Know Before You Ride
What to Know Before You Ride Verde Canyon Railroad
When Booking
- When multiple reservations are booked by different individuals wishing to ride together, call 800-293-7245 to confirm the combined seating request, or use the “link” option online at time of booking.
- Our seating is generally configured in even numbers of 2 or 4, with facing couches accommodating 4 people and 2 chairs and a table accommodating a pair. In order to oblige the high volume of reservation requests, there will be times when a non-associated party of 2 or any odd-numbered party, will be seated across from another party. To ensure that an odd number of people in your party have exclusive seating together, you may consider purchasing an extra seat.
- A child under the age of one year is considered a lap child. There is NO seat assigned to this child who shares a seat with an adult.
- Please acknowledge if you have a service animal, which is regulated by the State of Arizona, and the statute does not include “emotional-support” animals.
Before Your Arrival
- Please arrive a minimum of 2 hours prior to train departure to assure you enough time to gather tickets, have lunch and libation, peruse the Boxcar Gift Store, John Bell Museum and storyboards that line the depot loading platform.
- Parking is a short walk across the street from the depot complex. Handicap and bus parking is easily accessible.
- Make sure to bring your confirmation email to receive your printed boarding passes.
- Your lunch, pre-purchased with a voucher or at the Copper Spike Café on the ride date located in the depot, may be eaten on the pavilion or taken on the train.
- Boarding starts 15 minutes prior to departure time. Everyone has assigned seating.
- Pets are not allowed on trains. Service animals must be approved in advance and issued a ticket. Pet sitting services are available. Please see details under Policies.
- Each passenger is limited to one bag as the train has inadequate storage. A standard backpack (22 x 14 x 9 inches) is the maximum size. No bags may have wheels, and all bags will be reviewed prior to boarding.
- If mobility issues exist, please call the Railroad at 800-293-7245 for assistance prior to the ride.
Download the AudioFetch App for Narration & Rail Magazine
- To fully enjoy the narration, download the audio fetch app for the narration and Rail magazine prior to boarding.
- Bring a set of earphones for use with your phone.
Upon Arrival
- Wear comfortable clothing. We suggest non-slip shoes, no flip-fops and no spiked heels, which can be hazardous when exiting or entering cars.
- Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for optimum viewing on the open-air viewing cars. Jackets or sweatshirts are recommended in cooler seasons.
- Don’t forget your camera!
- Please leave strollers, car seats, coolers and ice chests in your car.
- No outside food, drink or alcohol is allowed on the train. Food purchased at the Copper Spike Café is allowed, but no alcohol may be brought onboard from the pavilion. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on the train.
- The depot complex and train are smoke-free zones.
- Carry-on bags will be checked upon boarding. No firearms or weapons are allowed. Period.
- In Arizona, it’s always a good idea to carry water. We allow water bottles on the train, have them readily available on the train, and we have a filling station in the depot.
Exploring the Depot
- Enjoy lunch from the Copper Spike Café.
- Browse the Boxcar Gift Store.
- Visit the John Bell Museum.
- Discover fascinating facts on the storyboards that line the boarding sidewalk.
- Relax and have refreshments on the shaded pavilion with enough seating for dining before the train ride.
- Photograph the historic locomotives and exteriors of vintage passenger cars.
- If scheduled, interact with Liberty Wildlife raptors on the pavilion.
- Benefit from seasonal events on the pavilion prior to boarding.
Policies and Consent
Late Arrivals and Missed Trains
The scheduled departure time for Verde Canyon Railroad is generally 1:00 p.m., but check the schedule carefully when booking. We are aware that traffic, accidents and other incidents can impact arrival time for some passengers, and we ask your understanding with knowing that the train cannot wait for one party. Example – If you have not arrived at the train depot 15 minutes prior to departure, we will attempt to contact you. This is why we request your cell phone number when making a reservation.
If you miss your scheduled departure time, your seats are subject to resale to passengers on a waiting list. We will extend the value paid for your “train ticket” to be used within one year, giving you ample time to reschedule your ride. Any pre-ordered food purchases will not be refunded or rescheduled.
