Date Night On A Willamette Valley Train Ride? Yes Please.
If you’ve ever driven through the Willamette Valley and caught yourself staring a little too long at the railroad tracks, wondering where they go and what they’ve seen, Santiam Excursions is basically that daydream brought to life.
Based out of Lebanon, Santiam Excursions offers one of those rare Oregon experiences that somehow still feels like a secret. No hiking boots. No trailhead stress. No pretending you’re “almost there” for two hours. You either climb aboard a vintage train or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, pedal your way down the rails themselves.
Yes. Pedal. On railroad tracks.
Santiam Excursions Are Literally A Moving Piece of Oregon History
The rail line Santiam Excursions operates on dates back to the early 1900s, when trains were the backbone of small-town Oregon. These tracks once carried timber, crops, mail, and passengers through the Santiam Valley long before highways stitched everything together.
Today, they carry something far more valuable. People looking to slow down.
The vintage railcars feel like stepping into another era. Wide windows. Old-school details. That steady click and sway that instantly lowers your blood pressure. It’s not fast, and that’s the entire point.
Not Just One Ride, But an Entire Menu of Them
What really sets Santiam Excursions apart is that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all train ride. They run a rotating schedule of themed excursions throughout the year, which makes it dangerously easy to say, “We should do that one too.”
Scenic Excursions
The classic experience. A relaxed ride through the valley with narration covering local history, railroad stories, and the towns you glide past. It’s the kind of ride where you actually notice barns, rivers, and tree lines again. It’s ideal if you just want to unplug, sip a drink, and remember what boredom felt like before phones ate it alive.
Dinner and Wine Trains
Peak Oregon energy. These excursions combine slow travel with food and wine, turning the train into a rolling date night. No reservations juggling. No loud restaurant chaos. Just scenery, conversation, and the gentle rhythm of the rails. Think date night energy without the awkward silence or having to Google the menu beforehand.
Sunday Brunch Rides
If your ideal weekend involves good food, a slow morning, and absolutely nowhere you need to be, the Sunday Brunch Train is your move. This relaxed excursion pairs a scenic ride through the Santiam Valley with a laid-back brunch served onboard, turning an ordinary weekend morning into something that feels quietly special.
Seasonal and Holiday Trains
Santiam Excursions leans hard into seasonal fun. Fall rides, holiday-themed trips, and special-event excursions often sell out fast, especially the ones geared toward families. Kids get the magic, adults get nostalgia, and nobody has to build anything or clean up glitter afterward. Kids get magic. Everyone wins.
Specialty and Event Rides
From murder mystery dinners to brewery partnerships and community-focused events, these are the rides that turn a simple train trip into a full-on experience. They change year to year, which keeps locals coming back instead of saying, “We already did that once.”
And Then There Are the Railriders
If sitting back isn’t your thing, Santiam Excursions also offers Railriders, which might be one of the most unexpectedly fun activities in the valley.
Railriders are pedal-powered rail bikes that let you travel the same historic tracks under your own steam. You and a small group hop on, start pedaling, and cruise through quiet stretches of countryside you’d never see from the road. No traffic. No noise. Just farmland, open sky, and the satisfying feeling of moving forward one pedal stroke at a time.
It’s part workout, part sightseeing, and somehow still relaxing. Families love it. Couples love it. Anyone who’s ever thought, “I wish I could ride a bike somewhere without cars,” really loves it.
Why This All Works So Well
Whether you’re on a train car or a Railrider, the magic is the same. You’re not rushing. You’re not multitasking. You’re not trying to beat daylight or signal bars. You’re just moving through Oregon at a human pace.
That’s something we don’t get enough of anymore.
Santiam Excursions doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It just reminds you why slowing down was never a bad idea in the first place.
And tucked away in Lebanon, quietly running along tracks that have seen more than a century of Oregon history, it offers a reminder that some of the best adventures don’t require going far at all. Slow down. Sit back. Watch the scenery roll by.
Ready To Hop Aboard a Santiam Excursion? Here's Everything You Need To Know
Address: 750 S 3rd St, Lebanon, OR 97355
Phone: 541-619-0342
