If You Have to Choose, Choose Marvelous May
Every season is a new reason to ride Verde Canyon Railroad, but if you have to pick one month when the Canyon really takes center stage, it has to be May. A varied departure schedule, an all-month-long depot festival and multiple specialty-event trains will make it a difficult decision – morning, afternoon or evening? When should we ride?
The lure of gold brought men to the Verde Canyon, but it was copper that tempted them to build a railroad through a tortuous and unforbidden canyon that ended up being a gold mine of grandeur for today’s rail-riding visitors. The copper veins in Jerome finally played out by the middle of the 1950s, but the tracks through this scenic wonderland survived and still afford a rich adventure for anyone who loves exploring the vast beauty of a hidden wilderness.
During the entire month of glorious May, Verde Canyon Railroad hosts its Uncorked Wine Festival, celebrating the effervescent juice of lush grapes at the depot every day the train runs. Wines are selected from viticultural regions that span the globe, many of which are making their debut in Arizona. Four tasting tickets, a scratch-made lunch at the Copper Spike Café and a souvenir wine glass are just a few of the frills you can enjoy before the conductor yells, “All Aboard!”
Morning trains roll out on May Saturdays, giving passengers a chance to enjoy the Canyon in a whole new light. The untamed beauty of the blossoming wildflowers, cactuses and deciduous mesquite, sycamore and cottonwood trees add a welcoming texture to the verdant waters of the Verde River that flows alongside the tracks. The slant of morning sunlight that casts impressive shadows on the chiseled red-rock walls adds another dimension to the remote high-desert landscape.
May also jumpstarts evening trains with the introduction of Saturday Starlight Tours and Grape Train Escapes. Canyon walls glow with the intensity of a night sky as the engine’s articulating headlight casts a beam across the twilight landscape ahead. In the colorful chasm, daylight diminishes as the western sky burns from a vivid Arizona sunset. Nighttime soon unveils its radiant stars glistening across the evening sky as the Canyon’s rock formations take on the illusion of life and movement. The moon peeks around each and every turn, almost like it’s playing hide-and-seek.
Traveling this wild canyon on a summer evening is even more luscious aboard the popular Grape Train Escape, a wine-tasting affair highlighting different varietals on select Saturday evenings. Sipping vino to the sound of the clickety-clack on the rails takes one back to a time when relaxing train travel was recognized as a hallmark of sophistication. The romance of the rails is further emphasized with a glass of wine in hand on an open-air viewing car where the breeze of the season reminds you of why you’re on this train.
May is the time when mild temperatures, bold sunshine and an indigo sky provide the ultimate remedy for adventure. Every breathtaking mile is yours to enjoy as you relax in the air-conditioned luxury of your spacious coach, or on an outdoor car as you scout for endless panoramas. Astonishing views of a vibrant frontier are visible around every bend as the train winds its way in harmony with the River’s curves. Ancient Indian dwellings, historic trestles and a 734-foot-long tunnel are a few of the highlights tucked into statuesque stone formations, crimson pinnacles and towering basalt cliffs, including a monocline fold.
No matter which departure time of day fits your schedule, the bounty of beauty in the Verde Canyon will take on a new ambiance as the train glides through the enchanted Canyon etched by the ages. The train’s remote and humbling scenery, thoughtful accommodations, charming staff and delicious local flavors check all of the boxes for an authentic wilderness adventure while providing a thrill to all of the senses…especially the sense of adventure. Afterall, we’re Arizona’s longest-running nature show.
It’s not the destination; it’s a fantastic morning, afternoon or evening journey
