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Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: Tips to Prepare for Your Visit
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: August 24, 2025
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a steam train ride near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park that offers fun for the whole family.
This narrated tour on authentic locomotives from the region's logging days rolls through the Sierra National Forest in open-air cars that give you a great view of this pine forest.
Jill's Five Things to Know Before You Visit
Location: Just 4 miles south of Yosemite’s Fish Camp entrance on Highway 41.
Duration: Standard rides are about 1 hour; Moonlight Specials last longer with dinner and entertainment.
Seasonal Operation: The railroad usually runs from spring through fall (closed from November through April due to snow).
Family-Friendly: Great for kids; open cars make it easy to see the scenery.
Tickets: Advance reservations are recommended, especially in summer or for the Moonlight Special.
Tour Options
The most popular tour option is the Logger Steam Train. This one-hour tour offers two types of seating, as pictured above:
- covered, historic cars with seats that face forward, backward, and sideways, from which you can relax and enjoy the views out the sides of the cars
- completely open-air bench seating made of massive tree trunks, allowing for totally unobstructed views into the canopy of the trees above
You will also find a couple of other tour options. These include the Jenny Railcar Tour, a shorter, faster ride on a smaller railcar.
They also offer special evening tours that may include a BBQ dinner, live music, and a campfire under the stars.
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History of the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad ran its first train rides in 1967. Rudy Stauffer and his family, who owned the nearby Swiss Melody Inn, purchased their original locomotive in 1965.
After that, they then worked to relay 2 miles of tracks that were originally used by the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company for their new train tour attraction.
At the same time, they built an engine house, a ticket office, and a museum. The following year, they sold the Swiss Melody Inn (currently known as the Narrow Guage Inn) to focus full-time on their entertainment railroad business.
The sons took over the business in 1981, and more than 40 years later, is still run by the family today!
What It's Like on the Logger Steam Train Ride
The one-hour Logger Steam Train ride takes you on a journey through the beautiful Sierra National Forest.
It's narrated by their conductors with tidbits about the history of the railroad, commentary about scenic spots along the ride, information about the wildlife, and so much more.
You will stop about midway through the tour at Lewis Creek Canyon. This is where they offer performances for some of their other tours.
There is no performance included in this one-hour tour, but this stop offers bathrooms and about 10 minutes to stretch your legs before returning to your seat for the ride back.
When my husband and I took this journey, we changed seats at the halfway point so we could experience both types of cars. We enjoyed the open-air feel of the cut-out log cars, but the historic cars with coverage were a little more comfortable since they had more normal seats.
One thing to also note about the open-air log cars is that the train will touch the pine tree branches above. This means you will get a bit of dirt or leaves from the trees on you a couple of times during the ride.
It's not too bad, but something to be aware of as you decide which seats you want to sit in. Either way, don't worry, as it isn't dangerous.
Here is a look at the different seating options.
This is a photo of the log seating on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad.
This is a photo of the covered, historic train cars.
This photo shows you the leaves and the small amount of debris that fell on my pants while riding on the log car.
I had a little on my pants and jacket and some in my hair, but as you can see, it doesn't take much to clean it off.
Here are some additional photos from our journey.
Here are a few photos of the bathrooms and their performance venue. This is where you stop halfway through and return to where you started.
More Fun Ideas for Yosemite
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Train Rides
Logger Steam Train
The Logger Steam Train is the one we took on the day of our visit. It's a one-hour ride that runs one to twice a day from April 1 to October 31.
Jenny Railcar
Another option that we didn't know about until we arrived is the speedier, smaller Jenny Railcar. This little train car runs twice as fast as the steam train ride and only fits a small group of people.
It doesn't run every day, so if you prefer this ride, I recommend contacting them in advance to find out what days they plan to run it.
Moonlight Special
The Moonlight Special includes a ride on the steamer train, dinner at the station before you leave, and either live music or some type of performance at Lewis Creek Canyon.
These rides run once a month from May to October. Even though it's called the "Moonlight" Special, only the second half is a moonlight train ride. It leaves at around 6:30 pm from May to July. It leaves at 6 pm in August, 5:30 pm in September, and 5 pm in October.
The entire ride with dinner and entertainment is around 3 hours, so you will return as it gets dark in the Sierra National Forest.
Moonlight Melodrama
The Moonlight Melodrama is similar to the Moonlight Special. However, it's only offered three times a year. Once each month in June, July, and August.
The entertainment for this tour is a short melodrama by the local Golden Chain Theatre. It's a fun show that really gets the audience laughing and having a great time.
It includes a NY Steak or chicken BBQ dinner at the station, a train ride to their Lewis Creek Canyon Amphitheater for the Melodrama, and a return ride to the station. This one will also return as it's getting dark.
Yosemite Jazz Train
The final option is their special Yosemite Jazz Train. This one includes a special unplugged performance by a featured artist.
Some artists that have performed in the past include Peter White, Keiko Matsui, and Steve Oliver. They usually announce their upcoming performers each spring.
Since tickets to see these renowned musicians are in high demand, you'll want to try to book as early as possible.
These events start at around 3 pm with some seasonal appetizers. You can also purchase beer or wine. During this time, you will mingle and have an informal meet and greet with the performer.
You will then all hop aboard the train and head to the amphitheater for the unplugged performance. This one ends with a train ride back to the station.
They offer two to three performances every month from May through October.
Seasonal Tours
In addition to variety of fun options listed above, you may find seasonal specials, like Halloween adventures that include costume contests and trick-or-treating fun for the little ones. Check ahead to see what's offered during your visit.
Other Things to See and Do at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
In addition to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad rides, there are a few other fun things to do on this property.
Ticket Office and Gift Shop
You will find the ticket office and gift shop near the entrance, and it offers a variety of souvenirs. This is also where you will purchase your tickets if you didn't buy them before your visit.
To the left of the main entrance to the gift shop is where you can order food from their menu. You'll find quick grab-and-go options, such as chili dogs, hot dogs, a Frito Boat, a bagel, and even ice cream.
If you are thirsty, you will also find water, sodas, and other beverages such as beer and wine.
Here is the menu for the day of our visit.
The Kids' Depot
Another fun place to check out is the Kids' Depot. This spot is down the steps behind the gift shop. It's a second gift shop for younger kids.
The thing I love about this little space is the train that runs continually on a track above your head inside the store. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, it's fun to watch the train for a few minutes.
Thornberry Museum
The Thornberry Museum is an on-site rail museum between the parking lot and the ticket office. It's a great way to learn more about the local history.
It includes historical artifacts, photos, and stories about the people and the logging companies that called this area home for decades.
Gold Rush City
This is a fun, interactive experience for your kids! They can pan for gold just like they did during the Gold Rush. The cost is $12 per person (when purchased online; $15 on site).
How to Get to the Sugar Pine Railroad
The Sugar Pine Railroad is along Highway 41 between Oakhurst and the south gate to Yosemite National Park in Fish Camp.
It's about 4.5 miles or 8 minutes south of the Yosemite gate. It's about 20 minutes north of Oakhurst.
>> More things to do near Yosemite
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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