Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, California

Step back in time for a magical ride through the redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train. Since 1885 the historic Skunk has made its way through old-growth redwood groves, over scenic trestle bridges, through spectacular tunnels, and into the heart of the Noyo River canyon. Today’s riders enjoy the same pristine views that have remained largely unchanged for well over a century.

Pudding Creek Express
Fun for the whole family, departing year-round from Fort Bragg. Enjoy a 7-mile, 75-minute, roundtrip along the Pudding Creek Estuary with a stopover at The Glen to explore the redwoods, enjoy snacks and beverages, and play games.

Wolf Tree Turn
This scenic 16-mile, 2 hour round trip journey will take you from the Willits valley floor to the highest point on our rail line. During this trip you will pass through Tunnel #2 and descend into the redwood-thick Noyo River Canyon – an amazing ecological wonderland, and an excellent opportunity to discover the mighty giants that made Mendocino County famous.

The train will stop briefly at Crowley while you enjoy the splendor of one of the oldest and most iconic trees along our route. The Wolf Tree was so named for the large growth off of one side – woodsman called these wolf trees because they choke out smaller trees and underbrush. Passengers are able to get off the train during our stop at Crowley, to better enjoy the views. You'll make the trip to Crowley on board one of our historic Diesel-Electric engines.

Days of Steam
Experience the Chiggen, an authentic steam locomotive, on the Redwood Route. Pulled by an authentic, historic California Steam Locomotive, you can step back in time while you enjoy a scenic 7-mile round trip along the beautiful Pudding Creek Estuary – home to blue herons, ospreys, egrets, and more. This trip departs from our Fort Bragg depot, and takes one hour and 15 minutes round trip, with a stop at Glen Blair Junction.

This roundtrip takes you over the first tracks laid down by the California Western Railroad, and along the beautiful Pudding Creek Estuary. Returning our roots, this steam locomotive mirrors the locomotive that originally ran on these tracks in 1885. Pulling original authentic passenger cars of the era and an open-air car, step back in time to the Days of Steam amongst the towering Redwoods.

An American Legacy
In the early 1880s, lumbermen C.R. Johnson, Calvin Stewart, and James Hunter joined together to expand timber operations in Mendocino County. By 1885 the Fort Bragg Railroad was formed to make transporting lumber easier. This would form the foundation of what would eventually become the California Western Railroad, more commonly known as The Skunk.

The train played a vital role during this time in transporting families and workers who set up the various logging camps along the route and in doing so, became an entirely different type of line. It played an important part not only in the area's industrial life, but also in its social and cultural activities. No other logging railroad in America has made the deep impression on American life that was created by the line from Fort Bragg – first by the natural beauty of its route and later, by the distinctiveness of its equipment.

A Train Called Skunk
The nickname “Skunk” originated in 1925, when motorcars were introduced (today sometimes referred to as railbuses or railcruisers). These single unit, self-propelled motorcars had gasoline-powered engines for power and pot-bellied stoves burning crude oil to keep the passengers warm.

The combination of the fumes created a very pungent odor, and the old timers living along the line said these motorcars were like skunks, “You could smell them before you could see them.” Although the smell is now much reduced, we still like to think of ourselves as that little Skunk running through the redwoods.

Caretakers in Time
California Western Railroad was initially operated as a division of the Fort Bragg mill (Union Lumber Company, Boise-Cascade). In the mid-1960s, Arizona-based Kyle Railways began managing the railroad and purchased it in 1987. In August 1996, a group comprised entirely of local Mendocino Coast investors purchased California Western, marking the first time in its 111-year history that the line would be operated as an independent business.

Today the Skunk Train is owned and operated by Mendocino Railway.