Roaring Camp

You can travel the world, and you will not find a place like Roaring Camp. It's impressive collection of century-old logging equipment, being put to work daily in environments most other railroads can't fathom or come close to topping, has earned it's distinction in railroading. The beautiful property, breathtaking nature and friendly staff tie the whole experience together into an unforgettable visit. It is a must for anyone visiting Santa Cruz and it's surrounding areas!

Amazing place-I love it! There's a lot to do, with easy hiking trails that are perfect for a relaxing day. Sometimes they also have extra activities, which makes the visit even better. The train ride is around $50 and is a really fun experience. Definitely worth checking out

Fantastic live stream, narrow gage railroad. The entire setup is great. Like an old frontier town. The gift shop was heated by a wonderful potbelly stove when we were there, providing the perfect glowing warmth (late Dec). The snack bar was surprisingly fresh and good. And the location being right next to a redwood forest is like a two-for-one. We spent an hour walking around redwoods after our train ride and lunch. Really a great experience.

I came here on my own and went on a run beforehand. Good: - They really play up the acting and make the experience entertaining - I liked that it was a beautiful day and the train ride wasn't too slow and still fun for an adult - There are some nice food options in the area so you can grab food and coffee before riding - The area is super well themed, feels like you're transported into the past - Easy ticketing pickup and logistics - Area is good for a long run! Bad: - We didn't start on time, we were delayed by 20 min or so so I was confused where to go Overall this was a very calming experience and I felt super zen and refreshed as I was sitting on the train.

We went on December 27 it was crowded because of the holiday. It was also raining, we still really enjoyed the experience. The train ride is great with beautiful scenery. The ride length is just right, not ridiculously long. A great experience for adults and kids. They do allow dogs on the train. My only complaint and not a big one was, the conductor who talks on PA system on the trip. He did have some interesting history to share, but he literally does not shut up the entire trip, even when he talks How quiet it is in the forest. Not a hudge thing, my reclamation would be to take some breaks in the presentation.

We were excited about taking the tour through the redwood forest, having been to the adjoining park, but this was beyond our expectations. The scenery was beautiful, of course, but the tour was 10/10!!! Don was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic without being over the top. He provided so many interesting facts about the area, redwoods, local flora, and trains that made us appreciate the park even more! We can't wait until the beach tour opens next year, because it is definitely worth the trip!

It was our first time and we had a great time! The day was sunny, warm and beautiful day. No clouds in sight. There were plenty of ppl as to be expected but not crowded. As we got up the mountain the weather got slightly cooler. The conductor was very informative about the train, history and about the mountain itself. It is a 20 minute drive from Santa Cruz so that was very convenient. We will surely go back again.

Instead of a quiet, awe-filled ride through one of nature’s most sacred places, this experience felt like a cheap amusement park attraction with one man determined to fill every second of silence. The beauty of the redwoods, the rhythm of the train, and the magic of the steam were all drowned out by a guide who simply would not stop talking — for nearly the entire 75 minutes. We came to hear the clickety-clack of the tracks, the hiss of the steam, and the whispers of the forest, not one loudmouth endlessly babbling about himself, his friends, and random stories no one cared about. Every chance for reverence or reflection was shattered by his nonstop chatter, jokes, and forced enthusiasm. A short ten-minute introduction about the history of the train and the redwoods would have been perfect — then let nature speak for itself. For guests who truly want every detail, put a historic video or display in the opera house or station so they can learn at their own pace. But on the train, please, let us experience the peace and majesty that make this ride special. The scenery is breathtaking, the train itself is a treasure, but the guide’s endless noise completely ruined what should have been a serene, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Silence is part of the magic. Until they understand that, this ride is not worth it.

