North Shore Scenic Railroad

Wow! Just wow! SUPER NICE views, especially during fall time with all the fall colors. There are multiple rest areas/viewpoints you can stop along the way to rest up and enjoy the views. There are also several restaurants along the way to enjoy a delicious meal.

We did the Zephyr train ride and museum after the ride. Our original tickets were for the dome car(like first class), but it had to have repairs. So we were moved to first class train car. It was nice, and Jill and Jaime were super nice. They served everyone drinks and snacks.

I don’t usually leave reviews, but i just want people to know what they are getting. me and my boyfriend went on the Duluth Zephyr in the first class dome for $44 each. the ride was about an hour and 20 minutes. but probably 20 minutes of that was taken up by switching rails and waiting to turn around. there was nothing scenic about this ride. from the side we were on, all you got to see was peoples backyards and the highway. i thought when we got to the destination we would turn around and switch sides, that did not happen. so we also didn’t really get to see the lake either, unless we wanted to look out the opposite window and stare at the people across from us. on first class you get a free drink when you leave and one on the way back, but the ride was so short i hardly finished my drink by the time they came around again. one thing that was also annoying, was that the big dome windows had black spots all over them and were dirty, so i wasn’t even able to take nice photos. (you can see in photos below) definitely wasn’t a first class experience. the ladies on the train were super nice and i have nothing bad to say about them. i was convinced by tiktok to try it out and was highly disappointed. definitely not worth the time or money. maybe the other rides they offer are more scenic and worth it but this one wasn’t.

Fun ride but the wailing and temper tantrum throwing children throughout coach was too much. Where's the conductor? I expect things were better in first class.

My wife and I had 2 seats 💺 for our ride up to Two Harbors from the Duluth rail station 🚉 for the start of 2024 Grandma's marathon full length. It was a early start which included a breakfast meal 😋 and snacks. 1st time for us to see the start of the marathon. The staff was very friendly, helpful and informative. Food, drinks 🍸( Mimosas), snacks and desserts 🍨 were flavorful. Beer and cocktails were available. We both highly recommend this for a Memorable experience to watch a family member or someone in the marathon 😊.

Reservations made a month before our mystery dinner. Since we were a party of seven, we needed to purchase another ticket as tickets were sold in multiples of two. Our tickets cost $105 each. There was an appetizer cheese/sausage board with crackers. The entree we chose was pork. If you wanted an alcoholic beverage

I got tickets for the Pumpkin Train. Very disappointing experience, from the picture it looked liked the pumpkin patch was going to be big. Not at all. Small area, I could’ve easily drove to it. $30 per ticket was overprice for the undermining experience. Most of the pumpkins were not in good condition, and people were grabbing more than one per person. First ride with NorthShore, to wrap it up, I don’t recommend!

My husband and I were visiting Minnesota for a wedding but we decided to take a detour for a day to Lake Superior. This was the highlight of our day! 1000% recommend the upgraded seats. Not only are the seats very comfortable but you get to hang with Jill and Jamie (big love for those gals). Couldn’t have had a better experience.

What an amazing adventure! This is a great experience if you want to go on a train and have a nice view of the lake. The price point is about where it should be. I suggest having something to eat before jumping on board. I definitely recommend giving it a try

NICOLE is the most pleasant hostess, please come visit and you will love the scenic exploration! I only wish the experience was longer!

This was a cool experience! First class tickets come with 2 drinks (can be alcoholic), a 2 skewer charcuterie (salami and cheese) and a very dense big brownie! The view was good from first class and recommend the Duluth zephyr 1.5 hr ride. It has somewhat scenic with the train not going very fast on the first leg and the switch over pretty lengthy. You get some history on a soundtrack playing throughout the car. You will see the lake about once and see people's backyards for the rest. It all thing you can see from the highway. We had only 2 very well behaved kids on our ride. If you like trains and are looking for something to do I would recommend. If you are thinking this is like a European scenic cruise, I would say its not worth it. The museum was interesting and was half under construction when we were there so we accidentally kinda ended up in it by going through the back. The staff was professional and helpful. We departed and arrived back on time. Its a nice way to escape the heat if its a hot day.

