In September, I connected a few train segments that I have wanted to ride into a 6-day trip to Quebec City and the Charlevoix region.
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Rockies by Train
I am often asked about train travel through the Canadian Rockies. Seeing the mountains and rivers pass by outside the window of a train is a very special way to experience the Rockies.
In Canada, there are two main options:
- VIA Rail’s The Canadian – This train goes twice a week in each direction on the route Vancouver-Kamloops-Jasper-Edmonton as part of the route connecting Vancouver and Toronto.
- The Rocky Mountaineer – Two key routes go seasonally Vancouver-Jasper and Vancouver-Banff.
Here are some of the differences and trade-offs if you are looking at your options:
The Canadian The Rocky Mountaineer Operated by VIA Rail as part of the Toronto-Vancouver route. A private train operating company with several routes in the Rocky Mountains. Stops in Jasper (on its way to Edmonton and further east) Ends in Jasper (“Journey through the Clouds”) or Banff (“First Passage to the West”) depending on route. This is the only passenger train that travels to Lake Louise and Banff. Often travels scenic portions in darkness, including through Fraser and Thompson Canyon Entire trip in daylight. A traditional “sleeper” train with private ‘rooms’ as well as upper and lower ‘berths’ and three meals a day in a dining car. Daylight only travel with an overnight stop in Kamloops where passengers stay overnight in hotels. Three classes:
– Prestige – large bedroom and all-inclusive meals and drinks
– Sleeper Plus – berths and bedrooms with meals included in dining car
– Economy – seats with access to a snack car and domeTwo classes:
– Gold Leaf – two level dome car with meals served downstairs
– Silver Leaf – single level dome car with meals served at your seatTwo or more dome cars with views forward, back and up. Large glass windows on sides and above; has an outdoor viewing platform for “Gold Leaf” passengers. More affordable, especially for seniors and during sales (see discounts) More expensive Operates year-round Seasonal 
The Canadian I have done both options and would recommend both, depending on your travel plans and budget. See my trip descriptions of riding The Canadian and the Rocky Mountaineer (in progress!).
If your goal is to see the mountains then the Rocky Mountaineer is the better option with its daytime-only travel, outdoor viewing platform and route to Banff. The Canadian is also a great experience, particularly if your travel plans include coming or going from Toronto, or you want the traditional sleeper-train experience — private berths, a dome car, and a white-tablecloth dining car.
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Hamilton->Brantford->Port Dover
This is a trip I’ve wanted to do for a while and finally had a chance to give it a try in the middle of August. The various sections go by several names. For the first 32km it is called the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail. South from Brantford it is called the L.E. & N. (Lake Erie and Northern), T.H. & B. (Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo) and Lynn Valley Trail. Overall, I rode about 92km to Port Dover, plus about 14km back to my motel in Simcoe.
I had previously ridden the Hamilton->Brantford section twice, both as round-trip day trips with lunch in Brantford. This is a recommend ride if you only have time for a one day trip with lots of options for restaurants or picnic parks.
This trip started with an early morning GO train ride from Toronto to Hamilton’s West Harbour station. From West Harbour, there was about 5km of quiet city roads to the start of the rail trail near Chedoke Park. My particular route through the streets had me join the trail at Emerson Street.
Once on the trail, I joined morning runners, bikers and dog walkers as the trail cut past the community of Dundas and started climbing through the Dundas Valley Conservation Area.
The climb through Dundas Valley including the curves to Summit Station is the biggest hill of the day because the trail is climbing the Niagara Escarpment. The Dundas Valley Trail Centre has a washroom and snacks if you are looking for a break.
At Summit Station, about 15km along the trail from Hamilton, there is a historical sign showing a water tower and station that used to be there to support passing trains. From here it is mostly a gradual downhill all the way to Port Dover!
Approaching Brantford, there are some great views across the fields but there was almost no one else on the trail. There is a short steep dip and climb as the trail goes under the Highway 403.
In Brantford, there are a variety of trails and bike lanes with major trails going north to Paris and south to Port Dover. I went straight through the south part of the city directly to the start of the L.E. & N. trail off Veterans Memorial Parkway after crossing the Grand River.
From Brantford, large sections are paved, which makes for easy riding. In Waterford, the “Black Bridge” was the largest structure of the day, with great views down to the ponds and lake.
From the town of Simcoe, the trail is marked as the Lynn Valley Trail and has a beautiful section meandering along the Lynn River approaching Port Dover.
I rolled right down to the public beach for my finish-line photo after the 92km ride.
After grabbing a late lunch, I rode the 14km back to Simcoe, where I had arranged a motel. There were limited options available mid-summer in the popular beach community of Port Dover.
I had planned to ride back to Toronto the next day, but Marianne decided to drive down and join me for a sunset dinner on Lake Erie. It felt like a tropical evening on the water!
And then she gave me a ride back home!
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Lakeshore East Diversion
Due to Lakeshore East being closed, VIA Rail was diverting its trains along the Don Valley and then east to rejoin the regular route in Pickering. I checked out some of the trains in the valley and rode one of the diverted trains.
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Southwest Chief
I had an opportunity to travel the full length of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago. The trip is a scheduled 43 hours (took me about 47 hours) over a reported 2,265-miles (3,645 km) across the US Southwest and Midwest.
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Aldershot Diversion
On March 22, 2026, I rode VIA Rail through Georgetown and Milton to Aldershot on CN’s Halton Subdivision.
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The Canadian – Winnipeg to Toronto
In February 2025, I travelled on The Canadian from Winnipeg to Toronto with my parents.
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Toronto-New York-Montreal
In May 2023, I rode Amtrak’s Maple Leaf from Toronto via Niagara and Buffalo to New York City. I stayed overnight in New York and then took Amtrak’s Adirondack from New York to Montreal.
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Sudbury to White River
VIA Rail operates its “Scenic Adventure Route” from Sudbury to White River. This train uniquely uses two or three “Budd” cars on an 8-hour schedule through northern Ontario.
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Pacific Surfliner
On February 18, 2017, about a year after riding the Coast Starlight north from LA, I was back in LA heading south to work meetings in San Diego.
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