Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley in Soo Junction, Michigan
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesSeason and departure times not posted online; call before you go
The Toonerville Trolley is one of the oldest and longest 24-inch gauge railroads in the country, and paired with its riverboat it has carried visitors from Soo Junction through the Tahquamenon Forest to a private view of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls since the late 1920s.
- 24-inch narrow gauge railroad
- Started in the late 1920s
- 6.5-hour train and riverboat trip
- 1 hour 45 minute train-only ride
- Private Upper Falls viewing area
Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley at a glance
- Hours
- Season and departure times not posted online; call (906) 876-2311
- Admission
- Fares not posted online; call or check the operator's website
- Train rides
- Full-day train and riverboat trip (about 6.5 hours) or Wilderness Train Ride (about 1 hour 45 minutes), both from Soo Junction
- Plan for
- About 1 hour 45 minutes for the train ride, or about 6.5 hours for the full trip
- Best for
- Families and nature lovers who want a train ride with a waterfall at the end
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley? 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 Soo Junction.
Rally Takes the Train
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A game warden's river patrol that turned into a railroad
The excursion grew out of Joe Beach's work as a conservation officer on the Tahquamenon River. His daily patrol ran from north of Newberry down to the rapids about half a mile above the Upper Tahquamenon Falls, a round trip of some 14 hours, and people kept asking to ride along. Beach and his partner Robert Hunter turned those requests into a business. One local source dates the start to 1927 and another to 1928, so the founding year depends on who you ask.
The rail half of the trip is the Toonerville Trolley, described as one of the longest and oldest 24-inch gauge railroads in the United States. Today the Stewart Family runs the tours and welcomes visitors of all ages. Season dates, departure times and fares are not posted in the listings we could find, so check the operator's website or Facebook page, or call, before planning a day around it.
Rails through the forest, then a boat to the falls
Both tours leave from the station at Soo Junction. The longer trip starts with the narrow gauge train through the Tahquamenon Forest, where riders watch for bear, deer and moose, then switches to a riverboat. The boat docks at the head of the rapids above the falls for about an hour and 15 minutes while passengers walk a 5/8-mile trail each way to the operator's private viewing area at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. Afterward the boat cruises back upstream to the waiting train for the return to Soo Junction. If a full day is too much, the Wilderness Train Ride covers the forest by rail in about an hour and 45 minutes.
Don’t miss
- The 24-inch gauge Toonerville TrolleyA small narrow gauge train on one of the oldest and longest lines of its size in the country.
- The private Upper Falls viewing areaReached by a 5/8-mile walk from the boat dock at the head of the rapids, it is the payoff of the full-day trip.
- Wildlife along the lineThe operator tells riders to watch for bear, deer and moose from the train in the Tahquamenon Forest.
Picking the right trip for small riders
The Wilderness Train Ride, at about an hour and 45 minutes, is the easier fit for young children who like trains and animal spotting. The full 6.5-hour trip is a long day: it includes the train, a boat ride both ways and a walk of 5/8 of a mile each way to the falls, so it suits kids who can handle a good stretch of walking and sitting. The operator does not publish age guidance or stroller information in the listings we found, so call ahead with questions.
Plan your visit: tips for Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley
- Pick the train-only ride if the kids are small or your day is short.
- The full trip includes a 5/8-mile walk each way to the falls viewing area.
- Keep watch from the train for bear, deer and moose.
- Call (906) 876-2311 to confirm the season, times and fares.
A family-run Upper Peninsula tradition
The Stewart Family operates the train and riverboat tours today, carrying on what Joe Beach and Robert Hunter began. The best way to support it is simply to ride, and to follow the operator's Facebook page for updates on the season.
Other rail stops in Michigan
Soo Junction is far from most of the state's rail sites. The closest on this site are Michigan's Iron Industry Museum railway exhibits in Negaunee, roughly 110 miles west, and the Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad in Fairview, about 126 miles away. For the full list, see train museums across Michigan.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Riders on this little train are told to watch the forest for bear, deer and moose. In our book, Rally does his watching through an arched window, looking out at the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. I think a corgi with his nose to the glass in the Tahquamenon Forest would be beside himself. If your kids like spotting animals, our coloring pages make a good rainy day follow-up.
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.
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Work or volunteer at Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley?
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.
Toonerville Trolley and Tahquamenon riverboat: 20 questions
What is the Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley?
It is a combined narrow gauge train and riverboat excursion in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Toonerville Trolley, a 24-inch gauge train, carries riders through the Tahquamenon Forest, and a riverboat takes them on to the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. A shorter train-only ride is also offered. Both leave from Soo Junction.
Where does the Toonerville Trolley leave from?
Both the full train and riverboat tour and the shorter Wilderness Train Ride depart from Soo Junction. A business directory lists the address as 7195 Soo Junction Rd, Newberry, Michigan 49868. Call (906) 876-2311 for directions and the current departure times before you head out, since the area is rural.
How long is the Toonerville Trolley and riverboat tour?
