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Historic Rail Tour in Andrews, NC

WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR THE SEASON.  See you in the Spring! Enjoy the adventure aboard North Carolina’s First RailBike Tour! An incredible 8.5 mile round-trip on the old railroad tracks through the Valley in Andrews, North Carolina. Your destination: the historic hand-carved Valley River Tunnel.

Tours leave promptly, 7 days a week, at 8:30 am, 11:30 am, and 3 pm from the Andrews Train Depot. You must be at the depot 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time for mandatory safety instructions. Check in at the Depot Office as soon as you arrive. There are three options for riding the rails at Andrews Valley Rail Tours: The RailBikes, The Cart, and The Choo-Choo.

Our rail tour adventures start at only $59.95 per person!

The RailBikes

Our RailBikes are electric pedal-assisted, similar to E-bikes, and require light pedaling by all riders. A RailBike is the optimal way to tour the Valley if you’re able. There’s nothing like the open air, unobstructed view of the mountains and river.

PASSENGERS = 4 PEDALING = YES WEIGHT LIMIT = 300lbs per person

 

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The Cart

The Cart Ride offers captain’s chairs that swivel and have armrests. A great option for those with limited mobility, or for groups that want to be able to hold conversations during the trip.

PASSENGERS = 9 PEDALING = NO WEIGHT LIMIT = NONE

 

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The Choo-Choo

The Choo-Choo Speeder Ride is our compact gas-powered speeder and offers a true “railroad” experience for riders with its locomotive-like appearance.

PASSENGERS = 2 PEDALING = NO WEIGHT LIMIT = NONE

 

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The Destination

Don’t forget to have your camera ready for the 5-mile trip to the Historic Valley River Tunnel. Take in the views from our beautiful valley that offers you the opportunity to experience mountains, forests, and abundant wildlife. You’ll see crystal-clear mountain rivers and streams as you cross Historic open deck railroad bridges on your trip to the tunnel.
 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below you will find answers to many common questions about our Rail Tours. Click the “+” to see the answer.

 

Tour tickets are $59.99 per person.
No. Due to liability concerns, no pets are allowed on any of the Rail Tours. This includes service animals.
Yes, ages 8 years and older can ride. Each child will need their own seat and to be secured with the seatbelt provided.
Yes, for safety reasons there is a weight limit of 300lbs per person on the RailBikes.
Yes! If you forget to bring your own, we have drinks and snacks available in the gift shop, or you can arrive early and get food to go from any of our wonderful eateries in town!

Please remember you will be outside, in nature. At the tunnel, you will have the option to walk down to the river, and there is a slight slope. You may encounter spiders, bees, and other insects during your tour.

Dress for the weather and temperature. Please do not wear skirts or flowy pants that could get caught in the pedals of the RailBike. To avoid losing your shoes, no flip-flops or sandals without a heel strap should be worn. Closed-toe shoes are best.

Groups with an odd number of riders may find that they will need to be split into more than one RailBike to even out ridership numbers. Please call if this is the case with your group, to discuss options. (828) 557-4021

RailBike rider parties that are larger than 4 will be seated on consecutive RailBikes.

If your party is less than 4 people, and you do not want to ride with strangers, you can purchase the additional seat(s) when you make your reservation. We cannot guarantee the additional seat(s) will be available to purchase later.

Yes, we have restrooms at the Depot as well as at the Tunnel.

Tours go out rain or shine. If the weather looks like thunderstorms or lightning then we will cancel your tour. If Andrews Valley Rail Tours cancels your tour, you will be offered to book another day in the future or you will be issued a full refund (your choice).

If you choose not to participate in the tour, due to weather conditions, and the tour you were scheduled for runs as scheduled, you will not receive a refund.

You can cancel up to 72 hours prior to departure. Within the 72 hours of departure, this reservation becomes nonrefundable. NO EXCEPTIONS. Should there be inclement weather, such as lightning, heavy rain or storms, you will be able to re-book for another day, or you will be fully refunded.

You will receive a phone call or text message if your tour is cancelled due to weather. If you do not receive a call or message your tour will depart as scheduled.

