Railbike tours provide inclusive, family-friendly fun across the Southeast
THE RAILBIKE IS NOT A NEW INVENTION. Patented in America in 1869, this auxiliary vehicle was used for track inspections and maintenance. But in recent years, a modernized railbike equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and pedal-assist technology has emerged as a novel way for families to explore scenic landscapes.
Eager to put the pedal to the metal in our neck of the woods, BRO rounded up four railbike tours across the Southeast. From the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina to the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad in West Virginia, these tours promise to be a rail-ly good time.
Buffalo Creek Cruise
Elk River, West Virginia
Cody Burdette knows the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad well. Since his father worked as a train engineer at the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company in West Virginia, Burdette spent much of his childhood traveling the tracks in the cab of a steam locomotive.
“I got to do what most boys dream of,” Burdette shares in his 2023 memoir, “Son of a Traveling Man.”
These days, Burdette is all grown up and the lumber company is long gone, but he can still ride the rails, thanks to West Virginia’s first-ever railbike tour.
Made possible through a partnership with the West Virginia Department of Transportation and Rail Explorers, the tour invites participants to journey 12 miles through the woods of West Virginia.
Along the way, you’ll see everything from a wrecked train car to Devil’s Sawmill Waterfall, a small cascade recently added to the West Virginia Waterfall Trail. You may even spot a few of the swimming holes Burdette splashed in as a kid.
Andrews Valley Rail Tours
Andrews, North Carolina
Sure, you could drive through Andrews, N.C. But folks with the Andrews Valley Rail Tours recommend pedaling through the sleepy-eyed town instead.
The adventure begins at the Andrews Train Depot and travels 8.6 miles on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. During your journey, you’ll cross nine trestle bridges, meander through picturesque pastures, and even pass through the 346-foot-long River Valley Tunnel.
“It’s 15 percent cooler inside the tunnel, so it’s like natural air conditioning in the summer,” says Cindy Lumbert, the company’s office manager. “But what’s most impressive is that the tunnel wasn’t blasted through—it was literally hand-chiseled in 1894.”
Other delights range from mountain wildflowers to wildlife. Some guests have even spotted an elusive albino turkey.
“People have a wonderful time,” says Lumbert. “If anything, they want the tour to be even longer.”
The Kentucky River Rambler
Bluegrass, Kentucky
For Mary-Joy Lu, it all started with a Korean soap opera. In 2012, Lu watched a K-drama in which the actors pedaled a strange contraption down railroad tracks. She became so intrigued that she flew to South Korea 10 days later to experience railbiking for herself.
Three years after that, Lu and her husband brought a fleet of railbikes to the U.S. and founded Rail Explorers in the Adirondacks. The couple has since expanded to California, Iowa, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
In the Bluegrass State, Rail Explorers offers a two-hour tour along a section of the Louisville Southern Railroad that once carried passengers from Lawrenceburg to Versailles and Lexington. Today, the rail line passes through thoroughbred horse farms before descending into the limestone hills.
According to Lu, the experience brings together people of all ages and abilities, thanks to the pedal assistance technology.
“This e-assist creates an effortless ride and allows access into the wilderness once available only to serious hikers and outdoor enthusiasts,” she says.
Tours are even open to furry friends. “Previous pets have included dogs, cats, lizards, parrots, and even ducks,” Lu says.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Blue Ridge, Georgia
In 1886, Blue Ridge, Ga., was founded as a whistle-stop on the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. In the century since, it has grown into a thriving mountain destination, all thanks to the “great iron highway.”
To learn more about the town’s history, hop aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s 11-mile railbike tour. According to general manager Rachal Gray, you’ll depart from the downtown depot and then “meander alongside streams, vineyards, and the tall, swaying Georgia pines.”
While you soak up the views, guides will share interesting tidbits about Blue Ridge’s storied past—from curative mineral springs that once drew thousands to an iconic drive-in movie theater still in operation. They’ll also point out the Benton MacKaye Trail, a 300-mile footpath that intersects the railway.
“We have received nothing but positive feedback,” says Gray. “The railbikes have been selling out at least a month in advance.”
