Halloween Train Rides in Oregon (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 18 min read

Out in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, the Sumpter Valley Railroad dresses its orange diesel with a grinning jack-o'-lantern face for its Halloween runs on Oct 31 and Nov 1. Three Oregon rides still have dates on or after October 14, all gentle pumpkin and costume rides and none haunted: Sumpter's Halloween Express, a steam train on the coast at Rockaway Beach, and a long Halloween lunch run out of Elgin. For rides in other states, start with our state-by-state list of Halloween trains for kids.

Geography decides most of it. Portland families are about 1 hour 45 minutes from the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach, while Sumpter and Elgin sit in the northeast corner of the state, about 2 hours 15 minutes and about 3 hours from Boise. Just across the Columbia, Washington's Headless Horseman run in Yacolt is another close option for Portland.

The short version

  • Portland and Willamette Valley families have the shortest drive to the Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach, about 1 hour 45 minutes away: a one-hour steam ride with trick or treating as kids board, at 5:30 PM on Oct 24 and Oct 30.
  • Boise and eastern Oregon families can pick the short Sumpter Halloween Express, about 45 minutes behind a jack-o'-lantern diesel, with six departures on Oct 31 and Nov 1.
  • Kids who can sit still for a long morning will like Two Rivers Halloween out of Elgin on Oct 31, about 3.5 hours along two rivers with a boxed lunch and a costume raffle.

Sumpter and Elgin both run on Halloween itself, so pick one; the coast train is the only Oregon option before then.

Watercolor of a red train car on a cliffside track heading into a dark tunnel
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Look inside the book

A dark tunnel, a brave corgi. Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi rides into a dark tunnel, gets a little scared, and comes out to a big bright light and happy cheers. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to an Oregon pumpkin train.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Compare every Oregon Halloween train side by side

Every ride on this page in one table: type, dates left, the lowest posted ticket price, ride length, who it suits and whether tickets are still on sale. Tap a ride for the full details.

RideTypeDates leftTicketsLengthBest forStatus
Halloween Express on the Sumpter Valley RailroadSumpterPumpkin and costumeOct 31 to Nov 1 (2 dates)See railroadAbout 45 minutesAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Coast Train on the Oregon Coast Scenic RailroadRockaway BeachPumpkin and costumeOct 24 to Oct 30 (2 dates)From $24About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Two Rivers Halloween on Eagle Cap Train RidesElginPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 31From $45About 3.5 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Oregon Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Oregon Halloween train calendar: what runs which day

Every remaining date for every ride on this page, from today through Halloween weekend. Green is a gentle pumpkin and costume ride, blue is a haunted ride. Tap a ride to jump to its details.

Sumpter: Halloween Express on the Sumpter Valley Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 31Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 45 minutesDates left: Oct 31 to Nov 1

This is a short, friendly Halloween ride: about 45 minutes and 6 miles round trip from the Sumpter Depot, behind an orange diesel locomotive decorated with a grinning jack-o'-lantern face. That face is the detail kids remember, and it makes the train look like it is in costume too.

Saturday, Oct 31 has four trains, at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM, and Sunday, Nov 1 has two, at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. The railroad calls it a family ride, kids 2 and under ride free with a complimentary ticket, and well-behaved pets can come along on a lap. Prices, costume rules and stroller policy were not posted, so check the operator site before you make the drive.

Halloween Express on the Sumpter Valley Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween train, family ride, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1
Tickets
On sale as of Oct 14; all six departures bookable, none sold out
Times
Sat Oct 31 at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM; Sun Nov 1 at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM
Ride length
About 45 minutes, 6 miles round trip
What's included
A short Halloween ride behind an orange diesel decorated with a grinning jack-o'-lantern face
Price
Not posted; check the operator site. Children 2 and under ride free with a complimentary ticket
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the railroad calls it a family ride
Costumes
The railroad has not posted costume rules; check the operator site No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Sumpter Depot, 211 W Austin St, Sumpter, OR 97877

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Rockaway Beach: Halloween Coast Train on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 24Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $24About 1 hourDates left: Oct 24 to Oct 30

The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad decorates its steam train in what it calls a not-so-spooky fashion, and kids in costume trick or treat as they board at the Rockaway Beach depot by the red caboose. The ride runs about an hour round trip along the coast toward Garibaldi with no layover, every child ticket comes with a gift bag, and there is complimentary apple cider.

