When you live in a place like Oregon, surrounded by natural beauty, it can be easy to lose sight of just how extraordinary the state really is. Sometimes we all need a reminder to stop and smell the roses (or, in our case, cherry blossoms). And the Mount Hood Railroad is the perfect place to do just that. This charming passenger train is a big dose of nostalgia; an experience that will send you back to a simpler time. And while the train itself is utterly delightful, it’s the scenery on these excursions that you’ll remember most. The Mount Hood Railroad is one of the best train rides in the USA that offers some of the most breathtaking views in Oregon, and is the perfect way to relish the resplendence of our state’s scenery.

Hood River is located along the eponymous Oregon river, in the shadow of the state's majestic Mt. Hood.
aimintang/E+ Collection via Getty Images
The views here are absolutely sublime, but most Oregonians don't get a chance to stop and really soak up the scenery.
That's where Mount Hood Railroad enters the picture.
Peter Marbach/Wikipedia
This charming passenger train is pure nostalgia and travels through some of Oregon's most beautiful places.
Mount Hood Railroad was the first rail line south out of Hood River, and built in 1906.
Missouri Pacific Lines/Wikipedia
The Union Pacific acquired the line in 1968 for fruit and lumber transportation; but, as local industries switched to truck-based transportation, freight on the Mount Hood line dwindled, and the Union Pacific proposed abandoning the railroad altogether.
M.O. Stevens/Wikipedia
But the Mount Hood Railroad, a route that traveled some of Oregon's most scenic landscapes, was meant for bigger things.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
So in 1987, a group of local investors purchased the railroad from Union Pacific, for the purpose of recreational rides.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
Today, the Mount Hood Railroad offers a variety of excursions year-round, taking Oregonians through some of the most breathtaking areas around the Hood River Valley.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
The railway offers some truly unique experiences, too; during the holiday season, the polar express expedition is absolutely magical.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
There are also more adult-themed events, like murder mystery dinners and "Wild West" rides.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
And while those unique events are fun, the views really are the main attraction here.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
The Hood River Valley, Columbia River Gorge, Cascade Range, and, of course, Mt. Hood -- these are iconic Oregon vistas that need to be savored.
Mt Hood Railroad/Facebook
When you live in a place as beautiful as Oregon, it's easy to lose sight of just how wondrous it really is.
Tyler Hulett/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Mount Hood Railroad is an opportunity to slow down and savor the splendor that is The Beaver State.

Have you taken a ride aboard the this railroad before? Doesn’t an afternoon on this passenger train in Oregon sound divine?

Hood River really is one of Oregon’s most picturesque places, and is worth a visit on its own!

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Mount Hood Railroad, 110 Railroad Street, Hood River, OR 97031, USA