Saw online that you could bring your dogs on the train. So I planned a day trip to go for a ride. I've been here once before when I was a little kid. Don't remember much from that visit. It took us a minute to get the dogs up the stairs. The conductor was helpful. He help the leashes while I carried them up the stairs. My dogs had a great time .they sat with their heads out the window. Wind blowing in their ears. At the rest stop. In the redwoods. I took my dogs for a very short walk along the trail. Not 5 minutes into the walk , I spotted a big tick on my dogs leg. We immediately headed back to the train. I spent a few minutes brushing them , while checking for ticks. Otherwise it was a great day read more

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I highly recommend the Skunk Train! I took my family, including the kids, and we all had a great time. The whole experience was about two hours, and we went during Easter, which made it even more special. About an hour into the ride, they stopped so the kids could enjoy an egg hunt. I really appreciated that they even had a designated area for children under 3 years old--my grandkids had such a great time! They sell water, snacks, and even wine on the train, and having a bathroom on board was definitely a plus. There was also live entertainment, with someone playing guitar and singing, which made the ride even more enjoyable. 10/10, I definitely recommend! read more

Skunk Depot - Ticket Sales Near Me - Willits, California

Rail coaster is WAY overpriced. Let me say that I'm writing this review in hopes of saving other people from false advertisement. The activity is advertised as 5 hours and includes lunch. What this means is 45 minute riding the track and then a TWO AND A HALF HOUR "lunch break" followed by 45 minutes back. If the summary had been honest I would have NEVER spent almost $1200 for my family to do this. Our guides were great so this is in no way a negative on them. The actual ride was very fun but for $1200 I was expecting much more. Please do not make the mistake we did and go on the less expensive version. read more

All aboard the Skunk Train at the Skunk Depot! I chose to ride the Skunk Train from the depot on East Commercial Street in Willits a few times while living in California. The first time, I made the approximately 2 hour drive each way just to ride the train. I was so happy with my experience that I later bought tickets for me, my mom, and my dad as an anniversary present for them. Both rides I greatly enjoyed. Live music was featured on the first ride, a 10:30 a.m. Wolf Tree Turn ride on Thursday 8 August 2019, which really brought the ride alive. The ride is an out-and-back with a stop at an area named Crowley. The train, from the 1880s, has an intercom system over which information about the trees, history of the area, and Willits is shared during the ride. A concessions area offers beverages and food items. When I went the first time, I got popcorn and beef jerky, which I thoroughly enjoyed. One very neat aspect is that there is an outdoor car where one can stand. It has no windows, so one can take in the smell of the old growth Redwood trees. Found the ride to be therapeutic each time. Parking is available across the street from the depot and I found the parking lot to be easy to navigate. A gift shop is also located as the depot and is where I picked up the physical tickets/got them stamped. read more

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My wife and I road the Skunk train - Wolf Tree Turn and man did we have fun. This was a great experience and well worth the cost. Traveling into the Redwoods via slow train is a trip back in time, that's filled with mystical views. Giant Redwoods abound and getting there while listening to Conductor Malakai sing his train songs was magical too. read more

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I'm so excited!! We're ride the skunk train!! Through woodland and stuff.. it's an actual Train with concession stand and restrooms too!! I'm speechless read more

Skunk Depot - Just us!! - Ticket Sales Near Me - Willits, California

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Annually around the Christmas time, there is a train ride that departs from Willits going to the world's largest Christmas tree. While the ride itself is not super spectacular as it mainly goes through some of the backend of Willits town and some of the nearby forestry (not Redwood in particular), near the end of the ride where you arrive closer to Redwood territory, there is indeed a beautiful large Christmas tree waiting for you and to celebrate with you the holiday seasons. The trip is worth at least one visit. In case you are staying at Fort Bragg, going to Willits is a 1-hour drive via Highway 20. The drive is not the easiest due to all the curves, but you do get to enjoy the forest sceneries along the way. read more