It runs just twice, Saturday, Oct 24 and Friday, Oct 30, both at 5:30 PM. Indoor seats are $37 for adults and $28 for kids 3 to 12; the covered outdoor cars, where dogs can ride, are $32 and $24. Kids 2 and under ride free. There are no restrooms on board, and tickets are nonrefundable but can be exchanged within 2026.

Halloween Coast Train on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Early evening steam train, not-so-spooky, all ages
Dates left
Sat Oct 24 and Fri Oct 30
Tickets
Both departures bookable as of Oct 14; none sold out
Times
5:30 PM on both dates
Ride length
About 1 hour round trip toward Garibaldi, no layover
What's included
A steam train ride along the coast, trick or treating while boarding for kids in costume, a gift bag for each child ticket and complimentary apple cider
Price
Indoor cars $37 adults, $28 kids 3 to 12; outdoor cars $32 adults, $24 kids; 2 and under free
Ages and scare level
All ages; the railroad says it is decorated in a not-so-spooky fashion
Costumes
Costumes highly encouraged for all ages
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Rockaway Beach depot by the Red Caboose, Rockaway Beach, OR (street address not posted; check the operator site)

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Elgin: Two Rivers Halloween on Eagle Cap Train Rides

Next: Sat Oct 31Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $45About 3.5 hoursDates left: Oct 31

This is the long one. Eagle Cap Train Rides leaves Elgin at 10:00 AM on Halloween for a 38-mile round trip along the Grande Ronde and Wallowa rivers, getting back at about 1:30 PM. A boxed lunch is included, and anyone riding in costume is entered in a raffle for Halloween prizes. The railroad describes a standard scenic ride with Halloween fun, not a haunted trip.

Adults are $90, seniors 60 and up $85, youth 3 to 16 $45, and kids under 3 ride free; children 12 and under must ride with an adult. At about 3.5 hours, it suits kids who can sit happily through a long ride more than restless toddlers. The railroad has not posted stroller or parking details for Elgin, so check the operator site.

Two Rivers Halloween on Eagle Cap Train Rides at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime scenic Halloween ride with lunch, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Bookable as of Oct 14; not sold out
Times
Departs Elgin 10:00 AM, returns about 1:30 PM
Ride length
About 3.5 hours, 38 miles round trip
What's included
A scenic ride along the Grande Ronde and Wallowa rivers, a boxed lunch and a costume raffle with Halloween prizes
Price
$90 adults, $85 seniors 60+, $45 youth 3 to 16, under 3 free
Ages and scare level
All ages; youth 12 and under must ride with an adult
Costumes
Riders in costume are entered in a prize raffle
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Elgin depot, Elgin, OR (street address not posted; check the operator site)

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Spooky Train Ride: Halloween shirts

The tunnel page from the book, Rally on his red seat in the dark, is printed on black shirts in sizes for the whole family, from baby to 5XL. Skip the costume hassle: no masks to fog up, no capes caught in the train door, just a shirt that already says Halloween and layers under a coat on a cold platform. A matching set makes for easy pumpkin train photos. See everything in the Rally shop.

A Jack-o'-Lantern Engine Is About as Spooky as Oregon Gets

Nervous kids can relax in Oregon this year: none of the three rides is haunted. The Sumpter Halloween Express runs in daylight for about 45 minutes, and its most dramatic feature is the grinning pumpkin face on the locomotive. The coast train is decorated in what the railroad calls a not-so-spooky fashion, though it does run into the evening, and the Elgin trip is a scenic lunch ride with a costume raffle.

If a very small child is unsure about a big engine with a face, show them a photo on the railroad's site before the trip and talk about it as the train wearing a costume, just like they are. Let them wave at it from the platform before you board.

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally wakes up early, sees the suitcase by the door, and packs his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. A Halloween morning in Sumpter, near freezing in the Blue Mountains after a long drive, calls for packing like Rally: mittens, a warm hat, snacks, a favorite toy, and a few of our printable Rally pictures to color for the car.

Rally was my mom's idea long before he was a book, and our story explains how he got here.

Frosty Mornings in the Blue Mountains, Drizzle West of the Cascades

Sumpter sits in eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains, which are cold on Halloween and often near freezing in the morning. The Saturday train leaves at 11:00 AM, so dress kids in warm layers with the costume over the top, and bring hats and gloves for the platform.

