A vintage train through the Lehigh Gorge, an excursion line out of Honesdale, and Scranton's steam yard: three rail rides worth planning an October weekend around, plus what to do before and after.
The best seat for fall color in northeastern Pennsylvania may be a train window. Rail beds were cut along rivers and through gorges, and a vintage car lets you watch the hillsides go by without watching the road. Three rail rides fit that description: the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway out of Jim Thorpe, the Stourbridge Line out of Honesdale, and the seasonal excursion trains at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. This guide covers all three, plus what to pair with each ride, and how to time the trip.
Key Takeaways
- I.The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs vintage trains from Jim Thorpe's restored 1888 station along the Lehigh River through Lehigh Gorge State Park, with narration on the scenery and the coal-era history.
- II.The Stourbridge Line (Honesdale) and Steamtown's excursion trains (Scranton) are the other two options, and both run seasonally.
- III.Jim Thorpe's Fall Foliage Festival fills the first three weekends of October each year and includes scenic train rides, so book early and expect crowds.
- IV.Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says foliage typically peaks in October, so check its weekly report before you lock in a date.
Which Pocono scenic railway is best for fall foliage?
For most visitors, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is the strongest choice. It departs from Jim Thorpe's restored 1888 station and follows the Lehigh River through Lehigh Gorge State Park, with narrated views of whitewater and old canal ruins below. The tracks once carried coal out of the region, so the narration covers both the scenery and the industrial history. It runs seasonally from spring through fall, with holiday-themed trains in late fall and winter (Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway).
The other two are quieter alternatives, and each works better as part of a larger day than as the whole plan.
Season note: the Stourbridge Line's Pocono Foliage Express runs through October 31, 2026, and the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway's 45-minute Autumn Leaf trains through November 15. Lehigh Gorge's regular 70-minute ride then runs November 16 to 26. Holiday trains are listed separately by each railroad.
| Ride | Where | Fall 2026 dates | Ride length | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway (Autumn Leaf) | Jim Thorpe | Daily, Sep 26-Nov 15 | 45 min round trip | Coach $25 adult, $9 child (3-12); open-air car $28 / $10; 2 and under free |
| The Stourbridge Line (Pocono Foliage Express) | Honesdale | Select dates, Sep 27-Oct 31 | 1.5 hr round trip | $35 adult, $30 child; infants free (as listed by DiscoverNEPA) |
| Steamtown National Historic Site | Scranton | Excursion dates vary | Varies by excursion | Park entry free; 2026 train fares not yet published by the Park Service |
Fares and dates are from the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway's Autumn Leaf 2026 page, DiscoverNEPA's Pocono Foliage Express listing for the Stourbridge Line, and the National Park Service's Steamtown fees page, all retrieved October 18, 2026. At Lehigh Gorge, presale tickets cover trains up to 3:00 PM; trains at 4:00 PM or later are sold same day at the Jim Thorpe booth. Prices can change, so confirm when you book.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway and the Jim Thorpe weekend
Jim Thorpe is the easiest place to build a rail-and-foliage weekend, because so much sits within a few blocks of the station.
The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival is held across downtown the first three weekends of October each year. It's one of the region's largest and longest-running fall festivals, with craft and food vendors, live music on multiple stages, and scenic train rides set against peak color on the Lehigh Gorge hillsides. It's popular for good reason, and it brings significant crowds, so plan parking before you arrive on a festival weekend (event details).
If you'd rather see the town without a car, the Jim Thorpe Trolley Company runs narrated trolley tours of the historic downtown, a good companion to a train ride when you want more of the story behind the town.
Then get on foot, because the gorge looks different from the trail than from the train:
- Lehigh Gorge Trail from Jim Thorpe to the Abandoned Tunnel is an easy 3.7-mile out-and-back with about 134 feet of climbing, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Cave Falls and Jim Thorpe Overlook is the harder option: a 2.1-mile loop with about 879 feet of elevation gain in Lehigh Gorge State Park, 1.5 to 2 hours, with waterfalls and a view over town.
- Skip Glen Onoko Falls. It's officially closed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and has been since May 1, 2019, after numerous fatalities and rescues, so don't attempt it.
