Verde Canyon Railroad — Attraction in Clarkdale

So before I get into details, let me just cut to the chase first - this is a fun one-day excursion (may be a bit too long), but I would still still recommend it to anyone who enjoys train travel to do it one time. Having said that, I'll highlight the reasons why this is 3 stars for me and not 5.🤷🏽‍♂️

Firstly, the location is great. The weather was great that day as well, and they have a REALLY NICE outdoor sitting place with tables and chairs (where you could, if you wanted to, bring your own food and eat). We got our own lunch and had it just before departure. Next, it's super fun to walk along the train, some good information there (too much for me to read lol), but I really enjoyed checking out the locomotive at the front. The museum is OK, I guess worth a visit. 😶

But here are couple of "not-a-5-star" reasons for me. We were 4 of us and seated in seats 5 A-D in the Santa Fe coach on the couches (the table and chairs for 2 people). Since the moment I saw the coach the first time, it looked WAY more beaten up and OLD as compared to all other coaches. Super dirty from the outside and not impressive at all. I am like, ok, lets be positive. The person outside was nice, greeted us and took some pictures for us which was much appreciated. But once we got in, I was a SUPER DISAPPOINTED to see the coach itself (just an ugly 200 years old looking coach - not really vintage if that's what they were going for). To make it even worse, the 5 A-D seats have TINY windows (see the pictures!) and NOTHING like I had imagined in my mind. To make it even worse, other seats seemed to have decent sized windows. All we had was HUGE patches of aluminum side walls to stare at with little windows to look through. Another unwelcoming experience was once we entered, the hostess DID NOT CARE to even come up to us. We sat there for like 10 minutes, and nothing . Then finally they said - let's raise a toast. We had nothing in our glasses since we weren't offered anything. I had to call out " Can we have something to toast please".😐

Both of these experiences just instantly deflated all my excitement. Then When I checked out the neighboring coach (PHOENIX) it was SO much NICER! 😳 I was really surprised how they could have such different standards when we paid exactly the same amount ($109 /person). Super nice coach, beautiful suede couches and HUGE windows for EVERYONE!! I really felt disappointed. So if you are 5 A-D in Santa Fe don't expect great things, and unfortunately a bit unlucky 😔

We ended up staying on the outdoor deck the MOST time (we obviously didnt want to stare at the walls inside), and the outdoor deck was NICE! Weather was great, the appetizers were nice too that were provided, and we made the most of it. 3 hr 45 mins DOES SEEM a bit too long, but oh well I am not complaining about it since that's subjective. It did feel that way for me though, especially since after an hour it's pretty much all same. Also, $109 is definitely a bit overpriced for what you get. I'd say about 80ish would be more reasonable for the experience you get.💲

So anyways, overall a decent experience for most people (wasn't that great for us as described), but probably worth only one time. I wouldn't go again, regardless of the above reasons. The 3-stars are for the outside deck mostly, the appetizers, and the staff (for the most part). May be it's nicer if you get a nicer coach and better seats, but I did not like Santa Fe at all . And they should REALLY get rid of those 5 A-D seats and even perhaps that Santa Fe coach...

This review is derived from my authentic experience at Verde River Railroad. I would like to begin by outlining the numerous positive aspects of my visit. The facility is exceptionally clean, and the staff members are notably friendly, demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing customer requests and needs. Upon departing the station and passing by the personnel along the railroad tracks, it is evident that employees are engaged and enthusiastic, as they consistently smile and wave, which underscores their understanding of the importance of providing a positive experience for guests.

Nonetheless, there are certain elements that are not prominently featured on their website or in their marketing materials. They recommend arriving approximately an hour and a half in advance to fully appreciate the museum and enjoy a meal at the café. While the museum is charming, it is relatively small; when it accommodates 7 to 10 visitors, it can feel somewhat crowded. Exploration of the exhibits typically takes only 5 to 7 minutes. The gift shop is similarly compact, and a considerable number of visitors could contribute to a congested environment.

