Redwood Valley Railway

Fun experience for everyone, including dogs. The location has a main parking lot and another lot with additional parking.The ride is 12 mins long and there are options for guests to sit in uncovered or covered cars. The staff are all very friendly.Adult tickets are $4 and dogs ride free. This is a wonderfully wholesome experience. It's a lovely and peaceful ride through the redwoods.

This was a great and fun train ride to do with either kids or your dog!We went here on a Sunday with my dog. There was quite a lot of people here and lot was nearly full. Tickets are $4 each for adults. Dogs can ride free. Ticket booth is located at the left of the front of the line. They accept cash, visa, mastercard, and apple pay. The ride is about 13 min long and we sat in the rear since that area had a cover. Would recommend sitting here if it's a windy day so it can block some of the cool air. The train has several cars so while the wait might seem long with several people in line, everyone actually gets seated. The train goes through a nice wooded area and a tunnel. We went near Halloween so the sights were also nicely decorated with Halloween decorations here and there. They have a conductor in the front and then another staff sits at the rear. Keep your hands and feet inside the car and refrain from touching anything outside as the train moves along the track, otherwise they will stop the train to announce you to stop. Train runs on diesel, just random fun fact.If you go past the line and down the ramp, there's another train you can ride and is 8 min long. It's smaller and you sit on benches. This one goes through a tunnel as well and then there's also a bridge it crosses. No fare, but they accept donations. They let me ride with my dog here as well, but I had to hold onto her tight throughout the ride. Train runs on propane and is a 7.5 inch gauge. Quite a fun activity to do and would def go here again in the future!

We love coming to this magical escape. It is relatively easy to access from Orinda or Oakland and they usually have sufficient parking. The lines for the tickets are short and the train ride is so fun. We absolutely love bringing our toddler here.

We've been here multiple times and while the wait is long, it's not unreasonable. The trains are narrow gauge, cars are open air unless you want to sit in the caboose which is a tight squeeze for an adult. The hobbyist area is free but we never make it there on Sundays so we don't have any opinions on it.

I can't believe it took me this long to discover this gem especially since I've been to the Little Farm many times not that far from here. Weekends do tend to boast long lines even in the Fall so about 20 minutes to get on for a 12 minute ride. Unfortunately, you do need to line up again even if you bought a multiple ride tickets. However, with a party of two, you can sometimes skip the line if they want to fill in a few remaining spots before taking off. Be aware that the long line is for boarding the train and not for purchasing the tickets which is closer to the gift shop. Had hoped to return to use my remaining ride during this holiday season but time flew by way too fast.

Fun for the kids. Fun for the adults too. Beautiful park setting a great thing to do with family on the weekend. Fun for the kids. If you've got young ones you have to treat them to this ride. One ride is $4 but they have a separate smaller train that is run off donations. Either one is fun - I would recommend going on both. Fun for the adults. You don't have to be a child to enjoy this ride. It is a highlight of Tilden park and fun for all. I noticed one person in a wheelchair take a ride too. This person likely needed some help but the point is - no matter the age you will enjoy it. Even if you see a long line don't get discouraged. Train rides are a quick ten minutes and the line moves very fast. I suppose if the line is particularly long you could try a free ride on the mini train and then come back. The setting of the area is very peaceful and scenic. Lots of old moss covered trees and cheerful setting with some music and lights that line the walkway. Check schedules - a safe bet is to come on the weekend - but I think at certain times of the year they are open on the weekdays too. 1 or 2 PM on a Sunday or Saturday would be last call - better to go a little earlier. I probably wouldn't have ever known of this place had it not been for a friend letting me know. Tilden Park is so large and this place doesn't seem to be advertised very well. The people working here are such enthusiasts of the trains. Its great to see people so passionate about their work. Worth a visit even if you have to drive 30 minutes.

Steam train ride! Choo choo!After the little farm my son wanted to take his daughter on the steam train!4 dollars per person or 5 tickets for 16. Actually just a stamp card. We were four plus a baby so we have one stamp left which we will most likely use soon.20 minutes or so around the darling little train route! Fun for sure with littles!

We had the best day today because the weather was perfect, and the sky was clear. When we walked up to purchase our tickets, the cashier was so friendly. We stayed in line and waited patiently for the train to be ready for our group to board. The ticket taker was so engaging when he clipped our tickets. The train was clean, and not too loud. We had a great time and were really happy about the close parking lot because all of the excitement really took a lot of energy out of our little boy.

I read the reviews before suggesting arriving early and it's true! We showed up 30 mins after opening on a Sunday and it was already packed. There is a tiny parking lot when you drive in but you're better off driving straight to the additional parking areas. The walk isn't too far but does have an incline/decline.You will see the line for the train as soon as you enter. It's a pretty long train though so if you're at the very back of the line at the entrance then you probably have to wait 2 or 3 rides until your turn. I suggest having someone stand in the line while someone else goes to buy the train ride tickets. The ride itself is about 20 minutes long. It was much cooler weather when we drove up here, plus the breeze from the moving train, so I would recommend bringing a jacket just in case!Tickets are $4 each for anyone age 2 and up. They also have a family pack option for a group of 5 I believe, so you can save a little money. The sides of the train are very low and there aren't seatbelts of course so you'll just want to watch your little ones. Luckily our little guy is too cautious to try anything crazy but he enjoyed the ride and the short tunnel that it takes you through.There are other activities if you walk further past the train but we were approaching naptime so we had to skip out. It's a great little day activity and pretty affordable since parking is free and the train ride isn't a crazy price. The tall trees are beautiful and it's a nice little getaway, I imagine it's a fun thing to do in Christmas time!

It's a very fun place to come to if you're in the area. The train ride lasts about 12 minutes and it's very affordable. Plus, the scenery is very nice. Definitely come here if you're in the area!!!