12 of the Most Beautiful Winter Train Trips in North America That Few People Know About

8. Coast Starlight Train: Seattle to Los Angeles

PHOTO: YVETTE MCGREAVY/ALAMY

 

For a truly magical winter experience, don’t dismiss the beauty of the West Coast in winter. Get your ticket for the Coast Starlight, a 36-hour Amtrak route that runs year-round from Seattle to Los Angeles, making stops in Portland, Klamath Falls, San Luis Obispo, and Sacramento. The trip starts strong with dramatic Pacific Northwest scenery including forests, lakes, rivers, and the snow-capped Cascade mountains. Then, watch the snow melt away as you travel south through California to Los Angeles.

9. California Zephyr: Chicago to San Francisco

PHOTO: JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES

 

If you want to truly see the extent of America’s gorgeous and diverse scenery in wintertime, you can’t do better than Amtrak's California Zephyr. This roughly two-day winter train excursion takes you from Chicago to San Francisco, passing through the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, ensuring fantastic views all the way through. You can hop aboard any day of the year, but the Midwest's first snowfall typically happens in late November.