Railroading and the High Sierra go together like peanut butter and jelly. Without this mode of transportation, California as a whole would not have grown and prospered as it has over time. The iron horse allowed goods and people to easily summit the Sierra Nevada, while at the same time, more easily move gold, silver, and lumber from the mountain tops to seaports and cities like San Francisco and Sacramento.
An Eastern Sierra Train
Cruising down Highway 395 through this vast landscape, it’s hard to imagine a railroad ever running through such remote country. But over a century ago, that’s exactly what happened. When the gold rush brought the boom to towns like Bodie and Aurora, it became crucial to connect this rugged region and make it easier to transport livestock and mining supplies. Enter the “Slim Princess”—a narrow-gauge railroad that served the area from 1880 until 1931.
Laws Railroad Museum
While the rail line may have disappeared, you can still step back in time and experience the story of the “Slim Princess” at the Laws Railroad Museum. Once a bustling depot along the line, it’s now a living tribute to the region’s rich history, offering a window into the daily lives of early settlers. With over 50 structures spread across its 11-acre property, the museum features railroading gems such as the original Laws Depot, a locomotive turntable, oil and water tanks, and the Agent’s house—all still standing since the first train rolled through.
This is just one chapter in the Eastern Sierra’s rich history. History buffs will want to make this a stop on a larger tour of the Owens Valley to fully explore the area’s fascinating past.
The Second Gold Rush
The first gold rush sparked the largest migration in U.S. history. But it was the second boom in the 1890s—driven by new technology to extract gold, re-opened mines, and the demand for timber to fuel growing cities—that truly ignited the railroading revolution in California. Stagecoaches and mule trains had their place, but they just couldn’t move raw materials fast enough from the Sierra Foothills. To solve that problem, the Sierra Railway was founded on February 1st, 1897.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
As the name suggests, this state park preserves the heart of the original Sierra Railway of California, founded in 1897. Jamestown was the railroad’s hub, and the historic roundhouse still stands today—once used to house and maintain locomotives when the railroad first began. You can explore the roundhouse and see how trains are repaired and rebuilt as well as take a 6-mile roundtrip journey through the rugged hills of California’s Motherlode, just as travelers did in the late 19th century. Since the roaring 20s, the park has also been a go-to spot for Hollywood, making appearances in more than 200 films!
Choo-Choo Your Way to the Slopes
If images of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye hopping onto a train in the movie “White Christmas” flash through your mind when you think of railroading, you’re in luck. The High Sierra is home to one of the few places where you can visit world-class ski resorts within 15 minutes of a train stop in Truckee, California. You can thank the Transcontinental Railroad for quick and easy access to a long weekend getaway. Back in the 1800’s, to make the final journey over the Sierra Nevadas, Truckee was established as the staging location for additional engines to help push over the summit.
Railroads Are Still A Gateway To High Sierra Skiing
The extra power may no longer be needed, but these tracks are still used as your gateway to all ski resorts in the North Lake Tahoe region. The closest large ski resort to Truckee is Northstar. With over 3,000 acres and averaging 300+ inches per year, it’s a great option when taking the rails from the Bay Area. If you’re looking to branch out even further, there’s plenty of affordable shuttles from downtown Truckee to each of the ski resorts in the region like Palisades Tahoe. Just as far as Northstar, it’s home to 6,000 acres and the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Need a day off from skiing/snowboarding? Then be sure to check out the Truckee Railroad museum located next to the train depot. A great option for families & train enthusiasts to get a glimpse into the history of railroading in the region. And, if you’re in town during the summer, head over to Truckee Regional Park for some good ‘ole fashioned fun on a kids train.
See the “Golden Age” of Railroading in Action
To truly enjoy the “golden age” of railroading, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a must. With a portion of the grade originally carved into the mountain by the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company in the early 20th Century, this stretch of track has been restored giving visitors a chance to experience history in person. For that time period, it was built as the most efficient way to move rough cut lumber out of the mountains for finishing and transport all the way to the bottom. Vintage Shay locomotives provide the motive power for the one-hour narrated excursion over tracks once used for logging trains at the turn of the century.
Rails to Trails in Tahoe
Today, about 78% of Lake Tahoe is public land managed by the USDA Forest Service. But back in the late 19th century, things looked very different. The entire area was clear-cut to fuel the mining operations in Virginia City’s Comstock Lode. These logging efforts eventually led to the creation of the Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company, which connected Tahoe City to Truckee. As the trees slowly regrew and the logging business wound down, the rail line shifted its focus to tourism, offering direct train access to the region from San Francisco and Los Angeles. Southern Pacific operated the railroad until 1943.
Truckee River Trail
While the rail line is now just a distant memory, you can still explore its historic corridor on foot or by bike via the Truckee River Trail. Starting at 64-Acres Park, the trail stretches north for 5.5 miles, taking you all the way to Olympic Park in Olympic Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. As you weave through towering conifers, if you listen closely, you might even catch the faint sound of a train whistle from the past echoing through the trees.
From seeing historic trains to a fun and easy way to the slopes, railroading in the High Sierra is like nowhere else in the country!
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