This 4-hour Train Journey Is One of the Most Stunning in the U.S. West-and It Passes by Historic Ruins and Stunning Red Rock Canyons

"The Verde Canyon Railroad brings passengers from Clarkdale, Arizona-a small town about 25 minutes from Sedona and two hours from Phoenix-to Perkinsville and back. The entire four-hour trip covers 40 miles and goes by some pretty incredible sights, including the ghost town of Perkinsville, ancient Native American ruins, and even a 734-foot man-made tunnel. Not to mention, there's the sheer natural beauty of the Verde River and the red-rock formations the region is known for."

"Your exact experience aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad will depend on a few factors. For starters, you'll get to choose where you ride, whether it's in one of the 12 classic passenger cars, the caboose (a private luxury experience for six or fewer adults), or in the locomotive, alongside the engineer and conductor (only one guest per journey). The passenger cars are decked out in living room-style seating and panoramic windows, and each one is connected to an open-air viewing car."

"If you choose to book the Saturday Starlight Tour, for instance, you'll get to witness the variation in light and color that blankets the canyon as the day shifts into night. This exact tour is only offered from May through October each year, and it's billed as a "sensational sunset to starlight journey deep into the wild heart of Arizona.""

The Verde Canyon Railroad operates a four-hour, 40-mile round-trip between Clarkdale and Perkinsville that features dramatic red-rock scenery and the Verde River. The route passes a ghost town, ancient Native American ruins, and a 734-foot man-made tunnel. Seating options include 12 classic passenger cars with living room-style seating and panoramic windows, a private caboose for up to six adults, and a single-passenger ride in the locomotive alongside the engineer and conductor. The Saturday Starlight Tour runs May through October and highlights the canyon as daylight shifts into sunset and starlight.

Read at Travel + Leisure