Historic Train Ride Through the Boston Mountains
Most of us experience fall foliage from a car window at 70 mph, stuck behind someone who’s apparently never driven before, while trying not to spill coffee on ourselves.
Did you know, there is a way to enjoy all the changing colors of fall that involves zero traffic and the kind of views that make you understand why people wrote songs about trains in the first place?
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad: Where “getting there” is half the fun
Welcome to the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad’s fall foliage excursion through the Boston Mountains.
Where history, engineering, and Mother Nature’s best work converge to create what might be the most civilized way to experience fall in Arkansas.
Golden Age of Travel
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad is one of the few remaining commercial railroads in the United States that operates both freight and passenger service on the same working tracks.
That means when you’re rolling through the mountains in a meticulously restored 1920s passenger car, you’re riding the same rails that carry actual cargo trains.
It’s authentic history that’s still earning its keep.
Van Buren’s historic downtown- your start/end destination and dinner spot
The train follows the old St. Louis-San Francisco Railway line (affectionately known as the “Frisco”), which has been threading through these mountains since the 1880s.
The train cars are historic, around 100 years old, complete with the kind of details that modern transportation forgot how to provide.
Like adjustable seat backs that flip so you never have to ride backwards, elbow room, and windows that frame views instead of ads!
Fun Historical Fact
One of the cars, “The Spirit of Arkansas,” once hosted John Wayne himself. Yes, The Duke himself rode this train.
The Route: 134 Miles of “Did You See That?”
There are a couple of routes to choose from - a full 8 hour journey that runs from Springdale to Van Buren and back; and a shorter 3 hour ride from Van Buren to Winslow.
Both options will take you through some of the most spectacular terrain between the Rockies and the Appalachians.
That’s not tourism board hype either.
The Boston Mountains are the highest range between the two mountain systems, with elevations reaching nearly 2,600 feet.
What You’ll Experience:
The Winslow Tunnel: All 1,700 feet of it, carved through solid rock in the 1880s. When they turn the lights off as you plunge into the darkness, you’ll be reminded why trains are inherently cool. The tunnel was an engineering marvel of its time, and it’s still impressive today, especially when you consider it was dug by hand.
Sky-high trestles: You’ll cross three valley trestles that soar over 125 feet above the ground. That’s high enough to literally reach out and touch treetops.
Historic towns: Rudy, Chester, and Winslow are communities that grew up around the railroad, and your conductor shares their stories as you pass through.
The Ozark National Forest: Most of your journey winds through this protected wilderness, meaning the fall colors are uninterrupted by billboards, strip malls, or anything else that might remind you what century you’re in.
Boston Mountains in full autumn glory
“The trestles are almost like a train but you get to fly because you’re around 125 feet or so above the ground. You can literally reach out almost and touch the treetops.” — Lead Conductor
The Winslow Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel
The town of Winslow
The town of Winslow was originally called “Summit Home,” which sounds like a retirement community but it was actually a stagecoach stop.
Everything changed when the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway decided to push through the Boston Mountains in the early 1880s.
The problem? Mountains don’t particularly care about railroad ambitions.
The solution: the Winslow Tunnel; a quarter-mile bore through solid rock at an elevation of about 1,700 feet.
Workers began in 1881, removing overburden and then blasting through unstable shale that had a nasty habit of collapsing when exposed to air.
A smallpox epidemic swept through the work camps, taking the lives of many of the laborers who built this marvel of 19th-century engineering.
The tunnel was completed in 1882, and the town was renamed Winslow in honor of Edward F. Winslow, president of the Frisco Railroad.
By the late 1800s, Winslow had become something of a resort town, drawing wealthy visitors from Fort Smith who wanted to escape the summer heat with temperature often 15 degrees cooler than those in surrounding towns.
Fall Colors at Their Absolute Peak
When the tree line breaks, the mountainside reveals its full autumn palette
Here’s why this train ride is particularly brilliant for fall foliage: elevation and variety.
The Boston Mountains create microclimates that mean different trees change at different times, extending the color season and creating a remarkably diverse palette.
What You’ll See:
Oaks and hickories turning deep gold and burnt orange across the hillsides
Maples adding brilliant reds and scarlets that look almost neon against the evergreens
Sweetgums contributing purples and burgundies to the mix
Dogwoods providing burgundy accents in the understory
Sumacs going full drama mode with their crimson foliage
The high trestles offer unobstructed views of the forested valleys below
The elevated vantage point from the train, gives you a perspective on the landscape that you simply can’t get from a car.
When the tree line breaks and you can see miles of mountainside painted in autumn colors, even the most jaded travelers find themselves reaching for their cameras.
Planning Your Journey
When to Go: Fall foliage excursions run October through early November, typically on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Peak color usually arrives in late October, but the extended season in the mountains means you’ve got options.
Ticket Options: Prices range from around $40 to just over $100, depending on the type of car and amenities you choose.
Coach seats are comfortable and affordable; parlor car seats offer a more luxurious experience with extra room and vintage elegance.
What to Bring:
Camera with plenty of storage: you’ll take more photos than you think
Light jacket: even though the cars are climate-controlled, the platforms at stops can be chilly
Binoculars if you’re into wildlife spotting (deer, black bears, and numerous bird species inhabit these mountains)
You can also bring a drink and a snack for the journey, but of you feel like something a bit more substantial.
Pre-made box lunches can be ordered and depending of the type of ticket you purchased, other dining options are available.
Boxed lunch aboard the Van Buren to Winslow route
Getting There: The Old Frisco Depot in Van Buren is your starting point and is around 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from Conway, AR.
Extra tip: If you are seeking refreshment of the caffeinated kind before or after your journey, Chapters on Main bookstore has a small coffee shop located in the back thats an absolute revalation.
Coffee here is fresh, friendly, and totally delightful (highly recommend the salted caramel). Give it a try, you will not be disappointed!
Why This Beats Driving (By a Lot)
You could drive through the Boston Mountains during the fall season and see pretty colors.
Plenty of people do. But here’s what you miss:
The stress: No navigating winding mountain roads, no looking for parking, no arguing about whether this is the right turn
The history: No conductor sharing stories about the towns you’re passing through and the people who built this railroad with their bare hands
The perspective: No soaring 125 feet above the valleys on historic trestles that make you feel like you’re flying through the autumn canopy
The nostalgia: No vintage train cars, no quarter-mile tunnel from the 1880s, no connection to the bygone era of train travel.
The Bottom Line (From 125 Feet Up)
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad fall foliage excursion offers one of the best seats in the state for autumn’s grand finale.
The combination of historic trains, dramatic engineering, jaw-dropping views, and genuine history creates an experience that’s somehow both nostalgic and fresh.
Whether you’re a train spotter, a nature fanatic, a history buff, or just someone who appreciates traveling in style, this journey delivers with layers of authenticity that no modern tourist attraction can replicate.
Sometimes the journey really is the destination
The Boston Mountains are waiting, the leaves are turning, and somewhere in the darkness of the Winslow Tunnel, someone is experiencing the magic of train travel for the first time.
For schedules, tickets, and more information:
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
amtrainrides.com
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