About Roaring Camp Railroads
Roaring Camp Railroads operates historic narrow-gauge steam trains through the towering old-growth redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, offering one of the most unique outdoor experiences on California's Central Coast. The property sits in Felton, about six miles inland from Santa Cruz, on a site that has been associated with logging and railroading since the 1870s. Today, the steam trains carry visitors rather than timber, climbing through groves of ancient redwood trees on a winding route that feels like stepping back in time to the days when the mountains were frontier territory.
Two distinct train routes depart from the Roaring Camp depot. The Redwood Forest Steam Train is a 75-minute round trip that climbs Bear Mountain through dense redwood forest on the steepest narrow-gauge railroad grade in North America, pulled by one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the country. The Santa Cruz Beach Train follows a different route, descending through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park along the San Lorenzo River gorge to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — making it both a scenic railway journey and a practical transportation link between the mountains and the coast.
Beyond the train rides themselves, the Roaring Camp property features a recreated 1880s logging town with a general store, covered bridge, and picnic grounds beneath cathedral-like redwood canopy. Seasonal events include twilight steam train rides, holiday-themed journeys, and special excursions during fall and spring. For families, nature lovers, and anyone who appreciates living history, Roaring Camp Railroads provides an outdoor adventure experience that is genuinely unlike anything else in the Santa Cruz area — combining the grandeur of old-growth redwoods with the romance of steam-powered rail travel.