The full train and riverboat trip takes about six and a half hours, so it fills most of a day. It includes the train through the forest, the boat ride to the head of the rapids, about an hour and 15 minutes at the falls, and the return by boat and train to Soo Junction.
Is there a shorter Toonerville Trolley ride?
Yes. The Wilderness Train Ride is a train-only trip through the Tahquamenon Forest that lasts about an hour and 45 minutes. It skips the riverboat and the walk to the falls, which makes it a better choice for small children or for travelers who cannot spend a whole day. It also departs from Soo Junction.
Do you see Tahquamenon Falls on the Toonerville Trolley tour?
On the full-day tour, yes. The riverboat docks at the head of the rapids above the falls, and passengers walk about 5/8 of a mile each way to the operator's private viewing area at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. The shorter Wilderness Train Ride does not go to the falls.
How far is the walk to the falls on the riverboat tour?
The nature trail from the boat dock to the private viewing area at the Upper Falls is about 5/8 of a mile each way, or roughly a mile and a quarter round trip. The boat waits about an hour and 15 minutes, which gives time for the walk and time at the overlook. Wear comfortable shoes.
What kind of train is the Toonerville Trolley?
It is a 24-inch narrow gauge railroad, much smaller than a standard railroad, and it is described as one of the longest and oldest lines of that gauge in the country. Despite the trolley name, it is a train that runs through the Tahquamenon Forest between Soo Junction and the riverboat landing.
When did the Toonerville Trolley start?
The tours date to the late 1920s. One source says partners Joe Beach and Robert Hunter started them in 1927, and another says Capt. Joe Beach originated the Toonerville Trolley in 1928. Beach was a conservation officer on the Tahquamenon River whose patrol drew requests from people who wanted to ride along.
Who runs the Toonerville Trolley today?
The Stewart Family operates the Tahquamenon Falls train and riverboat tours today and welcomes visitors of all ages. The business traces back to Joe Beach and Robert Hunter in the late 1920s. For questions about tickets or the season, call (906) 876-2311 or check the operator's website or Facebook page.
How much does the Toonerville Trolley cost?
Current fares are not listed in the online directories we checked, and they may differ between the full train and riverboat trip and the shorter Wilderness Train Ride. Call (906) 876-2311 or check the operator's website or Facebook page for current prices and to ask whether reservations are recommended.
When does the Toonerville Trolley run?
The operating season and departure times are not listed in the online directories we checked. Because the full trip takes about six and a half hours, start times matter for planning your day. Call (906) 876-2311 or check the operator's website or Facebook page before you go to confirm dates and times.
What wildlife can you see from the Toonerville Trolley?
The operator tells riders to keep an eye out for bear, deer and moose along the line through the Tahquamenon Forest. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the route runs through wild country, so it helps to sit near a window and keep kids watching. Binoculars are a good idea on either tour.
Is the Toonerville Trolley good for young kids?
The Wilderness Train Ride, at about an hour and 45 minutes, is the easier choice for young children. The full trip is a long day with a train ride, two boat legs and a walk of 5/8 of a mile each way. The operator does not publish age guidance online, so call (906) 876-2311 with questions.
Is the Toonerville Trolley riverboat tour wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility details are not published in the online listings we checked. The full-day tour involves boarding a narrow gauge train and a riverboat and a nature trail walk to the falls, so call (906) 876-2311 before you go to ask what is possible for wheelchairs, walkers or strollers on each tour.
How does the riverboat part of the tour work?
After the train ride, passengers board a riverboat that heads down the Tahquamenon River to the head of the rapids above the Upper Falls. The boat docks there for about an hour and 15 minutes while riders walk to the viewing area, then cruises back upstream to the waiting train, which returns everyone to Soo Junction.
How did the Tahquamenon riverboat tours begin?
Joe Beach, a conservation officer, patrolled the Tahquamenon River every day from north of Newberry to the rapids a half mile above the Upper Falls, a round trip of about 14 hours. So many people asked to ride along that he and Robert Hunter turned it into a tour business.
Is the Toonerville Trolley near Newberry, Michigan?
Yes. The departure point at Soo Junction has a Newberry mailing address, 7195 Soo Junction Rd, Newberry, MI 49868. Many visitors combine the tour with a trip to the Tahquamenon Falls area. Call (906) 876-2311 for the best route to the station from where you are staying.
Do I need reservations for the Toonerville Trolley?
The online listings we checked do not say whether reservations are required or recommended. Since the full-day trip runs on a set schedule with a train and boat connection, it is wise to call (906) 876-2311 or check the operator's website ahead of time, especially for a group.
What should I bring on the Toonerville Trolley tour?
For the full-day trip, bring comfortable walking shoes for the 5/8-mile trail each way to the falls, layers for the river, and food and water for a six and a half hour outing unless the operator tells you otherwise. Binoculars help with wildlife spotting. Call ahead to ask about food on board.
What other train museums are near Soo Junction?
Rail sites are spread out in this part of Michigan. Michigan's Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee, which has railway exhibits, is about 110 miles away, and the Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad in Fairview is about 126 miles away. Both have their own pages on this site.
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