What Is Train Mountain?

Train Mountain is a very real place nestled among the beautiful pine forests of Southern Oregon. It is home to the world's longest rideable miniature railroad—and yes, even the Guinness World Records thinks it's pretty cool!

With more than 37 miles of miniature railroad track, Train Mountain is unlike anywhere else in the world. You can literally ride your train for hours, winding through towering pines, across bridges, past meadows, and around gentle curves. It's the kind of place where you can let your mind wander, breathe a little deeper, and simply enjoy the journey.

It's actually hard to describe because Train Mountain is so much more than a railroad.

What makes it truly special is the people.

Visitors come from every walk of life, brought together by a shared love of trains, nature, and adventure. Whether you're an experienced railroader or someone who's never ridden a miniature train before, you'll quickly discover something wonderful — the people here are incredibly kind, welcoming, and eager to share this remarkable place.

And once you experience riding a miniature train through the forest... well... you'll understand why so many people keep coming back year after year.

Why It's Such a Special Place

People often think Train Mountain is all about trains.

The trains are certainly amazing — but what makes this place truly unforgettable is the people.

It's the peaceful mornings beneath the pines. The wildflowers growing beside the tracks. The laughter of children riding their first miniature train. The friendships that grow around campfires and shared projects.

There's a feeling here that's hard to describe until you've experienced it yourself.

The Railroad

The railroad at Train Mountain is built to 1/8-scale, giving visitors the experience of riding a miniature railroad that feels surprisingly real. Every mile of track has been lovingly built and maintained by dedicated volunteers whose passion and craftsmanship have created something truly extraordinary.

More than 37 miles of track wind through forests, meadows, bridges, tunnels, and charming little towns, carrying passengers into parts of the mountain that can only be reached by rail. Around every bend you'll discover delightful details, whimsical scenes, and beautiful views that make each ride a little different from the last.

And don't forget to keep your eyes peeled! Deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and countless other forest creatures call Train Mountain home. Half the fun is seeing what wildlife might be waiting just around the next curve.

Whether it's your very first ride or your hundredth, there's always something new to discover around the next bend.

The Volunteers

Train Mountain exists because of the thousands of hours generously given by its dedicated volunteers.

They build track, care for the grounds, restore locomotives and equipment, welcome visitors, and freely share their time so others can experience the magic of this extraordinary place.

Whether it's raking pine needles and cones to keep the track clear, repairing bumps and gaps so every ride is smooth, building tunnels, crafting stations and miniature towns, maintaining buildings, or creating the countless details that make Train Mountain feel so alive, there is no job too small. Every task helps preserve this remarkable place for future generations.

One of my favorite things is knowing that nearly everything you see has a story behind it. The depots, bridges, tunnels, signs, towns, and so many of the charming little details were imagined, designed, and lovingly built by volunteers. They aren't just maintaining a railroad — they're creating an experience that delights visitors of all ages.

What has always impressed me most is that the volunteers don't just work hard — they do it with a smile. They genuinely enjoy sharing this special place with others, and that spirit is contagious.

Their passion, generosity, and kindness are woven into every mile of railroad, making Train Mountain feel less like a destination and more like a family.

The Spirit of the Mountain

What I love most about Train Mountain isn't something you can measure on a map.

It's a feeling.

A place where people slow down.

Where strangers become friends.

Where nature and railroading exist side by side.

Where every visit seems to create another story worth telling.

The very first time I rode through the mountain, I spotted a little chipmunk darting along the tracks. It disappeared into the trees almost as quickly as it had appeared, but it left me with a question I couldn't stop thinking about.

"I wonder what they're doing when we're not looking?"

Do they have little homes beneath the trees? Do they watch the trains go by? Do they know the engineers? Are they raising families, gathering treasures, and having adventures of their own?

Those simple questions became long conversations, and before long the idea of a hidden woodland world began to take shape. Little by little, Goldie, Mitch, Zinny, Zippy, Grandma Larkspur, and all of their friends found their way into my imagination.

The stories seemed to write themselves because Train Mountain already had the most important ingredient...

Wonder.

That spirit is what inspired me to begin writing Train Mountain Tails, and my hope is that these stories encourage children — and the grown-ups who read with them — to slow down, look a little closer, and imagine the hidden world that might be waiting just beyond the tracks.

How Goldie and Mitch Fit Into This Real Place

Goldie, Mitch, Zinny, Zippy, Grandma Larkspur, and all of their woodland friends are fictional characters, but the world they call home is inspired by the very real forests, trails, gardens, and railroad that surround Train Mountain.

Many of the places you'll encounter throughout the stories are based on real locations. As you ride the railroad or walk the trails, you may recognize familiar names, winding paths, beautiful gardens, towering pines, and quiet corners that found their way into the pages of the books. The settings are real — even if the tiny woodland families who live there exist only in our imaginations.

You'll also discover that a few of the human characters were inspired by some very special people. If you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of Debra tending the echinacea near the turntable, or Ronnie and his faithful dog, Marigold, making their way down the tracks. They're just a few of the real people whose kindness, generosity, and love of Train Mountain helped shape these stories.

One of my greatest hopes is that after reading Train Mountain Tails, you'll never look at the forest quite the same way again. Perhaps you'll notice a chipmunk disappearing beneath a log, a squirrel racing up a pine tree, or a feather resting beside the tracks and wonder if it has a story to tell.

Who knows... maybe Goldie and Mitch were just there moments before you arrived.

The hidden world may be imaginary, but the beauty, kindness, and sense of wonder that inspired these stories are as real as the mountain itself. All it takes is a little imagination—and the willingness to slow down, look a little closer, and believe that every forest has a story waiting to be discovered.

Planning a Visit

Thinking about experiencing Train Mountain for yourself?

Train Mountain is owned and operated by the Train Mountain Institute (TMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing this extraordinary place. Whether you're interested in attending one of the public events, learning more about the world's longest rideable miniature railroad, or discovering how to become part of the Train Mountain family, the official Train Mountain websites are the best place to begin.

There you'll find the latest information about public events, visitor opportunities, directions, accommodations, and everything you'll need to plan your adventure.

If this is your first visit, don't be surprised if you leave already planning your next one. Train Mountain has a wonderful way of making people feel at home.

Ready to Explore?

I hope that one day our paths cross beneath the tall pines. Until then... keep wondering, keep exploring, and remember that sometimes the most wonderful stories begin in very real places.