Historic RailBike Tour in Andrews, North Carolina

The RailBikes

Our RailBikes are electric pedal-assisted, similar to E-bikes, and require light pedaling by all riders. A RailBike is the optimal way to tour Andrews Valley, if you’re able. There’s nothing like the open air and unobstructed view of the mountains and river.

PASSENGERS = 4

PEDALING = YES

WEIGHT LIMIT = 300lbs per person

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The Cart

The Cart Ride offers captain’s chairs that swivel and have armrests. This is a great option for those with limited mobilitymor for groups that want to be able to hold conversations during the trip.

PASSENGERS = 9

PEDALING = NO

WEIGHT LIMIT = NONE

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The Choo-Choo

The Choo-Choo Speeder Ride is our compact gas-powered speeder and offers a true “railroad” experience for riders with its locomotive-like appearance.

PASSENGERS = 2

PEDALING = NO

WEIGHT LIMIT = NONE

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The Destination

Don’t forget to have your camera ready for the trip to the Historic Valley River Tunnel. Take in the views from our beautiful valley that offers you the opportunity to experience mountains, forests, and abundant wildlife. You’ll see crystal-clear mountain rivers and streams as you cross nine open deck railroad trestles on your trip to the tunnel. At the destination, you will disembark for about 30 minutes to walk through the tunnel, have a picnic, or wade in the Valley River.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below you will find answers to many common questions about our Rail Tours. Click the “+” to see the answer.

What is the cost?

Tour tickets are $59.99 per person for all rides, plus North Carolina sales tax and applicable fees from your payment processor.

Can I bring my pet?

No. Due to liability concerns, no pets are allowed on any of the Rail Tours. This includes service animals.

Are children allowed to ride?

Yes, ages 8 years and older can ride. Each child will need their own seat and to be secured with the seatbelt provided. Infants, and children under 8 years old, may not accompany parents on the ride.

Is there a weight limit?

For safety reasons there is a weight limit of 300lbs per person on the RailBikes. Passengers over 300 lbs may ride comfortably on our Passenger Cart Ride or the Choo-Choo Speeder.

Can we take food or drinks on the ride?

Each person should bring a bottle of water and a snack. We have drinks, snacks, cooler rentals, and ice pack rentals available in our gift shop. If you arrive early, get food to go from any of our wonderful eateries in town!

How should I dress?

Please remember you will be outside, in nature. At the tunnel, you will have the option to walk down to the river, and there is a slight slope. You may encounter spiders, bees, and other insects during your tour.

Dress for the weather and temperature. Please do not wear skirts or flowy pants that could get caught in the pedals of the RailBike. Do not tie sweaters or jackets around your waist, and do not tie a scarf around your neck. To avoid losing your shoes, no flip-flops or sandals without a heel strap should be worn. Closed-toe shoes are best.

What if my party has an odd number of riders?

Groups with an odd number of riders may need to be split into more than one RailBike to even out ridership numbers.

RailBike rider parties that are larger than 4 will be seated on consecutive RailBikes.

If your party is less than 4 people, and you do not want to ride with strangers, you can purchase the additional seat(s) when you make your reservation.

Are there restrooms?

Yes, we have four restrooms at the Depot as well as three restrooms at the Tunnel.

What happens if the weather looks questionable?

Tours go out rain or shine. If the weather looks like thunderstorms or lightning then we will cancel your tour. If Andrews Valley Rail Tours cancels your tour, you will be notifed by text, phone call, and email. We will offer you to book another day in the future or you will be issued a full refund (your choice).

If you choose not to participate in the tour, due to weather conditions, and the tour you were scheduled for runs as scheduled, you will not receive a refund.

What is your cancellation policy?

You can cancel your reservation up to 120 hours (5 days) prior to departure for a full refund, minus a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations within 120 hours of departure are non-refundable. NO EXCEPTIONS.

