We used the Origins Bed and Breakfast in Cottonwood, Arizona, as a jumping-off point to take a ride on the historic and quite entertaining Verde Canyon Railroad. We greatly enjoyed the laid-back tour as the historic train ride took us over bridges and trestles, through a tunnel, into canyons, and even past a backdrop for Western movies.
All this, plus an air-conditioned and comfortable railroad car, along with fascinating history and expert narration by the car attendants as we explored the backcountry of the Verde Canyon and along the Verde River.
Join us as we travel on the Verde Canyon Railroad and describe why it must be a required excursion while on an Arizona trip to the Cottonwood/Sedona area.
What is the Verde Canyon Railroad?
The Verde Canyon Railroad was built in 1911 to support copper mining in Jerome up the mountain from Clarkdale. A train had already been operating since 1895, moving the mining ore from Jerome down the mountain. This route connected Clarkdale with Drake, Arizona. Today, it’s purely for the entertainment of tourists and locals alike to experience a train and the beautiful sights along the way.
Jerome, AZ was a mining town up the steep angled mountainside, 2, 000 feet above the Verde Valley floor. There were over 15,000 residents at one point during the town’s heyday. The mines in Jerome produced billions of dollars worth of copper and other minerals over the years.
Building of the Railroad
The United Verde and Pacific Railway built the railway back in 1911 to support the ongoing mining operation in Jerome. The builder, William Andrews Clark, also owned the United Verde Copper Company.
This stretch of railway runs from the starting point in Clarkdale to Drake. It has a 734-foot tunnel carved through a canyon, and historic trestles built, with one spanning a 175-foot gorge, appropriately named S. O. B. Canyon. The railroad began hauling passengers and freight in 1912 and continued until the mines closed.
Clarkdale – A Company Town
In 1912, William A. Clark founded the town of Clarkdale, his namesake, as a model company town for his United Verde Copper Company smelter and employees. The smelter operated for more than 45 years, providing jobs and economic growth for the town. Through tourism, the railroad adds revenue to the economy, even though the mines have been closed for over half a century.
First Excursion
On November 23rd, 1990, the first excursion train of the Verde Canyon Railroad experience rolled out of the Clarkdale Depot to see this picturesque area of Arizona. An average of 100,000 people per year ride the Verde Canyon Railroad to see the beauty and marvel at the history of the past.
The Train Engines and Railroad Cars
The F. P. Seven locomotives were built in 1953 for the Alaska Railroad and are two of only ten that remain operational in North America. They easily pull the quarter-mile length of passenger cars. On March 8th, 1997, they debuted on the Verde Canyon Railroad tracks. In 2019, the engines received a facelift with an American bald eagle motif.
Comfort
All passenger cars are climate-controlled and each one has a restroom. Each car has large panoramic windows and access to open-air viewing platforms for 360-degree viewing with lots of fresh canyon air and a knowledgeable staff that narrates about the 110 years of this heritage railroad history on the 4-hour, 40-mile round trip. The open-air viewing cars are great for viewing and taking pictures of the beautiful landscapes of the plush Verde River Canyon.
The exclusive first class caboose is to be used for special events and one private party of six or fewer adults. The train also meets ADA requirements. Each exclusively desecrated passenger car accommodates 28 to 40 passengers on plush, upholstered comfortable seating.
Narration
You can hear stories and gain insight through both the indoor car’s train steward but especially so from the informative attendants outside.
Food and Beverages
Full bar service is available and appetizers are complimentary. The freshly-prepared appetizer trays include fruits, cheeses, proteins, and dessert, all individually packaged and distributed upon boarding. Bottled water is available throughout the trip. Complimentary champagne or sparkling cider toast is free as upon boarding.
Verde Canyon Railroad Depot
The Train depot consisted of the Train Museum, the Gift Shop, and the Copper Spike Cafe. This is where you board the train as well.
Train Museum
At the train depot, the John Bell Museum’s renovated boxcar is packed with the interesting history of the trail line. A collection of memorabilia and historic artifacts spanning more than a century are displayed for visitor viewing.
Storyboards provide facts about the many animals, plants, people, the FP7 locomotives, and historic railcars.
Boxcar Gift Store
Boxcar Gift Store is where you can shop for souvenirs and clothing, home decor, and keepsakes representing the canyon, railroad, and the southwest. They also have local regional artists, jewelry, and books.
Copper Spike Café
The Copper Spike Café, where I got a hamburger, is located in the train depot. There’s an entree to suit everyone’s taste. You can choose to eat in the outdoor dining area or you can carry it aboard the train.
Please note there are snack trays that are provided as part of the ticket. A champagne toast and snack tray is complimentary, but not the burger and chips.
And there’s a patio beverage area that’s open seasonally and features an assortment of craft beers on tap as well as signature margaritas and private label wines.
Where is the Verde Canyon Train Located?
