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All the United States Arizona Clarkdale Verde Canyon Railroad
AO Edited

Verde Canyon Railroad

An excursion train traverses a picturesque red-rock canyon along the Verde River.

Clarkdale, Arizona

Added By
slgwv
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Train rounding a bend. Looking back.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Train rounding a bend. Looking back.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Crossing the trestle over Sob Canyon, a tributary.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
At the turnaround the locomotive is brought around to the other end of the train for the return trip.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Defunct train station at Perkinsville. This is the turnaround point.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Heading back from Perkinsville.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
  slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Canyon view   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Perkinsville, essentially a ghost town now.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
  slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Perkinsville. The locomotive is getting ready to hitch up for the return trip.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Red rimrock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Along the canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Verde River in the canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Canyon ramparts.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Red canyon walls.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Red canyon walls.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
These formations are called “Frog Rocks” by the guides.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Side canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Limestone showing up below the red rimrock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Side canyon with a fault juxtaposing the limestone unit (to right) with the red rock. The powerline goes to a ranch.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Since “verde” means “green” in Spanish, the Verde River is not living up to its name.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Riffle in the Verde River.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Slag from the old smelter at Clarkdale, as seen from the train. The rusty metal is the remains of improvised dams to keep the molten slag off the railroad.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Side canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Columnar jointing exposed by erosion of a basalt flow.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Slag from the old smelter at Clarkdale, as seen from the train.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
  starrybluenight / Atlas Obscura User
  RemillardJourneys / Atlas Obscura User
  starrybluenight / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In Clarkdale, Arizona, a train line offers a chance to experience beautiful landscapes and a vintage railroad experience all in one.

The Mogollon (pronounced muggy-YOHN) Rim, made famous by numberless Westerns from Zane Grey onward, is a prominent escarpment that runs roughly east to west through much of central Arizona. It is the southern erosional edge of the Colorado Plateau, a large area of generally flat-lying strata that hosts many of the Southwest's most iconic national parks. Along the Mogollon Rim itself, south-draining streams have locally carved deep canyons through the scarp, which are made more spectacular by their red bedrock. Oak Creek Canyon south of Flagstaff, traversed by Arizona State Route 89A, is a well-known example. A lesser-known example is the canyon carved by the Verde River some 20 miles west of Oak Creek. In contrast to Oak Creek, it has difficult to nonexistent vehicle access, which no doubt accounts for its relative obscurity.

However, the Verde River is paralleled by a short line, the Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad.  Under the name Verde Canyon Railroad, scenic excursion trains are run through the Verde River Canyon, providing stunning views of this otherwise inaccessible area.

The Verde Canyon Railroad runs on tracks that first opened in 1912 to link copper mines and production facilities. The line ran until 1988, when it was purchased by a new owner. Passenger trains began running in the early 1990s, with cars pulled by vintage diesel locomotives, some of the few of this type still operating in North America.

Related Tags

Rivers Canyons Railroads Trains

Know Before You Go

Excursions start at the station in Clarkdale, Arizona. Check the website for directions and schedules.

Community Contributors

Added By

slgwv

Edited By

starrybluenight, RemillardJourneys

  • starrybluenight
  • RemillardJourneys

Published

April 19, 2022

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Verde Canyon Railroad
505 N Broadway
Clarkdale, Arizona, 86324
United States
34.775788, -112.056637
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Clarkdale

Clarkdale

Arizona

Places 2

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Arizona Copper Art Museum

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miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Clarkdale

Clarkdale

Arizona

Places 2

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