Felton, CA What a wonderful steam locomotive train ride through the redwoods. I will admit that I was not pleased with the parking attendant who did not direct us to the correct space for handicap accessible entry. When seeking more info, the staff on the property was more than accommodating once we got on the property and helped us navigate a drop off pick up point, a wheelchair since the place we parked was too far a distance to walk for someone in our party and even reserved a spot on the train for us while we made our way to the depot. Buying tickets agead of time is highly recommended. The train was completely full I think some people were not able to get on. The train ride through the forest is beautiful and scenic I would highly recommend it especially if you love trains and forests. The conductor was so great we had such a blast! Towards the end of the ride you will get steam mist in your face if you are sitting up in the front FYI.

My family and I went here for the Thomas the train ride. The ride itself was a good length, the conductor was very friendly and the scenery was beautiful! As far as the ammenities were concerned though it was a bit lacking. Although I was happy to see a baby changing/nursing trailer there, there wasn't even a changing table inside...just some folding tables and chairs. There was a big inside room with toys for sale. I was hoping for more small activities for kids or something more to do with the theme inside. There was a bouncehouse, bubble station face paint and some train activity games in the tent which was nice. We loved the musician who sang and danced and invited kids to join! There was a little pond with ducks and turtles to go sit near and relax as well as a large grass area to play ball or frisbee and a small demo train to take pics with. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained.

This was our second time riding the trains. Toddler loves trains and this was a great opportunity for him to ride the trains with his "train buddy". Lot of fun activities building blocks, Lego, train puzzles, photo ops and pumpkin decorating to kiddos engaged. They have a huge parking lot and you might have to park in additional ones. It's definitely a walk from parking lots to the station. The park itself is open and free even if you are not riding the trains. The two locomotives as "Thomas" and "Persey" were quite entertaining. They have food options like burger, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, fries and beverages. The bigger gift shop also has the toys on display where the kids could play. Overall ride took 35-40 minutes. It's not exciting if you have done any other train ride at least for adults. Definitely a huge line to take photos with Thomas and Persey. Tip: reach early!

After years of going to Henry Cowell and walking around Roaring Camp afterwards, we finally decided to go on one of the trains! We booked a Mother's Day train ride online a few days beforehand and arrived ready to ride under the redwoods! Check-in was easy, we went to the ticket booth, gave our name, and then got our tickets. Order instructions didn't tell us to do this, but you will need to get physical tickets here since they do check them on the ride. We did one of the redwood trains vs the beach train. Online it said the train ride was 75 minutes, but it was actually closer to 90 minutes. We got a couple of minutes to get off the train in the mountains and walk around/use the bathroom if needed. The train seemed to stay fairly close to the park, but spent a good amount of time going up. Since it was a lot of up hill, the ride was pretty slow. The train had groups of all ages, I figured it would only be families with little kids, but there were just as many families with adult kids as there were small children, lots of couples as well. I was worried about getting burnt so I sat in one of the covered cars. Big mistake, there's a lot of shade on the ride and you spend very little time in the sun, so if you want a better view of the trees up above, the uncovered cars are the way to go. One thing that was annoying, I was charged $10 for parking, which I didn't see as a charge or an option to uncheck when purchasing the tickets. We have a state park pass and parked and walked at Henry Cowell first, so it was an unnecessary $10 charge.

This place is honestly truly for children. The train ride was nice but it was going up the hill at maybe 15 minkes per hour. If it was faster i would have enjoyed my time more. They ask you to stay seated, this includes children. It takes about 45 minutes to go up and back so you can imagine it being hard for children to sit for that long. Don't get me wrong the views were beautiful and I'm glad i did it. It's just not 100% what i thought it was. They have i believe 2 other train rides and they are more child friendly than this one and you are viewing trees the whole time. I xoukd tell some of the kids were getting BORED so something to keep in mind when your selecting the train rides. If you have little ones i recommend the Thomas the train ride one.

