This Magical Moonlight Train Ride Takes You Through A Remote Arizona Canyon

Train rides are always magical, but have you ever taken one at night? Something about whizzing through the rugged desert landscape beneath billions of glittering stars is a level of enchantment that simply can't be put into words. The Verde Canyon Railroad is a special kind of wonderful. There are various special train rides offered throughout the year, and perhaps one of the most unique is the moonlight train ride offered in the summer months.

Taking a ride on the Railroad never ceases to amaze as it carves a path through some of the most remote and stunning red rocks in Arizona.

The rugged canyon landscape takes on a whole new personality underneath the moonlight, and you can experience that enchantment on select Saturday nights this summer.

Kick off the trip with a cocktail in hand, be it a glass of wine, a prickly pear margarita, or whatever else fits your fancy.

Nothing quite compares to sipping some bubbly on an open-air railroad car with the crisp mountain breeze invigorating every aspect of your being.

Sunset happens around the halfway point, just as you arrive in Perkinsville.

A vibrant palette of colors dance across the evening sky, casting brilliantly-hued shadows on the surrounding canyon landscape.

En route back to the depot is when things truly start to get magical.

When dusk finally sets in, billions of dazzling stars gleam overhead.

More than just celestial bodies come alive after dark.

Nocturnal animals you've likely never seen before are just waking up to prowl the desert in search of food, and the train whizzes right past their habitats.

For more information, visit the railroad's Verde Canyon Railroad website.

Have you ever taken the Saturday Night Starlight Ride? What's your favorite train excursion in Arizona? We would love to hear from you in the comment section. You can check out some of our favorite train rides in Arizona in our feature article.