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You Can Pedal Through California’s Redwood Forest On A Railbike, And The Trip Looks Absolutely Stunning
In the early 1880s, lumbermen C.R. Johnson, Calvin Stewart, and James Hunter joined forces to expand timber operations in Mendocino County, California. By 1885, the Fort Bragg Railroad was formed in an attempt to make transporting lumber easier. Essentially, this was the foundation of what would one day become the California Western Railroad, more commonly known as The Skunk.
The Skunk got the nickname in 1925 when motorcars were introduced (today sometimes referred to as railbuses or railcruisers). These self-propelled motorcars had gasoline-powered engines for power and pot-bellied stoves burning crude oil to keep the passengers warm. The combination of the fumes created a very distinct odor, and the old-timers living along the line said these motorcars were like skunks, “You could smell them before you could see them.”
More info: skunktrain.com | Facebook | Instagram | vimeo
Image credits: skunktrain
Initially, California Western Railroad was operated as a division of the Fort Bragg mill (Union Lumber Company, Boise-Cascade). In the mid-1960s, however, Arizona-based Kyle Railways began managing the railroad and purchased it in 1987.
In August 1996, a group of local Mendocino Coast investors bought California Western, marking the first time in its 111-year history that the line would operate as an independent business.
Image credits: skunktrain
People can enjoy the historical tracks in quite a few different ways, from sharing their cookies with Santa Claus aboard the Magical Christmas Train throughout December to celebrating fall by hopping onto the Pumpkin Express. But recently, a Fort Bragg excursion on railbikes has become more and more popular. After seeing the photos, it becomes quite clear why.
Image credits: skunktrain
The custom-built electric railbikes are virtually silent and fit two people. Peddling along the historic tracks, groups wend their way along scenic Pudding Creek, cross over majestic wooden trestle bridges, and journey into the heart of the ancient redwoods of Mendocino County.
“The Redwood forest is a dreamlike place, particularly on a rainy or misty day, it’s like a scene from Jurassic Park,” Robert Jason Pinoli, “The Chief Skunk”, told Bored Panda. “With the railbikes traveling along the Pudding Creek Estuary, you can’t help but think that a brontosaurus might be around the next corner.”
Image credits: skunktrain
Pinoli highlighted that redwoods only grow naturally in one small slice of the world, from Big Sur to the California-Oregon border, and only about 12 air miles inland. “These trees are hundreds of feet tall and are each a unique monument to the very forest they make up. The tracks of the Skunk Train date back to 1885 and trains have been running over them continuously for 135 years.”
Image credits: skunktrain
Without needing to steer, people are able to look around at all the wonders of the natural world. “Common sightings are otters, egrets, a lounging turtle, deer, and on the early morning trip, an occasional bear too,” Pinoli explained.
Image credits: skunktrain
The rate is $250 per bike and includes the 8% Historic Preservation Assessment.
At first, the company thought of the railbikes as a way to entice more millennials to come to experience the route of the Skunk Train, but quickly found out that folks who are older were also drawn to the trip because the bikes allow people with mobility issues to complete the journey without much fuss as well.
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
RELATED:
A stopover at Glen Blair Junction features picnic tables and a redwood loop trail (with both casual and intermediate difficulty options)
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Image credits: skunktrain
Here’s what people have been saying about the trip so far
What do you think ?
Aria Whitaker 4 years ago
Good idea, but they really should bring the price down a bit. Especially now, $250 is a big cost for a family of four...they would require two bikes....$500 for ONE bike trip through a forest...ugh.
G Bruce Chapman 4 years ago (edited)
https://www.revrail.com/ in New York does the same thing much cheaper. 2-2.5h trip. Double Railbike (Sits 2): $80 Quad Railbike (Sits 4): $140
Load More Replies...
David Stutzmann 4 years ago
Why the heck do they wear an helmet? It seems to be totaly useless...
ADHORTATOR 4 years ago (edited)
Same in Germany and France.... but it works in both directions :-) When you meet another railbike, you switch to the other, turn it around and keep going... http://www.tourism-lorraine.com/destinations/nancy-and-around/nancy-and-greater-nancy/742000425-the-cycle-rail-in-magnieres
Anne Bidstrup 4 years ago
This makes me a bit sad. Part of the wonder of being in an old growth forest is nature itself. The stillness, the clean air, the sheer beauty of it all. No talking, just ambling through and taking it all in. I hate the thought of a forest being defaced with whatever these bike things are. Muir Woods in CA is one of my favourite places on earth and I'd cry to see it treated like this.
Sandy Britton 4 years ago
The railroad was already there. I don't see the problem about the bikes.
Load More Replies...
Ellen Ranks 4 years ago
Why are these people wearing helmets? Loks like it would be really hard to fall off these bikes or get into a traffic accident.