Expensive train ride. There are two trains, newer train goes to Santa Cruz and back, older train (steam engine) go around the park, both trains ride cost $42+ per person. Love the old town vibe in the train station. Go there and visit the Henry cowell redwood park together, pay one parking $10 for two locations

I know people will describe this place as a tourist trap, and it possibly is, but it was a nice experience that my boyfriend and I enjoyed. Driving deep into the forests in a Felton, you're transported back in time with the historic layout of the town and steam trains. Upon arrival you'll check in at the front to get your tickets as well as pay for parking if you didn't previously do so. They do ask for you to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train is set to leave. They do have 1-2 establishments that serve food onsite incase you need to pick something up to much on. There was no baggage check and no assigned seating, so if you get there early enough you can pick the train carriage of your choice. Some have awnings and others are fully exposed which was great for the views but do bring some sun protection. As there is no assigned seats, please do be kind to make space for others as seating is limited. I noticed a lot of families would place their bags on the seats which limited availability of space for others. The train ride around is about 75 minutes and there is only one stop throughout the ride. They stop near the top of the mountain to let people off for a bathroom break and allowed us to walk around for 10-15 minutes before heading back down the mountain. They ask for people to stay in their seats at all times but the train is pretty slow moving. Throughout the ride you're driven across hiking trails which had active hikers. Throughout the ride you're provided with a history lesson of how the establishment came to be. I sat closer to the front of the train so it was difficult to hear what was being said. Overall the train ride through the redwood forest was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend people experience it once just to see what it's all about.

A few years back I took the train from the Boardwalk to Roaring Camp. It was so much fun how they set up the cute little western town. My review however is for the lighted sequoias. WOW! The photo opps and peaceful walking path was amazing. So worth the money. There was no rush either. Just walk the path and enjoy everything at your own pace. I highly recommend it!

What a cool outdoor space not too far out of the city! I visited Roaring Camp for the first time on Memorial Day weekend so they also had their annual BBQ festival going on. There was lots of FREE activities for the kiddos to do like jumpy houses, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. The food was expensive and the lines were super long so we didn't purchase food but it smelled good! The redwoods train experience was about an hour long with a short stop in the woods. IMO the tickets are a little pricy for what it is. And only kiddos under 2 are free. But I get it, it goes towards supporting their whole operation. Our train tour guide was entertaining and shared lots of interesting history about the railroad. The train goes very very slow so I suggest you pack some snacks and water for the ride. There is a cute little store with history about the railroad, souvenirs, and snacks. There's also a quick to-go snack shack with some fast food options like hot dogs and fries. The kiddos I went with loved the whole experience! Would definitely return.

It's my second visit and definitely not the last one! The first time was during Covid in 2021 and it was a great from beginning to end so we knew we want to come back again. Visited on Saturday during the Memorial weekend having booked the tickets at the beginning of the month. The check in was smooth and our conductor, Charlie, was knowledgeable, full of energy, and very funny. He kept on making sure everyone is seated and also checking on the railroad itself, so the company definitely cares about the safety. It is also a family owned small business so that makes me even more inclined to come back and support them many times. The views themselves are breathtaking. Tip: try to be there at least half an hour before the train departure time because you need to 1. park, 2. pick up the physical tickets, 3. the bathroom lines are usually quite long, at least for the women's ones, so keep that in mind.

Toot, toot. tourist trap. Drive to the mountains above Santa Cruz to Felton for the rootin' tootin' tourist trap in the 2020s from the 1880s. We dropped $150 for a family of four to board a 75-minute slow snooze trip to Bear Mountain bathroom spot. No Jamboree here. And after the train arrived for its 7 minute stop, we took it straight back down the mountain. There's really nothing to see during the entire trip and I suggest you keep your dollars for other excursions. The little old west town was mostly dead on a weekday with a gift shop. Parking in the quiet lot is $10 so they can really get you. Near the end of our visit, we tried that day's free activity which was candle making. One of our family had a candle turn out differently but the gentleman managing it seemed delighted. Until ... his shift ended and a woman named Yolanda came back from her lunch break. Yolanda said it was done wrong and scolded my child for not making the candle to her liking and had us running back to the parking lot. Someone needs to tell Yolanda to be cool. She's probably fun at parties. My kid called her Candle Karen and we agreed. The Disneyland railroad in Anaheim seems like a reprieve from a busy day but now I respect it as being 1,000 times better than this train wreck, excuse the term.

