Trails & Rails: Anza Trail

Travel the Anza Trail by Train

If you travel the California coast by train, then you could experience the Anza Trail’s Trails & Rails program! On summer Saturdays, docents tell riders about the history and sites from the Sightseer Lounge car on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. Volunteer guides bring California’s history to life, including:

• The Anza expedition
• The history of the railroad
• Natural history
• California history
• Tourist points of interest

 

Docent Availability Cannot be Guaranteed

This program is designed to be a bonus to your already-booked travel plans. As this is a volunteer-run program, docent availability for every Saturday cannot be guaranteed. 

 

NPS

Schedule

Docents ride between San Jose and Paso Robles or between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

• Santa Barbara / Paso Robles runs from April through September
• San Jose / San Luis Obispo runs from June through September

Northbound Train #14 Saturday Schedule

12:14p | 12:21p - Santa Barbara, CA - Amtrak Station (SBA)

2:52p | 3:05p - San Luis Obispo, CA - Amtrak Station (SLO)

4:13p | 4:15p - Paso Robles, CA (PRB)

6:10p | 6:13p - Salinas, CA - Amtrak Station (SNS)

7:46p | 7:58p - San Jose, CA - Diridon Station (SJC)

Southbound Train #11 Saturday Schedule

10:14a | 10:26a - San Jose, CA - Diridon Station (SJC)

12:06p | 12:06p - Salinas, CA - Amtrak Station (SNS)

1:57p | 1:57p - Paso Robles, CA (PRB)

3:24p | 3:37p - San Luis Obispo, CA - Amtrak Station (SLO)

6:12p | 6:19p - Santa Barbara, CA - Amtrak Station (SBA)

Book your trip on the Coast Starlight Train #11 or #14 through Amtrak.

 

Docent Testimonials

"I serve as a Trails and Rails guide because it is a privilege and a pleasure to point out to the passengers the sites we pass along the way." Carla Cabanatuan

"...the route we take on our trips lets us see miles and miles of a scenic part of the California coast that can't be seen from the highway ... I enjoy sharing that beauty and describing the area's wildlife and history with passengers who come from around the world to see it." Tom Robinson 
 
"To educate, enlighten, excite, and engage the thousands of Amtrak passengers that are lucky enough to traverse the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail by rail ... I enjoy the trips more than the ones listening!" Dave Morse

"My passion for all things railroad-related, as well as for California history, drives my enjoyment of interpreting and sharing with fellow travelers aboard the Coast Starlight." Bruce Morden 
 
"Trails and Rails allows me to see and share a very special California experience. Every trip I learn something new from the other guides and the passengers; with every trip the scenery and the interactions change." Leslie Zomalt

 

Trails & Rails volunteers give engaging programs to train passengers in the observation car.

NPS

Become a Trails & Rails Guide

Would you like to represent the National Park Service, engage thousands of people a year, and enjoy one of the most beautiful rail routes in America? Then you should become a Trails & Rails docent along the Anza Trail!

Docents must be based near Santa Barbara or San Jose. Trails & Rails volunteers do not need to be historians or naturalists, but they must have an enthusiasm for public speaking and travel. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, in good health, and available to for two one-day trips per month between April and September. Uniforms, training, program materials, train tickets, and meals are provided. A mandatory one-day training takes place every winter.

If you're interested in volunteering, you can learn more here.