In episode seven of our series Happy Camper Bucket List, Dan and Lindsay visit the beautiful and iconic Florida Keys. They spend time camping on the pristine beach in a Keystone Cougar 32RLI travel trailer.
The couple spends time in Key Largo at the John Pennekamp State Park—kayaking the waters and snorkeling. They stay at the Sunshine Key RV Resort Marina in Big Pine Key before continuing to skydive over the Keys, visit Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, and check out the Key West Key Lime Pie Co. in Key West.
In episode eight of our series Happy Camper Bucket List, Dan and Lindsay visit San Diego, California. The couple stops in Balboa Park first to take in the San Diego Zoo, Museum of Man, and all of the other attractions the park has to offer. Then the couple moves on to Campland on the Bay, a campground located right on the water.
They stay in a Keystone Montana fifth-wheel. The next day, they visit the beach to attend the San Diego Surf School where they learn how to ride the waves. Then it’s on to whale watching and spending time in the city to end the trip.
Many times camping trips involve exploring new territory and discovering enticing attractions along the way. Passenger tour trains have that magnetic appeal for many RVers, providing a novel way to see hidden countryside not normally viewed from the road. Railroad passengers learn about local history, culture and the many colorful characters from the communities visited. Camping World wants to make sure you don’t miss the departing whistle, so we have created a series entitled RVing the Rails. You will find the most popular excursion trains to ride in each state, complete with any specialty trains they might offer.
Photo Credit: Skeeze on Unsplash
Today we will explore the most popular trains in Nevada:
Virginia & Truckee Railway
Photo Credit: Drew Jacksich (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Running from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back, the Virginia & Truckee Railway was world renown as the Queen of the Shortline railroads, hosting as many as 45 trains a day that hauled gold and silver from the mines in Virginia City. The tracks were built in 1869 and continued to carry freight and passengers until 1938.
One of the passengers on that last train decided to bring the railway back to life in 1976, and today visitors can travel through Comstock country on this 150-year-old line, viewing some of the world’s most famous mines.
Railway and Locomotive Types
The railroad is unique in that it runs both diesel engines and 100-year-old steam locomotives on standard gauge tracks. Passengers can pick their train, then ride in comfortable enclosed coach cars, passing through a tunnel and past 17 historic silver and gold mines.
Seating Options
All seating on the train is open, so there are no assigned seats in the enclosed passenger cars, and no reservations are necessary. Travelers can disembark at Gold Hill and explore on their own, catching a return train later in the day, as there are seven departures.
Photo Credit: Brian Schaller (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Riding Options
The Virginia & Truckee Railway offers two trip options:
From the Virginia City depot, passengers can take a 35 minute trip to Gold Hill, then return on any of the afternoon trains.
On Fridays in July and August, passengers have the opportunity to depart at 10:00am from the Carson City Eastgate Depot for a one-and-one-half hour train ride to Virginia City. They are given a three-hour layover to explore, then catch the return train at 2:30pm.
Specialty Trains
Reservations are suggested for all specialty trains, as they tend to sell out.
Civil War Days & Battle Trains – Civil War re-enactors portray one of the bloodiest battles, as train passengers watch the lead fly and a local military band provides background music.
Pumpkin Patch Trains – Bring the kids and take the train to Gold Hill’s pumpkin patch, where everyone can select their favorite orange squash to carve.
Day Out With Thomas – Ride on the “Thomas The Tank Engine” for a trip where children can explore the Imagination Station Caboose and dine in the P.B.&J. Pullman car. It’s a special ride for any train-loving child!
Candy Cane Express – Enjoy the Five C’s of Christmas on this train: cocoa, cider, candy canes, cookies, and carols. You will travel through the Candy Cane Tunnel and listen to the classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Length of Season
Photo Credit: Drew Jacksich (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad runs steam and diesel locomotive trains seven times a day from the last week of May through the end of October. Specialty trains run on specific dates through December. Check their schedule here to see which train is right for your outing.
