Empire Builder

Chicago - St. Paul/Minneapolis - Milwaukee - Spokane - Portland/Seattle

Empire Builder Train Traveling through Pine Forest

Empire Builder Train Crossing Bridge with Background Mountains

Experience the Rugged Splendor of the American West

Traveling daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest along major portions of the Lewis and Clark trail, the mighty Empire Builder takes you on an exciting adventure through majestic wilderness, following the footsteps of early pioneers.

From Chicago, you'll have magnificent views of the Mississippi and see the glowing night skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Awake the next morning as you cross the North Dakota plains and travel over the spectacular Gassman Coulee Trestle. Skirting the Missouri, you'll cross into the Big Sky country in Montana. Visit Glacier National Park during the Centennial celebration, and enjoy educational programs, art events and special activities commemorating the 100th anniversary of the park. From Spokane, you can continue on to Seattle or head down the Columbia River Gorge toward Portland for spectacular views of Mt. Hood and Beacon Rock. Learn more from the e-edition of the Empire Builder magazine.

Trails & Rails - Heritage Appreciation On Board

An innovative partnership program between the National Park Service and Amtrak, the Trails & Rails program provides Amtrak passengers with educational opportunities to foster an appreciation of a selected region's natural and cultural heritage and renews the long tradition of associating railroads with National Parks.

Learn More about Trails & Rails

During the spring and summer months, National Park Service guides are onboard the Empire Builder between Seattle and Shelby, MT from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. The other programs presented on different days of the week include:

between Havre, MT and Minot - the Nez Peirce National Historic Park – Bear Paw National Battlefield,
between Williston, ND and Shelby, MT or Malta, MT - Ft. Union Trading Post National Historic Site,
between Stanton, ND and Shelby or Malta, MT - Knife River Indian Villages and
between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Columbus, WI - the Mississippi River Recreation Area and get ready to appreciate the natural and cultural heritage onboard the train.

Trails & Rails Logo