Rail travel is having a moment, and autumn is the perfect time to hop aboard. Bookings have shot up by 35 per cent this year as people look for more immersive travel experiences.
Travel experts have looked at everything from Tripadvisor reviews to Instagram hashtags and weather data to rank the most spectacular routes this season.
Taking the crown is the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which winds through Colorado and New Mexico's mountains. It scored an impressive 9.08 out of 10, according to the experts at JR Pass.
But it's not just American railways making the cut - several European destinations have earned spots on the list, with Spain, Switzerland and Austria among the top 10.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad received an impressive 9.08/10
|CUMBRES & TOLTEC RAILROAD
Most scenic autumn train routes
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, USA (9.08/10)
- Tren de Sóller, Spain (8.11/10)
- GoldenPass Line, Switzerland (8.11/10)
- Oigawa Railway, Japan (8.05/10)
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, USA (7.87/10)
- Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway, Bulgaria (7.81/10)
- Semmering Railway, Austria (7.62/10)
- Sagano Romantic Train, Japan (7/10)
- White Pass & Yukon Route, USA/Canada (6.73/10)
- Schneeberg Railway, Austria (6.94/10)
LATEST TRAVEL
Number one is a historic railway dating back to the 1880s mining boom, which has become a National Historic Landmark. It's famous for its golden aspen groves that light up the San Juan Mountains in autumn.
What makes it particularly special is the option to ride in open carriages, letting you breathe in that crisp mountain air. The weather's brilliant too - you'll get clear skies nearly three-quarters of the time during autumn, with rain on just one in six days.
"This preserved piece of American frontier heritage earns an impressive 4.48-star rating on TripAdvisor, draws 600 monthly searches, and boasts 11,798 Instagram hashtags," the travel experts noted.
Europe is showing off its autumn colours, too. Spain's Tren de Sóller in Mallorca tied for second place with 8.11 out of 10. Offering "Mediterranean autumn magic in vintage style", the charming electric railway from 1912 still uses its original wooden carriages as it winds through mountains and citrus groves.
Tren de Sóller in Spain offers "Mediterranean autumn magic"
|TREN DE SOLLER
Switzerland's GoldenPass Line is an incredibly scenic route
|GOLDENPASS LINE
Switzerland's GoldenPass Line also scored 8.11, combining several historic railways from the 1890s. The journey from Montreux to Interlaken treats passengers to those legendary Alpine views, from Lake Geneva to forest-covered peaks.
Austria grabbed two spots on the list - the Semmering Railway came seventh and the Schneeberg Railway rounded out the top 10. Bulgaria's Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway also made it in at sixth place.
The full list reveals some fascinating patterns. Historic railways dominate, with four of the top five dating back over a century. Most wind through mountain ranges, alpine valleys and forested gorges - perfect for autumn viewing.
Japan's routes proved particularly photogenic - the Oigawa Railway collected 17,900 Instagram hashtags, making it the most snapped journey on the list.
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