Nevada Northern Railway
Photo Credit: Drew Jacksich (CC BY-SA 2.0)
With construction on the tracks completed in 1906, the Nevada Northern began runs to the copper mines north of Ely, taking the ore to smelters and hooking into the existing Southern Pacific Railroad for further transport.
It functioned as a freight train until 1978, when the mines began to close, but in 1986 creation of the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation meant a portion of the rails would be salvaged and turned into a heritage railroad and museum. Today’s visitors get a taste of early 20th-century transportation on a 90-minute train ride from Ely to the copper district.
Railway and Locomotive Types
The railroad runs both diesel and steam locomotives pulling enclosed passenger cars on standard gauge rails. Visitors to the train are invited to look around the entire “museum,” which consists of the railyard and rolling stock, roundhouse, depot and freight house.
Seating Options
There is no assigned seating on the Nevada Northern, and passengers are encouraged to select their own seats in either an outdoor car or in an enclosed coach car. Walking through the train while in motion is acceptable, and snacks and restrooms are available onboard. Two additional seating options are offered:
Engine Ride – sit in the cab with the engineer and fireman and see the tracks from a perfect vantage point. Children over 12 are allowed, but only with an accompanying adult. Remember, you will not have access to the rest of the train when it is underway, so purchase snacks and make use of the restrooms beforehand. Reservations for this ticket are strongly suggested, as the seating is extremely limited.
Caboose Ride – parties up to 8 can take advantage of a caboose ride for the entire 90 minute trip on a regular excursion train. You will have no access to the other train cars during the trip, so purchase snacks and visit the restrooms before the train leaves the depot. Advance reservations are strongly suggested.
Riding Options
Photo Credit: NNRY.com
Nevada Northern Railway offers several unique experiences for railfans. They call the series “Hands-On Adventures.” Here are different ways to get up close and personal with the Iron Horse:
Spend a Night at the Railroad – Camp out in a caboose in the railyard or sleep in the bunkhouse, and use the morning train whistle as your alarm clock!
Be the Engineer – Get your hand on the throttle (and brake) of a steam locomotive or a diesel engine as you travel on the mainline track.
Winter Steam Spectacular Photoshoot – The train pulls out its best locomotives, cabooses and rolling stock to pose for photographers as it runs down a winter track.
Photography Workshop – Three-and-one-half day workshops with professional rail photographers offer personal instruction, critique and daily assignments to those who wish to capture train history on film.
Railroad Reality Week – A week of safety instruction, driving, braking and switching cars is all done in anticipation of graduation. That is when graduates operate a diesel locomotive and switch cars on their own.
Specialty Trains
Photo Credit: Chris English (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Pony Express – Follow the Pony Express here in Nevada as the train stops to watch Ely’s own Ghost Riders commemorate the passage of mail. Each passenger will also receive a commemorative envelope and stamp that can be hand-canceled in the railway post office car.
Wild West Limited – The steam train rides into havoc as cowboy thieves rob the train. Hold on to your wallet!
Rockin’ and Rollin’ Geology Train – Learn about the local geologic features that hide gold, silver, and copper in the hills around your train ride.
4th of July Train – Enjoy an evening train ride as the engine brings riders to a perfect viewing site for Ely’s fireworks show. View from the train or bring your own lawn chair.
Star Train – The Dark Rangers from Great Basin National Park join train passengers on a nighttime excursion to study the stars.
Haunted Ghost Train – What do zombies, apparitions and Big Foot have in common? They are all a part of Nevada Northern’s Haunted Ghost Train.
Length of Season
The Nevada Northern runs regular excursion trains from April through November, with specialty trains on specific dates throughout the year. Check out their full schedule here.
Nevada Southern Railway
Photo Credit: NevadaSouthern.com
Constructed in the 1930s to service the building of the Hoover Dam, the Nevada Southern was initially part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Once the last generator was installed at the dam, the need for the railroad line diminished.
In 1985 the state of Nevada purchased the spur that ran from Boulder City toward Henderson, utilizing seven miles of track for a heritage railroad associated with a museum full of equipment, rolling stock and memorabilia. Today riders are treated to a 35 minute narrated tour that heads toward Railroad Pass.
