Chelatchie Prairie Railroad in Yacolt, Washington
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesVolunteer-run excursions May through December
The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad is an all-volunteer tourist railroad that runs excursion trains from its station in downtown Yacolt over a line whose roots go back to Vancouver's first railroad, chartered in 1887.
- All-volunteer railroad
- Station in downtown Yacolt
- Line chartered in 1887
- Runs May through December
- Santa trains on December weekends
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- Runs May through December on scheduled dates; check the ticket site
- Admission
- Priced per trip; see the online ticket listing
- Train rides
- Diesel excursion trains from Yacolt on scheduled weekends, May through December
- Seasonal events
- Headless Horseman Halloween Train, Patriot's Weekend Run, Christmas Santa Train
- Best for
- Families wanting a real train ride through the woods
- Best ages
- Preschool and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address207 N Railroad Ave, Yacolt, WA 98675(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(360) 686-3559
- Websitetickets.bycx.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Chelatchie Prairie Railroad? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Yacolt.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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From a Vancouver businessman's survey to a volunteer excursion line
The railroad's own history begins with L.M. Hidden, a Vancouver businessman who farmed, made bricks, ran a hotel and helped form the Clark County Fair Association. A family story, which the railroad notes is unverified, says a picnic at Moulton Falls convinced Hidden and his friends that the timber in those hills was worth a railroad. What is on record is that on July 8, 1886 Hidden and five associates set out from Vancouver to survey a route toward Yakima, returning a month later sure that a practical line could be built.
In September 1887 the Clark County Register reported that the Vancouver, Klickitat and Yakima, Vancouver's first railroad, had been incorporated, with Hidden as vice-president. Work began in January 1888 and the first locomotive reached Vancouver that December. The grand plan of crossing Klickitat Pass and linking with transcontinental lines at Yakima never came to pass: the line got as far as Brush Prairie before a depression drained the money, and in November 1897 it was sold and renamed the Portland, Vancouver and Yakima.
The new owners were soon hauling 50,000 board feet of logs a day into Vancouver. By September 1901 four work camps were pushing the rails toward Yacolt, and crews were cutting a 300-foot tunnel at Moulton Falls between the Lewis River and Battle Ground. The line later became a Northern Pacific branch, was operated for years by the Longview, Portland and Northern, and passed through a string of operators in the 1980s and 1990s.
Today Clark County owns the railroad and its right of way, the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad leases the line, and the all-volunteer BYCX group runs the tourist trains out of downtown Yacolt.
Riding out of Yacolt into the Clark County hills
A visit centers on the ride itself. Trains board at the station on North Railroad Avenue in Yacolt and travel through the evergreen forest, rolling hills and farmland of northern Clark County, following the old logging line toward Moulton Falls and Chelatchie Prairie before returning. Excursions are pulled by diesel power, and the railroad groups its regular runs under the name Diesel Excursion on its ticket site.
Along the way you cross country that once fed logs to the Columbia River ports, including the approach to the bridge over the East Fork of the Lewis River. Through the season the volunteers add themed trips: the visitor bureau has listed Christmas tree runs, murder mysteries and staged holdups among past special events, and the current schedule includes Halloween, Patriot's Weekend and Christmas trains.
Don’t miss
- The Yacolt stationThe ride starts in downtown Yacolt at 207 N Railroad Ave, the end of the line that crews raced to reach in 1901 and 1902.
- Moulton FallsThe picnic spot that, by family legend, sparked the whole railroad, and the site of the 300-foot tunnel dug during the push to Yacolt.
- The East Fork Lewis River bridgeOne of the scenic high points of the line through north Clark County.
- Headless Horseman Halloween TrainThe railroad's resident Headless Horseman makes an appearance on late October runs.
- Christmas Santa TrainWeekend Christmas Special Trains carry families out to visit Santa from late November through mid December.
Big windows, deep woods and a Horseman in October
For kids the draw is simple: a real train ride through tall forest, with a river crossing and a station stop at each end. Themed trains add a story, from the Headless Horseman in October to Santa on the December weekend trains, which makes the trip feel like an event rather than just a ride.
