Great Northern & Cascade Railway in Skykomish, Washington
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesFreeFree train rides May to October on weekends and holidays; limited winter hours
The Great Northern & Cascade Railway is a volunteer-run 7 1/2 inch gauge railroad, museum and souvenir shop in Skykomish, sharing the story of the Great Northern Railway in the Skykomish Valley with free rides for all ages.
- Free train rides
- 7 1/2 inch gauge railroad
- Over 2,700 feet of track
- Museum in historic Great Northern depot
- Weekends May to October
- Volunteer-run nonprofit
Great Northern & Cascade Railway at a glance
- Hours
- Rides weekends and holidays May through October; limited museum and gift shop hours in winter
- Admission
- Train rides are free
- Train rides
- Free 7 1/2 inch gauge train rides on weekends and holidays, May through October
- Best for
- Families with young kids on a Highway 2 road trip
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address101 5th St N, Skykomish, WA 98288(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(425) 395-2952
- Websitegnandcr.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Great Northern & Cascade Railway
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Great Northern & Cascade Railway? 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 Skykomish.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
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.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Volunteers keeping the Great Northern story alive in Skykomish
The Great Northern & Cascade Railway is a Washington 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers in Skykomish, a small mountain town on Highway 2. Its focus is sharing the history of the Great Northern Railway throughout the Skykomish Valley and beyond, and it does that in two ways: a ride-on 7 1/2 inch gauge railroad that carries visitors for free, and a museum and souvenir shop in the town's historic depot.
That depot is a piece of history in its own right. The Skykomish Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington Heritage Register, and it is one of the last wood-frame Great Northern depots left in the state. Today it also houses the Skykomish Visitors Center. The railway's live steam and miniature trains, together with a railroad education program, have made it a favorite stop for families heading over the pass.
A depot museum and a ride-on railroad
Inside the depot you will find the museum and gift shop, with exhibits on local and railway history. Outside, the 7 1/2 inch gauge railroad runs over more than 2,700 feet of track, and visitors ride along on the small trains. Visitors often mention that the depot sits right beside an active railroad, so real trains may pass during your visit.
Don’t miss
- The free train rideRide-on trains over more than 2,700 feet of 7 1/2 inch gauge track, offered at no charge during the riding season.
- The Skykomish DepotOne of the last wood-frame Great Northern depots in Washington, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Small trains sized for small riders
This is an easy win for young children: the rides are free, the trains are scaled down, and the ride-along model train is a hit with kids and adults alike. Plan your trip between May and October, since the railway does not run rides in winter. Downtown Skykomish is compact, so a stop here fits well into a drive on Highway 2.
Plan your visit: tips for Great Northern & Cascade Railway
- There are no train rides in winter; check the Facebook page for winter museum hours.
- Skykomish is about 45 minutes from Monroe on Highway 2.
- The depot also houses the Skykomish Visitors Center, a handy stop for local information.
- Call (425) 395-2952 to confirm ride days before a long drive.
An all-volunteer nonprofit
The Great Northern & Cascade Railway is a volunteer-run Washington 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Because the rides are free, the gift shop and donations matter: buying a souvenir in the depot shop is a simple way to help keep the trains running. Ask a volunteer on your visit about other ways to get involved.
More trains west of Stevens Pass
The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie is about 25 miles away, and the Issaquah Valley Trolley is about 34 miles. Farther north, the Lake Whatcom Railway is about 76 miles from Skykomish. See all of Washington's train museums for more stops.
- Northwest Railway MuseumSnoqualmie, WA · about 25 mi
- Issaquah Valley TrolleyIssaquah, WA · about 34 mi
- Seattle Center Monorail historic exhibitsSeattle, WA · about 46 mi
- Pacific Northwest Railroad ArchiveBurien, WA · about 49 mi
- Washington State History Museum railroad exhibitsTacoma, WA · about 60 mi
- Lake Whatcom RailwayWickersham, WA · about 76 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The volunteers here hand out train rides for free, which feels like the most generous kind of welcome. It reminds me of Mr. Conductor in our book, in his blue uniform, reaching out a hand to help Rally aboard. A friendly grown-up at the platform can turn a nervous little rider into a brave one. If your family loves that kind of moment, our coloring pages let kids draw their own conductor.
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 Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
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
- Great Northern & Cascade Railway official website(opens in a new tab)
- Great Northern & Cascade Railway on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Great Northern & Cascade Railway on Tripadvisor(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.
Great Northern & Cascade Railway: 20 family questions
Are the Great Northern & Cascade Railway mini train rides really free?
Yes. The Great Northern & Cascade Railway offers free train rides to the public on its 7 1/2 inch gauge railroad in Skykomish. Rides run on weekends and holidays from May through October. Donations and gift shop purchases help the volunteer-run nonprofit keep the trains going.
Where is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway in Skykomish?