Railway and Locomotive Types
The Nevada Southern runs diesel locomotives on standard gauge rails, pulling coach and dining cars, as well as a caboose.
Seating Options
Photo Credit: NevadaSouthern.com
There are no assigned seats on the Nevada Southern, and passengers can sit in an open car or in climate-controlled enclosed coaches. There is also a car with a lift for handicap accessibility, with restrooms on board.
Riding Options
The train runs in only one direction, so there are no one-way tickets or side trips available. However, Nevada Southern Railway does offer a few different perks:
On Thursdays and Fridays, teachers can book a Fieldtrip Train, where students can learn about railroad history as they travel through it. The minimum group size is 25.
Cab Rides are available for all scheduled departures on weekend trains, but reservations are suggested, as seating is limited.
Specialty Trains
Photo Credit: NearEMPTiness (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Nevada Southern does not offer any specialty trains, but it does have one program that train lovers from miles around will jump at the opportunity to take:
Engineer for an Hour – Learn the ins and outs of driving a diesel locomotive from a licensed engineer, and utilize your new-found skill on the mainline tracks from Boulder City to Railroad Pass. One guest is allowed to accompany the participant, and a course certificate will be issued upon completion.
Length of Season
The railroad is open on weekends year-round, with four departures daily at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm.
Join the thousands of RVers that have a love affair with trains and ride the rails on your next camping trip. Check out the other excursion trains available on a state-by-state basis in our series, RVing the Rails.
In southwest Alaska where the Alaska Mountains meet the Aluetians lies one of the world’s most diverse regions. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve gathers active volcanoes, rushing salmon-filled rivers, glaciated valleys, and nutrient-rich tundra together to support massive numbers of brown bears, caribou, bald eagles, moose and Dall sheep.
It is here that nature envelopes the visitor in overwhelming landscapes and unbelievable wildlife viewing.
History of Lake Clark National Park
Photo Credit: NPS – E.Booher
Ancestors of today’s northern Athabaskan Dena’ina peoples have lived in the area for more than 9,000 years, mainly around Bristol Bay and to a lesser extent, Chinitna Bay. It wasn’t until 1778 that British explorer James Cook navigated the bay that would take his name. Russian traders, then American ones entered the region in the 1800s, but settlements were still sparsely populated.
By 1930, the first float plane landed on Lake Clark, and eventually those looking for quiet solitude ventured into the area, including Richard Proenneke. He was a writer who built his own cabin and lived on the shore of Twin Lakes for almost 30 years, filming his building projects and subsistence living off the land.
Photo Credit: NPS by C. Lindsay
By 1978, President Carter named the region the Lake Clark National Monument under the Antiquities Act, as he did with several other national monuments that year. By 1980 the monument was designated a national park and preserve when Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Just 9 short years after being named a national park, Redoubt Volcano called attention to the region with year-long eruptions within the park’s boundaries. In 2009 she did it again, proving that Lake Clark National Park and Preserve lies not so quietly within the infamous Ring of Fire, a landscape of volcanoes, glaciers, lakes and mountains worth watching.
Why Visit in Your RV?
Photo Credit: NPS by C. Lindsay
Your RV is going to have to sit this one out, as Lake Clark has no road accessibility. Park it in a town where bush flights into the park are available, like Anchorage, Kenai or Homer. Plan to spend several days exploring the immense landscapes of the park, and watching brown bears devour their dinner sedges, clams and salmon. There are several lodges that can be booked for summer visits.
Places to Go
Here’s a look at some of the best places inside the park that you can visit. There are many of them, but these are some of the best to spots to go.
Chinitna Bay
Brown bear viewing is the number one activity for visitors to Lake Clark and Chinitna Bay is one of the best locations in the world to see up to 20 bears at a time feeding on the sedges there. Arrival to the bay is by bush plane and visitors can walk along the beach to two viewing areas, where the brown bears abound in summer.
