking around Roaring Camp afterwards, we finally decided to go on one of the trains! We booked a Mother's Day train ride online a few days beforehand and arrived ready to ride under the redwoods! Check-in was easy, we went to the ticket booth, gave our name, and then got our tickets. Order instructions didn't tell us to do this, but you will need to get physical tickets here since they do check them on the ride. We did one of the redwood trains vs the beach train. Online it said the train ride was 75 minutes, but it was actually closer to 90 minutes. We got a couple of minutes to get off the train in the mountains and walk around/use the bathroom if needed. The train seemed to stay fairly close to the park, but spent a good amount of time going up. Since it was a lot of up hill, the ride was pretty slow. The train had groups of all ages, I figured it would only be families with little kids, but there were just as many families with adult kids as there were small children, lots of couples as well. I was worried about getting burnt so I sat in one of the covered cars. Big mistake, there's a lot of shade on the ride and you spend very little time in the sun, so if you want a better view of the trees up above, the uncovered cars are the way to go. One thing that was annoying, I was charged $10 for parking, which I didn't see as a charge or an option to uncheck when purchasing the tickets. We have a state park pass and parked and walked at Henry Cowell first, so it was an unnecessary $10 charge.
This was our second time riding the trains. Toddler loves trains and this was a great opportunity for him to ride the trains with his "train buddy". Lot of fun activities building blocks, Lego, train puzzles, photo ops and pumpkin decorating to kiddos engaged. They have a huge parking lot and you might have to park in additional ones. It's definitely a walk from parking lots to the station. The park itself is open and free even if you are not riding the trains. The two locomotives as "Thomas" and "Persey" were quite entertaining. They have food options like burger, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, fries and beverages. The bigger gift shop also has the toys on display where the kids could play. Overall ride took 35-40 minutes. It's not exciting if you have done any other train ride at least for adults. Definitely a huge line to take photos with Thomas and Persey. Tip: reach early!
Expensive train ride. There are two trains, newer train goes to Santa Cruz and back, older train (steam engine) go around the park, both trains ride cost $42+ per person. Love the old town vibe in the train station. Go there and visit the Henry cowell redwood park together, pay one parking $10 for two locations
On my first trip to Santa Cruz, I decided to experience the Roaring Camp Railroad. I knew the risk I ran- I was doing a touristy suggestion associated with Santa Cruz. And we all know that touristy spots, which are almost a requirement when visitng a new spot, can be worthy of hype or are an inflated promise of awe and fun that never fully delivers. In my final assessment, I recommend this as a tourist requirement for the area of Santa Cruz because it allows a person to see, commune, and be impacted by the famed tall trees of the area. But I am not sure if it is worth a second visit. But, again, I highly recommend this, for what it is, a novelty train ride that delivers a grand view of what Santa Cruz promises: lush red woods that tell a story of days left behind, where moss and leafs defined the everyday. The whole experience lasted about two hours. A large part of the experience was getting into the trains. I imagined that the train ride was going to be one that afforded me a seat inside a caboose, instead, the train was more of an upscale tram. No one had window seats, there were no tables to sit around on, everyone had a seat on sideline bench. We did not have comfortable cushions, we just a row of chairs, and the view. So accept that you will be a person in a cramped train, not a passenger in a train that reminds you of the Hogwarts Express, or the train that the famous detective boarded on his way to the Orient, in the Agatha book. It really is just a mode of transportation decked in train details but, brother, was it still a train ride to remember. As we went along the tracks, I saw trees in a way, not only because they were tall, but because they were true to their core nature. For instance, some trees were so covered in moss that it looked like they had garbed on top of their wood. The fuzzy green moss was so consuming that one can believe that some trains have trunks of brown, while others had trunk of green fur. The forest had become a gallery of nature that offered an artistic expression of silent wood. In fact, I told my friend Denise that I felt that it was a tram ride and the scenery was digitally created. I am not sure if you have been on the tram ride in Universal Studios Hollywood, but I cannot help to make a parallel. In that tram, one sees scene of King Kong's world that were created with pixels and electric imagery, and again, what I saw in front of me was so fresh and pristine that I also thought it was pixilated in the colors of a forest. The train moved slow, and one sees different things that catch the attention. I note the moss that acts like skin above, but other things were seen that were arresting like a melody from nature given in oak, not chirps. For instance, I saw the huge trunk of a black tree. Had the treen burned its wood skin? Or had this tree become black for another reason? I loudly expressed that I had never seen a tree in black, all passengers looked at the tree. Dark looked good on wood. I am hoping the shared thought after I highlighted the black wood. Even seeing a tree on the