Deep in southeastern Tennessee, a passenger train crosses a bridge 62 feet above the very track it rode earlier in the same trip.
It’s not a theme park trick. The Hiwassee Loop was built in 1898 as a working railroad solution, and today you can ride it in a vintage passenger car on a 50-mile trip through the Hiwassee River Gorge.
The railroad’s published 2026 season runs through November 22, so there’s still time to catch the end of fall color. But the train doesn’t run every day, and popular fall departures can fill well ahead of time.
How a Train Crosses Over Itself
Near Farner, the tracks spiral around Bald Mountain, gaining elevation until the upper section crosses a bridge about 62 feet above the lower one. It’s known as the Great Hiwassee Loop, sometimes the Bald Mountain Loop.
It wasn’t built for tourists. The railroad opened in 1890, and engineers first used switchbacks to get trains up the steep terrain, which meant changing direction again and again. In 1898 they completed the loop, so trains could climb gradually in one long curve instead.
The line became associated with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad as part of the historic Hook and Eye Line, and for decades it carried materials such as timber and minerals. Mining-related freight ended in 2001. In 2002, the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association bought the abandoned corridor to preserve it, and today the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum runs heritage passenger excursions along it.
The Ride at a Glance
- Distance and time: about 50 miles round trip through the Hiwassee River Gorge and Cherokee National Forest, roughly four and a half hours. The railroad advises allowing four to six.
- The cars: enclosed and climate-controlled, pulled by vintage diesel locomotives, with onboard narration about the railroad and the landscape.
- Switch sides: on the return trip the train reverses direction instead of turning around, and passengers are invited to switch sides at the midpoint for both river-facing and mountain-facing views.
- A late-season bonus: a view toward Apalachia Dam, across the North Carolina border, can become easier to see once the leaves begin falling.
Timing Your Fall Ride
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum lists the 2026 season as March 29 through November 22. October and early November are among the most popular stretches, but the railroad doesn’t guarantee peak color on any date. It depends on weather, elevation and how quickly temperatures change, so a late-October trip can look different from one in mid-November.
By late November, many trees may have lost much of their foliage. That has an upside: bare branches can open longer views across the gorge.
November 22 is the published season-ending date, not a promise of daily departures or available seats. Check the official reservation calendar for actual dates.
If Delano is too far for a day trip, there’s also a fall foliage train that leaves right from Nashville.
What It Costs
Ticket prices depend on the date and the car you choose, and the museum publishes higher prices for selected fall departures. Published fall rates:
| Seating | Fall price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard coach | Adults 13 and older $65; children 2 to 12 $50 | Large windows, climate control, onboard refreshments, and the full route including the loop |
| Crown Class | Adults $90; children $75 | Lower-level seating with large windows and complimentary snacks and drinks |
| Dome car | Up to $130 per person in certain cars | Elevated seating under glass-domed windows for a wider view |
Two adults and two children in standard coach come to $230 before any additional checkout charges. The railroad sometimes advertises a $170 family four-pack for two adults and two children, but it isn’t available on Fall Premium departures, which makes it easy to miss when comparing prices.
For how these fares compare with other Tennessee train rides, see our ranking of seven Tennessee train rides by price.
Don’t Go to Chattanooga
This one detail could save you a frustrating morning. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is headquartered in Chattanooga, but the Hiwassee Loop does not depart from its main station there. You board in Delano, near Etowah:
9406 Highway 411, Delano, TN 37325
- Parking is free.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Allowing 30 to 45 minutes is more comfortable, and trains cannot be held for late guests.
- Delano is on Eastern Time. If you’re driving from Nashville or anywhere else in the Central Time Zone, account for the one-hour difference.
Our earlier Hiwassee Loop guide covers the drive from Nashville and whether the dome upgrade is worth it.
Before You Board
- Food and drink: light refreshments, drinks and packaged snacks are sold onboard. You can bring bottled water, light snacks or a simple lunch, which is worth doing because the trip runs continuously with no lunch stop. Large coolers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
- Comfort: cars are heated and air-conditioned, and restrooms are within approximately one car of the seating areas.
- Accessibility: historic equipment has stairs and narrow spaces. Dome seating requires climbing interior stairs, and the museum states that its historic passenger cars cannot accommodate wheelchair use inside the cars. Crown Class avoids the interior stairs to the dome seating, but that doesn’t guarantee step-free boarding. If mobility is a concern, call the museum at (423) 894-8028 before you buy.
- Photos: take them from approved passenger areas. The tracks and bridges are active railroad infrastructure, not walking trails.
Two Other Trains Use the Same Track
| Train | Length | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee Loop | About 50 miles, 4.5 hours | The standard trip across the loop. Fall standard coach is $65 for adults and $50 for children. |
| Copperhill Special | About 94 miles round trip, 8 to 9 hours | Also crosses the loop, then continues to Copperhill, Tennessee and neighboring McCaysville, Georgia, with about 90 minutes to explore. Fall Premium standard coach is $90 for adults and $60 for children. Advertised through December 11, 2026, so check specific departure dates. |
| Hiwassee Powerhouse | About 75 to 90 minutes | Focuses on river scenery and the historic powerhouse rather than the full mountain spiral. |
If seeing the train cross over its own tracks is the reason you’re going, make sure your ticket is for the Hiwassee Loop or the Copperhill Special.
Booking Checklist
The museum recommends booking fall excursions two to four weeks ahead when possible, especially for popular foliage weekends. Start with the official departure calendar, choose a date, check which seating options remain, and confirm the departure time before you plan the drive to Delano. A date inside the operating season doesn’t mean seats are available.
Traveling with children? A light lunch and comfortable clothing make four and a half hours easier.
For questions about dates, accessibility or reservations, call (423) 894-8028 or email [email protected]. Published office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
If the fall season ends before you can go, we’ve also rounded up the Christmas trains in Tennessee.