Crescent Lake
The most visited destination within the park, Crescent Lake attracts brown bears with its abundance of sockeye and silver salmon. The bears hunt the shoreline and Crescent River looking for these tasty morsels, and anglers flock here to catch trout, dolly varden and king salmon, so expect to see other Homo sapiens along with Ursus arctos!
Port Alsworth
Check out the park visitor center here in the summer months to solicit help from a ranger or get more information on Lake Clark National Park. Fish at Tanalian Falls or spend the night in a rustic cabin here.
Richard Proenneke Cabin
Explore the handbuilt cabin of an Iowa native who spent 30 years living at Twin Lakes. The cabin is only open in summer, and has numerous campsites surrounding it for those who wish to explore the area further.
Things to Do
Photo Credit: NPS by Kent Miller
Ther are also plenty of fun and interesting activities to do at Lake Clark that are unique to the area. Here are some of them.
Bear Viewing
By far, the most popular activity in Lake Clark is watching so many brown bears in their natural habitat. Crescent Lake is a popular viewing spot, as is Chinitna Bay, where the bears feed on sedges and dig up clams.
Because Chinitna Bay’s salt water marshes green up with early summer, the bears can be found there more readily in June and July. The months of August and September bring the salmon run, so brown and black bears gravitate to Silver Salmon Creek and Crescent River and Lake, where the fish are prevalent.
Day Hiking
Photo Credit: NPS by K. Martin
There are numerous opportunities to cut your own trail in the back country at Lake Clark National Park. However, there is only one designated trail system here. The Tanalian Trails are maintained and easy to follow, with several hikes of varying degrees of difficulty. You can find the trail system at Port Alsworth and here is a map.
Birdwatching
There is such a wide variety of habitats in the park that visitors can observe more than 180 species of birds here. Raptors, songbirds and waterfowl all make this region home. In fact, it is a common occurrence to see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, trumpeter swans, owls and puffins in the same day!
Camping and Backpacking
The entire park is open for trail-less backpacking! Camping is primitive and the only designated trails are part of the Tanalian Trails, so a map and compass are your best friends here. Be prepared to ford streams, deal with bad weather and encounter a random bear here and there. Follow these guidelines for bear safety.
When to Visit Lake Clark National Park
Photo Credit: NPS by B. Bracken
Lake Clark is open year-round and your visit will be dependent upon what season you’d like to explore and what kind of wildlife you wish to see. Brown bears hibernate from December to April, but are most active during the salmon run in August and September.
Caribou and moose can be seen any time of year, and birds will follow the migrating season. If fishing is high on your list of To Dos, summer will be your best bet, but hiking and camping can be enjoyed during any season if you are prepared. Just remember that Lake Clark National Park is remote and very isolated, so be thoroughly equipped for all of your activities.
Where RVers Can Stay
RVs must be left in the mainland communities of Homer, Kenai or even Anchorage, as the only way into the park is by bush plane. Once on land there are several private lodges for overnight stays or weekly visits and those are all accessed by plane, as well. If parking your trailer or motorhome, here are a few RV parks available:
If you want to camp inside the park, you’d better be ready to tent camp and happy with primitive camp sites. Check out the park’s website and their informaiton about backpacking and camping in the park before you go.
Getting To and Around This National Park
Photo Credit: NPS by W. Hill
Lake Clark National Park is immense in size and grandeur, but it has no roads in or out. So bush planes equipped with floats, skis or wheels depending on the season and the landing spot, are the only way into and around the park.
Private guide services and chartered planes are available from Homer, Kenai, Soldotna and Anchorage. Keep in mind that weather plays a big factor in accessibility, so plan some extra time into your excursions for flight delays.
Sensory Overload
Photo Credit: NPS by J. Mills
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is one of the last truly wild places on the planet. Travel here is reserved for the adventurous, those looking for experiences bigger that life itself.
Sensory perception is overloaded in this corner of the world, where glacier-capped mountains erupt, fish too numerous to count color the water bright red, and the landscapes are so vast that you will think you are the only person left on earth to exult in them. With 4 million acres of space, you might be!
Have you ever been to the Lake Clark National Park? What were your experiences there?