ground covered by grass and trees around was meaningful, for it was the death of a tree, that still lived in the context of the forest. A tree fallen in the city is dead and removed, a tree fallen in its natural territory becomes texture, an addition to where it already belonged. My favorite part of the experience came, when the trained stop and we were able to commune amongst the forest. In this moment, the forest stop being a breathing tapestry and it became a green cathedral, where thought and prayer become one moment dressed in shades of gray and winter mist. I stood among the trees and looked up at them. I was viewing them, from the ground, seeing them touch the top of the air, and I asked for the peace they knew as a norm. For a tree never wonders if it makes a sound, when no one is present to view its departure from wholeness, for it only exists in place to stand, not to ponder or reflect. I wished for the green trees to give me their might and stillness for the two combined becomes ease in existence. For the thoughts of others do not sway trees into any type of action, for it cares only to remain still and in inflexible point. That was fancy and wordy way of saying remain strong with your forehead held up high, in any situation, like a tree always does. Eventually, the tree releases puffs upon puffs of steam. As the steam swirls into the forest, and it becomes a type of fog that dances. It comes and goes quickly, but its memory remains, like catching a ghost in movement for a whisper of a second. At its most basic level, this train ride is one that crosses the land of sequoias and splendid green. It offers sights of nature, and sounds of tracks being hit my steel wheel, you know the rackety sound that old things make when they move on tracks. I also saw squirrels and chimpunks that look differet than the ones in the city. They had more slender bodies and curved tails!
The reasons are so much fun! With or without kids this is such an amazing immersive experience into the history of steam trains and the conservation of old growth redwoods. Our conductor Colin was a delight! Gave us a great narration as we made our way up the mountain.
19 days ago
Pretty cool and educational field trip out here in the Santa Cruz hills. They've been around since the 60s and they've recreated what much of what life was like during the industrial revolution of the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Much of which is when California was just being built into the massive state that it is now. They recreated what a small town back then would probably have...a general store, a blacksmith station, a printing press office, a gold mining station are just a few examples. The main draw and main recreation here is of an old timey train that you can actually ride on. A fully functioning steam locomotive can pull like 5 train cars, some covered, some not. I'd say each car could probably seat about 2 dozen peeps, and they pack each scheduled ride pretty good. They have 2 rides: 1 goes from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk to Felton which is up the hill about 8 miles and back. The other ride starts in Felton which is where the recreated village is at, and that does a 70 minute loop around the redwoods, so it is very mellow and mostly in the shade. We did the redwood loop, a few adults and a small child. Price was about mid $40s per, not sure what a child fetches for. A little pricey but where else can you really experience this. There are some narration of historical interest and you get a small 15-20 minute break at a stop in the middle of the forest where you can get out and stretch and take pics. Food and drinks are available and are amusement park level in quality and price. There was some bbq cook-off going the day we went, but we did not try. We just had some simple burgers and hotdogs as we were going to throw down a nice spread for dinner at our campsite later that evening. I had a decent time although it can get pretty hot out here during the summer months. I would recommend for people with small children or people who like history in geography and technology. read more
1 month ago
Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, California is a logging town established in the late 1950s by Norman Clark. It's known for its redwood trees and railroad which operates authentic 19th-century locomotives dating all the way back to 1890 if you can believe that. They have amazing event throughout the year including Moonlit Dinner Parties, Halloween and holiday train rides as well as activities, light shows. Enjoy the Covered Bridge, General Store, Train Depot, Bret Harte Hall and more. I've been here more than a few times in the past decade including for one of my closest friends wedding. Touring the grounds on foot is pretty amazing but nothing beats that iconic steam engine train ride. And having an event here is something that will stay with you forever in my honest opinion. The picnic grounds can hold anywhere from 25 to 2,500 people for groups and parties. Chuckwagon Barbecue has kid friendly and veggie friendly options, and outside food and catering is also very welcome. Train rides vary from age, children or adult as well as group and individual discounts. Wayback Wednesday in the best way! You can make inquiries on their website as well as stay up to date via mailing list. No lodging available directly on the campgrounds themselves, however several hotels and AirBnBs in the area due to this incredible destination and the Santa Cruz County Redwoods. Hour of operation are from 9am to 5pm for general hours and non events. Typically they can accommodate until 10pm for special events and occasions likes weddings, gatherings and celebrations. read more