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Felt transported back in time on the skunk train! Despite the name, it actually doesn't smell bad at all- though you do get the occasional whiff. We took the train on a hot summer day and couldn't bear to stay in the cabin, which turned out to be a great thing because we made our way to the open carriage with plenty of breeze along with a much better view of the winding tracks ahead. There's even beer available at the snack bar and, yes, they take credit cards! At the halfway mark, we had the opportunity to step off the train for a 15-minute picnic/snack time in the meadow. In all, the trip took about 4 hours round trip but time definitely flew by! read more

My husband and I have been wanting to go on the skunk train for awhile, we finally bought tickets for the 4 hour ride, unfortunately one of the bridges had to be repaired so we had to do the 2 hour tour instead. When we got there it was 35 degrees, luckily we were bundled up, but it was even nicer when we got on the train and there was a fire heater on the train. There was a snack bar set up, where they had drinks and snacks. I ended up getting a hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps added in, we then went outside to the open train, and even though it was still cold, the drink kept me warm. =) Besides the awesome train ride, and beautiful views, there was one certain man who worked for the skunk train and his job was to play music for everyone, He was playing a guitar and singing, and when we got to our stop at "Crowley" he came out to the land and played a piccolo and a flute. It really completed the experience. read more

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Well today was off to a great start, but a engine blew enroute, to a BBQ that The Train set up for folks. Everyone was terribly disappointed and discouraged. The Skunk Train staff was still extremely professional and courteous in handling refunds. Too bad. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. read more

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The train ride was great. The staff made it even better. They were entertaining and informative. The Redwoods were wonderful to see. This is great treat for all ages. read more

Super Lame adventure! Train travels slowly and the redwoods are not impressive at all. Go to the Avenue of the Giants instead

I had SUCH a great time on the Skunk Train! My Mother and I meet up every 3-4 months in Willits to spend the weekend together. She's always wanted to give the train a try, so we did it this time! All in all it was about a 4 hour excursion. There are some trips that take you all the way to Fort Bragg, but today we went half way to Northspur. It's a small, middle-of-the-mountains village type town/depot where you get off to do a little trinket shopping and can enjoy some GREAT home cooked BBQ Tri Tip, Chili, and Pulled Pork sandwiches. You stay there for about 45 min and the head back to Willits. The entertainment on the train was WONDERFUL! Train Singer Greg Schindel took great care of us the entire trip! He had a terrific attitude and was so devoted to his character! The conductor was knowledgable and answered the many, many questions I had with graciousness. Eric, the young man assisting with food and beverages had a great sense of humor and was friendly the entire trip. We had SUCH a great time. The scenery is gorgeous, and the staff were great! My advice to anyone who had an unpleasant experience their first time would be to give the Skunk Depot another chance! read more

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I hadn't ridden the train sense I was a child. Now in my adulthood I can say I've DONE IT!!! The train was very clean. It had a restroom and a area to buy snacks and drinks . There is a outside car but there is no sitting area you can only stand. They are pet friendly . We had a good time accept for the man with the guitar. He screamed when he was singing. We continually had to walk out of the train car to just even talk. We took the four hour ride which stopped for lunch & allowed you to get out . We hiked down to the creek and had our picnic . Again you could hear the man now with a flute playing it so loud it echoed through the redwoods! When we boarded the train we wanted to sit and relax but again here came the man with the guitar! His signing not only hurt my ears but it scared my dog also. A word of advice bring ear plugs if you take this train. read more

We felt very underwhelmed and let down by the Christmas train ride. We had very high hopes for this since it costs close to 200 dollars for a family of 4. Firstly, our ride was at 7pm at night so we couldn't even see out the windows during the ride. There was no live music or singing because of covid. There was no snow ball fight because of covid. There is no hot coco served because of covid but you can walk up to the snack bar during the train ride and buy it in at an extra cost. You can also buy other snacks, drinks, and alcohol at the snack bar. The train is very minimally decorated for Christmas although for 3 dollars you can buy a pair of 3D glasses that make the strand or two of Christmas lights look like candy canes or whatever theme the glasses are. . A couple of the workers are dressed like elves. Santa came through for a very brief socially distanced interaction with the kids on the back half of the train ride. The train seats themselves are not socially distanced and you sit pretty close to other passengers so all of the covid regulations were ridiculous too. Of course like everywhere now, you wear a mask but can take it off as soon as you are eating or drinking. We drove about 150 miles to come for this train ride and felt very let down. read more

