The Skunk Train - Willits, California

Alyssa

My family and I traveled up to see the redwoods and what could be more fun than a train ride through the trees We took the Wolf Tree ride and we're not disappointed. My kids said it was one of their favorite parts of the trip! One of the conductors, Matthew, periodically announced historical and current facts and trivia along the way, there were readily available concessions, and even live entertainment throughout the trip from Malachi the Singing Conductor (who was fantastic btw!) There was also an open air car to stretch your legs and for even better views. We absolutely loved it. Highly recommend if you are fascinated by the redwoods, have kids that love trains, or you're anywhere near the area!

Jared Guynes

What's not to love? This small town forest train is an amazing choice for anyone wanting a relaxing nature ride or to see the Redwood Forest without wearing out your legs. I specifically selected this train experience for my mom who is in her 60's, so we could get deep into the forest without her having to walk or me use a wheelchair. This was the perfect choice.

The on board entertainment was a hoot, and I thought it would be a little touristy but instead I found it to be quite charming and memorable. The best part was getting off the train while they switched the engine direction, and exploring the trees up close. For someone coming from out of the area, this is really remarkable.

Friendly staff, memorable fun, and a unique trip that they could rightfully argue is not possible on any other line. All aboard!

Ron Galieti

From start to finish, we had a fabulous time on this trip. The staff at the ticket counter / gift shop was super friendly, and of course you can't go wrong with a train ride through beautiful trees... but conductor Malakai Schindel makes it extra special, with his incredible knowledge of the railroad itself, the local history, and the scenery you're passing through. Those paying extra close attention (like my wife) will also notice that he painted all of the artwork adorning the station! This is a man who truly loves his profession, and it shows.
The only bit of advice I would give those traveling for the first time, especially if you're choosy about where you sit (it's open seating and they don't give you any explanation of the arrangements before boarding) is that the front car is standing only, so don't go rushing up there to "get a good seat." The middle car contains the very well-stocked snack bar, which can make it a bit crowded if you want to get up and walk around; and at least on our trip, most of the families with a lot of small (read: noisy) children were in there. We found the rear of the train to be quite comfortable and relatively quiet. Also, they switch the locomotive to the opposite end of the train for the return trip, so the cars are then going "backwards." Fortunately the seat backs can simply be pushed to the other side of your bench (no complicated mechanism to deal with) but if no train veterans are in the car to show you that, you may end up riding backwards against your will!
All in all, we were very happy to have chosen this excursion as part of our anniversary trip, and will absolutely be riding again next time we're in the area. Highly recommended for avid ferroequinologists and train rookies alike!

Tim Brown

All around 5 star activity!
My 8 year olds loved the whole experience, and I found plenty to keep me engaged and interested the whole trip.
All of it was fun. The train, the ride, the redwoods, the tour guide's fun facts, and the picnic area at Crowley.
But hands down, our favorite part was the very musically talented conductor who sang and played four different instruments

Claudette Desmarais

Beautiful, scenic narrated train ride through the forest!! Surprised our Dad, a retired Adirondack Lumberjack for his 75th Birthday! The staff was friendly, funny and helpfulwith our dad!! The musician on board 5 stars! We thought we'd stump him with an Ozzy request, he Nailed it!!

alex wolf

Had a fantastic time in Willits, stopped on our way to fort bragg. Tons of cool town history, including having the ORIGINAL Reno Arch! The skunk train ride was spectacular with great views, and lots of history. There is one tree called "The Wolf Tree" thats thousands of years old and have been struck by lightning dozens of time! Really cool ride/tour, highly recommend

Michael Agostinelli

We were in the area to visit the redwoods and decided to ride the Pumpkin Express departing from Willits. Everything about this experience was great.

The depot is a historic building and has a well stocked gift shop. There is also an adjacent pie shop which is nice. The lady managing the counter was welcoming and very helpful. She provided some background information about the train and Willits area.

When boarding the train, there was open seating in one of two cars, plus an open air car for standing and observing the area as you travel into redwood forest and backcountry. Our conductor announced interesting points related to the train, history of the rail line and the surrounding area. We approached him with followup questions and he was very informative. Our passenger car also included a snack bar.

The train stopped at a picnic and gathering area called Crowley. The organizers set up rows of pumpkins for passengers to take back with them. It was a great place to let our dog run and play with another dog, as well as for us to walk around and socialize.

A musician travels with the train and plays his guitar and flute along the way. All good!.

Another bonus on this particular excursion was that a school field trip was on board from Leggett Valley. The kids and chaperones were fun to travel with and added a lot of energy to the ride.

All said, I would highly recommend the Skunk Train. It was a fun and informational experience.

Ken Beghtel

My wife and I rode the Whiskey Train on July 27th, 2024 and it was amazing. Perfect weather, great hosts and our fellow passengers were cool too. Whiskey train is 21+ for obvious reasons. I thought it was cool a few passengers that had never sampled Whiskey before were giving it a try.

The train was well maintained and the engineer drove very smooth. A lot of history rides these rails and everyone seemed proud of their jobs. Any and all questions were answered, so us railfans really enjoyed the trip.

Absolutely recommend the Whiskey Train at Willits.