Nantahala Gorge Excursion

Take a ride along side the beautiful Nantahala River on our Nantahala Gorge Excursion! Departing from Bryson City, this 4½ hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back again arriving at our Bryson City Depot.

Ride this excursion via Steam or Diesel locomotive power!

• About This Trip
• Itinerary
• Classes of Service and Pricing
• Class Comparison
• How to Purchase
• Where To Go
• Schedule

About This Trip

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains while traveling along the Tennessee and Nantahala (nan-tuh-HAY-luh) River.The historic trellis bridge Fontana Trestle takes you across Fontana Lake and into the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Arrive at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for a one-hour layover where you can relax by the river or enjoy sightseeing! The Nantahala Gorge Excursion operates March through October. We are open and operating under all current COVID-19 safety guidelines and ask that you follow all protocols. Find the information HERE! *Please be aware due to COVID-19 dining options at your layover destination, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, is restricted to 50% capacity. This means your wait time may not allow for you to be served during the one-hour layover. You are strongly advised to reserve a box lunch meal option along with your train tickets to assure you will have a meal.*

Itinerary

30m before departure	Boarding begins at Bryson City Depot
See schedule for departure time	Depart Bryson City, NC
1h 45m	Reach top of the line
2h 00m	Begin return
2h 30m—3h 30m	Layover at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
3h 30m	Depart Layover
4h 30m	Arrive at Bryson City Depot
Time from Departure	Activity

Given the nature of railroading, durations are approximate and subject to change without notice.

Classes of Service

Adult First Class Available August 20

Diesel	$99.00 ($102.00 October)	Not Permitted
Steam	$113.00 ($115.00 October)	Not Permitted
Locomotive	Adult (21+ Only)	Under 21

First Class features assigned seating at a dining table in a climate controlled car with large picture windows, and are served a boxed meal by the car's attendant. Each couple receives a souvenir tote bag, and everyone receives a souvenir travel mug with free refills of soda, coffee, and iced tea all day.

Limited bar service available.

Premium Open Air Gondola

Diesel	$83.00 ($87.00 October)	Not Permitted
Steam	$95.00 ($99.00 October)	Not Permitted
Locomotive	Adult (21+ Only)	Under 21

Premium Open Air Gondola features assigned seating in a car with unobstructed views, half-height walls, and a roof above to protect passengers from the elements. Adults (21+) are served a boxed lunch by the car's attendant. Each couple receives a souvenir tote bag (1 per couple). Everyone receives a souvenir travel mug with free refills of soda, coffee, and iced tea all day. When we reach the end of the line, we will invite all guests in this class to switch sides with their neighbors so that everyone will have the opportunity to take pictures from a new perspective on the opposite side of the train.

Add an official Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Sweatshirt Blanket to your reservation for just $29.99! At 54" x 84" it's the perfect size for two to keep warm during our cool mornings.

Limited bar service available.

Family First Class NOT AVAILABLE 

Diesel	$99.00	$57.00	$20.00
Steam	$113.00	$64.00	$22.00
Locomotive	Adult (13+)	Child (2-12)	Infant (0-23 Months)

Family First Class features assigned seating at a dining table in a climate controlled car with large picture windows. Adults (13+) and children (2-12) are served a boxed lunch by the car's attendant. Each adult couple receives souvenir tote bags. Everyone aged 2 years old on up receives a souvenir travel mug with free refills of pop, coffee, and iced tea all day. And, children can have lunch with the conductor! This special addition allows for one of our conductors to accompany and interact with fans of all ages for the entire trip!

Limited bar service available.

Crown Class

Diesel	$72.00 ($76.00 October)	$42.00 ($42.00 October)	$10.00
Steam	$85.00 ($89.00 October)	$45.00($45 October)	$12.00
Locomotive	Adult (13+)	Child (2-12)	Infant (0-23 Months)

Crown Class features assigned seating in a climate controlled car with large picture windows. Everyone over the age of 2 years old receives a souvenir tumbler with free refills of soda, coffee, and iced tea all day! When we reach the end of the line, we will invite all guests in this class to switch sides with their neighbors so that everyone will have the opportunity to take pictures from a new perspective on the opposite side of the train.

Preorder your boxed lunch!

Beer and wine available.