The railroad does not post age guidance or a time length for each trip, so check the ticket listing for your run. Bring layers for the open country, since the line runs through hills and forest well into the autumn and winter months.
Plan your visit: tips for Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
- Buy tickets through the railroad's online ticket site, where each run is listed by date.
- Holiday trains run only on selected weekends, so book early in the season.
- The station is at 207 N Railroad Ave in Yacolt; mail goes to a Battle Ground PO box, so do not drive there.
- Call (360) 686-3559 with questions, or use the contact form on the ticket site.
Autumn and winter are the railroad's busiest seasons. The Headless Horseman Halloween Train runs on the last weekend of October in 2026 (see more Halloween train rides in Washington), Patriot's Weekend in mid November rides through the last of the fall color, and Christmas Santa Trains run on weekends from November 28 to December 20, 2026. For more holiday options statewide, browse our list of Christmas train rides in Washington.
An all-volunteer crew in north Clark County
The excursions are run by BYCX, an all-volunteer organization, on a line that Clark County owns and the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad leases. Every ticket sold helps keep the trains running, and the railroad's Facebook page is the best place to follow schedules and ask about helping out.
Rail stops across the Columbia
Portland is the nearest cluster: the Oregon Rail Heritage Center is about 28 miles away, and the Washington Park and Zoo Railway is about 27 miles. Farther out, the Mount Hood Railroad is about 45 miles from Yacolt. For more in this state, see every train museum in Washington.
- Portland Vintage Trolley historical collectionPortland, OR · about 27 mi
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway historic collectionPortland, Oregon, OR · about 27 mi
- Oregon Rail Heritage CenterPortland, OR · about 28 mi
- Oregon Pacific Railroad historic excursionsPortland area, OR · about 31 mi
- Willamette Shore TrolleyLake Oswego / Portland, OR · about 33 mi
- Mount Hood RailroadHood River, OR · about 45 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This line runs through forest, farmland and over the East Fork of the Lewis River, and I can just see a little face pressed to the glass the whole way. In our book Rally stares out an arched window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Here the view is evergreens and river water instead of waves, but that same nose-on-the-window wonder is the best part of any train ride. Our coloring pages make a nice quiet activity for the drive.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
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. 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
- Train museums in Washington: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Washington
- Halloween train rides in Washington
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Chelatchie Prairie Railroad official website(opens in a new tab)
- Chelatchie Prairie Railroad on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad: 20 questions riders ask
How do I buy Chelatchie Prairie Railroad tickets?
Tickets are sold online through the railroad's ticket site, where each run is listed by date and you add it to a cart. Regular trips are grouped as Diesel Excursions, and holiday trains have their own listing. If you have trouble ordering, call (360) 686-3559 or use the contact form on the ticket site.
How much does the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad cost?
Fares are set per trip and shown on each listing on the railroad's online ticket site, so prices can differ between regular excursions and holiday trains. The railroad does not post a single fare chart on its main page. Check the listing for your date before you go, or call (360) 686-3559 with questions.
Where is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad station?
The station is at 207 N Railroad Ave in Yacolt, Washington 98675, in downtown Yacolt in north Clark County. That is where trains board. The railroad's mailing address is a PO box in Battle Ground, so use the Railroad Avenue address for your GPS rather than the mailing address.
What is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad schedule?
The railroad operates May through December, with trains on selected dates rather than every day. As of October 2026, upcoming runs include Halloween trains on October 24 and 25, Patriot's Weekend on November 14 and 15, and Santa trains every weekend from November 28 to December 20. Departure times are on each ticket listing.
What route does the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad take?
Trains leave Yacolt and run through the forests, hills and farmland of northern Clark County, following the historic logging line toward Moulton Falls and Chelatchie Prairie before returning. The route includes the approach to a bridge over the East Fork of the Lewis River. Specific turnaround points can vary by trip, so check your ticket listing.
Is there a map of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad line?
