S
Steve Relei
Guest
See some of the more famous mountains of the Cascades from Amtrak trains can be both rewarding and a little tricky. Weather and time-of-day are important factors.
On the Coast Starlight, going north, you can usually see Mount Shasta(14,161 Feet)--a volcano most recently active 1914-17--as the train departs Dunsmuir (officially at 5:07 am)--if there is enough light. During the summertime there is little trouble, and often the train is a little late, which can help. The train actually climbs along the flanks of Mount Shasta, climbing higher and higher in elevation, often the sun is coming up and the gradual change in light on and around the mountain is interesting to watch and is always memorable to me. You will usually be able to see Shasta as far as the Oregon border.
Southbound, it is usually about midnight when the train passes, so don't count on seeing it then. However, I do have memories of seeing the snow-capped mountain at night in the full moon light.
I haven't yet been able to see the mountain which contains Crater Lake nor have I seen Mount Bachelor from the train. However, the ride through the Oregon Cascades at Willamette Pass is one of the most spectacular rides in the world. The train descends from over 4,000 feet above sea level down into the Willamette Valley. This is often called "The Hill." The train is often of narrow shelves clinging to the mountainsides; passengers can look down below and see the drop, throught tunnels, across bridges, past waterfalls. You can look down and see the track where you are about to go. The train (going east to west) loops back (now west to east) and then back again (going east to west again--the trains are officially north and southbound, but these are the actual compass headings ath the time the trains are traversing this section of track). Sometimes there is a snowstorm at the top of
the pass, allowing for picture postcard Christmas scenes; but by the time the train gets down to the valley, it is just raining.
Southbound, the trip is also exciting going up the hill. However, you have to do it the right time of year. Most of the Winter Season it is dark during the traverse; but during Spring, Summer, and earl Fall hours, there is still plenty of daylight.
Mount Hood (11,235 feet) can be seen from around Salem--on the right side of the train looking toward the northeast. But, you can't really see it as the train passes through Portland--too many bluffs, buildings, etc. you can see it for a few seconds as the train crosses the COlumbia River into Washington. Again, this is all assuming the weather iscooperating.
Mount St. Helens (9,677 feet before the eruption and 8,363 feet after)is very difficult to see from the train. The right side of the train--towards the mountain--it is primarily bluffs, overhangs, trees, and mountains in the way. About the closest the train gets to it (as the crow flies) is probably at Kelso. The train passes through Castle Rock. On Interstate 5, this is where motorists turn off from the freeway to go to the mountain. You can see the sign for the turn off from the train. You will be traveling along the Cowlitz River and cross it and the Toutle River; you can still see the mounds of white ash that now form the embankments along the rivers. Coming into Kelso, you will see the Three Rivers Golf Course that was made from the ash from Mount St, Helens. Four a couple of seconds just before the train passes through Chehalis (a few minutes from Centralia) you may get a look at Saint Helens in the distance. Trees are usually in the way to get a more longlasting view.
About now, you should be able to see Mount Rainer (14,410 feet--highest point in Washington State and a volcano also). You will be able to see it until about the next stop at Lacey (Olympia). You will also see it as the train enters Tacoma and afterwards as the train passes through the Puyallup Valley.
North of Lacey, you will travel along the Puget Sound for about 30 miles into Tacoma. You should be able to look across the Sound to the Olympic Mountains and possibly see the highest peak there--Mount Olympus (just under 8,000 feet--named after the famous mountain in Greece).
Between Seattle and Portland, besides the Coast Starlight, you can see these mountains and other attractions from three other trains, depending on direction, time of day, and weather conditions. Check timetables.
On the Empire Builder and Pacific International to Everett, you will again travel along the Puget Sound and get some spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains. On the Builder, going east, you will soon be coming to and crossing over the Cascade Mountains, passing through the Cascade Tunnel, which at almost 8 miles, is the longest in the United States.
On the Pacific International to Vancouver, BC, you should be able to see Mount Baker(10,781 ft., the highest point of the North Cascades, also a glaciated dormant volcano.) on the right hand side of the train after leaving the tunnel underneath downtown Everett and through the valleys, passing through Burlington, and onwards. You may see it again as the train passes through Bellingham (the mountain serves as a backdrop in many photos of the city) onto Blaine and across the US/Canada border. Another highlight of this part of the trip it that the train is primarily along the water again and is quite pretty. Interestingly enough, you will probably see more bald eagles on the Canadian side of the border than on the US side. If you are traveling south, make sure you look in the opposite direction from what I have explained above. Also southbound, the train leaves Vancouver at about 6pm, so it may be dark certain times of the year. However, there is a additional morning train and an evening train between Bellingham and Seattle that might help with sightseeing possibilities.