This was a funny excursion. Go first class and sit in the dome car, great view and wonderful service. If you can't hear the tour ask for a transcript.

So much fun! Loved that our train ticket purchase got us a half off ticket to the museum. My hubby and I enjoyed the ride up the shoreline of Lake Superior, seeing all the wonderful fall colors along the lake. Only wished it was a longer ride. Snacks were very reasonably priced on the ride, too. The museum has so many different types of trains, cars, and train related memorabilia. We loved exploring them, and learning about the engines. Definitely want to try a dinner excursion next time.

I have taken this train ride twice. This trip was coach on the steam train. Overall was nice with fall colors, and the sounds of the whistle were historic. People lined up along route to watch and take photos. I commend the volunteers that keep the trains maintained and running. My major complaint is the windows need immediate attention. They are dirty and hazy. This really impacts the ride. People kept running around the entire ride to find a clear window. In addition parents let their kids go out of control running up and down the length of train playing. That's rude and inconsiderate of others. At almost $200 a couple, it's expensive torture if you want calmness and reasonable level of noise on this excursion. Our trip was as quiet as being at a day care center after kids were pumped up on sugar. Parents today simply allow kids to control everything. You cannot expect quiet virtually anywhere. If you like yelling and screaming kids, loud adults yelling and laughing, don't care about seeing sites, but just want an expensive ride on a train, it's ideal. Don't expect comfort, seats are knee to knee with people facing each other too. It was weird, basically just a ride on a packed train without comfortable seats or windows that a photo could not be taken out of. The museum is the best part, but adds cost.

Our family paid for first class seats. Was a little disappointed that the dome too wasn't done all the way over the top. There were two screaming children next to us, the charcuterie snack box wasn't that great and the views weren't as much of the water as we were expecting. The staff was very friendly and some of the views were nice. We couldn't quite hear all of the information that was shared over the intercom but the ride was pretty nice.

totally ripped off. we are here to see scenery and windows are dirty and foggy. can't see anythig from top side.

I took an hour long ride up and down the north shore in the first class section. The host was so vivacious and sweet. The ride itself was cool and I learned a couple things. The cabin was kinda bougie in a fun, cute way. But good. God. It must have been fifty degrees. One young woman was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and I noticed her blowing into her hands to warm up. I was goosepimpling all over and my nose and ears were icy. A couple people mentioned to the host that they were "looking forward to getting off the train to warm up" and she said "well I like it cold because I'm moving around." So.....as long as the host is comfortable......? It was cold enough to be distracting and I was counting down the minutes until I could get off. It would have otherwise been an enjoyable experience but geez read the room!

It was a super fun and promising idea, especially for my train enthusiast 4 year old. We were even okay with $70 for coach since first class was sold out. We immediately headed to the open air cart, which was NOT crowded and had plenty of seating for our family of five, next to the gate with room where my short kiddos could see out and look at the boats and other trains. We were thrilled, because the other cars seemed crowded and we didn't want to be elbow to elbow for the ride. Hence why we picked the open air car from the beginning and settled in for our ride. But... There's little to no staff, paid or otherwise, on this train. They exist only to sell overpriced drinks and snacks. Adults had no issues knocking my 4 and 6 year out of the way for selfies and just to stand there. I remained seated, and other adults had no issues standing directly in front of our actual seats with their behinds inches from our faces. My husband got up from his seat to rescue my children who couldn't move because of grown people pushing them into the iron gates, and people who'd been seated two cars up immediately ran and took his and the kids' seats, digging elbows into our sides. I'm posting this from the train, but am thoroughly unimpressed (and about to have to leave our seat for a new one because they've been taken and quite literally have pushed us off the bench). If you're okay with a cattle train and being forced to either stare at someone's butt or get up and move seats mid-ride, it'd probably be good for you. Not kid friendly at all, because kids are overlooked and abused so grown adults can get the view they want I'll include our $70 views.

We have taken this trip several times but I have failed to review. I have taken the short trip which basically travels the rail along the shoreline within city limits. The other trip travels to Two Harbors/Knife River. The train moves at a reason speed and offers many scenic views. This trip we chose to rent the caboose. The caboose is available for groups up to 10 people. With covid19 going on we wanted to limit our exposure even though the railroad had cut the number riding the train in half. Well worth the money spent!! Plenty of seats and the cupola offered spectacular views!