The railroad's ticket site does not post a route map. In short, the line runs from Yacolt through north Clark County toward Moulton Falls and Chelatchie Prairie, on track owned by Clark County. Clark County has published presentation material about the railroad, and the volunteers can answer route questions at (360) 686-3559.
Is there a Chelatchie Prairie Railroad trail?
The railroad's own site is about train rides and does not describe a walking trail along the line. Clark County owns the railroad and its right of way, so questions about walking near the tracks or nearby parks such as Moulton Falls are best directed to the county. Stay off active track, since trains still run here.
Does the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad run a Christmas train?
Yes. Christmas Santa Trains, which the railroad also calls Christmas Special Trains, give families a ride to visit Santa. As of October 2026, they run Saturdays and Sundays on November 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20. Book online, since holiday weekends are the railroad's most popular dates.
Does the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad do a Halloween train?
Yes. The Headless Horseman Halloween Train lets riders celebrate Halloween with the railroad's resident Headless Horseman. As of October 2026, it runs on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Tickets are on the railroad's online ticket site under the Diesel Excursion listings.
What is Patriot's Weekend on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
Patriot's Weekend is a mid November excursion timed to catch the last of the autumn color along the line, with crisp fall air in the forest. As of October 2026, it runs Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15. Tickets are sold online like the other excursions.
What kind of train is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
It is a diesel-powered excursion train. The railroad lists its regular runs as Diesel Excursions and describes its equipment as vintage trains. It is a heritage railroad run on a historic logging branch line, so the focus is on the ride through the countryside rather than an indoor museum.
How long is a ride on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
The railroad does not post a standard trip length on its main page, and themed trains can differ from regular excursions. Check the details on your ticket listing, or call (360) 686-3559 before you go, so you can plan the rest of your day in north Clark County around the departure and return.
Who runs the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
The excursion trains are run by BYCX, an all-volunteer organization based in Yacolt. Clark County owns the railroad and the right of way, and the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad holds a lease from the county to operate on the line. The volunteers handle the tourist trains from downtown Yacolt.
What is the history of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
The line began as the Vancouver, Klickitat and Yakima, incorporated in 1887 as Vancouver's first railroad. It reached Brush Prairie, went broke and was sold in 1897, becoming the Portland, Vancouver and Yakima, which built on to Yacolt by about 1902. It later served as a Northern Pacific branch and was operated by the Longview, Portland and Northern.
Why was the railroad to Yacolt built?
Timber. L.M. Hidden and his partners saw the forests around Moulton Falls and the route to Yakima as a source of logs, wheat and possibly coal. Within months of the 1897 sale, the railroad was carrying 50,000 board feet of logs a day into Vancouver, and in the logging boom the line fed logs to Columbia River ports.
Is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad good for young kids?
A train ride through the woods with a Headless Horseman in October or Santa in December is a strong pick for young kids. The railroad does not post age guidance, a length for each trip, or details on restrooms aboard, so families with toddlers may want to call (360) 686-3559 before booking.
Is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad wheelchair accessible?
The railroad does not post accessibility details on its ticket site. Vintage rail cars often have steps, so if you need help boarding or space for a wheelchair, call (360) 686-3559 or send a note through the contact form before you buy tickets so the volunteers can tell you what to expect.
Where can I see Chelatchie Prairie Railroad photos?
The railroad's Facebook page, Chelatchie Prairie Railroad (BYCX), is the best place for photos of the trains, the volunteers and special events, and it has thousands of followers who share pictures from their rides. It is also where the railroad posts updates during the operating season.
Is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad on Facebook?
Yes. The railroad's Facebook page is listed as Chelatchie Prairie Railroad (BYCX) in Yacolt. It describes itself there as an all-volunteer railroad in north Clark County that operates May through December. Message the page or call (360) 686-3559 for questions about upcoming trains.
What other train attractions are near the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad?
Portland is about 27 to 28 miles away, with the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway and the city's vintage trolley collection. The Willamette Shore Trolley is about 33 miles away, and the Mount Hood Railroad in Hood River is about 45 miles from Yacolt.
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