what a disappointment! we took our daughter on the Christmas train. It was very expensive, the entertainment was bad and the train did not go faster than 12 miles an hour. When we first entered the train smelled moldy. When the entertainment started it was so bad, that is scared my daughter. The only positive thing was the flute player. The lady passing out cookies and hot chocolate was complaining the entire time and "Santa Claus" was about 4 feet tall and his dark hair was showing from under his cap. Also he was in a hurry and barely spent time greeting all the kids. Overall I felt very jipped and will definitely not be doing this again. read more

I liked it well enough. There weren't a lot of people so they took away the open car with no windows, which was disappointing. The people that work at that little midway point were amazingly nice and kind, especially the cute man that works the cocoa station. (The hot chocolate is dynamite!). I would also recommend trying a butter scotch sundae. read more

Skunk Depot - The front of the train - Ticket Sales Near Me - Willits, California

Great train ride. From Wilits to North Spur 1.5 hour then stopped for 45 minutes and encouraged to buy a bbq lunch. We brought our own (not encouraged!). They had a small gift shop there as well. We looked but didn't see anything so we hopped back on when the train was boarding. Nice people that worked there, we had a lovely lady help us at the front desk when we picked up our tickets and she was also our onboard bartender. $5 bloody marys. Overall great experience! read more

Skunk Depot - Ticket Sales Near Me - Willits, California

We love train rides, if you haven't noticed. We usually always spend majority of our time in the open air car. We take train rides because we feel as if we have went back in time.The Skunk Train [Willits Section] is one of the largest tourism locations in Mendocino County. Taking a train ride is A wonderful way to see the scenery in whatever area you are in. Trains have a tendency of either being historic, luxurious, or possibly both. This is indeed a train that is historic and has some beautiful scenery. The staff is very helpful and there is a musician who knows how to play multiple instruments. I don't think he repeated a single track during the entire ride. They have A area where snacks and drinks can be purchased. We recommend you to get on the train as quickly as possible if you want a seat. This shouldn't be a problem if you and one other person are going but if more people are with you definitely arrive on time. This also isn't a issue if you plan to be in the open cart which has a constant influx of people preventing it from being anywhere close to full. read more

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One of the better train rides that we have been on. It if was not so hot this would have been more enjoyable but the staff were very helpful on the trip and it was amazing to see a different area that we have been to. read more

I have taken the Skunk Train twice with my family. Both times it was an amazing adventure. The staff were always nice. I love the open air car where you can stand and feel the wind as the trail rolls through the countryside. Parking prior to boarding is easy and accessible. I recommend the journey to everyone seeking to take some time away to enjoy life in a simpler time (mode of travel). read more

We took the 2 hour Wolf Tree Turn rail excursion which left Willits at a leisurely 15 mph to a small town called Crowley. The train which consisted to two early 1900 vintage passenger cars and an open standup car pulled by a 1955 Diesel engine, passed through the city of Willits and climbed a slight grade through rolling hills and a through redwood forest. After an hour, the train headed back to Willits from Crowley. The train passed through one tunnel and some scenic vegetation, however there was nothing spectacular to note. This was a great activity for children and families. Snacks and drinks were provided for sale in one of the passenger cars and a guitar playing conductor made his way through the cars singing popular railroad songs throughout the journey. read more

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Don't waste your money! We took this train from Willits to Northspur. About a 4 hour trip total. The tickets were expensive and it was a huge disappointment. It's like and hour and a half ride to the town Northspur and you get stranded there for an hour. Then the train picks you up and you go back to Willits. We were on the morning train and it was freezing cold. Northspur is a hut with some cheesy gifts to sell and another hut where you can buy your bbq food. It's a guy with with a webber and some hot dogs. That is literally all there is to do. Eat. That's if they don't run out of food. They ran out of chili after about ten of the twenty five people there. They have heat lamps and a huge fire pit that nobody lit. The mosquitoes were overwhelming and there was no place to get away from them. There are outhouses to use. The train singer was good. They should light the fire pit and have the train singer do songs around the pit. Atleast give us something to do. read more