Colin played his part so well he made it seem as though he teleported here from the 1900's. He can be a famous actor and reminds me of a cross between Johnny Depp and Leopardo DiCaprio. The train ride with steam engine sounds, whistle, dense forest, and smells was a sensory overload. The best part was going over the wooden bridge. We definitely will be back!

This was a great experience! We booked reservations same but will say they book up pretty fast. The views are great and definitely worth doing this. The line to get into the train could be a bit more organized or at least supervised for some crowd control since boarding can be a little chaotic. I also went when it had rained a bit and caused it to be slippery and muddy so be ware. The train does stop so you can take pics with a quick bathroom break. The narration could be better it was hard to hear. I would recommend and do this again.

Roaring Camp Railroads for the win! If you're looking to plan a Santa Cruz getaway with the family, make sure to stop by Roaring Camp Railroads with the kiddos. There is so much beauty, history, and fun that awaits here! We came here over a holiday weekend while staying nearby, and met friends for a train ride with the kiddos that went from Felton, stopped on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and then back to Roaring Camp. The morning train ride was on-time, the conductor was really cool and ensured the ride was full of knowledge and excitement, and the ride itself was just really cool and beautiful. Being able to get off on the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk was awesome ~ it was just enough time to grab some corn dogs, hit the merry-go-round, and take a few pics with the family and the views. I do wish we had more time to explore, but we had to hop back on for the trip back. You can purchase tickets online for this specific ride, it's the Beach Train and you can have a layover at the Boardwalk for 1 or 5 hours (I wish there was a time in between..even if just for 1.5 hours), but we chose the 1 hour. Total ride was about 3 hours with 1 hour to the Boardwalk, 1 hour layover at destination, 1 hour back. Overall, this trip is very much "over the River and through the woods" ~ getting to traverse through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and the San Lorenzo River in an incredibly unique way. The Roaring Camp itself is full of history and experiences/surprises. I'll let you visit the website to learn more on all the different offerings. There's an upcoming moonlight dinner train party that sounds so cool including a BBQ dinner. Would love to come back and explore the Camp as the kiddo grows older, and try a few other cool-themed rides! Parking is provided, would recommend purchasing ahead of time. This is a ticketed-expense and I personally think worth the family ride/trip if looking for a bit of spontaneity in nature and outside the norm.

This is super nostalgic for me personally, but I love this place. It's maybe not a visit all the time thing, but it's a right of passage in my family. My mother came here as a kid, I came here as a kid, and of course my kids have been here. It's such a cool, relaxing, and unique experience in the beautiful mountains above SC. There will always be a special place in my heart for everything about this area.

Fabulously managed and clean and fun experience :) definitely a must try if you are in santa cruz. The 75-min steam engine ride through the redwood trees was ecstatic and we were glad we took it. Redwood train Charges: - adult $40 each - kids aged 2 and above $25 - kids under 2 can travel for free Loved the experience. They do have specials for christmas etc. they also have a pond full of ducks which was relaxing to sit by.

Nice way to see the lovely redwoods, and the ride is fun for all ages. Recommend going early or staying late to walk through the woods as well. We brought our lunch in a small cooler backpack, instead of buying it there since we were not sure what to expect. Glad we did. Not really much time at top to eat, we just did a quick walk around, not much to see, and then ate back on the train while waiting. The ride is what makes it worth it.

Hadn't been to Roaring Camp in some time. The train ride through the redwoods is awe inspiring, but won't really be so for younger kids (under 10 or so). The train ride took us about two hours. Not much for little kids to do, so you are probably better suited going somewhere more kid-friendly, if you have little ones and want interaction.