As mentioned before the train depot is located in Clarksdale.
This is a map just showing you the directions from the Origins Bed and Breakfast where we stayed. A sign indicating “Verde Canyon Railroad” is posted on Highway 98A past the Tuzigoot National Monument. Bare right onto Broadway, you cross this one-lane bridge, and park in the designated parking area across the street from the train depot.
Where does the Train Go and what Points of Interest?
The four-hour ride on Verde Canyon Railroad’s historic route from Clarkdale to the historic Perkinsville Train Depot and Ranch, is a 20-mile roundtrip wilderness adventure one way and back, into Arizona’s other Grand Canyon, is an unforgettable adventure following the curves of the Verde River.
This historic railroad and popular attraction runs through a protected corridor at the river’s edge, lined with towering red rock pinnacles, over fortified bridges, and through a stimulating 734-foot man-made tunnel carved through the solid rock over a century ago. The railroad resides between two protected sanctuaries, the Coconino National Forest and the Prescott National Forest.
Clarkdale Smelter
As it’s leaving the depot, the train passes by a hill made up of the old copper smelter’s byproducts. The support structure remains are still visible, but no longer supporting anything.
Perkinsville Train Depot and Ranch
Now Perkinsville is named for M. A. Perkins who established a cattle ranch here in 1900. The railroad buildings include the depot, water tower, and the station master’s house. Nearby was the limestone quarry and kiln for producing lime used as flux in the Clarkdale smelter.
Perkinsville was used in the early 1960s as a filming location for scenes in “How the West Was Won”. Also, Perkinsville, and the train was used to produce a music video named Goodbye in 1992 by the band Air Supply.
As far as the eye can see, Wildlife including wild raptors, high desert foliage, and rugged terrain, and unusual rock formations are visible on this year-round adventure into a lush riverside habitat along the Verde River.
Rock Landmarks
As the train winds through the canyon, you’ll be treated to incredible views of towering cliffs and dramatic rock formations, keeping out for iconic rock features like the aptly named The Turtle, Jay Leno, and others that showcase the rugged beauty of the Arizona landscape.
Coming Back
The train takes a 40-mile trip to Perkinsville. They disconnect the engines and move them to the other end of the train on a parallel utility track. And you can give them a high five as they pass right by the train cars. This takes around 10 minutes when they stop and move the cars. During this time, staff provided entertaining stories and facts about the Perkinsville area.
Ticketing Information
Non-event Train Rides cost from $109 to $119 depending on the month of the tour. There are more expensive options including an Engineer for a Day Locomotive Ride-Along costing $350 and a Caboose Charter which costs $900 to 950, again, depending on the month of the tour.
Also, there are also Special Event Train Rides including a February Chocolate Lovers Special at $139, a May Wine tasting at $155, among others. There is a Magical Christmas Journey Ride as well that reduced costs around $60 to $70 per ticket. Check the verdecanyon.com/train-rates for more information.
Liberty Wildlife Raptor Rescue
Note that a portion of all train ticket revenue is donated to the Liberty Wildlife Raptor Rescue program.
Obtain Tickets in Advance
We highly suggest ordering your tickets well in advance due to the high volume of reservation requests. Individually online-booked reservations are available but you may also request seating for families or multiple passengers wanting to seat together. We opted to sit in a 2 person arrangement but they also have couches that easily fit four with 2 facing each direction.
Make your reservation today!
Cancellation Policy
A passenger’s credit card will be charged for the full amount within 24 hours of your initial reservation. The Cancellation Policy allows for a full refund if the original booking is canceled 48 hours before the ride, or if within 48 hours, you may re-book to another date, within 1 year of the original travel date, without penalty. Cancellations outside of the above policy are not refunded.
Conclusion
This is a great excursion for families and kids. There were kids on our trip and they were having a great time. A journey on the Verde Canyon Railroad train trip is more than just a train ride. It’s an immersive experience that allows you to witness the breathtaking beauty of the high-desert rock faces and the winding Verde River and Canyon up close.
From the incredible wildlife and natural wonders to the hidden gems of Clarkdale, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So hop aboard, relax, and let the Verde Canyon Railroad whisk you away on an unforgettable adventure through the heart of Arizona’s stunning landscape.
And look, if you like this content, You will want to check out all our other posts and videos covering nearby attractions to Cottonwood, including the mining town up in Jerome with attractions like the Jerome Sliding Jail and the Jerome State Mining and Historical State Park, along with Tuzigoot National Monument, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and Bell Rock closer to Sedona.
Also, check out all our other videos covering the many fun and historical attractions on our epic Arizona trip. Do us a favor and subscribe. That way you know when we will put a video out. Like that video and share it with your family and friends. They’re going to enjoy it too. Don’t forget to put a comment below if you’ve ridden on the Verde Canyon Railroad yourself.
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