Coach Class

Diesel	$56.00 ($59.00 October)	$32.00 ($32 October)	Complimentary
Steam	$65.00 ($67.00 October)	$40.00 ($40 October)	Complimentary
Locomotive	Adult (13+)	Child (2-12)	Infant (0-23 Months)

Coach Class features open seating in an enclosed car, windows that can be opened for fresh air and taking photos, and are heated and have ceiling fans. When we reach the end of the line, we will invite all guests in this class to switch sides with their neighbors so that everyone will have the opportunity to take pictures from a new perspective on the opposite side of the train.

Preorder your boxed lunch!

 

Open Air Gondola

Diesel	$56.00 ($59.00 October)	$32.00 ($32.00 October)	Complimentary
Steam	$65.00 ($67.00 October)	$40.00 ($40 October)	Complimentary
Locomotive	Adult (13+)	Child (2-12)	Infant (0-23 Months)

Open Air Gondolas feature open seating in a car with unobstructed views, half-height walls, and a roof above to protect passengers from the elements. When we reach the end of the line, we will invite all guests in this class to switch sides with their neighbors so that everyone will have the opportunity to take pictures from a new perspective on the opposite side of the train.

Add an official Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Sweatshirt Blanket to your reservation for just $29.99! At 54" x 84" it's the perfect size for two to keep warm during our cool mornings.

Preorder your boxed lunch!

 

Class Comparison

Amenity	First Class	Premium Open Air Gondola	Family First Class	Crown Class	Coach Class	Open Air Gondola
Meal Included
Lunch Available
Restrooms Available
Heat
Air Conditioning
Assigned Seating
Souvenir Travel Mug
Large Picture Windows
Souvenir Tote Bag
Windows Open/Close
Ceiling Fans
Ideal for Photography
Outward Facing Seats
Padded Seats

How to Purchase

You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.

Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot.

See Classes of Service for the various class descriptions and pricing.

Where to Go

All departures are from the Bryson City Depot in Bryson City, NC.

Entrance to the parking lot is located at:

45 Mitchell Street
Bryson City, NC 28713

Plan on being here by 1 hour before your departure.

Schedule

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

June 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				4 S 10:30am	5 S 10:30am	6 S 10:30am
7	8	9 D 10:30am	10 D 10:30am	11 S 10:30am	12 S 10:30am	13 S 10:30am
14	15	16 D 10:30am	17 D 10:30am	18 S 10:30am	19 S 10:30am	20 S 10:30am
21	22	23 D 10:30am	24 D 10:30am	25 S 10:30am	26 S 10:30am	27 S 10:30am
28	29	30 D 10:30am

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

July 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 D 10:30am	2 S 10:30am	3 S 10:30am	4 S 10:30am
5	6	7 D 10:30am	8 D 10:30am	9 S 10:30am	10 S 10:30am	11 S 10:30am
12	13	14 D 10:30am	15 D 10:30am	16 S 10:30am	17 S 10:30am	18 S 10:30am
19	20	21 D 10:30am	22 D 10:30am	23 S 10:30am	24 S 10:30am	25 S 10:30am
26	27	28 D 10:30am	29 D 10:30am	30 S 10:30am	31 S 10:30am

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

August 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1 S 10:30am
2 D 10:30am	3 D 10:30am	4 D 10:30am	5 D 10:30am	6 D 10:30am	7 D 10:30am	8 D 10:30am
9 D 10:30am	10 D 10:30am	11 D 10:30am	12 D 10:30am	13 S 10:30am	14 S 10:30am	15 S 10:30am
16 D 10:30am	17 D 10:30am	18 D 10:30am	19 D 10:30am	20 S 10:30am	21 S 10:30am	22 S 10:30am
23 D 10:30am	24 D 10:30am	25 D 10:30am	26 D 10:30am	27 S 10:30am	28 S 10:30am	29 S 10:30am
30 D 10:30am	31 D 10:30am

