Skunk Train Willits Depot

Chuck and Kayla boarding the Skunk Train

299 East Commercial St.
Willits, California 95490
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Local Phone: (866) 457-5865

Except for the passengers' high-tech cameras and modern garb, a time traveler from the last century would feel quite at home riding California Western Railroads Skunk Train in the 1990's.

The view from the restored rail cars is pretty much unchanged: towering trees, deer drinking from the Noyo River, an isolated fisherman's cabin peeking from the forest. With occasional whistles as it chugs through tunnels, over bridges and past open meadows, the train follows the coastal "Redwood Route" as it has since 1885.

Built as a logging railroad, the Skunk line began that year as a logical vehicle for moving massive redwood logs to Mendocino Coast sawmills from the rugged back country.

Steam passenger service was started in 1904, extended to the town of Willits in 1911, and discontinued in 1925 when the self-powered, yellow "Skunk" rail cars were inaugurated. The little trains were quickly nicknamed for their original gas engines, which prompted folks to say, "You can smell 'em before you can see 'em."

• Please keep your dogs on a leash the entire trip
• If your dog is spooked by loud noises, this is not a good trip for them

dogtrekker.com, dog friendly, train, historic, redwoods, steam

Don’t get skunked by the Skunk Train

Skunk Railbikes with dog carrier. Photo by Robert Jason Pinoli.

For more than 130 years, this No. 1 vintage excursion train in California (it started out as a logging train carrying cargo and workers) has traveled through Northern California redwood forests. These days, there are two departure points — Fort Bragg, on the Mendocino Coast, and Willits, inland off Hwy. 101. The original name was the California Western Railroad, and has been known as the “Skunk Train” since 1925. more »

Special adventures for furry friends in Mendocino

Water Dog at the Little River Inn. Photo by Brendan McGuigan.

Mendocino County has so many dog-friendly activities that you might want to stay a few extra days. The Skunk Train is a northern California classic that departs from depots in coastal Fort Bragg and inland Willits. If splashing around with your pooch is more your style, book the Water Dog Package at the Little River Inn. Or, take to the waves with a specially designed canine cruiser from Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too, at the adjacent Stanford Inn. Check out our full list of pup-centered attractions. more »

Discover Mendocino’s inland empire

Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree

Many Mendocino County visitors stick to the Instagram-worthy sweep of coastline between Little River and Fort Bragg, but you can veer inland for different views. Interior Mendocino is dotted with redwood groves, wineries, off-the-beaten-path parks and small towns that extend a warm welcome to travelers with pets. Take Highway 101 north from Cloverdale to reach Ukiah, Willits and Leggett, where you’ll find the winding Eel River and an irresistibly kitschy roadside attraction: the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree Park. more »

Redwoods, railroads and dogs, oh my!

Skunk Train rail bikes. Photo by Skunk Train.

Step back in time for a magical ride through the redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train. According to Chief Skunk Robert Pinoli, "In our 136 years of service, we've transported millions of passengers. We think it's high time that our beloved canine companions should be able to join in the fun." Check out their outstanding experiences and special events, from classic daily trips to Magical Christmas, Easter and Pumpkin Express outings.

Photo: Brendan McGuigan more »

Redwoods, railroads and Mendocino County magic

Ride the famous Skunk Train, Mendocino County

California Western Railroad lines have wound through majestic Mendocino County redwoods for 135 years. Affectionately known as the “Skunk Train,” this celebrated attraction welcomes travelers and their four-legged friends on five historic trains traveling two unforgettable routes.

The experience anchors an array of dog-friendly adventures on California’s rugged North Coast, from sampling local brews in Fort Bragg, to hiking more than 20 state parks, beaches and reserves dotting Mendocino County. Punch your ticket and start planning today.