We had a great time riding the train! We did pay for the 1st class seats, $44 each. Plenty of room, comfortable seats, big windows to look at the scenery. The staff were all amazing, super friendly.

Unfortunately, the day we took this trip, the AC was broken and we weren't told this until my parents happened to call the next day. This could've been better handled by announcing prior to boarding that the AC was broken and allowing passengers to rebook their trip or get a refund. There were numerous kids and elderly on the trip that looked downright sick of heat exhaustion and I know my family personally would've chosen to forgo the trip had we known before we were boarding that we had a 2.5 hour trip with no air flow on a 90 degree day. I would say that during the summer, there isn't a whole lot to see besides green trees which is nice, but not too diverse. This would be a much nicer train trip during fall to see the beautiful colored leaves.

I'm basing my one start review on boarding and ADA support. Here's an idea--let's board the seniors and the disabled persons first. The first car closest to the wheel chair lift was full of college kids on a group trip so my 85 year old mother had to struggle through the narrow hallways with her walker around other peoples ill behaved children as we looked for a seat. Not a good start.

I thought this was a very fun experience and a fun little ride offering you a great way to see more of Duluth, Lake Superior and learn about the history of the area. During COVID they were not operating the longer ride that goes further up the shore/lake and offers meal however they are offering the sorter ride up the lake. The short ride is still a good amount of time and offers a great opportunity to see what area as well as learn, I have no complaints whatsoever. The train has different seating options allowing you a different view and or ambience depending on what car you choose. The open air car is what I will do next time, but this time we sat in a sort of rustic car with fairly comfortable bucket style seats. After the train ride, tour the museum. It makes for a great time and will offer you many memories to share with your loved ones.

I honestly don't like writing bad reviews. The museum was great. The staff was super friendly. But the train ride wasn't as pleasant. They really need an adult only car. For 2.5 hours we sat listening to screaming children. As a mother myself, I get kids can get grumpy and that other people don't want to listen to it. But having a child free car would make the experience better.

Views were not good. Train was stopped for 15+ minutes at a time to switch tracks. Crowded & loud.

We almost didn't do this fun trip after reading some of the other reviews. This isn't Disneyland so they didn't plan out every section of the scenery to be an amazing view -- though there were plenty! We had quite a bit of fun on this ride -- great opportunity to introduce the family to train rides while enjoying the sites and sounds of Duluth on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

What a fantastic experience! We took my elderly parents on their first scenic train ride. We were hoping to do the Fall Colors trip, but it was already sold out and the leaves were a bit late in turning this year. Still, we decided to try out the shorter trip and upgraded for the dome car and foid/drink inclusions. It was the perfect length of time and the views were good with an informative host. We learned a lot about the area and heard some terrible jokes! It was a good time for all.