They have some really worthwhile events here at Roaring Campbell Roads! I went to the Sequoia Night Walk in early August and had such a nice time. it's essentially a stroll through big old trees that are lit up with all these unique lighting fixtures. Dogs ARE allowed. The weather was perfect I was completely comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt, with a sweater being optional. It's about a 10-minute walk from the parking lot to where the lights begin. My group and I were running late for our time slot, but they were super accommodating and let us go with the group right after ours, which I really appreciated. The whole atmosphere was very easygoing and welcoming. The process is simple: reserve your time online, check in and get stamped, then walk through the experience at your own pace. The entire night walk was whimsical and added a little bit of novelty and magic to life. I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the area! read more
I travelled in the diesel train staring from Board Walk. In one hour it reached Roaring Camp. There I got 1 hour to explore Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It was a small but serene park. Beautiful tall trees. Then there was 1 hour travel back to Boardwalk. That way, I was able to spend my rest of the day in the Boardwalk. It was a fun slow ride through the nature. read more
2 months ago
Such a wonderful place to go with family. My husband and I went with my parents and brother for the redwood train. The whole experience was amazing, the steam engine and learning about the narrow gauge, steam engine history and also the coastal redwoods and the environment. We started at 10:30am and ended at 11:45 which was a decent ride with lots of fun info and wonderful calm scenery amongst the redwoods. read more
This is a great way to experience redwoods. - There is a $10 parking fee for Roaring Camp. but it's good all day; so after the train ride, you can hike Henry Cowell redwoods right next door, and not have to pay the Henry Cowell $10 day-use fee per car. - I took the beach train. Riding in the open-top car is great; you can see the towering redwoods. There is very good narration throughout the entire trip, with interesting factoids about the redwoods and Santa Cruz. - The train passes the Garden of Eden clothing-optinoal Skinny-dipping swimming hole, plus a very long tunnel when approaching the beach. There is also an interesting bridge from 1909, and a tressle. read more
Really cool experience! How often do you get to ride a steam-powered train through a redwood forest? Our conductor Colin was humorous, informative, and gave us plenty to knowledge bits and time to enjoy the redwoods. The train has two types of train cars: covered and uncovered. I would definitely recommend opting for the uncovered parking to fully enjoy the majestic redwoods! We went during Easter weekend, so the tickets were slightly more than usual, and there were lots of kids on the train with their Easter baskets. We didn't realize the Easter egg hunt was only for kids, so we were disappointed in that we didn't get to participate; although, now that I think about it, I guess they can't have a bunch of people running through the woods looking for Easter eggs...a disaster waiting to happen (LOL). Definitely recommend booking tickets ahead of time. Parking is $10. We got to the campgrounds early so watched a blacksmith demonstrating his craft, played some games, and walked the Nature Walk Loop at Henry Cowell Regional Park, which was literally right across the railroad tracks. They also had some shops, kid activities, and a musician. Food nothing to write home about, but it's available if needed. If you're making a trip to Santa Cruz, it's worth stopping by! read more
Omg such a cool place for railroad enthusiasts who love an old timey style! I took my line for a steam train ride and it's about 1.5 hours going through the redwoods. The conductor and staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable and we learned so much about the beautiful redwoods. We had a brief stop to get off and explore the trees and even spotted some banana slugs! Before or after the ride they have spots for food, shops for souvenirs, and can even do candle making or look for gold! read more
3 months ago
I visited Roaring Camp on a Saturday afternoon with my toddler. While we had a great time overall, the ride itself felt a bit monotonous after a while especially because not much changed once we started going up the SantaCruz mountains in terms of scenery and landscape. The Positives: Beautiful & Well-Maintained: The historic trains are very well-kept, and the views of the redwood forests are absolutely stunning. Great Amenities: There is ample food available on-site, so you won't go hungry. Location: It is within easy walking distance to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is another fantastic, toddler-friendly activity to pair with your trip. Tips for your visit: It can get tremendously crowded here on the weekends. Because of the heavy crowds, booking your tickets well in advance is highly recommended! read more
1 month ago
I came here on my own and went on a run beforehand. Good: - They really play up the acting and make the experience entertaining - I liked that it was a beautiful day and the train ride wasn't too slow and still fun for an adult - There are some nice food options in the area so you can grab food and coffee before riding - The area is super well themed, feels like you're transported into the past - Easy ticketing pickup and logistics - Area is good for a long run! Bad: - We didn't start on time, we were delayed by 20 min or so so I was confused where to go Overall this was a very calming experience and I felt super zen and refreshed as I was sitting on the train. read more
