Where The Grand Canyon Railway Travels | Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

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Schedule & Route

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Enjoy a full-day adventure on the rails. Travel the same tracks that early adventurers to the Grand Canyon followed. The train’s departs daily at 9:30 a.m. Arizona mountain standard time (except during November/December when it leaves at 8:30 a.m.). The train arrives to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at 11:45 a.m. at the Grand Canyon Depot, built in 1910 (except during November/December when you will arrive at 10:45 a.m.). You’ll arrive in the Historic Village – the heart of human history at the Grand Canyon. You’ll have more than 3 hours to explore the canyon and its historic buildings and exhibits. The train departs the canyon at 3:30 p.m. and arrives back to Williams at 5:45 p.m (except during November/December when it departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 4:45 p.m.). In times of high demand, a second train may be available. Please consult the schedule tables below for single and two-train dates.

Train Schedule - Single Train
DatesDeparture Time From WilliamsArrival to CanyonReturn Departure Time from CanyonArrival to Williams
January 1-October 319:30 AM11:45 AM3:30 PM5:45 PM
November 1-December 31 (except December 25)8:30 AM10:45 AM2:30 PM4:45 PM
Train Schedule - Two Train
DatesDeparture Time From WilliamsArrival to CanyonReturn Departure Time from CanyonArrival to Williams
March 2610:30 AM12:45 PM4:30 PM6:45 PM
April 2-310:30 AM12:45 PM4:30 PM6:45 PM
Steam Train Dates
DatesOccasion
March 2First Saturday of the Month
April 6First Saturday of the Month
April 20Earth Day
May 4First Saturday of the Month
June 1First Saturday of the Month
July 6First Saturday of the Month
August 3First Saturday of the Month
August 12Celebration of Steam Engine 4960's Birthday
September 7First Saturday of the Month
September 21Grand Canyon Railway Anniversary
October 5First Saturday of the Month

It’s your time to take a legendary journey to an extraordinary place! The Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona, which is about 30 miles west of Flagstaff, just off Interstate 40. The train travels almost due north to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The trip measures 65 miles and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way—45 minutes faster than in 1901 when the train made its first trip. The train departs Grand Canyon Depot each afternoon for the return trip to the Williams Depot. All aboard!

The Route

The Region

Grand Canyon Country is located on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona. Most of the plateau is set at an elevation of 5,000 feet. However, the plateau also includes Williams and the Grand Canyon, both at about an elevation of 7,000 feet, and the San Francisco Peaks, the highest point in Arizona at over 12,600 feet. As a result, the journey through Grand Canyon Country features a variety of stunningly different landscapes: from the Ponderosa pine forest surrounding Williams, to a gentle drop in elevation down to the wide-open prairie before climbing back up to the Pinion pine forests as the Train approaches Grand Canyon National Park.

Native Peoples

Many Native American reservations are in and around Grand Canyon National Park and Northern Arizona. This includes the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai and Paiute. Their culture and way of life have made an indelible impression on the region. Designers like Mary E.J. Colter, who is responsible for many of the structures built on the South Rim, drew upon the inspiration of the surrounding native cultures.

Diverse Climate

The Colorado Plateau is semi-arid and water can be scarce. However, communities like Williams and Flagstaff typically see snowy winters, and the snowmelt provides the region with its water base. The late summer months usually see monsoon rains, which occur almost daily, typically in the afternoon. When visiting the area, the best advice is to dress in layers.

Wildlife

As you travel through the forests of Grand Canyon Country, keep your eyes out for elk, mountain lions, mule deer, squirrels, and even skunks. In the high desert, it’s common to see pronghorn, which look like antelope, as well as a variety of birds—from bald eagles to horned owls, ravens to California condors. While at the South Rim, you’ll notice the animals are accustomed to humans, but please don’t feed the animals as this increases their dependency on people for food.

Plants

Along the way, you’ll see a variety of plants and trees as you change in elevation. In the first part of the trip leaving Williams and as you approach the Grand Canyon, you’ll be at over 6,000 feet elevation, where you’ll be surrounded by forests of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce and aspen. In the middle part of the journey, in the Upper Sonoran Zone, you’ll see Pinyon-Juniper woodlands, sagebrush, grama grass, and a variety of brush like live oak, salt bush and mountain ash.