Can you imagine looking at the Grand Canyon National Park from aboard a train? You can do this, by taking the Grand Canyon Railway, which departs from Williams, Arizona, 30 miles west of Flagstaff.

This train travels past forests of ponderosa pines and parts of the Sonoran Desert into the heart of Canyon country, where you’ll spend the day exploring and hiking before boarding your return trip—just in time for sunset.

Image: Kurt Hänel

The spectacular views of Western Canada, along with the red rock wonders of Colorado and Southern Utah can be fully appreciated through the nearly all-glass cabins of the Rocky Mountaineer.

This luxurious train takes passengers from Denver to Moab, Utah, where they are treated to fine dining and cocktails while enjoying the majestic views.

Image: Taylor Brandon

Travelers aboard the California Zephyr can enjoy a 51-hour journey from Chicago to San Francisco that traverses through the magnificent landscapes of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and northern California.

The ride passes through the Rocky Mountains, travels by the canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, and spends an entire half-day on a trek through the Sierra Nevada, complete with views of Donner Lake and the Truckee River.

Image: Levi Meir Clancy

The Cass Scenic Railroad was originally built in 1901 to transport lumber through the mountains of West Virginia. Today, it helps preserve the legacy of America’s locomotive history. The railroad offers two routes, including a four-and-a-half-hour round-trip journey to Bald Knob—the highest summit of Back Allegheny Mountain at 4,842 feet.

Image: Josh Nezon

The Empire Builder earns its name by traveling along major portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail. This 46-hour train departs daily from Chicago and traverses through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, before concluding in either Seattle or Portland.

Passengers on this less-crowded route can enjoy views of the Mississippi River and the North Dakota plains, as well as the stunning scenery of Glacier National Park in Montana.

Image: Max Bender

The long road from Chicago to Los Angeles can be traveled in great style and comfort aboard the Southwest Chief. The train traverses more than 2,000 miles, passing through Illinois farmlands, the Mississippi River, the red mesas of New Mexico, and the Mojave Desert.

This 40-hour ride can be taken in its entirety or partially, but no serious view collector should miss the most scenic stretch, which spans Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California, including Raton Pass—a National Historic Landmark along the Santa Fe Trail.

Image: Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau

This short, two-hour round trip is available only from May through October, immersing travelers in distinctive New England landscapes, including cranberry bogs, salt marshes, dunes, and woodlands.

The Cape Cod Excursion train offers an amazing sightseeing tour of the Cape’s natural attractions, including the charming Cape Cod Canal.

Image: Melanie Hughes

This 35-hour journey between Los Angeles and Seattle departs daily and stops in some of the West Coast’s greatest cities, including Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Portland.

The southern half of the route features long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline before moving inland to the valleys of the state’s agricultural heart, eventually reaching the snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Mountains. The observation lounge on the train offers the best views in the house.

Image: Lukas Robertson

The final Amtrak train on this list is the Adirondack. This route runs from New York City to Montreal, departing from the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station. The 10-hour ride takes its passengers along the Hudson River up to Albany then passes through Saratoga Springs and Lake Champlain before arriving in Canada.

It is highly recommended to take this route in the fall during peak foliage season to watch New England’s changing autumn colors pass by your window.

Image: Robert Macleod

Imagine being able to drink wine from the beautiful wineries in Napa Valley without worrying about who is going to drive. That is exactly what passengers of the Napa Valley Wine Train can do.

Originally built in 1865 by a local millionaire to transport visitors to a spa resort in Calistoga, the train now offers travelers the chance to sip local vintages from a luxurious railcar while passing vaunted vineyards on a three-hour round-trip journey.

Image: Daniel Salgado