The café experience may not align with typical expectations. Instead of a traditional café format, ordering resembles that of a fast-casual restaurant; patrons place their orders at a window and subsequently receive their meals in a box and bag. It is noteworthy that there is NO INDOOR SEATING available, which could be a disappointment for some guests. All seating is outdoors, necessitating that patrons locate a table themselves. Plasticware and condiments are provided outdoors in small packets. Although ceiling fans are available, not all are operational. For instance, a nearby couple requested to activate their fan, only to be informed that doing so would deactivate another, highlighting the need for improvements to enhance guest comfort in the outdoor seating area.

Plan to arrive approximately 45 minutes prior to your train's departure, this will afford you sufficient time to enjoy the experience. However, if you anticipate a sit-down meal in a climate-controlled environment, you will find yourself disappointed, as we did. It is advisable to consider dining prior to your arrival, as the café DOES NOT provide a full-service experience.

The train ride itself is pleasant; however, it is important to note that half of the train has limited viewing options. The route runs through a canyon on one side, with open viewing available on the opposite side. Depending on your seating arrangement, you may find yourself facing a canyon wall for 80% of the journey, with minimal scenery to observe. We were expecting to see more of the "river," which, in actuality, is more akin to a creek obscured by surrounding vegetation. There is a 700-foot tunnel, which we anticipated would be a highlight of the experience. Strangely, upon entering the tunnel, staff encouraged patrons to yell, whistle, and scream as loudly as possible. This request seemed unnecessary, as many sought a tranquil train ride to appreciate the scenery. The promotion of such behavior detracted from the overall enjoyment and should be reconsidered.

In summary, while the experience was largely positive, it could have been enhanced through more transparent...

We had a great time! We are a couple in our 30s but this is a great tour for all ages, especially around the holidays since they do themed rides for kids. The scenery was beautiful, it was so cool to just be on the train absorbing the beauty of the canyon. The guide we had was great, charismatic, and funny. (I wanna say his name was Tim? I feel bad that I don't remember but he was in the clarkdale train on Friday November 8th) I personally love cheesy jokes. It's also cool they had an outdoor car too . The snacks they provided were good and the champagne tasted good to but had options for people who didn't drink. I felt the prices for the snacks were fair, I honestly expected them to be higher. We don't know if they do accomodations for allergies but we wish we would have taken the time to call ahead to ask, as my wife has Celiac so she couldn't enjoy the snack that was given to us. But it was no biggie since we didn't call with enough notice to see if it was even possible and we had eaten before we got there.

There is only one complaint I had. I wish that the speakers that were playing the information in the car was louder/the tour guide especially outside had some kind of microphone as it was difficult to hear with the wind and people talking. Or maybe some kind of headphones cassette tape to rent or a audio version of the tour to download to your phone and listen to. I am hard of hearing so I struggle in loud environments. The guide also had to keep going back and forth between the groups outside to make sure everyone was getting the information. I also don't think it's fair to make them yell because that could damage their voices. So I figured this would benifit everyone, employees and guests. You could even have it where the guy speaking outside with a microphone can also be played inside so then not only are they included but then they receive the information too. We spent a good portion of the trip outside so i don't actually know if the inside car got the same information we did. The bartender did have some knowledge but not nearly as much as the guy standing outside. But the bartender was very kind and made some good hot coco. Be warned it is difficult to walk while the train car is moving but it's quiet funny to experience/watch people try and walk. I was relieved when the bartender said he would bring the hot coco to us.

If these accommodations for hard of hearing aren't feasible, having some kind of print out of the information that are the key notes or cool things pointed out on the trip would be very helpful and a good keepsake. Not only could I remember the information but then it would be easier for me to understand the information they tell us without struggling to hear. Again I didn't actually call and ask if they did something like us. which is why these points don't detuct from the score I gave because it fell on us to make that effort.

I know 100% we will be back and take the tour again. We want to bring our parents and enjoy the ride again! We can't wait! Thank you for...