Spanning 53 miles (85km) of track, some of which dates back to the late 19th century, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad runs round trips from Bryson City that traverse secluded patches of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are hard to reach in other ways. The line’s most scenic excursion transports passengers across the rusting trellis bridge over Fontana Lake and into the heart of the Nantahala Gorge. Book a ticket in the open-air gondola for uninterrupted views.

Explore the Great Smoky Mountains, America's most-visited national park

The most scenic train journey in every US state