Snoqualmie Valley Wine Trains

A Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train excursion is the perfect opportunity to learn local history while sampling local flavors. The Northwest Railway Museum partners with Snoqualmie Valley and Washington State wineries for an unforgettable wine tasting experience across 5.5 miles of historic railway.

Participating wineries and event itineraries vary throughout the year, so there is always something new to experience!

A ticket to any Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train excursion always includes a souvenir wine glass and eight tasting tickets to exchange for 1-oz pours.

Wine being poured in the freight room at the Snoqualmie Depot

Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train

The standard Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train excursion begins out of the Snoqualmie Depot. Your first tasting opportunity is available immediately after you check in, just up in the depot’s freight room.

Hopping aboard the train, you will take a scenic ride through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley to Bridge 35 which spans the Snoqualmie River. The train will then reverse direction and bring you to the Railway History Campus. There, you will find the rest of your tasting opportunities within the Train Shed Exhibit Hall. The wineries will be stationed throughout the building, as will tables with hors d’oeuvres.

After an hour or so to spend your remaining tasting tokens, you will climb back aboard the train for the final leg of your journey. The train will take you up past the top of Snoqualmie Falls for a view of the Lower Snoqualmie River Valley only available to train passengers. After a short stop to allow everyone time to get the best view in the valley, the train will return to Snoqualmie Depot.

Peak to Peak Express

In February, as part of The Real Twin Peaks festival, the Museum runs a special Twin Peaks-themed wine train, the Peak to Peak Express!

This excursion begins out of the North Bend Depot. Upon checking in, you will receive an event-themed souvenir wine glass, eight tasting tokens, and other event-themed goodies. Once you climb aboard, your excursion will take you past a number of points of interest from the show, including the real-world RR Diner: Twede’s Cafe!

The first leg of your train ride is only about 15-minutes and brings you to the Railway History Campus. Inside, you will be greeted with a special video message from Kyle MacLachlan. The wines available to sample will be from his own Walla Walla-based winery, Pursued by Bear. There will be hors d’oeuvres available, but more importantly, Twede’s Cafe will be serving their signature cherry pie and “damn fine” coffee.

After an hour or so to spend your tasting tokens, you will climb back aboard the train for a scenic ride up past the top of Snoqualmie Falls for a view of the Lower Snoqualmie River Valley only available to train passengers. After a short stop to allow everyone time to get the best view in the valley, the train will return to the North Bend Depot.

Peak to Peak Express image. Owl sticker with cherry pie from Twede's Cafe.

Snoqualmie Valley Halloween Wine Train

An extra special autumn treat, available only when the stars align and the moon is full… A Halloween-themed wine train excursion!

Much like the standard wine train excursion, this one begins out of the Snoqualmie Depot and has its first tasting opportunities in the freight room. The first part of your journey will instead take you past Snoqualmie Falls to the view of the Lower Snoqualmie River Valley before the sun sets. Next, you will ride to the Railway History Campus for the rest of your wine tastings as well as hors d’oeuvres.

Unique to this event, the Museum hosts a costume contest at the Train Shed Exhibit Hall judged by a panel of community members. There are a number of available prizes, so all guests are encouraged to dress up for the occasion! Prizes may include train passes, complimentary Museum memberships, items donated by local businesses, and more. You can sign up to join the costume contest when you check-in at the Snoqualmie Depot.

When practicable, this wine train excursion may be operated with a steam locomotive instead of a diesel, pricing may vary to reflect the difference.

The first place winners of the 2025 Snoqualmie Valley Halloween Wine Train costume contest pose with their certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to purchase a ticket for the Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train?

All ticket-holders must be age 21 or older. Everyone’s IDs will be checked at check-in.

Can I bring my child or teenager even if they don’t drink anything?

No. The Museum’s event permit forbids the presence of minors when alcohol is present.

How long is the train ride/excursion?

The entire excursion is about 2.5 hours. This includes the wine tastings as well as the train ride portions of your trip. Depending on the itinerary, your time aboard the train varies from 15 to 45 minutes at a time. The time spent at the Railway History Campus is usually about an hour, but this time is flexible based on how much fun our guests are having.

What time should I arrive? The ticket and the description say two different things!

The time on your ticket is the train’s departure time. You should arrive about half an hour early for check-in and, when applicable, your first wine tastings.

Can I purchase additional tasting tickets?

No. To prevent over-serving, the Museum limits all guests to eight one-ounce pours, which equates to roughly one-and-a-half glasses of wine.

We have someone who doesn’t want to drink alcohol in our group, can they get a discounted ticket?

We are unable to offer discounted tickets for our wine trains. However, please reach out to info@TrainMuseum.org if you have a specific non-alcoholic beverage request for that person. We will do our best to accommodate the request.

Can I give my tasting tickets to someone else?

The Museum requests you do not give your tasting tickets to someone else, as we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable excursion without over-imbibing so they can also make it home safe afterward.

What food options do you offer?

The available hors d’ouevres vary from event to event. The Museum provides some charcuterie options, snacking vegetables, and a dessert option or two. Sometimes local restaurants donate food to the event as well!

The Museum also provides bottled water and a small selection of complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Do you offer alternate options for those with dietary restrictions?

While the Museum cannot guarantee availability of alternate food options, please email any requests to info@TrainMuseum.org and staff will do their best to accommodate these requests.

Are there wine tastings aboard the train?

Unfortunately, no. There are no wine tastings available on the train.

If your question was not answered in the above FAQ, please reach out to Northwest Railway Museum visitor services staff through our contact form or by emailing info@TrainMuseum.org.