The mountains in western North Carolina offer up some of the very best views on the east coast. And when it comes to planned excursions to experience the best of the best, you can’t beat the 4.5-hour train ride from Bryson City to deep within the Nantahala Gorge aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
Billed as one of the top fun activities for families to experience in the Tar Heel State, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad features a number of railroad adventures — including the Nantahala Gorge Excursion.
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You’ll board the train at the GSMR depot in downtown Bryson City and immediately feel a twinge of excitement as the train rolls out of the station.
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If you’re lucky, you’ll see river rafters on the river as you make your way toward Fontana Lake. The train runs parallel to the river for a great distance.
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Gorgeous views of the Smoky Mountains, whether long range or short, will surround your line of vision on this journey.
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As you cross the famous Fontana Trestle over Fontana Lake and enter the Nantahala Gorge, be sure to have you camera ready for beautiful lake photos!
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The trestle is definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
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After an hour and 45 minutes, you’ll disembark the train at a layover destination for an hour of sightseeing before boarding the train again and returning to the depot in Bryson City.
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Weather permitting, the Nantahala Gorge Excursion runs pretty much year-round.
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Ticket prices vary depending upon the type of engine pulling the train and the class level you choose to sit in. Adult (ages 13 and over) ticket prices range from $56 to $113 per person. Tickets for children age 2-12 range from $32 to $64 per person, depending on the aforementioned parameters. And tickets for kids age 0-23 months range from free to $22 per person.
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Learn more about this fantastic train excursion by visiting the official website for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Follow the Facebook page, here.
And for a whole other way to enjoy this train ride, think about purchasing a package trip: Ride A Train Into The Wilderness And Then Explore 13 Ziplines And 8 Skybridges On This Adventure In North Carolina!
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Address: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, 45 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC 28713, USA
