Felton, CA
Roaring Camp Railroads
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-15- TypeFelton heritage railroad operating redwood, Santa Cruz beach, dinner and seasonal public train rides
- LocationFelton, CA
- Rating4.6 ★4,467 Google reviews
- UpcomingFri, Sep 25
About Roaring Camp Railroads
Roaring Camp Railroads is a Felton heritage-rail destination operating two connected but distinct railroads. The narrow-gauge Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad climbs through redwoods toward Bear Mountain on the Redwood Forest Train, while the standard-gauge Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway runs the Beach Train between Roaring Camp and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The current calendar also includes limited dinner and seasonal holiday products. This page keeps both services under their actual shared operator instead of duplicating the Beach Train as a second operator. The regular Redwood Forest Train is a roughly 75-minute round trip, and the Beach Train is about one hour each way. Current public pricing, schedules and inventory can change. Most importantly, a Redwood ticket does not guarantee steam: Roaring Camp explicitly says its 1941 Plymouth diesel may substitute and that schedules and motive power are subject to change. The property also interprets logging-era railroading through historic locomotives and a recreated mountain town with a general store, dining and event spaces. Those amenities support the train day, but activity and food-service schedules vary by season. Travelers with mobility, seating, service-animal or sensory needs should call before buying because general grounds access does not establish boarding access to every historic railcar.
Choose the Route, Motive Power Caveat and Boarding Point
Choose the visit that fits your groupVisitors prioritizing the mountain railroad and a same-station round trip
Ride the Redwood Forest route
Choose the roughly 75-minute Felton round trip through redwood country, then verify the exact departure and equipment in live booking.
Visitors combining a rail trip with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Match the Beach Train direction
The Felton-to-Boardwalk and Boardwalk-to-Felton products are separately ticketed. Read the exact boarding point, departure and return option before checkout.
Railfans and families whose plans depend on seeing a specific locomotive
Do not treat steam as guaranteed
The operator may substitute its 1941 Plymouth diesel and change motive power. Book the route and experience, then ask directly if power matters to the trip.
Travelers with mobility, sensory, seating or service-animal requirements
Call for historic-car boarding details
The grounds-access statement does not answer every boarding question. Confirm the selected train's steps, seating, transfer needs and service-animal arrangements.
Adults and groups seeking a special evening rather than a daytime excursion
Choose a limited dinner train
Starlight and Moonlight dates are sparse and use separate live inventory. Check the exact product for meal, arrival and cancellation terms.
Families planning the fall and winter event calendar
Read each holiday event's own rules
Thomas, Holiday Tree Walk, Holiday Lights and New Year's trains differ in location, access, age and pet policies. Use the linked product page, not a generic train assumption.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Identity BoundaryRoaring Camp Railroads is the canonical operator; the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific is its named Beach Train railroad and must not receive a duplicate operator package or calendar
- Redwood RouteThe Redwood Forest Train is a roughly 75-minute Felton round trip through redwoods toward Bear Mountain
- Redwood FaresThe current official page displays $42.35 for age 13 and older, $26.45 for ages 2-12 and free for children under 2; live booking controls the selected date
- Motive PowerRoaring Camp explicitly reserves the right to use its 1941 Plymouth diesel and change schedules or motive power, so no selected date should be labeled guaranteed steam
- Beach RouteThe Beach Train runs about one hour each way between Roaring Camp and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with direction-specific tickets
- Beach FaresThe current official page displays $46.59 for age 13 and older, $31.75 for ages 2-12 and free for children under 2; route and inventory remain live-booking decisions
- Arrival And ParkingThe booking content requests arrival 45 minutes before departure and publishes $10 parking; parking and ticket terms can change
- RefundsThe current FareHarbor item terms describe tickets as nonrefundable and nontransferable; review the exact selected product before payment
- HoursThe FAQ says gates open at 9 a.m.; parking ordinarily closes at 5 p.m. unless trains are running and the grounds typically close around 5:30 p.m.