I first want to say that this is a review for the "Christmas Tree Train" event that the North Shore Scenic Railroad hosts. That being said this was our first time doing this train and it was a poor experience. Let me dive into our experience with the event and I will go over the pros and cons we had to deal with. Experience: My wife and I live in Maple Grove and had to drive about 2 hours and 15 mins to get to the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Which we didn't mind cause we usually do the trek out there for Bentleyville at least once a year. We woke up early, got there right on time and entered a building to get our tickets. They people were quick and gave us our tickets with no problem. We than boarded the train and found our seats. The train was nicely decorated with Christmas lights, garland, and had music playing. There was a nice man that was giving us facts about Duluth and the trains as we rode an hour down the tracks to go to Kniferiver. We were having a great time looking at the lights, watching the snow, and just relaxing thinking about the trees we were about to pick. Once we pulled up to the Kniferiver depot is where doom started to set in. We pull up to a depot that has about 20 short and scraggly trees resting against a trailer. We get out and start asking questions and the people running the show didn't even know what the process was. They said just grab a tree, but we prepaid for a 10 foot tree. The tallest we could find was a thin 7 foot tree. We start asking around to other customers there and they were all pretty upset and confused as well. It took about 20 mins for a worker to come over to even talk to us about wrapping our tree up and what to do next. Everyone was very unhelpful and just seemed like they didn't even want us there. Once we got our tree wrapped up we walked inside the depot cause we were told there was plenty of food for everyone in there, but we weren't told that it came at a hefty cost. We didn't buy anything and just got back on the train due to our boredom and frustration. We sat on the train for another 15 mins watching other people fight over the trees and watched everyone bored. Once most of the trees were picked up a car with a trailer came by. This man comes out and started to unload more trees. Bigger and fuller ones at that. My wife and I started to boil in our seats and I got off the train and ran over to the nicer newer ones. I brought one over to the people loading the trees and asked to switch mine out. The man laughed at me and said they couldn't do that. I said I didn't want the old one anymore and wanted a refund and then the man switched my tree out. I then reboared the train and we had a sombre ride back to our original depot. Once back we were told someone would load them onto our cars for us but then the man just handed us rope and said we had to do it. I had to ask for help 3 times before someone would help. I have never done that before and wanted it to be secure for our 2 hour drive home. We got it all loaded up and then we went on our way. Pros: Nice train, well decorated. Knowledgeable train conductor. Food if you have cash. Pretty sights on the train. Cons: Poorly managed. Rude staff. High costs for food. High costs for trees. Trees all looked like rejects from Home Depot. Unwilling to improve our experience. Unwilling to help load our tree. Kept taking pictures of us without our approval. Overall: This was a poor experience but they did let me switch our tree out for a better one. Otherwise I would've given it a 1 star. We would be open to doing it again but drastic changes and an overhaul on staff would need to be in place first.

We had a wonderful time! I went with my parents and two youngest children and we all had a fantastic experience. We did the pizza train which the kids were very excited for. Before riding the train we walked through the museum which we found very informative and interesting. Because of covid-19 there was social distancing so every other seat group was closed which made for a nice small group of people. It was very easy to practice social distancing. We will definitely be back!

This is not a good experience if you are obese. Maybe coach seat would have been fine but we got tickets for the bbq ride and the dining seats are not for overweight people. I was so humiliated and upset.

I've been on this a few times both the steam train and diesel train. I would always suggest the steam train experience. I was a lot of fun! The kids loved it. Ive been on several train rides in the US and Australia and granted its not up there with Colorado but for where you're at its a fun time. Great scenery of the lake shore and other areas. I would go online and book ahead as steam train tickets sell out weeks in advance.

So much fun! We were trying to get a feel for Duluth! This gave us just what we wanted sights and fun history! The open air train was so enjoyable! Thanks it was well worth the $20 fee!

A great way to experience Duluth and the North Shore for visitors and locals alike! The North Shore Scenic Railroad is a gem in the local Duluth community providing a wonderful experience from the moment you first walk into the Depot. Take a step back in time and explore the historic passenger rail cars that chug along some of the most historic and important rail lines in Northern Minnesota, right along the most beautiful of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. The train features restrooms and a snack car if you have a hankering for anything along the way. You are free to move around the train to explore other cars from different eras or enjoy the views from the open air car! Definitely worth a visit for everyone looking for something fun and enjoyable during their time in Duluth. All aboard!

Overall good experience! It was fun! We opted for the 1st class cabin, where you get a few snacks and drinks. I am glad we were up there, but I am not sure it was worth the extra money. We walked to the back of the train twice - which was fun for the kids. Since we didn't sit up there the whole time, not sure we should've paid for the first class cabin. I love the that the whole experience was only 1 hour and 15 minutes - perfect amount of time. Overall, I like this experience and am glad we did it, but it wasn't very exciting. I think driving up the scenic road is just as good, if not better. It was something different - so do it to get a ride on a train, but realize you pretty much just sit there and look out the window. The views were not that spectacular. It was interesting to hear about the history of the North Shore on the trip.

Had an amazing time! Jill and Jessica did a great job serving and entertaining! Great scenery! Would definitely recommend!

Chigga...chigga...chigga... Choo Choo!!!! All aboard the North Scenic Railroad. My family and I went on a train ride during Easter weekend in Duluth. This was our first time on a real train! I adored the original seating, bathrooms, and decor. We enjoyed the flexibility of various seating options (Inside, outside, standing, or sitting). We spent 1/2 of our time inside and 1/2 of our time outside. My nephews (ages 6, 11) loved riding at The Cabooze of the train. They waved at all of the bystanders as we rode by. I enjoyed the scenery observed during the train ride. We appreciated the snacks and drinks that were available for purchase on board. They offer various beer, wine, soda, and snacks. Next time we visit, we hope to upgrade to the dome seating option.