It's been quite some time since I had been here to ride the train through the Redwoods in Felton. I think it was way before Loma Prieta earthquake of 89' was the last time I was here. I was Celebrating the Big 25th Wedding Anniversary and wanted to do something quirky and memorable. I had booked online and also purchased a parking pass along with the train tickets. It was a nice warm day and we arrived right on time coming from the East Bay. we had time to visit the souvenir store "General Store" before we hopped on the train. It was a busy day but we got a nice seat and a very energetic engineer Carlos. He was born and raised in the Scott's valley area and was very informative and entertaining. Train ride was fun and it was interesting to learn about the property and History of this landmark; especially after the recent fires they had a few years back. The train did have an intermission/ break on top of Bear Mountain for some photo opps and to stretch your legs. Nothing too scary and perfect train ride for little kids and very family friendly. It also had a good back drop for photos and a make shift town for all the Frontier day pics of the stavles and buildings of a small town. They had a Food shack where you can grab a bite or take it to go along with restrooms nearby. Plenty of parking but I'm sure it depends on what time you arrive and train slot you booked. They also do Night trips between certain months of the year. It was a great experience and something that is fun for all ages.

Good clean fun. Train ride through the Redwoods. If you are down for a laid back pretty ride through the woods, here ya go. Gift shop and snack bar at the base. Not expensive at all. Model trains set up on site. Staff was friendly and helpful. I'd say go at least one time just for the views through the woods.

This place is AMAZING! I've never been on an actual train, this was my first time ever! It was amazing. I've been on the light rail, but that to me is not a real authentic train like this one. The loud sounds the way the karts rocked side to side, back and forth. The scenery was..... just speechless it was absolutely beautiful. The tour guide was a lil old man that was funny af lol. He was kinda creepy tho, he kept talking about naked women at the river hahaha he was a nice guy. Booked the trip to be picked up at roaring camp and getting dropped off at the boardwalk with a 5 hour layover which was great cuz I was burnt out. The whole experience was a 10 if you asked me, thats how much I enjoyed it. I will for sure do this again.

I took my brother and his wife to Roaring Camp so she could see some giant redwoods since Muir Woods was closed for the shutdown. It was not disappointing for her or to the rest of us as we had come to enjoy the trainride multiple times years ago. It is a good part to take the family with lots to interest all ages. Thanks for a good experience.

The atmosphere is very relaxed the crowd and employees are also relaxed and friendly. I spent around 4 hrs there because there was a BBQ cook off, live music and we rode the 45 min train ride that went out into the forest. I would recomend this spot to a friend.

We had such a memorable experience. The ride through the redwoods was truly breathtaking. Pictures do not do justice the stunning visual display as you move through the forest on this one of a kind stream train. Lori and Michael, thank you both for your amazing service during the Thomas the train ride. Lori, with her bubbly personality, ensured all the kiddos were paying attention as she took pictures in front of Thomas for us. I don't know how she keeps up that kind of energy but she does quite a spectacular job. You are amazing! Thank you again.

First time coming here. Easy buying tickets online but you need to check into the general store for a physical ticket. They have it all prepared and you show it to the conductor on the train. It was a great experience. We did the weekday train tour that goes through the redwoods. It was pretty and they stop half way for people to stretch their legs and to use the restrooms. Our train loving toddler did get bored the last 15-20 minutes though. I think this would be a one and done experience for us.

My boyfriend & I loved visiting this place! It was super cute & we had such a fun time enjoying the scenery! This spot was on our list of things to do on our trip visiting NorCal & we were not disappointed! :D We love exploring nature & identifying species, this place fulfilled our passion big time!

