Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad — Attraction in Oakhurst

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad near Fish Camp, California, is a must-see for anyone who loves trains or just wants a unique experience on the way to Yosemite. The ride takes you on a historic narrow-gauge logging train through the beautiful Sierra forests, and the entire experience is super smooth—from parking to ticketing and boarding, it’s all really well-organized.

Now, if you’re a train buff like me, the ride itself is the real star. You’re not just getting some random train ride—you’re riding behind a working vintage Shay steam locomotive, one of the coolest and most powerful steam engines used back in the day for logging. Watching it in action as it hauls the train up the grades and through the woods is an attraction in itself!

It’s great for the whole family, with plenty to keep kids and adults entertained.

Now, I’ll be honest—there are a few negative reviews floating around. But from what I’ve seen, it’s mostly from people who built up this romantic image of the train ride in their heads and ended up with a case of “Paris syndrome.” They probably imagined something out of a postcard and didn’t get the postcard-perfect shot they were hoping for. If you go in with realistic expectations, you’ll have a blast. It’s an authentic, relaxing trip through some stunning forest scenery.

Bottom line: don’t miss it! It’s a great pit stop that lets you experience a piece of living history before diving into Yosemite’s grandeur. Just keep your expectations realistic, and you’ll...

This experience keeps getting better with age. I've been coming to ride the steam logger since I was a young kid and have made several recent trips to share this fantastic experience with my kids (and my inner child!). The caboose is an amazing new way to experience the steam logger, and I honestly think I was more excited about it than the kids. The dedicated guide and snacks and drinks really put it over the top. I loved getting to ask questions and get a deeper knowledge of the history of the logger and the natural features of the area. While the "first class" experience was amazing and very special, nothing compares to riding in the open-air log seats or passenger cars where you get to fully experience the sights, smells, and sounds of the forest and the powerful Shay engine chugging its way up and down the mountainside. Visiting the railroad is worth a trip to the mountains in itself, and if you are on your way to Yosemite, do not miss this stop. Apart from the train, there are two excellent, well-curated gift shops (one geared towards adults, the other towards kids), a gold panning experience, a museum, and a snack bar (with beer and wine!), all of which add to the experience and allow you to make a day of the trip. A huge thank you to the owners and staff of this historic experience for keeping it thriving through generations and always finding ways to bring new value to a visit to...

My husband and I had a wonderful time on the Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad! My husband really enjoyed the gold panning lesson with “Mr. McNugget” - he made the experience both fun and incredibly informative. My husband was like a little kid finding gold and couldn't stop talking about everything he learned. Mr. McNugget's enthusiasm and knowledge really made our experience unique.

The food completely exceeded my expectations. Everything was delicious and you could tell real care went into the preparation. The serving crew deserves special recognition - they were not only amazing at their jobs but also incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout the entire experience.my husband had the steak and I had the chicken. Both options came with coleslaw, toasted bread and beans. For dessert we had bread pudding which was delicious and that is coming from a person that doesn’t eat bread pudding.

The train ride itself was absolutely incredible. The journey through the Yosemite area was breathtaking, and our guide provided fascinating information about the region's history, natural features, and the type of trees. It was the perfect blend of scenic beauty and educational content.

This tour was one of our trip highlights and I recommend to anyone...