Here are the latest stories about the Skunk Train:

All Skunk Train experiences

Kayla sniffing out the Redwoods

Step back in time for a magical ride through the redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train. According to Chief Skunk Robert Pinoli, "In our 136 years of service, we've transported millions of passengers. We think it's high time that our beloved canine companions should be able to join in the fun." Here are some of the outstanding experiences you can ride, from classic daily trips to Magical Christmas, Easter and Pumpkin Express outings. more »

Board the storied Skunk Train

Kayla boards the Skunk Train

Experience classic Mendocino County on the California Western Railroad’s Redwood Route, a logging-era line established in 1885. Pungent odors produced by early-1900s motorcars earned the route its Skunk Train nickname—those units ran on gasoline and burned crude oil to keep passengers warm.

Today, the Skunk Train’s refurbished (and very dog-friendly!) steam- and diesel electric-powered cars still showcase old-growth forests. more »

Dog-Friendly Attractions on the Mendo Coast

Cooper - Photo Credit: @littlecooperbear

The Mendocino Coast is rich in natural attractions, from beaches and redwood forests to vast networks of trails where you and your pup can hike to your hearts' content. And then there are the manmade attractions, from the dog-friendly Skunk Train to specially rigged outrigger canoes at Catch A Canoe in which dogs can ride with their paddling people, to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. more »

All Aboard A Family-Friendly Choo-Choo

Wednesday rides the Skunk Train, Fort Bragg <br/> Photo Credit: @wandering_wednesday

Wednesday rides the Skunk Train, Fort Bragg
Photo Credit: @wandering_wednesday

The chug-chug and urgent whistle call of an approaching train is always exciting, especially when a vintage steam engine leads the charge. How can you hear it and see it and not want to be on it? Several family-friendly excursion trains in California welcome dogs as well as parents, grandparents and youngsters aboard. Here’s a rundown. more »

All Aboard (Dogs, too)!

Excursion-train rides are fun for the whole family, and several lines in Northern California allow dogs to ride along, too. Our pick for a fall rail outing: Pumpkin Trains at the Western Railway Museum in Solano County. more »

Onward and Inland!

Photo Credit: Chandelier Tree, Redwood Coast (CC)

Drive north on Highway 1 from Fort Bragg, and you’ll soon turn away from the coast and enter the county’s “Inland Empire.” It’s about an hour to Leggett, where the road merges with Highway 101 and the Redwood Coast begins. more »

All Aboard the Mendocino Skunk Train

All Aboard!

One of the most entertaining ways to experience Mendocino County’s majestic redwoods is aboard the historic (and dog-friendly) Skunk Train, so named because the self-propelled, gasoline-powered “railbus” cars introduced in the 1920s stunk to high heaven. Today, four-hour, dog-friendly round trips out of Willits dive deep into the woods, while one-hour round trips more »

Mendocino's Inland Charms

Spunky little dog near Lake Mendocino. Photo: Swift Benjamin

Drive north on Highway 1 from Fort Bragg, and you’ll soon leave the coast and turn inland. It’s about an hour to Leggett, where the road merges with Highway 101 and the Redwood Coast begins. Leggett is home to one of the North State's most enduring roadside attractions, the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree, a centuries-old coast redwood that was transformed into a tourist stop in the 1930's, when a 6-foot-wide tunnel was bored through it. Visitors ever since have been driving their cars into the opening and snapping photos with kids and dogs waving hands and paws out the windows. more »

Save Our Skunk

A tunnel collapse on Mendocino County’s dog-friendly Skunk Train line has inspired a new campaign titled Save Our Skunk to raise more than $300,000 needed to resume full train routes. The Skunk Train is one of Northern California’s most popular activities, and draws riders from around the world.

The Train is privately owned and managed, and has key historical significance. When San Francisco had to be rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, the Skunk Train became the vital link to haul the lumber, people and supplies. Hundreds of thousands of travelers have enjoyed Skunk Train rides through towering redwoods. more »

Coasting With Your Canine

Photo Credit: Mark Cosy (CC)

A mere glimpse of Mendocino’s gorgeously sculpted coastline is all it takes to turn urban angst into rural revelation. The scenery is so intoxicating you can happily spend a week along the Highway 1 corridor without venturing beyond sight or sound of the sea. more »

Skunk Train Willits Depot

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