We came from Austin Texas and this was the most amazing thing we have ever done! The staff was so nice! They do whatever they can to help and are always friendly. There was live music and pizza when we came. They serve alcohol as well and it wasn't as costly as we thought it'd be. If you are visiting you have to make this a priority!!

For the cost, this train ride wasn't worth it. My son loves train so I thought this would be a great way to see the lake. Instead, you move slowly through tree and old homes. There is barely any views of the lake the entire trip. The turn around bridge is one spot that offers a "view." You spend 10+ minutes switching tracks and "waiting" for unknown reasons. At one point we were sitting for so long my 7 year old said, "are we supposed to get off?" If you are looking for a scenic train ride, the 90 minute trip isn't for you.

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Thomas, lots of activities for the kids and barely made it thru the museum before we had to call it quits for a late lunch and toddler nap! Thanks to the staff for a great experience!

Enjoyed the 1.5 hour trip to Lester River Beautiful scenery and comfortable ride Narration was very informative. We rode in first class car- service was very good. We just wish they did the Two Harbors trip during the week.

We participated in one of the rare North Shore Scenic Railroad Dinner Tours along Lake Superior in July of 2009. It was enjoyable to ride in the "upscale" section of this train that featured dining cars from the historic Empire Builder. We had made plans on the assumption that the rail line ran along the shore, which is the case for the first third of the trip. The rest of the way the train is nestled back in the trees which obscure the most impressive views of Lake Superior. The dinner train consists of a $48 fee for the meal and ride. We were a little disappointed with the one-selection fixed menu. The food itself was very tasty, but I felt like we had spent nearly fifty dollars on a business model like a school lunchroom. The dinner train is coupled with a "pizza train" and people in formal wear are thrust in the company of people in cut-off jeans and NFL Jerseys. The dining car itself was an elegant way to waste several ours in the company of friends. If I lived in Duluth, I would probably enjoy this as a fun way to spend an evening with my spouse, but if you are visiting the area there are much more impressive sights and meals to be had nearby.

I agree with the other reviews that the train tour is a waste of money. The sad part is how much potential they have to be fantastic! We didn't get boarded until 30 mins after we were supposed to start, and the whole 1 1/2 hr tour took less than an hour. The longest part was looking at people's backyards while they turned the train around. A majority of the train cars didn't have working A/C. There was no PA system narrating anything. Only about 5 minutes of the entire tour is "scenic". Very disappointing and wished I would have spent my Saturday doing something else.

I took my two munchkins on the NSSR pumpkin train this fall. Best pumpkins ever. No really, I'd like to know where they bought the pumpkins bc those babies were solid. Considering every ticket included a pumpkin, I'd say this was a straight up bargain. The train ride was nice. Its a good way to wrap up a weekend in Duluth if you're a bit tired from walking around a lot already. The kids had a lovely time looking out the windows. I was glad to sit still after two days of hiking and chasing kids. It was pretty busy though. I imagine pumpkin train is a big draw. If you have a big group, you'll want to get in line early bc there are no reserved seats. And parking was unclear on their website. There are a few street signs that we were lucky to happen to see, otherwise who knows where we would have ended up? Bring quarters for the meters. And pack a lunch, or at least some snacks. There were some kidless folks on the train. I think I might have even seen a newly dating 20 something couple. Why? Why ruin a date surrounded by small children and grandparents? If you are a small child or grandparent, you should go.

Great Experience. We purchased the 1st class tickets and were very pleased with the amenities and service. Our group included a person with special mobility needs and the entire staff was amazing in helping her enjoy the experience. The view for the tour was questionable. I'm glad we had the seats at the top. However the information was good and overall a fun way to spend a couple hours.

The Fall Colors Two Harbors tour was as relaxing as combing my hair with a shotgun. The train broke down over a hour and nothing was done to make people comfortable. An hour stuck with a 3yr is an eternity. Got to a town where only one restaurant was open. ONE. Would have been nice to know our destination was a ghost town on Sundays. Horrible experience overall. Save your time, money, sanity and drive the route.