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

September 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 D 10:30am	2 D 10:30am	3 S 10:30am	4 S 10:30am	5 S 10:30am
6 D 10:30am	7 S 10:30am	8 D 10:30am	9 D 10:30am	10 D 10:30am	11 S 10:30am	12
13	14 D 10:30am	15 D 10:30am	16 D 10:30am	17 D 10:30am	18 D 10:30am	19 D 10:30am
20 D 10:30am	21 D 10:30am	22 D 10:30am	23 D 10:30am	24 D 10:30am	25 D 10:30am	26 D 9:00am D 2:00pm
27 D 9:00am D 2:00pm	28 D 10:30am	29 D 10:30am	30 D 10:30am

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

October 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1 D 10:30am	2 D 10:30am	3 S 10:30am
4 S 10:30am	5 D 10:30am	6 D 10:30am	7 D 10:30am	8 D 10:30am	9 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	10 S 9:00am S 2:00pm
11 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	12 D 9:00am D 2:00pm	13 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	14 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	15 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	16 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	17 S 9:00am S 2:00pm
18 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	19 D 9:00am D 2:00pm	20 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	21 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	22 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	23 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	24 S 9:00am S 2:00pm
25 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	26 D 9:00am D 2:00pm	27 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	28 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	29 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	30 S 9:00am S 2:00pm	31 S 9:00am S 2:00pm

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

November 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2 No Trains	3 No Trains	4	5	6	7
8 No Trains	9 No Trains	10 No Trains	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26 No Trains	27	28
29	30

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

December 2020

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25 No Trains	26
27	28	29	30	31

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

January 2021

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					1 No Trains	2 No Trains
3 No Trains	4 No Trains	5 No Trains	6 No Trains	7 No Trains	8 No Trains	9
10 No Trains	11 No Trains	12 No Trains	13 No Trains	14 No Trains	15 No Trains	16
17 No Trains	18 No Trains	19 No Trains	20 No Trains	21 No Trains	22 No Trains	23
24 No Trains	25 No Trains	26 No Trains	27 No Trains	28 No Trains	29 No Trains	30
31 No Trains

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

February 2021

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1 No Trains	2 No Trains	3 No Trains	4 No Trains	5 No Trains	6
7 No Trains	8 No Trains	9 No Trains	10 No Trains	11 No Trains	12 No Trains	13
14 No Trains	15 No Trains	16 No Trains	17 No Trains	18 No Trains	19 No Trains	20
21 No Trains	22 No Trains	23 No Trains	24 No Trains	25 No Trains	26 No Trains	27
28 No Trains

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

March 2021

D: Diesel S: Steam

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1 No Trains	2 No Trains	3 No Trains	4 No Trains	5	6
7 No Trains	8 No Trains	9 No Trains	10 No Trains	11 No Trains	12	13
14 No Trains	15 No Trains	16 No Trains	17 No Trains	18 No Trains	19	20
21 No Trains	22 No Trains	23 No Trains	24 No Trains	25 No Trains	26	27
28 No Trains	29 No Trains	30 D 10:30am	31 D 10:30am

Other excursions and/or events are available. Check out our complete train schedule to see all our options.

Ticket fares subject to 7% Historic Preservation Fee. Schedules, fares, motive power, equipment, seat selection, and meals are subject to change without notice. We guarantee the class of service you select. You will be notified if a change in schedule or motive power affects your reservation. Payment in full at booking by major credit card is required to finalize a reservation. You may cancel your reservation in full or in part and receive a refund less a $14.00 fee per adult ticket and $6.00 fee per child ticket as late as 48 hours before departure. Within 48 hours of the departure the reservation becomes nonrefundable. You may reschedule any time prior to your originally scheduled departure with a $7.00 fee per ticket for another date within the same calendar year. You may not reschedule a reservation after the scheduled departure.

You agree that GSMR General Excursions and Events for which you purchased tickets and/or attended is a public event, that your appearance and actions inside and outside the venue where the Excursion/Event occurs are public in nature, and that you have no expectation of privacy with regard to your actions or conduct at the Event. You hereby irrevocably grant permission to the host railroad, licensor, sponsor(s) and/or their assigns to use, copy, display, distribute, exhibit and utilize your name, image, digital image, likeness, acts, poses, voice, appearance, movements and statements in any live or recorded audio, video or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction of same, including at the Excursion/ Event (regardless of whether before, during or after the Excursion/ Event) for any purpose, in any manner, in any medium or context now known or hereafter developed without further authorization from or any compensation to you or anyone acting or entitled to act on your Behalf.