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Looking for a unique way to see fall foliage in western Maryland?
Forget the traditional scenic train ride for a day and try something even more unusual: rail biking! We hopped aboard a rail bike in Frostburg, Maryland, and spent the afternoon pedaling along historic railroad tracks through the Allegheny Mountains, with plenty of leaf peeping along the way.
Maybe you are familiar with the Great Allegheny Passage, but this is a whole new experience!
If you’re looking for a fun fall day trip with an original leaf peeping twist and a delicious pit stop, get ready to ride the rail bikes in western Maryland!
Location
If you are looking for rail biking in Western Maryland, you’ll want to head to Tracks and Yaks in Frostburg.
The business is located inside the historic big red train depot at 19 Depot Street in Frostburg, just off Route 68. From Pittsburgh, you’ll have around a 2-hour drive, making it a great option for a day trip or weekend getaway from the Pittsburgh area.
After your rail bike adventure, you can head about 20 minutes down the road to the Grantsville area for lunch at the Cornucopia Cafe or Penn Alps restaurant.
The area also includes Spruce Forest Artisan Village, making it an easy addition to your day trip.
What is Rail Biking?
I have been wanting to rail bike ever since I saw a photo in one of those free travel magazines you find at rest stops. It looked so fun!
Once we had an extra day off, I was ready to go!
Fortunately, Tracks and Yaks’ website makes it easy to reserve a spot on one of their rail bike excursions.
You can quickly see which trips, dates, and times are available. Based on the season, you can select from a variety of different trips and trip lengths.
Some seasonal excursions include regular pedal biking or kayaking, and some include a fireside social. When we visited, the shortest trip lasted 1 1/2 hours and around 7 miles, while the longest was 4 hours long and 15 miles.
How Much Does Rail Biking Cost?
Because we were interested in leaf peeping for the afternoon, we opted for the Woodcock Hollow Express. It was one of the shortest and least expensive options, coming in at 1 1/2 hours and 7 miles.
For reference, here’s what we paid for our tandem rail biking trip:
$89.00 Tandem Rail Bike (you don’t pay per person)
$ 1.00 Administration Fee
$ 9.90 Taxes and Fees
$99.90 Total
Current pricing may vary, so check Tracks and Yaks for the latest rates.
You’re asked to arrive 20 minutes early to the red depot building. There, you’ll sign a waiver and listen to a brief safety talk.
You can also see the trains coming and going from the main tracks, which kids will probably appreciate as much as Russ did!
Remember to check the forecast and dress for the weather, as the whole trip is out in the elements, zipping along a set of railroad tracks. We wore multiple layers that day, and even pedaled through some light rain!
What's It Like to Ride a Rail Bike?
You board the rail bikes right on the track, and they look a little intimidating at first.
Once you board, you have a seatbelt to adjust and fasten so you don’t slide off. You can also adjust your seat so you’re close to the pedals. There’s a small basket in between the seats where you can stash a small purse or a few phones.
The brake bar is off to the right-hand side of the seat, and it doesn’t take much pressure to slow down the rail bike (lest you think you’ll be careening down the open rails like we did at first!).
And then you’re off!
Our particular trip was mostly flat with a slight decline, so we didn’t need to pedal like mad.
That gave us plenty of time to do the leaf peeping in western Maryland we came for!
We were never creeping along or going too fast. We could easily maintain a comfortable speed while enjoying the scenery.
For most of the trip, we were next to the Great Allegheny Passage, our home bike trail.
At one point, we passed over the trail for a very scenic fall view:
After 7 miles of autumn splendor, we were treated to apple cider and lemonade before boarding the shuttle bus back to the depot.
PIT STOP! Lunch at The Cornucopia Café
After all the rail bike riding and leaf peeping, you’ll be thrilled to find a few interesting places to dine just a short drive from Tracks and Yaks.
Take the exit off Route 68 for the Penn Alps in Grantsville, just a 20-minute drive from the rail bike depot.
If you’re looking for a more traditional meal, Penn Alps Restaurant & Craft Shop is a great option. The historic property also has an artisan craft shop, so you can browse for a little while before or after lunch.
Across the road, you can also wander through Spruce Forest Artisan Village for local crafts and shops.
You’ll also find The Shops at Little Crossings and the Cornucopia Café nearby.
Since we had eaten at the Penn Alps Restaurant a few years before, we decided to try the Cornucopia Café this time around.
And we were not disappointed!
Both the Mexican steak salad and the roasted turkey caprese panini were delish, came in generous portions, and were served quite quickly.
Here’s a look at the menu when we visited:
The Last Word
The rail bikes at Tracks and Yaks, the beautiful fall scenery, and the great menu at the Cornucopia Café made for a fantastic fall day in Western Maryland.
If you’re looking for a unique fall activity in Western Maryland, rail biking is definitely worth adding to your list. It’s a fun way to experience the mountains and autumn scenery at a comfortable pace—and you don’t have to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy it.
So let this be a sign to make your reservations and head out for your own autumn adventure!
(And yes, I realize the sign says “not a sign.” 😂)
My cousin from PA just went so I googled it.
Next time I’m in the East coast I’ll try and do this. Telling family about it who reside in VA. I’ve not heard of this prior. What a journey.
Yes! A super-fun way to spend a fall day!