Would have been lovely if Conductor Carlos would stop talking for more than 30 seconds. He was insanely loud and incessant. Holding the mic up to his mouth mumbling about who the heck knows what nonstop for the entire ride. Yes, the entire ride. The only time he stopped was when he hopped off to check the brakes. A few facts about the place, history, and/or a script would be fine. The rest of the ride, please just shut your mouth. Couldn't even talk to the people I was with. We don't need to hear about you panning for gold at home, how you redo your car's engine or going up in the scissor lift after work to cut down trees (mentioned 3 times or more) with some dude working construction on the grounds. At one point he was even rapping during the rest stop. It was self-absorbed and tone deaf. JUST STOP. Give us the history of the train and the surroundings, point out a few landmarks and shut up. We are in the beauty of the nature of the Redwoods on a train. Like he was just as loud as the horn. Give us a few minutes of peace and quiet to just ride in silence without hearing you YAP. Maybe offer a train ride WITHOUT someone narrating because at this point I would have paid twice as much to sit in silence on the train and forgo the headache.

It's one of those excursions that is so local to you that you take for granted and/or forget about...until you have someone in your family that loves trains. To celebrate my kids 3rd birthday, we booked online about a month ahead for a Sunday at 10:30 for the 75 minute redwoods train. Reasons to go: - A beautiful train ride for all ages nestled in the redwoods - support local businesses - proceeds go towards conservation efforts Tips: - Pack a cooler with food and after your train ride, get the food from your car and set up a picnic in one of their many picnic tables. - Take water and snacks on the train with you if you have little ones (or adults that get hangry) - during the midway stop, get off the train to use restroom and take photos in front of the steam engine. - if you are not confined to a toddler nap time like we were, stick around after your lunch to walk the trails at Henry Cowell State Park! There is an access point right where the train leaves you. - If you don't care about hearing the fun facts from the conductor, sit in an open train car to really take in the scenes. - If you want to hear the conductor, sit closer to speakers - bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. Though most is shaded, if there is sun it can get a little warm. - Be aware that you may get a foggy day and there won't be visibility of forest - all the restrooms were gendered and the womens had changing tables - REGARDLESS of having virtual tickets, you still must go to ticket booth to get a paper ticket that gets checked by conductor once you take off Note there is very little to no reception once you arrive so enjoy scenery!

I was excited to come here with some friends and our little ones last Sunday. We all dressed up in costume for Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party and my toddler was really looking forward to the train ride. The scenery during the train ride was beautiful! It was really cute seeing all the kids dressed up and there were opportunities to take pictures with the trains. Unfortunately we had a negative encounter with the gentleman who was working the parking lot collecting the fees. He was probably having an off day as he asked for $10 with no greeting and was visibly upset as we approached him. He was very short with the way he was giving instructions and chose to comment about the way I should have been driving down the lane, despite gesturing for me to choose his lane. It made the beginning of the experience unpleasant and my friends said the other lady working the parking lot was extremely friendly. For a place that works regularly with little kids and families I was hoping for someone with a more welcoming demeanor at the entrance. It was also really crowded in the kids activities area, so when I was walking around I pointed to the pumpkin decoration table and said to my daughter, "look! isn't that cute?" and the lady at the table screamed for us to go to the back of the line even though we weren't looking to participate in that activity. The face painting crew was very nice however! Overall, I wish the staff would have been friendlier which would've made the experience so much better.

I went on this in the 80s and they improved on it. The ride is much longer than I remembered but still informative and fun for kids!

Felt blessed to be a part of nature with a train ride on an adventurous enjoyable journey. Learned a lot about its history, not just about the train but also about the forests I really appreciate Roaring Camp Railroads how their commitment towards preserving the nature and surprisingly, providing visitors like us, with such a natural enrichment beauty for several decades now. Must go to place in Santa Cruz, CA - ***Roaring Camp Railroads ***

We took the beach train from the boardwalk up to Roaring Camp. Such a fun experience. We brought a picnic lunch with us and ate on the train ride up. Looking forward to doing this again. Highly recommend.

Thirty minutes of train ride was hardly worth the trip there. I really wonder what the pull is for the crowds to visit. Our kids enjoyed the musician. That was good. Is it a rundown western themed rail station or is it Thomas the train. Just the front of the train slapped with this costume. Absolutely nothing else to do with Thomas and Percy.

