Railbiking the Redwoods with the NorCal Skunk Train

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Railbiking the Redwoods is an absolute must when visiting Northern California. Everyone dreams of seeing the tallest trees on the planet. But did you know you could experience them from the seat of a railroad bicycle? Here is why riding the Skunk Train Railbikes was the absolute highlight of my NorCal road trip!

Skunk Train Railbikes

Nestled in the coastal city of Fort Bragg, the historic Skunk Train offers a truly unique way to see the world’s tallest living organisms. The railroad through these redwoods has been active since the 1800s. In addition to scenic redwood train rides in historic train cars, the Skunk Train also offers a modern way to get out on the tracks.

The railbikes are lightweight two-passenger pedal carts. They ride much like a reclining bicycle, except steering and balance are not an issue as they are guided by the railroad. This also made taking in the scenery and capturing pictures a breeze. Before my ride, I was mentally preparing for a workout on the nearly 7-mile roundtrip journey. To my pleasant surprise, the railbikes are actually electric with battery-assisted pedals. You can definitely feel the electric assistance and I really had no strain on my legs. In fact, we could have relied on the battery to propel us instead of pedaling, but the pedals made the journey fun. The only concentration the ride required was the handbrake that I hardly needed to use.

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Railbiking the Redwoods

Our journey began by checking in at the main station which was very easy to find because it is right in the middle of Fort Bragg. Due to COVID, a recent precaution is the requirement of face coverings throughout the experience. I was actually grateful for this as the shady ride got a little chilly with the wind in my face. Next, we walked to the railbike shed for a brief orientation and to select our bikes. One guide lead the procession and one brought up the rear. After learning three easy hand signals to communicate on the tracks, we were off! The journey starts off right away at a railroad crossing across several main streets. It was bizarre being the ones to stop traffic but it added a fun element to the whole experience.

At the end of our three-mile ride, we hopped off and took a small hike through the redwood forest while our guides rotated the railbikes. The scenic junction would have been the perfect place for a picnic or snack. Our guide also mentioned the plans to expand the activities available at the junction, so I cannot wait to return! Once everyone was ready we headed back the way we came- under dappled sunlight, over scenic wooden bridges, and through the giant redwoods. Last but not least, don’t forget to tip your guides at the end of your ride. If you are looking for other things to do in Fort Bragg, come back soon for my complete NorCal road trip itinerary.

Skunk Train Railbike FAQs

For even more footage you can preview the full experience on my NorCal Instagram highlights! And if you ever have a question you can always DM me @cassiescompass or drop it in the comments below.

For this post, I partnered with the Skunk Train for a discounted experience. However, you can count on me to be a good steward of this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

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