For the full picture of the gorge, read our guide to Lehigh Gorge State Park.
To end the day on theme, drive over to Tamaqua, a separate town southwest of Jim Thorpe, where Tamaqua Station Restaurant serves upscale American food in a restored 1874 railroad station where excursion trains still depart. It's rated $$ with a Reserve Score of 84, and it suits date nights, celebrations, and groups.
The Stourbridge Line and a Honesdale day
The Stourbridge Line is a seasonal scenic excursion railway departing from Honesdale, in Wayne County near Lake Wallenpaupack. Its fall Pocono Foliage Express is a 1.5-hour round trip along the Lackawaxen River in heated cars, running on select dates through October 31 (fares are in the table above).
What we can tell you is what surrounds it, because Honesdale has a walkable Main Street:
- Camp Umpy's Bagels & Stuff on Main Street is a casual, budget-friendly bakery, popular for a quick breakfast before a day out (Reserve Score 71).
- Native, also on Main Street, is a highly rated restaurant in the walkable downtown (Reserve Score 78).
- Irving Cliff is a 1.1-mile out-and-back with about 324 feet of climbing to a cliff-top view over town, a good place to catch the color from above.
- Tanners Falls is an easy 1-mile out-and-back with about 131 feet of climbing, close to the lake.
Steamtown and the Scranton rail yards
Steamtown National Historic Site is a National Park Service site on Scranton's former rail yards, the same yards where the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad once operated. It preserves a working collection of steam locomotives and rolling stock. The roundhouse and turntable are still active, and a visit can range from a quick museum walk to a full afternoon with a ride on one of the seasonal excursion trains. It sits in the Gouldsboro Lake area, a quieter corner of the Poconos for anyone who wants forest and still water around the trip.
When is peak foliage in the Poconos?
Plan around the weather rather than a single date. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says fall foliage typically peaks in October across the state, and it publishes a weekly foliage report on Thursdays during the season (PA DCNR, September 2025, retrieved 2026-10-04). The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau divides the region into three foliage zones: the northern and central zones peak in early to mid-October, while the southern zone peaks in late October. Leaves begin turning in mid-September, and color lasts through the end of the month (Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, "Leaf Peeping FAQ", retrieved 2026-10-04). Which year you get is largely down to weather and rainfall.
The USDA Forest Service explains what makes a vivid year: brilliant reds are favored by warm, sunny days followed by cool nights, while warm, cloudy, rainy weather gives less red (USDA Forest Service, "Why Leaves Change Color", retrieved 2026-10-04).
A practical approach: pick a weekend in the first three weeks of October, check the DCNR report that Thursday, and keep a backup day. The Jim Thorpe festival dates line up with that window, which makes the first three weekends of October the best fit for the Lehigh Gorge ride.
Getting there
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau puts the region at about 2 hours from New York City (Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, retrieved 2026-10-04). Fall weekends bring more traffic, so leave early. Our Fall Foliage Escapes page covers staying in the region, with rentals set on wooded acreage and fall hikes to nearby overlooks.
For a longer base near the Jim Thorpe rides, see our Mauch Chunk Lake destination guide. If you'd rather ride the old railroad grade on foot, the Camelback Mountain via Old Railroad Grade loop near Lake Naomi is a difficult 7.2 miles with about 954 feet of elevation gain, 3 to 3.5 hours, with summit views.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the scenic railways run all fall?
Not all of it. In 2026 the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway's fall trains run daily from September 26 through November 15, the Stourbridge Line's Pocono Foliage Express runs on select dates through October 31, and Steamtown's excursion dates vary by trip. See the table near the top for fares and sources.
Are the train rides part of the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival?
Yes. Scenic train rides are among the festival's listed attractions, alongside craft and food vendors and live music on multiple stages.
Which ride is best for a first-time visitor?
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. It has the clearest scenery, narration on the gorge's history, and a walkable town around its station.
Can I combine a train ride with a hike?
Yes, in Jim Thorpe. The Lehigh Gorge Trail to the Abandoned Tunnel is an easy 3.7-mile out-and-back, and Cave Falls and Jim Thorpe Overlook is a harder loop with a view over town.