Felton, CA What a wonderful steam locomotive train ride through the redwoods. I will admit that I was not pleased with the parking attendant who did not direct us to the correct space for handicap accessible entry. When seeking more info, the staff on the property was more than accommodating once we got on the property and helped us navigate a drop off pick up point, a wheelchair since the place we parked was too far a distance to walk for someone in our party and even reserved a spot on the train for us while we made our way to the depot. Buying tickets agead of time is highly recommended. The train was completely full I think some people were not able to get on. The train ride through the forest is beautiful and scenic I would highly recommend it especially if you love trains and forests. The conductor was so great we had such a blast! Towards the end of the ride you will get steam mist in your face if you are sitting up in the front FYI. read more
After years of going to Henry Cowell and walking around Roaring Camp afterwards, we finally decided to go on one of the trains! We booked a Mother's Day train ride online a few days beforehand and arrived ready to ride under the redwoods! Check-in was easy, we went to the ticket booth, gave our name, and then got our tickets. Order instructions didn't tell us to do this, but you will need to get physical tickets here since they do check them on the ride. We did one of the redwood trains vs the beach train. Online it said the train ride was 75 minutes, but it was actually closer to 90 minutes. We got a couple of minutes to get off the train in the mountains and walk around/use the bathroom if needed. The train seemed to stay fairly close to the park, but spent a good amount of time going up. Since it was a lot of up hill, the ride was pretty slow. The train had groups of all ages, I figured it would only be families with little kids, but there were just as many families with adult kids as there were small children, lots of couples as well. I was worried about getting burnt so I sat in one of the covered cars. Big mistake, there's a lot of shade on the ride and you spend very little time in the sun, so if you want a better view of the trees up above, the uncovered cars are the way to go. One thing that was annoying, I was charged $10 for parking, which I didn't see as a charge or an option to uncheck when purchasing the tickets. We have a state park pass and parked and walked at Henry Cowell first, so it was an unnecessary $10 charge. read more
1 year ago
This was our second time riding the trains. Toddler loves trains and this was a great opportunity for him to ride the trains with his "train buddy". Lot of fun activities building blocks, Lego, train puzzles, photo ops and pumpkin decorating to kiddos engaged. They have a huge parking lot and you might have to park in additional ones. It's definitely a walk from parking lots to the station. The park itself is open and free even if you are not riding the trains. The two locomotives as "Thomas" and "Persey" were quite entertaining. They have food options like burger, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, fries and beverages. The bigger gift shop also has the toys on display where the kids could play. Overall ride took 35-40 minutes. It's not exciting if you have done any other train ride at least for adults. Definitely a huge line to take photos with Thomas and Persey. Tip: reach early! read more
Expensive train ride. There are two trains, newer train goes to Santa Cruz and back, older train (steam engine) go around the park, both trains ride cost $42+ per person. Love the old town vibe in the train station. Go there and visit the Henry cowell redwood park together, pay one parking $10 for two locations read more
On my first trip to Santa Cruz, I decided to experience the Roaring Camp Railroad. I knew the risk I ran- I was doing a touristy suggestion associated with Santa Cruz. And we all know that touristy spots, which are almost a requirement when visitng a new spot, can be worthy of hype or are an inflated promise of awe and fun that never fully delivers. In my final assessment, I recommend this as a tourist requirement for the area of Santa Cruz because it allows a person to see, commune, and be impacted by the famed tall trees of the area. But I am not sure if it is worth a second visit. But, again, I highly recommend this, for what it is, a novelty train ride that delivers a grand view of what Santa Cruz promises: lush red woods that tell a story of days left behind, where moss and leafs defined the everyday. The whole experience lasted about two hours. A large part of the experience was getting into the trains. I imagined that the train ride was going to be one that afforded me a seat inside a caboose, instead, the train was more of an upscale tram. No one had window seats, there were no tables to sit around on, everyone had a seat on sideline bench. We did not have comfortable cushions, we just a row of chairs, and the view. So accept that you will be a person in a cramped train, not a passenger in a train that reminds you of the Hogwarts Express, or the train that the famous detective boarded on his way to the Orient, in the Agatha book. It really is just a mode of transportation decked in train details but, brother, was it still a train ride to remember. As we went along the tracks, I saw trees in a way, not only because they were tall, but because they were true to their core nature. For instance, some trees were so covered in moss that it looked like they had garbed on top of their wood. The fuzzy green moss was so consuming that one can believe that some trains have trunks of brown, while others had trunk of green fur. The forest had become a gallery of nature that offered an artistic expression of