California note
Willits keeps the Skunk Train side of redwood rail history
The Skunk Train traces its rail history to 1885, when the route served the redwood timber economy between the woods and the Fort Bragg mill.
Willits has a rail story that starts with work, not tourism. The Skunk Train route began in 1885, when rail equipment arrived by ship at Fort Bragg. The job was practical: move logs out of the redwood forests to the mill, then help send lumber toward San Francisco by steamship.
The ride is no plain scenic train through trees. It follows a route shaped by timber, steep country, mills, and coastal shipping. Mendocino County’s redwood landscape is beautiful, but it also has a working past. Rail lines helped connect that forest economy to the coast and the wider state.
Today, the Skunk Train is better known as a visitor experience, with trips out of Willits and Fort Bragg. The old purpose still gives the scenery more meaning. Trestles, curves, canyon views, and redwood groves were not arranged for a postcard. They were part of a route built to move heavy loads through difficult land.
Look up schedules and route details before going, since rail trips can change by season, maintenance needs, and weather.
Where to see it
Skunk Train trips and rail history tied to Willits, Fort Bragg, and Mendocino County.
Sources
Sources for this story
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Public sources for the places, events, and details above.
Connected places
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