It is very important that you be on time for your tour. As is stated during your ticketing process, YOU MUST BE AT THE DEPOT 30 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME for mandatory safety instructions. You will not receive a refund if you arrive late.

 

GOOGLE REVIEWS

 

Andrews Valley Rail Tours
Andrews Valley Rail Tours
4.8
Based on 761 reviews
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Karen MastroianniKaren Mastroianni
04:21 11 Dec 24
Had a great time. Very scenic ride up and down the mountain. When you get to the top at the tunnel, there’s a picnic area. You have about 20 to 30 minutes to explore the tunnel and have a snack. You can bring your own snack and beverages.
SusanSusan
23:25 19 Nov 24
Excellent venue. Highly recommend!! So much fun!
Angela JowersAngela Jowers
12:49 18 Nov 24
Jeff CoxJeff Cox
16:01 11 Nov 24
Joyce PettitJoyce Pettit
23:05 07 Nov 24
There was a group of 9 of us that went on the round trip tour and we all had an awesome time. I loved the 4 seater car that was comfortable, there was a bin to put your belongings in and I enjoyed pedaling and using the motor when we chose. We saw turkeys, boars, horses and cows. We went through an historic tunnel and stopped at the river for snacks and a rest to mingle with everyone at the top. Will definitely go back again next year and bring some friends with us.
Kamie Jett HeidelKamie Jett Heidel
14:23 06 Nov 24
Mary HesterMary Hester
23:07 04 Nov 24
We had a great time. It is worth going and then we went to their Downtown for dinner and a little shopping. We loved the tunnel and the staff were so friendly. It's very peaceful and serene.
Darsi BurkeDarsi Burke
19:21 04 Nov 24
Such a fun experience. The staff is a hoot and the scenery is beautiful. We weren't able to book the pedal cars but booked the cart. Personally we enjoyed not pedaling, being able to take pictures and sitting back and relaxing.
Tiffany MasseyTiffany Massey
17:37 04 Nov 24
We took a girls trip so Andrews to do the rail cart tour . It was great ! About 2 hours for the round trip . We got off at the river and ate our lunch and got to walk around and you could explore the tunnel while they turned the carts around to head back .
denette blakemoredenette blakemore
13:45 04 Nov 24
Staff extremely friendly, very professional, thorough in safety explanation, ride was most enjoyable- fall color beautiful, open cart most enjoyable - recommend highly
Bethany FieldsBethany Fields
12:41 04 Nov 24
Phenomenal experience!! Guides are fantastic, such interesting history and will definitely do it again!!
Kayla BuckleyKayla Buckley
13:54 03 Nov 24
My husband and I had a great time enjoying the beautiful fall weather, witnessing the colorful scenery, and seeing wild life. We weren’t able to do the pedaling and instead had the passenger cart ride. We actually were glad because we had shade and were able to just sit and enjoy. The peddlers had the sun beating on them. So if you do the pedaling make sure you wear comfortable clothes, hat, and sunglasses, if it’s going to be sunny out. I’m sure it’s still a wonderful experience as well! You see the same scenery no matter what choice of transportation you get. All the staff was friendly, especially Judy, who answered the many phone calls and questions we had when trying to schedule. We would definitely come back and do it again with some family members. Keep in mind it is only open for a short season so plan ahead to book it because it does fill up fast!
Shelby HarrisShelby Harris
00:28 03 Nov 24
We thoroughly enjoyed the ride on the caboose! The fall leaves and surrounding views were fabulous. Your guides made it fun and exciting!
Susan ForbesSusan Forbes
23:57 02 Nov 24
I thoroughly enjoyed the scenic view along the track. The speeder cart was easy to pedal with the battery assisted motor. The employees were very professional and a lot of fun. The town was decorated for Fall which was an added bonus. We shopped and ate lunch at one of the restaurants on the brochure given to us by Andrew’s Rail Tour.
Michael MahoneyMichael Mahoney
20:04 02 Nov 24
Traci HartsellTraci Hartsell
16:37 02 Nov 24
Had the perfect fall day at Andrews Valley Rail Tours!! The staff was so funny and nice, the bikes were so fun, and the views were beautiful. Can’t wait to go back!
Elisa BriscoeElisa Briscoe
13:45 02 Nov 24
