If all four seasons were mixed together and the very best was skimmed off the top, it would be autumn. Radiant colors and mild temperatures, with a hint of briskness in the air, charges Verde Canyon with fresh energy. Passengers aboard Verde Canyon Railroad and furred or feathered residents of the Canyon embrace the seasonal change with vigor as hues of amber, ginger and russet add a new dimension to an already spectacular journey. Wildlife sightings increase as deer, javelina, coyote and other Arizona creatures become more active during cooler daylight hours. There isn’t a more invigorating place to breathe in the freshness of fall than on an open-air viewing car adjacent to an indoor passenger car – two seats for the price of one – on Arizona’s longest-running nature show.
The Verde Canyon goes for the gold in late October and is in full swing by early November, with brilliant fall foliage delighting leaf peepers through Thanksgiving. Amidst the colorful finery, a chorus of wings add a touch of music, as migratory birds return to the sanctuary’s riparian setting nestled between towering rock parapets, a harmony of crimson and sandstone created by millenniums of wind, water and erosion. The Verde Canyon’s resident bald eagles are joined by these wintering visitors, adding to the local population and further enhancing the train’s longtime connection with these noble birds.
In addition to raptors spotted along the train’s route during the Railroad’s Fall Color Tours, passengers also enjoy regular sightings of Liberty Wildlife’s educational eagles, hawks, owls and falcons when they interact with train guests during regularly scheduled Raptors at the Depot prior to the train’s departure. Verde Canyon Railroad is proud to sponsor this Arizona-based wildlife rescue center, the largest in the Southwest.
Leave the confines of city life in favor of high-spirited fun on an unforgettable journey around every bend and over every bridge as the train winds through its beautiful and historic red-rock corridor this autumn. Being surrounded by the colors of the season and the curves of the Verde River inspire wonder – and fill cameras.
The Verde Canyon Railroad depot is in Clarkdale, Arizona, 25 minutes southwest of Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix.
For reservations, book online or call 800-293-7245.
It’s not the destination, it’s a colorful autumn season only experienced on a train.