Roaring Camp Railroads Santa Cruz: All aboard the Dixiana Steam Train!

Roaring Camp Railroads offers 2 different experiences at its premise. You can choose either the steam train ride up Bear Mountain to see the majestic Redwood Forest or the train ride down to Santa Cruz Beach. You might have already guess which ride we took this time (circa “Bear Mountain”)…

Tom @ Roaring Camp Signboards

Boilers

Water tank for steam train

General Store Roaring Camp

Inside the General Store

Boxcar Theatre with Charlie Chaplin films

Food Court at Roaring Camp Railroads

Link to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Steam Train Tickets at $25 per pax

As you enter the Roaring Camp Railroads camp site, you’ll probably fill that you’re transported back to the late 1800s of the “Wild Wild West”. The stores are refurbished according to structures of that era. Even fonts used on store signs are reflective of those times. While walking around the camp site, we also realised that there is a link from the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to the Roaring Camp Railroads camp site. Many visitors also parked there to avoid the $8 parking fee for each vehicle.

2bearbear waiting for train

2bearbear aboard Choo Choo Steam Train

Topping up water for steam train

Choo Choo! Let’s Go!

Up the Bear Mountain

Old Dixie around a bend

Tall Redwoods and Clear Skies

Sun peeping through the redwoods

Arriving at Bear Mountain

The ride up to Bear Mountain was indeed a fun and entertaining one. The train conductor would tell us and show us the various parts of the tracks that had a history. There would be parts of the tracks where the train would go in the reverse direction and on the way down, utilising gravity. Sands would be use to provide friction for the tracks when the weather turned bad.

Also, you’d enjoy the views of the majestic redwoods! We were also told that redwoods had fire retardant properties as it was said that the great fire of San Francisco stopped because it came upon a house built out of red woods.

Throughout the ride, Dixie would sound her whistle many times over. But the most steam you’d see from her would be at the end of the ride where she purged her engines as we entered the depot. After the trip, you’d be able to shop around at the General Store or grab a bite at the food court.

Catch a video tour of our ride through the majestic redwoods! Enjoy your steam train ride at Roaring Camp Redwoods!