On the Coast Starlight, going north, you can usually see Mount Shasta(14,161 Feet)--a volcano most recently active 1914-17--as the train departs Dunsmuir (officially at 5:07 am)--if there is enough light. During the summertime there is little trouble, and often the train is a little late, which can help. The train actually climbs along the flanks of Mount Shasta, climbing higher and higher in elevation, often the sun is coming up and the gradual change in light on and around the mountain is interesting to watch and is always memorable to me. You will usually be able to see Shasta as far as the Oregon border.
Southbound, it is usually about midnight when the train passes, so don't count on seeing it then. However, I do have memories of seeing the snow-capped mountain at night in the full moon light.
I haven't yet been able to see the mountain which contains Crater Lake nor have I seen Mount Bachelor from the train. However, the ride through the Oregon Cascades at Willamette Pass is one of the most spectacular rides in the world. The train descends from over 4,000 feet above sea level down into the Willamette Valley. This is often called "The Hill." The train is often of narrow shelves clinging to the mountainsides; passengers can look down below and see the drop, throught tunnels, across bridges, past waterfalls. You can look down and see the track where you are about to go. The train (going east to west) loops back (now west to east) and then back again (going east to west again--the trains are officially north and southbound, but these are the actual compass headings ath the time the trains are traversing this section of track). Sometimes there is a snowstorm at the top of
the pass, allowing for picture postcard Christmas scenes; but by the time the train gets down to the valley, it is just raining.
Southbound, the trip is also exciting going up the hill. However, you have to do it the right time of year. Most of the Winter Season it is dark during the traverse; but during Spring, Summer, and earl Fall hours, there is still plenty of daylight.
Mount Hood (11,235 feet) can be seen from around Salem--on the right side of the train looking toward the northeast. But, you can't really see it as the train passes through Portland--too many bluffs, buildings, etc. you can see it for a few seconds as the train crosses the COlumbia River into Washington. Again, this is all assuming the weather iscooperating.
Mount St. Helens (9,677 feet before the eruption and 8,363 feet after)is very difficult to see from the train. The right side of the train--towards the mountain--it is primarily bluffs, overhangs, trees, and mountains in the way. About the closest the train gets to it (as the crow flies) is probably at Kelso. The train passes through Castle Rock. On Interstate 5, this is where motorists turn off from the freeway to go to the mountain. You can see the sign for the turn off from the train. You will be traveling along the Cowlitz River and cross it and the Toutle River; you can still see the mounds of white ash that now form the embankments along the rivers. Coming into Kelso, you will see the Three Rivers Golf Course that was made from the ash from Mount St, Helens. Four a couple of seconds just before the train passes through Chehalis (a few minutes from Centralia) you may get a look at Saint Helens in the distance. Trees are usually in the way to get a more longlasting view.
About now, you should be able to see Mount Rainer (14,410 feet--highest point in Washington State and a volcano also). You will be able to see it until about the next stop at Lacey (Olympia). You will also see it as the train enters Tacoma and afterwards as the train passes through the Puyallup Valley.
North of Lacey, you will travel along the Puget Sound for about 30 miles into Tacoma. You should be able to look across the Sound to the Olympic Mountains and possibly see the highest peak there--Mount Olympus (just under 8,000 feet--named after the famous mountain in Greece).
Between Seattle and Portland, besides the Coast Starlight, you can see these mountains and other attractions from three other trains, depending on direction, time of day, and weather conditions. Check timetables.
On the Empire Builder and Pacific International to Everett, you will again travel along the Puget Sound and get some spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains. On the Builder, going east, you will soon be coming to and crossing over the Cascade Mountains, passing through the Cascade Tunnel, which at almost 8 miles, is the longest in the United States.
On the Pacific International to Vancouver, BC, you should be able to see Mount Baker(10,781 ft., the highest point of the North Cascades, also a glaciated dormant volcano.) on the right hand side of the train after leaving the tunnel underneath downtown Everett and through the valleys, passing through Burlington, and onwards. You may see it again as the train passes through Bellingham (the mountain serves as a backdrop in many photos of the city) onto Blaine and across the US/Canada border. Another highlight of this part of the trip it that the train is primarily along the water again and is quite pretty. Interestingly enough, you will probably see more bald eagles on the Canadian side of the border than on the US side. If you are traveling south, make sure you look in the opposite direction from what I have explained above. Also southbound, the train leaves Vancouver at about 6pm, so it may be dark certain times of the year. However, there is a additional morning train and an evening train between Bellingham and Seattle that might help with sightseeing possibilities.