Rosie Hamilton 4 years ago
Old bits of branch falling? Though that might be in my mind as I've only recently had to remove a rotting tree from my garden that was doing that.
Load More Replies...
Lance d'Boyle 4 years ago (edited)
Aside from being novel, I'm not certain what the advantage is of sightseeing by railbike. You could just as easily (or more easily) walk the same path or mountain bike it and you could stop where and when you want and not back up traffic. edit: I just saw that it cost 250$. Definitely ridiculous.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago (edited)
The train tracks are already there, and used for tourist trains. This just provides an alternative way to enjoy the scenic route, for people who enjoy exercise and open air. But there doesn't appear to be a foot/bike path along the tracks.
Load More Replies...
Stormy Ashes 4 years ago
The only downside is that well... 1) You can't stop or else people would just turn up behind you and be jerks 2) Its expensive as heckkk 3) California is on fire. Maybe not this part but still, there's still smoke.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
That's Ewok country. Careful, they eat outsiders who don't bring along gold droids.
Samantha Ashley Kricker 4 years ago
I wonder if its through the "old growth" area where the really big trees are. I've been recently and they are doing quite a bit of logging. Most of the vehicles in the area are 18 wheelers with full loads of trees they are cutting down. Even in these pics there are pictures of trees that have been freshly cut down....
Meyer Weinstock 4 years ago
The scenes are great. The idea isn't new, as rail-wheels were connected to bicycles in Colorado back in the 1980s, specifically for tourists. More importantly, beware of the foul-mouthed, narrow-minded, nationalist, gun-toting State of Jefferson locals, whose sense of entitlement and propriety are less-than-kind to outsiders, urbanites, and non-whites. -Rev Dr M
Aria Whitaker 4 years ago
Good idea, but they really should bring the price down a bit. Especially now, $250 is a big cost for a family of four...they would require two bikes....$500 for ONE bike trip through a forest...ugh.
G Bruce Chapman 4 years ago (edited)
https://www.revrail.com/ in New York does the same thing much cheaper. 2-2.5h trip. Double Railbike (Sits 2): $80 Quad Railbike (Sits 4): $140
Load More Replies... David Stutzmann 4 years ago
Why the heck do they wear an helmet? It seems to be totaly useless...
ADHORTATOR 4 years ago (edited)
Same in Germany and France.... but it works in both directions :-) When you meet another railbike, you switch to the other, turn it around and keep going... http://www.tourism-lorraine.com/destinations/nancy-and-around/nancy-and-greater-nancy/742000425-the-cycle-rail-in-magnieres
Anne Bidstrup 4 years ago
This makes me a bit sad. Part of the wonder of being in an old growth forest is nature itself. The stillness, the clean air, the sheer beauty of it all. No talking, just ambling through and taking it all in. I hate the thought of a forest being defaced with whatever these bike things are. Muir Woods in CA is one of my favourite places on earth and I'd cry to see it treated like this.
Sandy Britton 4 years ago
The railroad was already there. I don't see the problem about the bikes.
Load More Replies... Ellen Ranks 4 years ago
Why are these people wearing helmets? Loks like it would be really hard to fall off these bikes or get into a traffic accident.
Rosie Hamilton 4 years ago
Old bits of branch falling? Though that might be in my mind as I've only recently had to remove a rotting tree from my garden that was doing that.
Load More Replies... Lance d'Boyle 4 years ago (edited)
Aside from being novel, I'm not certain what the advantage is of sightseeing by railbike. You could just as easily (or more easily) walk the same path or mountain bike it and you could stop where and when you want and not back up traffic. edit: I just saw that it cost 250$. Definitely ridiculous.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago (edited)
The train tracks are already there, and used for tourist trains. This just provides an alternative way to enjoy the scenic route, for people who enjoy exercise and open air. But there doesn't appear to be a foot/bike path along the tracks.
Load More Replies... Stormy Ashes 4 years ago
The only downside is that well... 1) You can't stop or else people would just turn up behind you and be jerks 2) Its expensive as heckkk 3) California is on fire. Maybe not this part but still, there's still smoke.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
That's Ewok country. Careful, they eat outsiders who don't bring along gold droids.
Samantha Ashley Kricker 4 years ago
I wonder if its through the "old growth" area where the really big trees are. I've been recently and they are doing quite a bit of logging. Most of the vehicles in the area are 18 wheelers with full loads of trees they are cutting down. Even in these pics there are pictures of trees that have been freshly cut down....
Meyer Weinstock 4 years ago
The scenes are great. The idea isn't new, as rail-wheels were connected to bicycles in Colorado back in the 1980s, specifically for tourists. More importantly, beware of the foul-mouthed, narrow-minded, nationalist, gun-toting State of Jefferson locals, whose sense of entitlement and propriety are less-than-kind to outsiders, urbanites, and non-whites. -Rev Dr M
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