Hubby and I were camping in Murphy and added the rail tour to our plans! So glad we did! The weather was perfect, leaves had begun to change and we were able to spend the afternoon with our daughter's new In-laws. Staff was wonderful and made sure everyone knew the rules to stay safe. We even had to pause for a cow to cross the tracks. Highly recommend this to anyone thinking about it.
Vera ConferVera Confer
12:37 01 Nov 24
We had so much fun. The staff were courteous and made it delight. I live in Murphy and I hope to do it again sometime in the future.
Cheyenne RakerCheyenne Raker
17:36 31 Oct 24
This was a lovely experience with great staff and people on the tour as well. We did the rail bike and it was an out and back trip, 1hr there with 40min break, and 20min back (it was downhill so we got back faster). I give it a 4 star because it was a cool and unique experience but we did wish we could have seen better views or been more in the mountains. We passed by cows and the fall leaves were really pretty, but wish the rail tour did a loop instead of going back the same way or was a bit longer track into the mountains. Overall though, great experience and would recommend!
Patrick AndrewsPatrick Andrews
18:44 30 Oct 24
John YorkJohn York
18:05 30 Oct 24
Great time pedalling on the rails. 5 miles each way. Nice views.
Mike BarsevichMike Barsevich
15:36 30 Oct 24
We have brought different groups of friends here for the last 3 years... Always a great time... Last visit was October 29,2024... gorgeous day, fabulous weather and great views!! 5 of the 6 in the group were over 65, and everyone was able to enjoy, with minimal exertion and no one was over stressed!We will definitely be back next year...
Jason DispensaJason Dispensa
00:02 30 Oct 24
Had an absolute blast riding these rail bikes thru the Andrews Valley on the Murphy Branch. The staff was excellent. The depot building and the stop point at the tunnel had great facilities and were super nice! My only complaint is that I wish the ride was longer, hopefully GSMR would let the great staff here use more of the out of service tracks further east to extend the ride especially during beautiful fall weather! Would highly recommend this to anyone who loves getting outdoors and being immersed in nature. Love that this benefits a great small American mountain town and hopefully continues to grow tourism in Andrews!
Susan DSusan D
22:42 29 Oct 24
Definitely a great experience! The staff were all super helpful and friendly. They explained everything! Will be back for sure!
Mike BawgusMike Bawgus
13:20 29 Oct 24
We had so much fun we will definitely be doing this every year.
Candi MarieCandi Marie
02:40 29 Oct 24
What a hidden gem! Andrews is beautiful this time of year! We drove from Highlands and the leaves were stunning! Arrived 30 minutes early so we could have a safety meeting. The check in was smooth. They have drinks/snacks/coolers and plenty of merch. The guides Daryl and Joe kept us entertained on the way. There is a 30 minute stop right after the tunnel to eat or explore. Plenty of picnic tables along the river and an outhouse. Overall would definitely recommend you get to experience Andrews and the Rail cars at least once!
steve gattsteve gatt
16:17 28 Oct 24
we returned in October! what a BLAST! - the leaves were perfect and the weather was wonderful ! their staff is informative and a lotta fun!what a blast ! we had great time- were returning in October to see the fall color!
Tim LasleyTim Lasley
15:45 28 Oct 24
HAD A GREAT TIME. 4 OF US AT THE 11AM TOUR- GOT A LITTLE WET COMING IN BUT WE HAD RAIN GEAR. A MECHANICAL ISSUE ON ONE CAR BUT STAFF WAS GREAT AND THE TUNNEL WAS MAGNIFICENT. BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND ANDREWS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS- BRING YOUR FRIENDS
Dana MerrittDana Merritt
13:25 28 Oct 24
Beautiful autumn ride thru the meadows and mountain side. We had a fantastic ride. Employees were friendly, knowledgeable, and provided safety info to allow us to maximize our experience. I definitely recommend you add this to your list of adventures.
Rob RaymondRob Raymond
12:49 28 Oct 24
Awesomely fun. Extremely relaxing as you hear the clickety clack of the wheels going across the track. Staff was courteous and helpful. Fall Foliage was beautiful, hope to do again
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