Step back in time and experience a bit of yesteryear.
Enjoy the beautiful Oregon Coast line by riding the rail behind a 1910 Heisler Steam Locomotive. This scenic trip chugs along Tillamook Bay and gives passengers views of the ocean. Great for all ages, this trip will give you a glimpse into history.
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating based on
468 reviews
We rode the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad for the 9:00 a.m. Garibaldi Days Parade train, and it was a great experience! We chose seats in the table car so we could enjoy the coffee and pastries we picked up from a bakery in Rockaway Beach before boarding. Boarding was quick and easy, and since the train wasn’t full that morning, we were able to choose our seats. We had originally booked the 2:00 p.m. return trip, but my son wanted to head back earlier. Thankfully, there was room on the noon train, and the staff let us switch. If you think you may need to change your return time, I’d recommend calling ahead to see if there’s space available. The train runs between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi, and I believe it also goes to Wheeler on some trips. The steam locomotive was really neat to see, and my son absolutely loved it. We also picked up souvenir engineer hats for $20, which made a fun keepsake. This is a great activity for families with kids who love trains, or for anyone who wants a relaxing way to travel between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi without having to drive. We’d definitely do it again!
We went with our 2 pups. It was a fantastically activity to do while visiting Rockaway Beach. The volunteers were knowledgeable, helping, funny, and kind. The actual ride was pleasant, beautiful and insightful as our volunteers shared the history of the area. We decided to extend our stop at Garibaldi so that we could explore but also was concerned we wouldn't have enough time to get back on train. But it is doable! The stop at Garibaldi was quaint. We visited a coffee shop, explored the town, and visited antique shops. We highly recommend this activity not only for families, but anyone!
When I booked the trip, I was under the impression that steam would be pulling the train, but the locomotive was down for scheduled maintenance, but it was still cool being pulled by a vintage Great Northern diesel electric. You can board at either Garibaldi or Rockaway Beach, then choose how long you want to stay at the other end. If you board at Garibaldi, I suggest you spend at least and hour in Rockaway as there are interesting things to see there. Not so much in Garibaldi. There is a dining car, two coach cars, and open car, and you can move between them. The train only goes about 10mph, but it gives you plenty of time to take in the beautiful ride along the bay. My only knock is the narrator volume is way too loud, making conversation and shooting a video difficult. If you're in the area, I recommend it!
The scenic railroad was great! The whole trip was narrated and the guide pointed out all of the sights along the beautiful coast. Well worth the time and money. We started in Garibaldi and went to Rock Away beach. We went to the beach for the 1/2 hour we were in Rock away and went back on the same train. After the ride we drove to Rock Away and had a grea5 lunch at the Sand dollar.
We enjoyed our ride on the train. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon. The covered open car provided a great view of the scenery while keeping the sun off of us.