silent wood. In fact, I told my friend Denise that I felt that it was a tram ride and the scenery was digitally created. I am not sure if you have been on the tram ride in Universal Studios Hollywood, but I cannot help to make a parallel. In that tram, one sees scene of King Kong's world that were created with pixels and electric imagery, and again, what I saw in front of me was so fresh and pristine that I also thought it was pixilated in the colors of a forest. The train moved slow, and one sees different things that catch the attention. I note the moss that acts like skin above, but other things were seen that were arresting like a melody from nature given in oak, not chirps. For instance, I saw the huge trunk of a black tree. Had the treen burned its wood skin? Or had this tree become black for another reason? I loudly expressed that I had never seen a tree in black, all passengers looked at the tree. Dark looked good on wood. I am hoping the shared thought after I highlighted the black wood. Even seeing a tree on the ground covered by grass and trees around was meaningful, for it was the death of a tree, that still lived in the context of the forest. A tree fallen in the city is dead and removed, a tree fallen in its natural territory becomes texture, an addition to where it already belonged. My favorite part of the experience came, when the trained stop and we were able to commune amongst the forest. In this moment, the forest stop being a breathing tapestry and it became a green cathedral, where thought and prayer become one moment dressed in shades of gray and winter mist. I stood among the trees and looked up at them. I was viewing them, from the ground, seeing them touch the top of the air, and I asked for the peace they knew as a norm. For a tree never wonders if it makes a sound, when no one is present to view its departure from wholeness, for it only exists in place to stand, not to ponder or reflect. I wished for the green trees to give me their might and stillness for the two combined becomes ease in existence. For the thoughts of others do not sway trees into any type of action, for it cares only to remain still and in inflexible point. That was fancy and wordy way of saying remain strong with your forehead held up high, in any situation, like a tree always does. Eventually, the tree releases puffs upon puffs of steam. As the steam swirls into the forest, and it becomes a type of fog that dances. It comes and goes quickly, but its memory remains, like catching a ghost in movement for a whisper of a second. At its most basic level, this train ride is one that crosses the land of sequoias and splendid green. It offers sights of nature, and sounds of tracks being hit my steel wheel, you know the rackety sound that old things make when they move on tracks. I also saw squirrels and chimpunks that look differet than the ones in the city. They had more slender bodies and curved tails! read more
4 months ago
The reasons are so much fun! With or without kids this is such an amazing immersive experience into the history of steam trains and the conservation of old growth redwoods. Our conductor Colin was a delight! Gave us a great narration as we made our way up the mountain. read more
3 months ago
We were running a tad bit later than the train was supposed to depart. When called, the employees were sweet enough to let us know we'd have enough time to board early on. The train ride through the forest was a sweet experience, seeing large redwood trees and Lucious plants. Through the ride we were given a small history lesson behind the steam trains inventions, which was interesting. The conductor Colin (I believe was his name,) was very kind and enthusiastic about their job. Overall, it was a nice experience for my family. read more
7 months ago
My friend and I were excited in doing this trip and we both loved the entire experience with the fun train ride through the forest. We went on the first train tour at 10:30am . The setup of the place was like an old western town ,there is a souvenir shop which had a small game station which my friend and I played checkers while waiting for the boarding call. The train ride into the forest was spectacular!!We had a 5-7mins pit stop on the mountain so we used the restroom and walked around for a bit. It was an hour and a half train ride and you get to see people on a hike. The tour guides did a great job in showcasing and explaining much about the Redwood forest. Just don't sit right in front of the train cause you won't be able to hear the explanation well from the noise caused by the train. Great scenery and perfect weather.Definitely worth the trip! read more
4 months ago
We were hiking in Henry Cowell State Park and kept hearing the train whistle so we decided to check this place out. It's a short walk from the main parking lot of the state park and we found ourselves in a little old-fashioned Western style town. We didn't have time to check out the shops as we literally got the last tickets on the 2 pm steam train for the day - they were nice enough to hold the train for us! It was well worth the three hour trip - an hour through the beautiful redwoods into Santa Cruz, an hour on the boardwalk, and then an hour train ride back through the mountains with the late afternoon sun filtering through the leaves. They had a carriage where you could sit completely enclosed, one carriage that was open to the elements, and we sat in the car with a canvas roof tent because we didn't want to sit in the sun. Overall, a great value for the experience to ride an old-fashioned steam train through the woods. Our guide shared interesting stories about the area without talking the whole time, which I appreciated so that we could enjoy the ride. read more
