The Jim Thorpe Scenic Railway is the perfect way to spend a hazy, hot, summer afternoon in the Poconos while out camping. The Jim Thorpe SCenic Railway started in 2005 when a railway bridge was completed across the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania as a sister railway to the Reading & Northern Railroad. In 2020, they began passenger tours into Lehigh Gorge State Park from what is known as the former Central Railroad of New Jersey station. For more information on the vast history of the Railway system in Jim Tirpe starting in the 1800s, visit the Maunch Chunch Historical Society here.
The train boasts a 70-minute ride through the Pocono Mountains starting and ending at Jim Thorpe. For this experience, you will want to drive your personal vehicle from Lehigh Gorge Campground 45 minutes to Jim Thorpe and park at the Train Station. This trip is also available as an Easter Bunny Train Ride from April 1st - April 9th, 2023. Depending on your choice between 4 public train cars of different styles from a vista dome to open-air, an Adult ticket will run you $20-$29/train ride, and a child older than 3 will run you $10-$19. children 2 and under are complimentary.
Private Caboose
For those who enjoy their privacy, the caboose is available for the entire rental at $180 and a maximum of 6 people.
Autumn Leaf Trains
On Select weekends and weekdays late September through early November, Fall Foliage leaf-peeping trains are available due to popular demand. These are 45-minute train rides and occur more frequently than 70-minute train rides. The vista dome is not available for Autumn Leaf Trains.
Bike Trains
For those who like to add a little more exercise to their camping trips, we suggest trying the Bike Train. You are able to take the train either starting at White Haven or Jim Thorpe and then put the bike on the train after for a ride back. This can run you either $39 if using your own bike or $66 if renting a bike. For those who wish to tag along for the ride but aren't interested in biking, a two-way bike ticket is $39/adult or $19/child.