Bought 2 tickets for my boyfriend and I on Groupon and made a weekend trip to Duluth out of it. Super friendly staff! Great selection of treats and adult beverages at the concession stand (a bit spendy, but expected). Fun facts were announced overhead as you passed certain land marks. Perfect 1.5 hour train ride. Would do it again! Family friendly. Spacious. The old fashion seats even reclined :)

Volunteers were super friendly and the route was beautiful, but this is a trip more for younger kids and family, not for two girls in their early twenties.

All I can say is..ride that damn pizza train. I mean it's a train with pizza. Hence it's a pizza train. Pizza train! Now was the pizza amazing, no, it's a train that serves pizza (in case that wasn't clear) but the beer is cold and the views sublime. My family loved it and the enthusiasm of David delivering pizzas made the trip that much better. There was also this civilian (maybe crazy but it's TBD) in a silver PT cruiser that chased the train throughout the 2 hrs to get just the right photo at many intersections. I loved this dude. Hey PT cruiser guy that is in love with trains that serve pizza...hit me up as i want to hang out.

I wanna start by saying my son loved it whose 19 months but me as a adult I didn't have fun I barley saw Lake Superior and we stopped for like 20 mins and didn't even make a turn around so I would recommend sitting on the left side or the train when you board. I could barley hear the instructors history talk.

The train ride was nice. Not really very scenic. There were a lot of families with small kids (who had zero interest in the train information). It would have been SO much more enjoyable if there was an adults only car. I felt like I was on a school trip. I couldn't wait to get off.

Staff is very helpful and friendly, but sadly was not "scenic" as advertised in my opinion. Basically you see trees, a couple rivers, and people's backyards. You literally see the lake once. By the time we were served our cold dominos pizza we were all bored. Not worth it- could've driven up the north shore for free and enjoyed the spectacular views of the lake for free! Definitely pointless to plan a night away from home to see

We booked the Famous Dave's BBQ dinner ride for a family birthday and really enjoyed it. The "first class" type ticket is worth it. The train ride is nice through the back part of town and the lake is on one side. They call out points of interest and it's relaxing. It's not a tour if the lake but you see lots of the town. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Our only gripe was the temperature. They really blast the AC so wear layers! Overall a good value for the price.

The Famous Dave's BBQ Train was so cool! I'd highly recommend it to pretty much anyone. The first class area is really cool, with a nice observation deck area!

This review is only for the short, "Zephyr" tour. In my opinion- not worth the time and money. Don't get me wrong, the depot is a nice establishment...everyone is super nice and friendly. But, the ride itself was a total waste of 2 hours. For about 5 minutes you are able to see the Lake Superior shoreline. For the rest of the ride you see trees and backyards. At the midway point you sit for about 15 minutes while the locomotive is moved to the front of the train for the return trip. The train itself was nice...but I'd skip this particular tour. Not worth neither the time spent traveling to Duluth, nor the time spent sitting on the "not-so-scenic" tour. I'm sure some of the other tours might offer more excitement, especially the fall color tour. That's all.

The first car was so cold you couldn't sit there even with a sweater. The blue car room (see picture 1) was nice but the seats with filthy. it looked like someone rubbed feces on the seats. I enjoyed that they're old seats and they want to give off a old time feel but this was not the way to do it. i like the vintage seats but not the vintage dirt. The double decker cars were a nice feature but since the seats was leather, some were ripped and fixed with GREEN DUCK-TAPE. Also at the end of trip you must wait 12 minutes. Yes, 12 minuets of complete nothing. The sites were not good. If you enjoy looking at neighborhoods, gas stations, and leafs then this it the place for you!! definitely not worth $16. it's really worth $4. But it makes a great $16 nap.

we came across this tour while searching the duluth tourism page. we decided to upgrade to the glass domed car with all-inclusive service! best money I have spent in a long time! the train was comfortable, we had our own waiter/conductor and the car only holds a small amount of people so we never felt crowded!

What a fun trip! The crew was great, and C.J. in particular was SO kind and fun! She is a charming, funny hostess who definitely made our scenic railroad ride even more enjoyable!!!