I went here today, it was very beautiful and definitely an experience to see. The price was kinda of expensive. The food was a decent price and pretty good. It was a long tour about trees, nothing is the center of attention besides the train. It wasn't too bad maybe more attractions. The tour guide was very funny

Finally got a chance to ride the train. Gorgeous weather not too hot nor too cold. Very easy to navigate. Plenty of signs to direct you. There were activities for the kids to do as well. Clean bathrooms. Kid had a blast at mining gold. Blacksmith was very engaging, speaks English, Japanese and Chinese. Dawn the conductor was on point. Easy train ride and down, plenty of good info along the way. Quick little stop up on bear mountain then it was time to come back. Lots Of redwood trees to look at. Great family event. My group of 8 had a blast.

Road the train today and while the forest is absolutely beautiful, I wouldn't take this trip again. Conductor Carlos wouldn't shut the heck up. He literally mumbled into the microphone about who knows what for the entire 75 minutes. I wanted to jump off 10 minutes into his nonsense. They HAVE to hire a new conductor because this one isn't it! We got there early so had a breakfast burrito. I'd suggest NOT getting the food. Overpriced for sure, but definitely good for pretty pictures. So many improvements could be made to make it so much better. Oh and ALL the kids on the trip were either mad or sleeping. So yeah, maybe not for kids.

Decided to take the beach train from Santa Cruz to Felton, and back this past Sunday. I was a little disappointed with the lack of historical information that was given on the trip. On the way to Felton, the conductor was more concerned about collecting tickets than giving us any information. On the way back to Santa Cruz there was a little more historical information but still not very much. I personally would elect more history, involvement, and less worrying about who had the tickets purchased. The train ride to Felton, was ok, while in Felton, I had a hamburger lunch that was good. Felton was a cool experience but it all felt rushed given we only had 40 minutes there before our train was going back to Santa Cruz

I visited the railroads camp to onboard the steam train to the redwood forests with my mom and my niece. This is a great option for those who cant visit Redwoods national and state park to be in the thick of woods. It was almost full for the Saturday afternoon slot we booked so I would recommend pre booking online. The train cuts deep through the forests and some views are great. It adds to the overall picturesque vibe. The narration along the way by the train conductor was interesting and notified us for upcoming photo-ops on the way. There are three short steps required to board the train and they also have a lift to help people with mobility issues board. There is a cafe on the grounds with limited options but the wait time when we visited was long. Couple things which would have enhanced the experience for me is having people form a queue to board and everyone just rushed towards the covered carriages as a group. Also some clarity on how long we were going to be out at the bear mountain would have helped as my mom has mobility issues and we were skeptical to go far. Other than that it was a pretty great experience and we are left with some lasting memories of the awesome redwoods.

Ah the memories of youth. Nice to stroll down memory lane. A beautiful journey to the boardwalk. Our conductor Craig was exceptional. Good humored and loaded with information. The trip start in the lovely old growth redwoods and works its way along the San Lorenzo river ending up with a roll through town to the boardwalk. It's a beautiful journey for certain. Add it to your bucket list of Santa Cruz area attractions.

In August, I rode the Roaring Camp Railroad at noon. I arrived 20 minutes before noon. I paid for parking online when I bought my train ticket. Parking was easy. The walk to the train station and shops wasn't too bad. I brought a bottle of water, apple, and protein bar for lunch and ate on the train. The locomotive was 115 years old. Some of the train cars were open air, others had a canopy. Once the train got going it was a little chilly so you may want to bring a jacket. The ride lasted about an hour and a half. It was wonderful to ride amongst the redwoods. We stopped at the top and had a 15 minute or so break to walk around or go to the bathroom. There was a cathedral (cluster) of Redwoods near the stop so it was great to get out and walk amongst them. (Beware of poison oak. It was scattered in the wooded area.) In all it was a wonderful experience!