This is a rain-or-shine event. However, Andrews Valley Rail Tours reserves the right to cancel a tour due to severe weather at our discretion. If a tour is cancelled by AVRT, customers will receive a full refund or the option to re-book for another date. You will be notified by phone call, text message, or email if your tour is cancelled due to severe weather. If you do not receive a notification, your tour will depart as scheduled.

YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE DEPOT 30 MINUTES BEFORE your scheduled departure time for mandatory safety instructions. No refunds will be issued for late arrivals.

GOOGLE REVIEWS

Andrews Valley Rail Tours

4.8

Based on 990 reviews

Adam Willea

14:51 03 Jul 25

SO FUN! My wife and I absolutely loved this experience. Partway through, our rail car electric pedal assist died, and the guys tried everything to fix it but it wasn't happening - so they hooked up behind us with the powered train and pushed us. Made it feel like a personal train ride 🙂 The guys working there are the nicest most genuine people you'll meet, and work hard to make sure you enjoy the day. Sights were BEAUTIFUL. Laughs and fun had by all. Highly recommend.

Karen Henry

23:28 28 Jun 25

We had a great ride on the rail bike today. It was just my husband and I. They were completely sold out. Everything from the ordering of the tickets to the parking and staff was amazing. The staff was very helpful, friendly and some comical. The cave carved out of the mountain was the best. Also, if you're not sure you're able to do it, just give it a try it's a pedal assist and you're not really doing a whole lot of work. I had double hip replacement 2 years ago and didn't have a bit of trouble. Would recommend! I would recommend getting tickets prior to coming online.

Kim Trivette

11:49 23 Jun 25

This was a great little adventure. We did the pedal rail cars. You pedal more going than coming back, but it is not strengoues. We enjoyed riding through the country side, having some cows right beside the tracks to greet you. There was several bridges and creeks you cross before you get to the amazing tunnel. Being inside the tunnel is surreal. There's a nice little picnic area beside the creek before heading back. The staff was amazing! It poured the rain when we went, we all got soaked, but we still had an amazing time!!!!

Leslie Parent

21:15 22 Jun 25

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary by making unforgettable memories with Andrew’s Valley Rail Tours! The experience was absolutely incredible — we enjoyed the refreshing breeze from the creeks as we rode under the warm sun, and explored a fascinating man-made tunnel with breathtaking views of majestic mountains and local wildlife. Along the way, we spotted wild turkeys and the most adorable cows! This was such a fun and unique way to explore the outdoors, and it’s definitely something we’ll be doing again. Highly recommend!

WalkTail Hour

00:23 18 Jun 25

We had a wonderful time.
The bikes were quick. Could use an electric assist if needed.
Beautiful. Staff was great. Definitely worth a trip. Great for all ages and fitness levels.

Christine Long

23:16 15 Jun 25

Big Sexy and Chocolate Thunder made our afternoon! What a great experience, made even better by fantastic tour guides. We haven't laughed so hard in ages. Highly recommend! They even picked me a thistle! Thanks, guys! -Little Sexy and Vanilla Thunder (with a cherry on top)

Jenna James

16:08 10 Jun 25

We had a fantastic experience with Andrews Valley Rail Tours! The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, and clearly focused on safety from start to finish. Directions were clear and easy to follow, and it was obvious that our comfort and well-being were their top priority.

The rail bikes were well maintained and a lot of fun to ride — the electric assist made the journey smooth and comfortable, allowing us to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique outdoor experience!

Melanie Brumley

03:09 06 Jun 25

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We visited on a Sunday afternoon in early June and had a blast with our two teen sons. Andrews is such a beautiful area to explore. During the ride we crossed over the water several times throughout our trip, enjoyed the cool shade (great for those hot summer days!), the picnic area was so pretty, and our guide was hysterical! We will definitely be returning, hopefully in the fall next time to see the leaves changing color! We had so much fun!!!

Brittany Sanders

23:27 01 Jun 25

Had such a wonderful time! Staff was so friendly, the trip was exactly what we expected and then some! Very scenic, you can pedal to your hearts content and still have engine power assist 😉 would love to go again!!