What a cool outdoor space not too far out of the city! I visited Roaring Camp for the first time on Memorial Day weekend so they also had their annual BBQ festival going on. There was lots of FREE activities for the kiddos to do like jumpy houses, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. The food was expensive and the lines were super long so we didn't purchase food but it smelled good! The redwoods train experience was about an hour long with a short stop in the woods. IMO the tickets are a little pricy for what it is. And only kiddos under 2 are free. But I get it, it goes towards supporting their whole operation. Our train tour guide was entertaining and shared lots of interesting history about the railroad. The train goes very very slow so I suggest you pack some snacks and water for the ride. There is a cute little store with history about the railroad, souvenirs, and snacks. There's also a quick to-go snack shack with some fast food options like hot dogs and fries. The kiddos I went with loved the whole experience! Would definitely return. read more
1 year ago
I know people will describe this place as a tourist trap, and it possibly is, but it was a nice experience that my boyfriend and I enjoyed. Driving deep into the forests in a Felton, you're transported back in time with the historic layout of the town and steam trains. Upon arrival you'll check in at the front to get your tickets as well as pay for parking if you didn't previously do so. They do ask for you to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train is set to leave. They do have 1-2 establishments that serve food onsite incase you need to pick something up to much on. There was no baggage check and no assigned seating, so if you get there early enough you can pick the train carriage of your choice. Some have awnings and others are fully exposed which was great for the views but do bring some sun protection. As there is no assigned seats, please do be kind to make space for others as seating is limited. I noticed a lot of families would place their bags on the seats which limited availability of space for others. The train ride around is about 75 minutes and there is only one stop throughout the ride. They stop near the top of the mountain to let people off for a bathroom break and allowed us to walk around for 10-15 minutes before heading back down the mountain. They ask for people to stay in their seats at all times but the train is pretty slow moving. Throughout the ride you're driven across hiking trails which had active hikers. Throughout the ride you're provided with a history lesson of how the establishment came to be. I sat closer to the front of the train so it was difficult to hear what was being said. Overall the train ride through the redwood forest was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend people experience it once just to see what it's all about. read more
It's my second visit and definitely not the last one! The first time was during Covid in 2021 and it was a great from beginning to end so we knew we want to come back again. Visited on Saturday during the Memorial weekend having booked the tickets at the beginning of the month. The check in was smooth and our conductor, Charlie, was knowledgeable, full of energy, and very funny. He kept on making sure everyone is seated and also checking on the railroad itself, so the company definitely cares about the safety. It is also a family owned small business so that makes me even more inclined to come back and support them many times. The views themselves are breathtaking. Tip: try to be there at least half an hour before the train departure time because you need to 1. park, 2. pick up the physical tickets, 3. the bathroom lines are usually quite long, at least for the women's ones, so keep that in mind. read more
9 months ago
Nice train ride close to hour and half in the Santa Cruz mountains!! Our kids really liked this but felt the overall experience was strictly average for the price !! The historic steam train does stop in between for small break so can take pictures etc. read more
This is for specifically the Santa Cruz beach train for Xmas. Pros: The staff tried and you're paying for the little things making it for the kids. I'd say if your kids are under 3 they're not getting much out of it - they have cider, cookies, Santa visiting, no extra cost photo op, and songs, bubbles, etc. my kids enjoyed the ride which was about 40 -45 minutes. Near other Santa Cruz sites on the boardwalk They'll give you vouchers for the arcade to play when you're done. Cons: the boardwalk and surrounding streets are not particularly decorated for the holidays, most of it was just going through an everyday neighborhood , a tunnel my kids enjoyed, and eventually devolves into warehouses , industrial areas and sadly homeless encampments. Maybe it used to be a nicer route but there wasn't much to see outside the closer to the end of the route , before the train heads back to the boardwalk. Boarding was very disorganized. We were all told board on an even numbered car, and the lines were long despite having tickets in advance. They ran out of seats on the line we were in, and were told to go to another car where we had to outrun a stampede of yuppie parents cutting off my 70 year old mother. It took until quarter past the hour to get seated and it was a 1 hour time slot. Seating was tight and people on the train were pretty unforgiving of even kids and the elderly trying to get space to sit... the nyc subway is less cutthroat. read more