The railway is in downtown Skykomish, Washington, with a listed address of 101 5th St N, Skykomish, WA 98288. Its museum and gift shop are in the historic Skykomish Depot, which also holds the Skykomish Visitors Center. Skykomish is about 45 minutes from Monroe on Highway 2.
When does the Great Northern & Cascade Railway run train rides?
Train rides run every weekend plus holidays from May through October. There are no train rides in winter, when the museum and gift shop keep limited hours. Check the railway's Facebook page or call (425) 395-2952 to confirm a given day before you drive up.
What is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
It is a volunteer-run 7 1/2 inch gauge public railroad, museum and souvenir shop in Skykomish, organized as a Washington 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its mission is sharing the rich history of the Great Northern Railway throughout the Skykomish Valley and beyond, through free rides, exhibits and a railroad education program.
How long is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway track?
The railway has more than 2,700 feet of track for its ride-on trains. It is a 7 1/2 inch gauge line, a scale that lets passengers sit on or in the small cars while live steam and other miniature locomotives pull them around the route.
Is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway good for toddlers?
It is a great pick for little ones. The trains are small and approachable, the rides are free, and visitors describe the ride-along train as fun for kids and adults alike. Bring layers, since Skykomish is a mountain town, and plan a visit on a weekend between May and October.
What is in the Great Northern & Cascade Railway museum?
The museum, inside the historic Skykomish Depot, shares local and railway history with a focus on the Great Northern Railway in the Skykomish Valley. Visitors describe it as small but rich in history. It shares the building with the gift shop and the Skykomish Visitors Center.
Is the Skykomish Depot historic?
Yes. The Skykomish Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington Heritage Register. It is one of the last wood-frame Great Northern depots remaining in Washington, and today it houses the Great Northern & Cascade Railway museum, its gift shop and the Skykomish Visitors Center.
Is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway open in winter?
The museum and gift shop keep limited winter hours, but there are no train rides in winter. If you are passing through Skykomish in the cold months, check the railway's Facebook page for current hours before stopping, or call (425) 395-2952.
Where can I see Great Northern & Cascade Railway photos?
The railway's Facebook page, Great Northern & Cascade Railway, is the best place to see photos of the trains, the depot and volunteers at work, and it has thousands of followers. Visitor photos are also posted on its Tripadvisor listing.
What do reviews say about the Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
Reviewers on Tripadvisor describe a small train museum in the original depot of a quiet mountain town, rich in local and railway history, and mention that the ride-along train is fun for both kids and adults. Many also note that the depot sits right beside an active railroad.
Is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway an association or a nonprofit?
The Great Northern & Cascade Railway is a Washington State 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by volunteers. It operates the ride-on railroad, the depot museum and the souvenir shop in Skykomish. Contact it through its website, gnandcr.org, or its Facebook page to learn about membership or volunteering.
Can I volunteer with the Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
The railway is volunteer run, so help is part of how it operates. It does not post a volunteer sign-up form online, so ask a volunteer on your next visit, message the railway's Facebook page, or call (425) 395-2952 to learn how to get involved.
Does the Great Northern & Cascade Railway have a gift shop?
Yes. A souvenir shop is in the Skykomish Depot alongside the museum. Since the train rides are free, shop purchases are one of the best ways to support the volunteers, and the shop keeps limited hours even in winter when rides are not running.
Does the Great Northern & Cascade Railway offer school programs?
Yes. The railway runs a railroad education program alongside its free rides. Teachers and group leaders should contact the railway through its website or call (425) 395-2952 to ask about scheduling, group size and what the program covers.
Is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway a passenger train service?
No. It is a volunteer-run miniature railroad and museum, not a passenger rail operator, so it does not sell tickets for travel or have customer service for scheduled trains. Its small ride-on trains run on its own track in Skykomish on weekends and holidays in season.
Does the Great Northern & Cascade Railway cover the Great Northern's history in the Cascades?
Yes, that is its focus. The nonprofit shares the history of the Great Northern Railway throughout the Skykomish Valley and beyond, and its museum sits in one of the railroad's last wood-frame depots in the state. Volunteers can point you to local railroad sites and stories.
How far is the Great Northern & Cascade Railway from Seattle?
Skykomish is about 45 minutes from Monroe on Highway 2, and the Seattle Center Monorail is roughly 46 miles away. Driving time depends on traffic and mountain conditions, so check the road before you head over toward Stevens Pass.
How do I contact the Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
A business directory lists the phone number as (425) 395-2952. You can also reach the volunteers through the railway's Facebook page or its website, gnandcr.org. Messaging on Facebook is a good way to check ride days during the season.
What train museums are near the Great Northern & Cascade Railway?
The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie is about 25 miles away, the Issaquah Valley Trolley about 34 miles, and the Seattle Center Monorail about 46 miles. The Lake Whatcom Railway and the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad are each about 76 miles from Skykomish.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.