If you are coming from the Willamette Valley, you are leaving wet, mild weather for high, cold country. Pack rain gear for the drive and winter layers for the ride. The Rockaway Beach train is the opposite trip, out to the coast at 5:30 PM, so bring rain jackets and a warm layer for the ride back after dark.

Portland Is Closest to the Coast, Boise to Sumpter and Elgin

Approximate times with no traffic; mountain roads in late October can be slower, so build in extra time for a morning departure in Sumpter or Elgin.

Drive times, no traffic

Sumpter
about 5 hr from Portland; about 2 hr 15 min from Boise
Rockaway Beach
about 1 hr 45 min from Portland
Elgin
about 4 hr 30 min from Portland; about 3 hr from Boise

What Oregon Parents Should Know Before Heading to Sumpter

  • Sumpter's Halloween Express now has six departures: Oct 31 at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM, and Nov 1 at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Kids 2 and under ride free with a complimentary ticket, and well-behaved pets can ride on a lap.
  • From Portland, Sumpter is about 5 hours each way, so most western Oregon families will turn it into an overnight trip.
  • The Rockaway Beach coast train has no restrooms on board and is not wheelchair accessible from Rockaway Beach; tickets are nonrefundable but can be exchanged within 2026.
  • Elgin's Two Rivers Halloween takes about 3.5 hours with a boxed lunch included, and kids 12 and under must ride with an adult.
  • Sumpter Valley prices, and stroller and parking rules for all three railroads, were not posted, so check each operator site.
  • The Mount Hood Railroad's Harvest Train is a fall harvest ride, not a Halloween train, so do not expect costumes or Halloween theming there.

The Closest Halloween Trains to Portland Are in Washington

Just across the Columbia, the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman Halloween Run in Yacolt, Washington, is about 50 minutes from Portland, a gentle daytime ride through a rock tunnel on Oct 24 and 25. Farther north, the Northwest Railway Museum's costume train in Snoqualmie is about 3 hours 30 minutes away on weekends through Nov 1. Both are on our Washington Halloween train guide, along with the Chehalis and Mt. Rainier rides that have wrapped or reported selling out.

Idaho has no confirmed Halloween railroad this year, which is why Boise families come to Sumpter, about 2 hours 15 minutes away; our Idaho page has more. Southern Oregon families can also look south to the pumpkin and haunted rides on our California list, though most are a long drive.

A train book for the ride

For a full-size train day out of Portland with no costumes needed, our guides to the Coast Starlight with young kids and the Empire Builder as a family are a different kind of adventure.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the line at the depot or the drive home.

Get the free coloring pages for Sumpter
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents, including one dark tunnel he is brave enough to ride through. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Sources

Checked against each railroad’s own pages and ticket calendars on October 14, 2026. Dates, prices and policies change, so confirm with the railroad before you go.

Oregon Parents' Questions About Halloween Trains From Rockaway Beach to Sumpter

What Halloween events are there for kids in Sumpter, Oregon?

One family Halloween event in Sumpter is the Sumpter Valley Railroad's Halloween Express, a gentle daytime ride with trains at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM on Saturday, Oct 31, and 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM on Sunday, Nov 1. The trip is about 45 minutes behind an orange diesel with a grinning jack-o'-lantern face. Kids 2 and under ride free; other fares are on the railroad's site.

What Halloween events are there for kids in Rockaway Beach, Oregon?

One family Halloween event in Rockaway Beach is the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's Halloween Coast Train, at 5:30 PM on Saturday, Oct 24 and Friday, Oct 30. Kids in costume trick or treat while boarding, each child ticket includes a gift bag, and the steam train runs about an hour along the coast toward Garibaldi. Indoor seats are $37 for adults and $28 for kids 3 to 12.

Is there anything to do for Halloween with kids in Elgin, Oregon?

Yes, Eagle Cap Train Rides runs Two Rivers Halloween from Elgin on Saturday, Oct 31, leaving at 10:00 AM and returning about 1:30 PM. The 38-mile round trip follows the Grande Ronde and Wallowa rivers, a boxed lunch is included, and costumed riders are entered in a prize raffle. Adults are $90, youth 3 to 16 are $45, and kids under 3 ride free.

Is there a Halloween train in Oregon this year?

Yes, three this year, all gentle. The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's Halloween Coast Train runs from Rockaway Beach on Oct 24 and 30, the Sumpter Valley Railroad's Halloween Express runs Oct 31 and Nov 1, and Eagle Cap Train Rides' Two Rivers Halloween leaves Elgin on Oct 31. None of the three is billed as a haunted ride.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Portland, Oregon?