Pets and Service Animals
Pets are prohibited on all excursions. Service Animals – as defined by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and Title III, are allowed on excursions. Emotional support, comfort and companionship animals do NOT have rights under the ADA and will not be permitted on the train.
Requirements:
- Service animal owner will be asked to complete a form which will be kept on file, acknowledging acceptance of service animal policies.
- The service animal must be harnessed or on a leash, housebroken, and under control of the owner at all times.
- The service animal must remain on the floor and is NOT allowed on any furniture at any time. The service animal cannot be held by the owner.
- If the service animal disrupts the journey, an alternative seating option for the service animal and owner shall prevail.
- Please refer to https://www.ada.gov-regs2010-serviceanimal-faq.html/#gen or http://www.azleg.gov/ars/11/01024.htm for more information.
Pet Sitting Services
For your convenience here are two dog sitting facilities available near Verde Canyon Railroad. CURRENT SHOT RECORDS ARE REQUIRED.
Hillside Canine
874 N Industrial Drive
Cottonwood, AZ 86322
(623) 377-0820
Hours: 7AM–6PM
Applewood Kennels
24 E Cottonwood Street
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 639-1847
Hours: 8AM–12PM, 4–5:30PM
Photography or Filming on Verde Canyon Railroad Property
- The use of drone photography/video filming is strictly prohibited aboard Verde Canyon Railroad.
- There is no access allowed to the train tracks. Train tracks are for trains. Please stay off!
- Photography for commercial use, or financial gain, requires prior authorization. Contact Ellen Roberts at 877-674-3835 or email Ellen PRIOR to arriving at train depot. This includes engagements for commercial gain or profit such as movie films, commercial television productions, photography for commercial advertisements and wedding or group staging.
Train Passenger Photography Consent and Disclaimer
If a Train Passenger (PAX) creates, uploads, posts or sends any photography or video footage depicting or relating to Verde Canyon Railroad (VCRR), PAX grants VCRR and its affiliates the irrevocable, unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable right and license to use, display, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish and distribute for any purpose in any media, collateral or promotional effort. PAX also agrees to not exploit any photographs or video footage of VCRR for any commercial purpose without VCRR’s prior written consent.
No Smoking
PURSUANT TO A.R.S. § 36-601.01 and DUE TO STATE FIRE RESTRICTIONS we are not allowing smoking of any kind onboard the train or on depot premises. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, vape equipment or electric cigarettes.
We appreciate your respect for other passengers, and the preservation of our Canyon, our region and our state.
Wheelchair Access
- We have manual wheelchair accessibility. Motorized chairs and/or scooters are prohibited due to width and weight limits for the platform lifts.
- The maximum weight for the lift platform is 400 lbs.
- Guests may utilize personal, manual wheelchairs as long as the width is no wider than 24.5 inches.
- We can provide, at no charge, the use of a manual wheelchair. These wheelchairs have a weight limit of 250 lbs.
- Due to the historic nature of the caboose, it cannot accommodate wheelchairs.
Whether using your own wheelchair, or requesting the use of ours, please mention there is a wheelchair needed in the reservation when calling so the party will be seated in one of our accessible cars. You will be asked to arrive 2 hours prior to your scheduled train ride with wheelchair pre-boarding done 45 minutes prior to departure.
Terms and Conditions of Passage for ALL Passengers
In recognition of the relative risks and benefits of this train ride, all passengers agree that the liability of the Railroad, its officers, directors, members, managers, employees, parents, subsidiaries, assigns, and agents, in connection with train ride, resulting from any negligent acts, errors, or omissions of the Railroad, its officers, directors, members, managers, employees, parents, subsidiaries, assigns ,and agents, or any economic or non-economic loss experienced in relation to the train ride, is limited to the total fees actually paid by the passenger to the Railroad for the train ride.
Because of special, incidental or consequential situations that may be out of our control, Verde Canyon Railroad reserves the right to adjust our operation between the date of your booking and the day of departure. These changes could include (but not be limited to): locomotive power for the day, passenger car assignments, extreme weather conditions, and departure and/or arrival times. Thanking you in advance for your consideration.
