Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad

Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad is a narrow-gauge railway that carries visitors on historic steam locomotives through old redwood forests on a winding route to a mountain peak. The track follows forest paths and climbs steeply, with locomotives authentically restored from the 19th century.

The railroad was founded in 1963 and uses locomotives from the 1890s that were originally built for hauling timber across California. These machines come from an era when steam power drove the state's economy and forests were opened up for logging.

The place preserves lumber industry heritage by operating steam locomotives that carry visitors through the same forests once crossed by loggers and railway workers.

Train rides are relatively short and take only a few hours, making them ideal for visitors planning a half-day outing. The journey is easy to enjoy since locomotives handle all the work and passengers simply sit back and take in the scenery.

The route features a switchback section where the train nearly reverses direction to conquer an exceptionally steep climb, an engineering trick that few other passenger railways attempt. This dramatic maneuver is what allows locomotives to reach such high elevations on such narrow tracks.

Location: Santa Cruz County

Official opening: 1963

Website: http://roaringcamp.com

GPS coordinates: 37.04073,-122.06242

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:23