The closest Oregon Halloween train to Portland is the Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach, about 1 hour 45 minutes away, a not-so-spooky steam ride at 5:30 PM on Oct 24 and Oct 30. Across the river in Washington, the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman run in Yacolt is about 50 minutes away on Oct 24 and 25. Sumpter and Elgin are long drives, about 5 hours and 4 hours 30 minutes.

Is there a Halloween train ride near Boise for families?

Yes, two. The Sumpter Valley Railroad's Halloween Express in Sumpter, Oregon, is about 2 hours 15 minutes from Boise, a 45-minute ride behind a jack-o'-lantern diesel on Oct 31 and Nov 1. Eagle Cap Train Rides' Two Rivers Halloween in Elgin is about 3 hours away on Oct 31, a longer lunch trip along two rivers. Our research found no Halloween railroad running in Idaho this year.

Can kids wear costumes on the Sumpter Valley and Oregon Coast Halloween trains?

Yes on the coast: the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad highly encourages costumes for all ages, and kids in costume trick or treat as they board. Eagle Cap Train Rides enters costumed riders in a prize raffle on its Elgin trip. The Sumpter Valley Railroad has not posted costume rules, so check the operator site, and put any costume over warm layers in the Blue Mountains.

Is the Sumpter Halloween Express too scary for a toddler?

No, it should be fine for most toddlers. The Sumpter Valley Railroad calls it a family ride, it runs in daylight, and it lasts about 45 minutes. The spookiest thing about it is the grinning jack-o'-lantern face on the orange diesel. If your toddler is wary of big engines, let them watch from the platform first.

Are tickets still available for Oregon Halloween trains this weekend?

There is no Oregon Halloween train this weekend, Oct 17 and 18. As of October 14, the next one is the Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach on Saturday, Oct 24, which was bookable, and Sumpter and Elgin both run on Oct 31, with all six Sumpter departures open. For a ride this weekend, the nearest option is Snoqualmie, Washington, though its early trains were nearly full.

Is the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad running a Halloween train in 2026?

Yes. The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's Halloween Coast Train runs from Rockaway Beach at 5:30 PM on Saturday, Oct 24 and Friday, Oct 30, an hour-long round trip toward Garibaldi. Outdoor car seats are $32 for adults and $24 for kids, indoor seats $37 and $28, and dogs can ride in the covered outdoor car. Both dates were bookable as of October 14.

Is the Mount Hood Railroad Harvest Train a Halloween train?

No, the Mount Hood Railroad's Harvest Train is a fall harvest ride, not a Halloween train, so do not count on costumes or Halloween theming. For a Halloween ride in Oregon, look at the Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach, the Sumpter Valley Halloween Express, or Two Rivers Halloween out of Elgin.

How long is the Sumpter Valley Halloween Express ride?

The Halloween Express lasts about 45 minutes and covers 6 miles round trip from the Sumpter Depot, short enough for most preschoolers. Saturday, Oct 31 has trains at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM, and Sunday, Nov 1 has trains at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM, so you can pick one that fits around naps.

How cold is Sumpter, Oregon on Halloween?

Expect cold. The Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon are often near freezing on Halloween morning, much colder than Portland or the coast. Dress kids in winter layers with costumes on top, and bring hats and gloves for the platform, especially if you book one of the 11:00 AM trains on Oct 31 or Nov 1.

Is there a pumpkin train near Portland for little kids?

Not a pumpkin patch train, but there are gentle Halloween trains within a reasonable drive. The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's Halloween Coast Train in Rockaway Beach, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Portland, has trick or treating and gift bags for kids. In Washington, Yacolt's Headless Horseman run is about 50 minutes away. The Chehalis-Centralia Pumpkin Train ran Oct 10 and 11 and has wrapped.

Is the Eagle Cap Two Rivers Halloween ride too long for young kids?

It may be for toddlers. Two Rivers Halloween runs about 3.5 hours, leaving Elgin at 10:00 AM and returning about 1:30 PM, with a boxed lunch on board. That is a long stretch for a two-year-old, though kids under 3 ride free, and youth 12 and under must ride with an adult. Families with preschoolers may prefer Sumpter's 45-minute ride the same day.

Kelsey Cecil
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