Wonderful train ride experience. Enjoyed the Train Singer and all staff were friendly. Wasn't too crowded on our trip so we changed our seats often. Would definitely recommend to train enthusiasts. read more

We had a mixed experience. The train ride was enjoyable, the best part was the musician who sang and played his guitar through most of the trip. It's fun to walk out into the open cabin area while the train is in motion but it's excitement wears off pretty quickly. I'm giving it 2 stars because we had a very unpleasant experience with the customer service representative when we brought to her attention that she had charged us incorrectly. We were overcharged a child's ticket, which applies to children from the ages 2-12 years old. She refused to refund the child's ticket because it was against company policy to provide any kind of refund. Her argument was that we should have clarified with her that our child was under the age of 2, or have been aware of the ticketing pricing breakdown. At the time of purchase our almost 1 year old was in my arms, and she even agreed that she does not look over 2- but still refused to refund us. We got no where with the customer service rep. so we are disputing the overcharge with our credit card company. This experience killed it for us, unfortunately we will not be coming back. read more

This was a nice leisure excursion. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Would definitely do it again on a cooler day.

We went from Willits to Northspur. They have 2 trains: the yellow one is from 1925 and it is the small one and the other one is the bigger one from 1935. It takes about 4 hours round trip and you go up and down through the trees (mostly redwoods and pines) on the mountain. We also saw some deers. It is hot and sunny in summer, so don't forget sunblock ;-) read more

We took the Christmas train today and had a great time! Our six-year-old daughter absolutely loved it! They had hot cocoa, cookies, a man playing Christmas songs on the guitar and the flute, elves, a reindeer, a snowball fight, and Santa! Hey employees are super nice and I would definitely go again! If you have kids take them they will love it! read more

Skunk Depot - Ticket Sales Near Me - Willits, California

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A fun excursion for people of all ages (though parents of young children should bring toys to keep them entertained.) Best part was the musician. Minus one star because of the high price, that the train needs repainting in some interior spots, and because it would be nice if they pointed out more points of interest. read more

Went on the 6pm Christmas train with my family. We had 6 children and 7 adults. Everyone had a blast, adults included! The harmonica player and Santa were differently the highlight of the night. As a part of your ticket price you get a really nice meg to take home. I would definitely recommend the Christmas train, SO worth the money. read more

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Great adventure! This was worth the drive and money. You travel through the best parts of the redwoods with an up close look at the habitat. The train was rustic, the experience take you back in time. At Northspur there was a BBQ lunch that you can purchase. Northspur was a great half way point to relax and stretch! My teens and I went down to the Noyo River...it was slippery but fun. read more

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I took the Skunk Train from Willits to NorthSpur. I was worried about the collapsed tunnel, but that is on the Fort Bragg side - not Willits. Our Motorman was Kyle, the Train Singer was Malakai, our hostess was Pam, and our Train Technician was Matthew. Kyle has the knowledge of a train engineer, perspective of a local historian, and the look of an train enthusiast (in a good way). Malakai is a man of many talents. I was shocked to see a train singer and his talent continued to impress me. I really cannot express how amazing it was to have a live show from such a talented performer. Pam was a delight. She greeted us with a smile when we arrived at the station and took care of all our needs while on the trip. Before we boarded, Matthew came down off the train with the presence of a train engineer. We started with some small talk and ended up discussing Abalone diving in Fort Bragg. He gave me tips about gear rental, spots to go, safety, and technique. Depending on the season, make sure to dress warm. The train has a heater, but once you get moving it gets cold. If you're local, they just started doing discount ticket prices. Call to reserve. read more

