Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Ride: 4-hour sunset train

Four hours on vintage rails through canyon geology, river views and Sinagua ruins as daylight fades

The Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Ride is a 4-hour round-trip train journey from Clarkdale (near Sedona) through remote Verde Canyon, departing in late afternoon on select Fridays and Saturdays May through September and traveling through sunset into moonlit twilight. First-class seating puts you in renovated coaches and open-air cars pulled by vintage locomotives along a 40-mile route that follows the Verde River, passes Tuzigoot National Monument and Sinagua cliff dwellings, crosses a 150-foot bridge over SOB Canyon, and ends at Perkinsville Ghost Town before turning back. Appetizers, bottled water, snacks and a champagne toast are included. A cafe voucher lets you carry a meal aboard.

Step-by-step itinerary

Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Ride

• Arrive at Verde Canyon Railroad Depot
• Visit John Bell Museum at depot
• Board train for 4-hour scenic ride
• View Verde River along the route
• See SOB Canyon and 150 ft bridge
• Hear commentary on Perkinsville Ghost Town
• Pass Tuzigoot National Monument
• Return to Clarkdale depot

The experience

The train departs the Clarkdale depot in the cooler hours of late afternoon, when the heat breaks and the light starts to shift. You settle into first-class seating in exquisitely renovated passenger coaches or step into open-air viewing cars as the vintage locomotive pulls the 40-mile round trip along tracks laid in 1911 that follow the Verde River for most of the journey. The route runs between two protected national forests and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness: terrain that is otherwise roadless and rarely seen except on foot.

The day unfolds through specific landmarks. The train passes Tuzigoot National Monument, a Sinagua pueblo ruin visible from the rails, and you'll ride past cliff dwellings of the ancient people who once lived in the canyon. SOB Canyon and its 150-foot bridge stand out as the visual centerpiece: looking back from the bridge down the canyon is the moment most passengers reach for a camera. Perkinsville Ghost Town marks the turnaround point, narrated from the train itself so you learn the history without leaving your seat. The Verde River stays visible throughout, cutting through high desert geology that shifts as the light changes.

The timing is the whole point. Departing in late afternoon and traveling through sunset into twilight means you watch the canyon light transform across four hours instead of racing through it at midday. Appetizers and snacks come aboard. A champagne toast marks the transition into dusk. The cafe voucher included with your ticket means you can grab a meal at the depot cafe before boarding or carry something with you. Wildlife sightings (bald eagles, antelope, bighorn sheep) are common, though the canyon itself is the draw: a rare ribbon where high desert meets river, unspoiled and remote enough that the train is the practical way to see it.

What’s included

• First-class seating in renovated coaches or open-air viewing cars.
• appetizers and snacks.
• bottled water.
• champagne toast.
• cafe voucher for a meal at the depot cafe (included with all booking tickets).
• on-board narration of Perkinsville Ghost Town history and the canyon's geology and wildlife.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 15:30Last departure this season: 21 Nov

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 300

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Verde Canyon Railroad

Is this one for you?Book the Starlight Ride if you want the canyon's geology, river and ruins visible across changing light: the late-afternoon departure and four-hour timeline mean you travel through sunset and twilight instead of the midday heat, and the timing is what makes the full landscape readable from the rails.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What time does the Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight train depart from Clarkdale?

The Starlight Ride departs the Verde Canyon Railroad depot in Clarkdale during late afternoon hours on select Fridays and Saturdays, May through September, timed to travel through sunset and into twilight. The exact departure time varies by season. Check when you book.

What wildlife and archaeological sites will I see on the train ride?

The Verde Canyon Railroad passes Tuzigoot National Monument, Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings built into the canyon walls, and you may spot bald eagles, antelope and bighorn sheep along the Verde River. The train also narrates the history of Perkinsville Ghost Town at the turnaround point.

Is food and drink included on the Starlight Ride?

Appetizers, bottled water, snacks and a champagne toast are included with your ticket. All Verde Canyon Railroad tickets purchased through the booking platform come with a cafe voucher for a meal at the depot cafe, which you can eat before boarding or carry aboard the train.

How long is the Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight Ride?

The Starlight Ride is a 4-hour, 40-mile round trip along the Verde River between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. The train travels on tracks laid in 1911 and runs through sunset and into twilight on select Fridays and Saturdays May through September.

What makes SOB Canyon a highlight of this train ride?

SOB Canyon features a 150-foot bridge that crosses the canyon. Looking back from the bridge down the canyon is one of the most photographed moments on the ride, offering views of the geological formations and the Verde River below.

Is the train accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, the Verde Canyon Railroad is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed aboard.