6 scenic train trips in alaska​

AURORA WINTER TRAIN ROUTE: ANCHORAGE TO FAIRBANKS Take in snow-blanketed Alaska scenery from the cozy comfort of a rail car on the Aurora Winter Train. This seasonal service offers a chance

to escape the crowds and enjoy the tranquil landscape on an 11.5-hour trip. The train makes whistle stops for backcountry adventure seekers and others heading to remote cabins and campsites

along a 50-mile stretch south of Hurricane Gulch, offering the possibility of a Denali view. Many travelers also come aboard to reach unique festivals like Talkeetna’s Bachelor Auction and

its Wilderness Woman competition. Another popular option: overnighting in Talkeetna to take a pie-baking class at its famous roadhouse. And while there’s no guarantee that you’ll see the

spectacular (and unpredictable) northern lights, many winter visitors are able to catch the wondrous show. DETAILS: The train runs on a limited schedule, leaving Anchorage on Saturday and

returning from Fairbanks on Sunday, along with select midweek departures in December, February and March. Adult round-trip tickets are $446; $224 for adults 65 and older. Other popular

options include a train-air package, which includes rail service from Anchorage to Fairbanks and a flight back. During value season (April 2-May 8, 2022) tickets are $426; $214 for adults 65

and older. Last year, fall value season ran from Sept. 18 to Nov. 21; this year’s dates and fares are yet to be announced. Courtesy The Alaska Railroad GLACIER DISCOVERY TRAIN ROUTE:

ANCHORAGE TO GRANDVIEW Consider this train your shuttle to adventure, as it makes stops in several tiny towns with exciting touring options for day-trippers (and those staying longer). For

example, after leaving Anchorage at 9:45 a.m., this train visits the town of Portage. Disembark there to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where you can see black and brown

bears, moose, caribou and wood bison. Or stay onboard for a trip through a mountain tunnel to the town of Whittier, which serves as the gateway to Prince William Sound. Here you can catch

glacier and wildlife day cruises, and make connections to Alaska Marine Highway System ferries and cruise ships. The train then backtracks to pick up passengers who stopped in Portage, and

makes a whistle stop at Spencer Glacier, where the U.S. Forest Service offers a free ranger-led hike in Chugach National Forest. (You also can book rafting or even ice-climbing tours from

here.) Finally, it heads through mountain tunnels to Grandview, offering vistas of mountains, meadows and glaciers. Then it turns around and does everything in reverse on the way back to

Anchorage, where it arrives at 9:15 p.m. DETAILS: The full route runs June 4-Sept. 11, 2022; you can ride part of the route, to Whittier, starting May 14, 2022. Adult round-trip tickets are

$152. Courtesy White Pass & Yukon Route WHITE PASS & YUKON ROUTE RAILROAD Route: Skagway to White Pass Summit One of the world’s most spectacular train rides, a day trip from the

Gold Rush town of Skagway, takes passengers along a well-worn path. The narrow-gauge rail line opened in 1898 to haul prospectors to the Klondike gold rush, climbing nearly 3,000 feet in 20

miles. For decades, it served as the primary route to the Yukon, hauling freight and supplies to mining camps and settlements. Today the route, with tunnels and high trestles, is still

considered an engineering marvel. Now it operates as a heritage railway, with distinctive green and yellow engines pulling trains full of cruise ship passengers and other visitors into the

wilderness. It passes waterfalls and deep gulches, and offers sweeping views of mountaintops and glaciers. The most popular outing, a 40-mile round-trip White Pass summit excursion, lasts

about two and a half hours. You can also choose from a range of daylong trips, some including the chance to hike or to bike down the mountain pass. Details: Adult tickets for the summit

excursion begin at $134 round-trip. Reserve at wpyr.com or call 800-343-7373.​​​