This place is honestly truly for children. The train ride was nice but it was going up the hill at maybe 15 minkes per hour. If it was faster i would have enjoyed my time more. They ask you to stay seated, this includes children. It takes about 45 minutes to go up and back so you can imagine it being hard for children to sit for that long. Don't get me wrong the views were beautiful and I'm glad i did it. It's just not 100% what i thought it was. They have i believe 2 other train rides and they are more child friendly than this one and you are viewing trees the whole time. I xoukd tell some of the kids were getting BORED so something to keep in mind when your selecting the train rides. If you have little ones i recommend the Thomas the train ride one. read more
This was a great experience! We booked reservations same but will say they book up pretty fast. The views are great and definitely worth doing this. The line to get into the train could be a bit more organized or at least supervised for some crowd control since boarding can be a little chaotic. I also went when it had rained a bit and caused it to be slippery and muddy so be ware. The train does stop so you can take pics with a quick bathroom break. The narration could be better it was hard to hear. I would recommend and do this again. read more
This is super nostalgic for me personally, but I love this place. It's maybe not a visit all the time thing, but it's a right of passage in my family. My mother came here as a kid, I came here as a kid, and of course my kids have been here. It's such a cool, relaxing, and unique experience in the beautiful mountains above SC. There will always be a special place in my heart for everything about this area. read more
9 months ago
The holiday train hospitality was outstanding in Santa Cruz. They held out on departure so that everyone in line could pick up their vouchers. We enjoyed apple cider, party favours and cookies on the train with the kiddos. We came just for this and we're surprised by token cards for the arcade afterwards. All of the staff were happy and approachable. My son loved waving at the cars and going through the tunnel. We especially loved the decorations on the inside. read more
A few years back I took the train from the Boardwalk to Roaring Camp. It was so much fun how they set up the cute little western town. My review however is for the lighted sequoias. WOW! The photo opps and peaceful walking path was amazing. So worth the money. There was no rush either. Just walk the path and enjoy everything at your own pace. I highly recommend it! read more
1 year ago
My family and I went here for the Thomas the train ride. The ride itself was a good length, the conductor was very friendly and the scenery was beautiful! As far as the ammenities were concerned though it was a bit lacking. Although I was happy to see a baby changing/nursing trailer there, there wasn't even a changing table inside...just some folding tables and chairs. There was a big inside room with toys for sale. I was hoping for more small activities for kids or something more to do with the theme inside. There was a bouncehouse, bubble station face paint and some train activity games in the tent which was nice. We loved the musician who sang and danced and invited kids to join! There was a little pond with ducks and turtles to go sit near and relax as well as a large grass area to play ball or frisbee and a small demo train to take pics with. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. read more
2 years ago
Fabulously managed and clean and fun experience :) definitely a must try if you are in santa cruz. The 75-min steam engine ride through the redwood trees was ecstatic and we were glad we took it. Redwood train Charges: - adult $40 each - kids aged 2 and above $25 - kids under 2 can travel for free Loved the experience. They do have specials for christmas etc. they also have a pond full of ducks which was relaxing to sit by. read more
8 months ago
Went on vacation to Santa Cruz, had to take the chance to see the redwoods. A tree fell on the track past the halfway point, so our trip was cut short. Their staff was incredibly helpful in coming to pick up all of the passengers. Shout out to Tracy, who came and helped us! It was definitely an adventure. read more
3 months ago
Just did the nighttime lantern walk in the Woods. I thought it would be magical but the $25. charge to hardly walk a block into the trees was a joke. I was expecting a long walk and the smell of the trees. Instead the walk on path to the tall tree path in the woods was just as long as the forest walk. Instead of the lovely trees I smelled women's perfume, men's aftershave, and people's mint gum. A $5. charge would have been what it was worth. read more
This place is AMAZING! I've never been on an actual train, this was my first time ever! It was amazing. I've been on the light rail, but that to me is not a real authentic train like this one. The loud sounds the way the karts rocked side to side, back and forth. The scenery was..... just speechless it was absolutely beautiful. The tour guide was a lil old man that was funny af lol. He was kinda creepy tho, he kept talking about naked women at the river hahaha he was a nice guy. Booked the trip to be picked up at roaring camp and getting dropped off at the boardwalk with a 5 hour layover which was great cuz I was burnt out. The whole experience was a 10 if you asked me, thats how much I enjoyed it. I will for sure do this again. read more
Hadn't been to Roaring Camp in some time. The train ride through the redwoods is awe inspiring, but won't really be so for younger kids (under 10 or so). The train ride took us about two hours. Not much for little kids to do, so you are probably better suited going somewhere more kid-friendly, if you have little ones and want interaction. read more
9 months ago
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More info about Roaring Camp Railroads
Ask the Community - Roaring Camp Railroads
Does the train have bathrooms?
