The autumn season in Tennessee is one of the best in the American South, especially since the state has such a varied topography. You can enjoy the season on the loamy stretch of the Cumberland Plateau or perhaps in the jagged beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Of course, if you find yourself in Delano, Tennessee, you can watch the beauty of the season just outside your train car window. Curious about a fall foliage ride through the state of Tennessee? Let us tell you about the Hiwassee Loop which is quite possibly the best fall train ride in Tennessee. Learn more below!

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and offers unique and themed train rides throughout the year. During Christmas, you can expect to see the return of their famous Polar Express event and throughout the year they offer a wide variety of themed train rides. Many of them are very scenic and there is always something nostalgic about hopping on an old steam engine. The Museum was founded in 1960 and has continued to forge ahead preserving both broad and local railway traditions.

Folks who have ridden the rails with the Tennessee Valley Railroad rave about the kind folks that service the journey, as well as the incredible beauty of the vintage trains. There are themed rides that go on during the holiday season, and we'd recommend traveling the Hiwassee Loop to peek at the fall foliage during the autumn. The way the fiery array of colors ignite the mountainsides is second to none in this area of Tennessee.

If you book the 5-hour trip around the Hiwassee Loop, you'll have the chance to travel through the Hiwassee River Gorge by train. The views are always beautiful, but trekking your way up the mountain while the fall foliage is at its peak is truly a trip you'll never forget.

The ride is 50 miles round trip, and snack items like crackers, water, chips, and candy bars are available for sale on the train. You can also snag a souvenir if you're looking to remember your trip with something to wear, like a T-shirt or a hat.

The train cars are enclosed, and you can expect a climate-controlled environment no matter the time of year. There are restrooms on the train, and all riders who buy tickets for the Hiwassee Loop Rail Adventure will board in Delano, Tennessee.

Have you ever ridden a train through the colorful beauty of a Tennessee autumn? The Tennessee Valley Railway is offering fall foliage train rides through the Hiwassee Loop on the weekends, so make sure you buy tickets while you can! This popular adventure goes quickly.

Tickets range from $48 to $93 per passenger, depending on the age of the attendee and where the ticket holder chooses to sit in the car.

You can get up close and personal with the experience by way of the YouTube video we've linked below:

If you haven't ridden the famous Hiwassee Loop, then it sounds like you have tickets to purchase. You can find them here on the official Tennesee Valley Railroad website.

Another interesting fact about this train ride is how it was built. There are only 6 of these types of loop railroads throughout the United States and this is the only one located east of the Mississippi River. This truly is a massive accomplishment of engineering and just as fascinating as the scenic ride itself. Check out this video from Delay In Block™ Productions to appreciate the complexity of this railroad.

https://youtu.be/5V3oHAtfh3M

Tennessee is absolutely gorgeous, don’t you think? Have you ever taken a carriage ride through the heart of the mountains? 

Can't get enough train rides? While you are in Chattanooga check out this train and trolly ride through the city!