Conway Scenic Railroad

North Conway's station is a picture-book piece of railroad architecture, a two-story Victorian depot with a distinctive tower, built in 1874 when the railroad first reached the resort valley. It is one of the most photographed train stations in the country and remains the heart of the operation, with a working rail yard, roundhouse, and vintage equipment around it.

The station and yard are part of the experience even before you board. Visitors can watch the locomotives being readied, browse the historic coaches and cabooses, and get a feel for how a mountain railroad actually worked in the age of steam.

The signature journey is the trip up through Crawford Notch, a narrow, steep-walled mountain pass that the railroad conquered in the 1870s with a line notched into the mountainsides. The train crosses the Frankenstein Trestle and the Willey Brook Bridge, high spans that carry passengers out over deep ravines with the White Mountains falling away below.

It was a bold and difficult piece of railroad building, and riding it today gives a vivid sense of both the beauty and the audacity of it. The views over the notch, the forests, and the distant peaks are the reason this run draws riders from across the country, especially when the fall foliage is at its peak.

The railroad exists because of tourism. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the White Mountains blossomed with enormous resort hotels, and the trains were how the guests arrived, whole families coming up from Boston and beyond to spend the summer in the cool mountain air.

That golden age faded as automobiles took over and many of the grand hotels burned or closed, but the Conway Scenic Railroad keeps its spirit alive. Boarding a vintage coach for a leisurely mountain excursion is a direct link to the way travelers first came to fall in love with this landscape.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Conway Scenic Railroad, based in North Conway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a beloved heritage railroad offering scenic train rides through the beautiful mountain scenery of the Mount Washington Valley and beyond. Departing from a historic Victorian train station, the railroad runs vintage trains on several routes, including valley excursions and the dramatic Notch Train that climbs through spectacular Crawford Notch with breathtaking mountain views. Riding in restored historic railcars pulled by classic locomotives, passengers enjoy the White Mountains in nostalgic style. A scenic and family-friendly journey, the Conway Scenic Railroad offers a delightful destination in New Hampshire.

You can ride vintage trains on scenic routes through the Mount Washington Valley and, on the Notch Train, through the dramatic Crawford Notch with its stunning mountain scenery, relax in restored historic railcars, enjoy the views and narration, and depart from the picturesque historic North Conway station. The nostalgic train ride, the spectacular mountain scenery, especially through Crawford Notch, and the historic railcars and station are the highlights, offering a relaxing and scenic experience for all ages. Special seasonal trains add appeal. With its scenic rides and vintage trains, the Conway Scenic Railroad offers a delightful experience in New Hampshire.

The Conway Scenic Railroad typically offers shorter valley excursions through the scenic Mount Washington Valley, ideal for families and a relaxed ride, and the longer, more dramatic Notch Train, which climbs through spectacular Crawford Notch with breathtaking mountain views and trestles, a highlight for scenery. The routes vary in length, scenery, and price, and special seasonal trains, such as fall foliage and holiday themed rides, are offered at times. Because schedules and routes change seasonally, checking current offerings and reserving ahead before you go is wise. Choosing the route to your interest ensures a rewarding ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire.

The railroad operates seasonally, generally from spring through fall with special trains at other times, and fall is especially spectacular when the White Mountains foliage blazes with color, making the foliage trains extremely popular, so reserving ahead is wise. Summer offers pleasant weather and full schedules, and holiday themed trains run in season. Because schedules and special trains vary, checking current offerings before you go is important. For spectacular foliage aim for fall and reserve early, or ride in summer for pleasant weather, on the Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire.

The Conway Scenic Railroad is in North Conway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, within reach of the Mount Washington area and the Mount Washington Auto Road, the Kancamagus Highway with Sabbaday Falls, Crawford Notch, and the wider White Mountains. That makes the Conway Scenic Railroad a delightful stop to combine with the Mount Washington area, the Kancamagus Highway, and the other attractions of the White Mountains on a visit to New Hampshire.