The drain does not but it has a stop along the ride where you can access one.
Is the train appropriate for 2 older adults with mobility issues?
I would say no. You did sit aloe and it is a slow pace but you also get down to walk. So if they have machines and stuff to help them along their way no. It is about getting in and off like a tram. Have you been to the tram in universal studios…
Are Tickets required for both the Parents to enter the Camp , if one of the Parents chooses not to board the Train?
We paid at the parking entrance at the booth. Then we were able to walk around at no extra charge to look at the stores. It didn't cost extra to walk the trail. We had to purchase a train ticket for each person riding the train. Their website has a…
Has anyone asked if there's a microwave for public use? Do they provide hot water?
Do they have food for sale on site? Or is there anything nearby?
Yes they have food for purchase, you can eat before you board the train. They had a sandwich, chips, orange, bottled water and a cookie.
Are there a lot of twists & turns? Has anyone gotten motion sickness from riding the train?
It's very slow and the turns are gentle/they take the curves slowly. I get a little motion sick if I ride in the back seat of the car but I was fine for this.
Is there signal for cell phone to make calls?
I was able to use my cell phone with data. I took videos etc
Are there bathrooms nearby or on the trains?
Yes, Restrooms are available near the Train Depot. No restrooms available on the train.
Do they still do the BBQ dinners and evening train ride?
In 2022 the dates are 7/9, 8/13, 9/10 and 10/1. Check the Roaring Camp website for more info and…
Is this good for 4 year olds?
If they have the patience for a 90 minute train ride, then probably yes.
I see that there is a picnic basket option, can we also bring outside food or drink to picnic?
Yes we brought our own lunches and ate at picnic tables.
The SANTA CRUZ BEACH TRAIN ride is 3 hrs. in duration according to their website. Is that from Felton to Santa Cruz? Or that accounts for a roundtrip?
The 3 hours is for a round trip as it takes the beach train 1 hour to travel from Felton to Santa Cruz where it drops you off at the boardwalk, a 1 hour layover at the boardwalk, and 1 hour back. . If you go in the morning @10 you can choose the 1…
Does the ticket price include round trip or one way only?
It's a "loop ride".... They took us out and back
Are there bathrooms on the train?
There are very clean bathrooms available before you get on the train!
What does b -train stand for?
Often times they will put "A train" or "B Train" when they have multiple departures going out back to back. For example, 11 AM and 11:15 AM. The 11 am would be the "A" Train" and the 11:15 AM would be the "B Train." Other than a different steam…
On the Boardwalk train do you have to come back on the next available train or can you wait until the last train ride at 4?
You can take either return trip from the Boardwalk back to Felton. Either at 12:15 PM or 4:15 PM. Many people like to take the 10:15 AM from Felton in the morning and wait to take the 4:15 PM return trip so they have 5 hours to explore in Santa…
Is the train ride wheelchair accessible?
yes it is , they have a place for wheelchairs to get on and get off.
Are dogs allowed on the trains? Tried calling multiple times to ask but no one ever answered... I just wanna make sure ahead of time so that we don't bring our dog with advance purchase tickets only to find out that we can't bring him with us!
I bought my dog with me and she was allowed on the train! I got some pictures I posted too!
When can I purchase tickets from this summer's Day Out With Thomas? Looks like tickets are currently not on sale yet on Ticketweb.
Should I purchase a ticket for the open car closest to Thomas? I will be bringing my 22 month old toddler with me.
It's mostly an open cart ride. It would depend on the weather
Review Highlights - Roaring Camp Railroads
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