We went onto the Wllits Station to North Spurs. The train ride was ok. Most of the time you'll see lots and lots of tree and occasionally houses. We stopped by at North Spurs and had lunch but that's pretty much it. There isn't much you can do on the train except the open cabin, which was the only silver lining. There is a guy on the train who sings train songs. Who was a pretty cool guy. He kept the people on the train entertain otherwise I would've fallen asleep on the train ride, however, I did fall asleep on the way back because I've seen everything. I wouldn't recommend to go here if you're under 45 years of age because it's going to be pretty boring ride, also, you pretty much have no cell signal to keep yourself entertain. If you like to see Coastal redwoods, than this train ride is for you, otherwise, stay home because there isn't much you can do in Willits. 1 star - for the open cabin 1 star - for the singing guy 1 star - this was a trip for my wife's birthday so she asked me to be nice about it. read more

What a fun trip! Ok, yeah it's a little spendy...BUT when you consider covering train maintenance, track maintenance, operation costs, Engineer, conductor etc etc VERY VERY worth it! We took the 4 hour trip from Willits to Northspur and were NOT disappointed. We went on Veteran's day and I thought it might be more busy, there was probably 40-50 passengers if I had to estimate. There was an observation car, but it was a little chilly so the "skunk" warmers (the fireplaces inside) were welcomed. On the way to Northspur there was beverages and snacks offered -- the kids had soda, I had coffee and my boyfriend had hot cider (said it was really good). Food at Northspur was good! Similar to any restaurant type prices but Tri-Tip sandwiches were good, bbq hamburger to order (and you do your own fixins) We didn't partake of the gift shop instead walked around a bit -- saw some critters, rabbit, big buck and a little lizard... All of the staff was wonderful! The train singer was fantastic -- he sang train songs (he even did Ozzy's Crazy Train!) some songs were just him and harmonica/guitar...I meant to request the Wabash Cannonball -- but he sang the Gambler and that was wonderful. He told family friendly jokes and the whole ride was family friendly (we always say we belong in another era...and this was suitable and clean fun) There were "adult" beverages if that is your preference, I saw beer (I think?) and you could get a mixed drink. No complaints. The chairs were comfortable, the train ran well, the train singer was fun...The food servers were all friendly. This was a b-day trip for my boyfriend...and once we got back to Willits we discussed it and pretty much all agreed that the whole trip (Willits stay included) was once of the better family trips we've taken! Thanks for the ride! We hope to come back when the Steamer-girls are up and running (and hopefully the tracks will be ready for us to go all the way to Ft Bragg) Happy Trails! read more

Love the train. Friendly helpful staff. On time departure. ( unlike BART. ) free popcorn refills and spicy Bloody Mary. Yum.

We took the train from Willits to Northspur BBQ Dinner train. About an hour or so trip each way. The ride was great, the food was ok, but I just felt nickeled and dimed to death. The dinner train comes to about $20 more per person. No outside food or drink is allowed on the train. They will be happy to sell you some snacks and drinks on the train! Then when we get to Northspur. We are all encouraged to visit the "Gift shop" in Northspur. Then with dinner, you get a cup of water... no tea, no coffee, no koolaid.. water... You want something else to drink? It's for sale... read more

Wow, what a great wonderful way to spend the day with friends and family. The whole experience was great from start to finish. The train singer is an added joy to it all. The beauty of the redwoods on a vintage train ride! Can't wait to do it again. read more

Cute little train depot in the tiny town of Willits. The employees were extremely friendly and the place was very clean. Came for the Christmas train which was fun. Highly recommend for any families with children looking for something fun to do for the holidays. read more

If I could this more stars I would. My wife surprised me with this trip. We drove up from Rio Linda Ca. We did the trip 3:30 trip to Northspur with the bbq dinner at the end. What afun ride. We sat in the back car with the bar. Bought two drinks and headed back to our seats and talked with the train singer and the conductor on and off. Wife and I really enjoyed the trip, got to the end and was very surprised with the amazing bbq dinner. They loaded up our plates. Plenty of food. Ate dinner and walked around and took some pictures. So much fun i think we are coming back and going all the way to Fort Bragg. Thanks to the staff all the waybaround read more

We rode the skunk train yesterday and had a great time. I recommend sitting up front if you can, the view is much better.