Cameron Davis

13:47 01 Jun 25

Very nice tour, 2 hours, scenery was pretty and staff was friendly. The rail bikes are cool but you definitely need to be able to pedal well going up. Coming back down it’s downgrade and much easier. Enjoyed it a lot!

Peggy Tawney

14:10 22 May 25

We had a very very enjoyable time. Our train operated was Jonathan was great. Very knowledgeable explaining all the areas around us and also a out the bike rail operation, will definitely go back with our grandkids next time. Thank you
Peg & Rick

Kym Miller

18:59 15 May 25

I bought a gift certificate for my father for Christmas for Andrews Valley Rail Tours. He and I planned to go in May along with my mom and my partner. It was a wonderful experience. The scenery was beautiful and the assistants who were working to help everybody were very knowledgeable.

I started out as the driver on the way up the mountain. Peddling the cart with my three family members was surprisingly easy. I only needed a tiny bit of effort from everybody going up the Mountain.

My dad has a lot of trouble with his knees and he did not have to pedal it all. All he had to do was sit and enjoy the weather and the scenery, I was really pleased about that.

The stop at the top of the mountain was shaded and cool. We ate lunch at the creek near the train trestle, which was lovely.

The ride back was downhill, which made it even easier as far as the peddling. We just kind of sat back and enjoyed the ride. Of course, we were ready to brake at a moment’s notice.

Best of all! The owner is a woman! Please support small, women owned businesses!

Wanda D

00:26 15 May 25

I thoroughly enjoyed this rail tour. We arrived at the time we were asked to be there and there were people with the tour company all around to help you. You meet at what I'd call a little depot building with plenty of guides around to help show you what to do to get checked in and where to go for the safety instructions. There are restrooms available and there is a little store inside with beverages and snacks. I saw people bring little coolers with drinks and snacks which is a great idea since there is a small basket in each rail car that you can sit your belongings in. The rail cars do vibrate so you don't want to put anything light and loose in them. The peddling wasn't too strenuous and the ride was just long enough to enjoy but not so terribly long that you'd be completely worn out. After you make it through the tunnel (which is very cool by the way), you get a chance to get off the rail car and walk around by the river and sit and enjoy a snack and a drink at some picnic tables that are there. The rIde back is even easier because you're mostly coasting down the mountain, although it's not too steep. When we got back to the depot I wasn't ready to go because it was such fun. Everyone on the tour was very nice and accommodating and even offered to take our pictures with our phones for us before we got started. This was a great experience and I highly recommend.

Brenda Ward

23:28 13 May 25

Even though it rained during our tour, it was still beautiful and loads of fun! Each member of the crew was friendly, helpful, and made the experience even more memorable. It was totally worth the drive to the beautiful NC mountains! Yes, I would go again and recommend that you go, too!

Rachel Blackburn

14:27 12 May 25

We had a great time on Mothers Day! Weather was perfect for the 11am ride. We forgot a hat so we bought one in the gift shop. Great memories made. Would absolutely do again.

Lori Seaborg

23:09 11 May 25

What a unique tour through such a beautiful area! The rail line goes through pasture land before climbing into the mountains to a tunnel and picnicking spot by a river. I’ve traveled on the Speeder, where I didn’t need to pedal and also on a RailBike, where we pedaled. I recommend either one!