- GroundsOrdinary access to the town grounds is free except during certain special events, while trains, parking, activities and rentals may carry separate charges
- AccessThe operator describes the grounds as accessible and rents manual wheelchairs at the ticket office, but does not publish a blanket boarding guarantee for every historic passenger car
- Thomas AccessThe Thomas & Percy's Halloween page specifically identifies car 5 for ADA access; call before purchase because that product-specific statement does not transfer to every train
- DogsThe FAQ permits dogs on the floor of regular Redwood and Beach trains and warns about noise; Thomas explicitly prohibits pets, so event-specific rules control
- FoodThe property lists the General Store, Georgie's Cook House, seasonal or event food and picnic options; do not assume every outlet or activity operates daily
- TransitSanta Cruz METRO Route 35 serves the Henry Cowell and Felton Covered Bridge area; confirm the current timetable and walking route before relying on transit
- RvsDay parking for RVs is allowed, but overnight parking is not
- Lockers And StrollersThe FAQ says there are no lockers and no strollers for rent
Find the Depot
The Trains
Roaring Camp's official history describes geared steam locomotives built for steep logging railroads: several Shays, a Heisler and a Climax, plus five diesels. Not all roster locomotives are operational, and some are under renovation. Dixiana Shay No. 1 was built by Lima in 1912 and inaugurated Roaring Camp steam service on April 6, 1963. Tuolumne Heisler No. 2 was built in 1899 and came from West Side Lumber service. Sonora Shay No. 7 was built in 1911 and acquired in 1985. Kahuku Baldwin No. 3 was built in 1890 for Hawaiian plantation service and is described as standby power with occasional special use. The regular train page also names a 1941 Plymouth diesel as possible substitute power. Fleet history is not an assignment promise; the selected day's operator and live conditions control.
History
The Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad began carrying passengers through the San Lorenzo corridor.
Kahuku, now Roaring Camp's Baldwin No. 3, was built for Hawaiian plantation service.
The Tuolumne Heisler was built, later becoming Roaring Camp No. 2.
Lima built the Dixiana Shay, later Roaring Camp No. 1.
F. Norman Clark opened Roaring Camp; Dixiana inaugurated steam service on April 6.
The Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific began service on the historic route to Santa Cruz.
Georgiana Clark became chief executive after Norman Clark's death in December.
See full history
The Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad carried tourists through this corridor as early as 1875. F. Norman Clark opened Roaring Camp in 1963 after assembling geared logging locomotives and building a narrow-gauge line into the redwoods. The first public steam service ran behind Dixiana on April 6. The standard-gauge Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific began operating the historic 1875 route between Felton and Santa Cruz in 1985. After Norman Clark died that December, Georgiana Clark led the company; their daughter Melani Clark now serves as CEO. The current destination combines those two railroads, preservation work and a recreated mountain-town setting while remaining an operating visitor business rather than a static locomotive roster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Redwood Forest Train guaranteed to be steam-powered?
No. Roaring Camp explicitly says its 1941 Plymouth diesel may substitute and that motive power and schedules can change. Book for the route and call if seeing steam is essential.
How long are the regular rides?
The Redwood Forest Train is described as a 75-minute round trip. The Beach Train is about one hour each way between Roaring Camp and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Are the Beach Train direction tickets the same product?
They are two direction-specific booking products for the same physical service. Confirm whether the ticket begins at Felton or the Boardwalk and whether a return is included.
What are the current regular fares?
At the cutoff, the Redwood page displayed $42.35 adult and $26.45 child, while the Beach page displayed $46.59 adult and $31.75 child; under 2 was free. Live booking controls final price.
Is every train wheelchair-accessible?
Do not assume so from the general grounds statement. Thomas identifies car 5 for ADA access, but the operator does not publish one blanket boarding promise for every historic consist. Call before buying.
May I bring a dog?
The current FAQ permits dogs on the floor of regular Redwood and Beach trains and warns that noise can be difficult. Thomas explicitly bars pets. Read the selected event's rules.
How early should I arrive?
The regular booking content requests arrival 45 minutes early. Thomas asks visitors to arrive an hour before the ride. Use the selected ticket confirmation if it gives a different instruction.
Does Roaring Camp admission include Henry Cowell State Park?
No. They are adjacent and rail-connected in the landscape but independently operated. The park has its own day-use entrance, parking charge, hours and trail rules.
Are all town activities and food outlets open every day?
No such guarantee is published. Dining and activities vary by season and event, so treat the train as the fixed anchor and confirm any must-have add-on.
Why is the New Year's train described without a target year?
The official page lists December 26-31 in the current 2026 event catalog but retains stale copy about bringing in 2026. This guide keeps the exact dates and avoids repeating the conflicting year text.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 15, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official Roaring Camp home and current operator identity
- Current Redwood Forest Train route, fares and motive-power caveat
- Current Beach Train route, direction, times and fares
- Official current event catalog and seasonal ride links
- Official history, railroad identity, fleet and leadership chronology
- Official FAQ for arrival, parking, grounds, dogs, access, RVs, food and visitor rules
- Official contact page for public phone and contact form
- Official driving directions and current Felton address
- Public operator booking catalog and current product inventory
- Exact reusable operator image records