We originally purchased tickets two years ago, but we were able to get a voucher since one of our passengers ended up sick the day of our train ride. We randomly remembered we had the voucher and customer service was very helpful with providing the information on how to repurchase tickets using our voucher. Keep in mind - you have to have 1 adult per 2 kids. Charlie made the entire train ride super enjoyable. Make sure you're paying attention, he is super funny, and also provides a bunch of interesting historical information.. the ride itself is very smooth, the route is beautiful through the trees, I think fall is probably the best time of the year for the weather and foliage. The ride is maybe 30 minutes too long for toddlers, our 1 & 1/2 year old was getting restless along with 3 other toddlers around the same age on the way back. Our 3 year old loved it! We were worried about our arrival time as the confirmation email does suggest arriving 45 minutes before your departure time. It is about a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot to the train depot (depending on how fast you walk ;)) Luckily, the line to get your boarding pass was not too long and they only ask for your last name, so there is no need to scan/show them anything so it keeps things moving quickly. We arrived at 10:15 and had plenty of time for our 10:30 departure (the train actually departed around 10:45). All of the staff working were extremely friendly!

Conductor talked all the way through the round trip ride on the steam train to Bear Mountain. Luckily I sat near the engine and could only hear a muffled voice. Train was 15-20 minutes late for pickup. I printed my online tickets with QR codes in case I couldn't get a cell phone signal. Just before boarding the announcer said that online tickets wouldn't work. Luckily I visited the ticket office and had my receipt. As it turned out, they didn't even check the tickets. Tickets were pricey -- $89 for two adults plus $10 parking in Felton. This is a sleepy recreated town that needs an upgrade. The ride through the redwoods was pleasant enough.

We arrived when the last train of the day was about to take off. The clerk told us we can try waitlist. So we walked around the back and waited for the manager to go through the waitlist. At the end we asked if there was space for us. He took our driver license and we hopped on. The ride was about 1hr 45 with a 15 min break stop. It was a nice ride. Saw beautiful redwoods and learned some history of the area. Even took a short nap.

We came here with our 3 year old grandson and his parents for the 90 minute forest ride on Dixiana, the gorgeous steam train. The entire experience was magical! The beauty of the grounds, the well preserved old steam train, riding through the majestic California Redwood trees in the Santa Cruz mountains. It just doesn't get better than this!

1. It's too expensive--starting with $10 to park! 2. They're bad members of the community, forcing us to waste money on the proposed rail between Davenport and Watsonville. Won't be back!

Went to roaring camp railroads this weekend on Saturday. It was really a great time. The tour was worth it. I would have like to see a little bit more diversity. Other than that we did not experience any problems would definitely visit again. 2 power outages occurred on our visit. Reasonable fares.

Noisy train scares all wildlife if any Goes up thru woods. Dark can't see anything and comes back Started late and NOT worth it!

We went for the holiday tree walk during Christmas. When we bought the tickets it didn't say Santa would be there but he was! Staff are super nice and trusting. Nobody checks for train tickets and when we pulled in for parking the guy asked if we had train tickets and when we said yes he said parking was paid for and just let us in. The tickets say to arrive 45 minutes before departure time but there's not much to do before the train arrives so I think 15 minutes would've covered it. The actual ride is long but doesn't feel long. You get out at the top of Bear mountain for a bit for photos and bathroom if you need.

Overpriced train but what's worst is lack of organization for broading the train and for seating customers. My husband and I got to the train station 20 minutes before departure time. The waiting area was packed with people and no one knows where to stand in line or, just people crowding around. When the train arrives, people just rush up to find seats. My husband and I found an empty area which can sit up to 3 regular size adults and when we sat down, the people who were already seated told us they were saving the spots for someone else. We noticed the train was almost filled up so we sat down and the 2 people who wanted to save seats just glared at us and gave us dirty looks. It turned out, the female rotten apple wanted a bigger seating area so she can take pictures and the male rotten apple wanted the spots for his parents who found seats near the front. I would suggest for the business to make announcements prior to boarding that saving seats is not acceptable especially when the train is going to be packed to the rim. Seats are first come first serve.