Nickie Moores

15:28 10 May 25

We had a great time! We took the 8:30a ride on a Saturday in early May. Everyone was friendly including all the staff. The announcer was very knowledgeable about the rail carts and shared that this is 1/18 rail cart businesses in the nation. I believe he said it is the only woman owned rail cart business which we thought was cool. The energy we exerted was just enough to be considered a slight workout, but made us feel like we were making some effort. 😂. The track winded through the wilderness along a stream which made the ride more scenic. There were calves, cows, and we also spotted a few turkeys and trout (in the water of course). The staff was pleasant and knowledgable about the area and shared some history about the tunnel you pass through. The incline was 6.5%- very gradual. We stopped by the waterfront after you pass through the tunnel so the carts could be turned around to head back. We had about 30 minutes to explore, use the provided toilets, and sit and share a snack we brought from home. There was a small gift shop at the “train depot” with hats, t shirts, ponchos, and some light snacks. On the way back down the track we rode like the wind. Think Donkey Kong video game from the 90s. There was no need to pedal on the ride down. Dollywood ain’t got nothin on the Andrews Valley Rail Cart! The reason for 4/5 stars is due to the seating arrangements. We booked 2 months in advance, but our party was split into 2 different carts. There were 4 of us in total so one of us rode with another party of 3. This was a bit of a bummer at first as we were hoping to experience the fun all together. If we would have realized this (possibly on the website but wasn’t made obvious enough because I did not see it) we would have brought 1 more person. It all worked out though- we met some kind folks. Shout out to David and Natasha from Indiana and the nice group of 3 that got stuck riding with me! 😆 We will be back to enjoy this unique experience and we will certainly share the fun with more friends from back home!

Amanda Stephens

20:57 09 May 25

Andrews Valley Rail Tours was an unforgettable experience! The customer service was top-notch—everyone was kind, welcoming, and made sure we were comfortable from start to finish. The mountain scenery was absolutely breathtaking, with every turn offering a new, stunning view. Riding the rail bikes was so much fun and a unique way to explore the beauty of the area. It was a perfect family outing, and we’re already planning our next visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun and scenic adventure!

Janice Ulrich

12:21 06 May 25

We opted to ride on the flatbed seating and didn't regret it. The folks peddling had a blast, and staff will boost you if you're struggling to get up the grade. There is a beautiful creek at the top with port-a-potties and picnic tables. The tunnel is historic and super cool to experience. It's a woman owned business and family run. Highly recommend!

Marcie Frye

23:51 03 May 25

My group of four had a wonderful time today! The staff are super friendly and helpful and the ride was awesome. I wish I'd taken more photos, but I was just enjoying the scenery. I highly recommend this adventure for everyone!

Oscar Beltran

17:00 03 Mar 25

❤️❤️❤️❤️💯💯

Erika Missonis

02:35 10 Jan 25

We had the BEST time on our rail car adventure. So beautiful and peaceful. The staff were really nice. Definitely recommend.

Karen Mastroianni

04:21 11 Dec 24

Had a great time. Very scenic ride up and down the mountain. When you get to the top at the tunnel, there’s a picnic area. You have about 20 to 30 minutes to explore the tunnel and have a snack. You can bring your own snack and beverages.

Susan

23:25 19 Nov 24

Excellent venue. Highly recommend!! So much fun!

Angela Jowers

12:49 18 Nov 24

Jeff Cox

16:01 11 Nov 24

Joyce Pettit

23:05 07 Nov 24

There was a group of 9 of us that went on the round trip tour and we all had an awesome time. I loved the 4 seater car that was comfortable, there was a bin to put your belongings in and I enjoyed pedaling and using the motor when we chose. We saw turkeys, boars, horses and cows. We went through an historic tunnel and stopped at the river for snacks and a rest to mingle with everyone at the top. Will definitely go back again next year and bring some friends with us.

Kamie Jett Heidel

14:23 06 Nov 24

Mary Hester

23:07 04 Nov 24

We had a great time. It is worth going and then we went to their Downtown for dinner and a little shopping. We loved the tunnel and the staff were so friendly. It's very peaceful and serene.

Darsi Burke

19:21 04 Nov 24

Such a fun experience. The staff is a hoot and the scenery is beautiful. We weren't able to book the pedal cars but booked the cart. Personally we enjoyed not pedaling, being able to take pictures and sitting back and relaxing.

Our rail tour adventures are only $59.99 per person

The RailBikes

The Cart

The Choo-Choo

The Destination

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GOOGLE REVIEWS