Holiday lights in a mall parking lot are one thing. A two-hour rail cruise into Mendocino County's redwood country to gawk at a colossal glowing tree is another. This season, the historic Skunk Train is again rolling out of Willits on a two-hour holiday ride that snakes into the forest, stops at a massively decorated coastal redwood often billed as the world's largest living Christmas tree, then returns to town. Vintage railcars, open-air viewing, family entertainment, hot chocolate and seasonal music turn the trip into a laid-back winter production. From much of the Bay Area, it is roughly a three-hour drive north of San Francisco, so it works as either a long day trip or an easy overnight.
The Holiday Ride: Cocoa, Carols and Mr. Skunk
The Skunk Train's "Magical Christmas Train" leaves from the Willits depot and rumbles through forested canyons before pulling into a clearing where kids can meet the costumed "Mr. Skunk" and pose for photos. According to Skunk Train, the outing includes complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, live music and an option to upgrade to VIP status for priority boarding and take-home souvenirs. Trains depart several times on most days through December, and infants two and under ride free on a lap.
The Redwood That Steals the Show
The big draw is a towering coastal redwood that regional outlets have promoted as a record-scale living Christmas tree. A profile in SFGATE listed its height at about 222 feet and estimated that it is several centuries old. Decorating that much tree is not exactly plug-and-play. SFGate reports that it takes about a week of work, thousands of lights and a portable generator to pull it off, and the train makes a short stop so riders in the open-air car can crane their necks up the trunk. The over-the-top visuals are a big part of why the holiday runs have turned into a seasonal North Coast attraction.
A Little Railroad History
The line itself grew out of 19th-century timber operations. The Fort Bragg Railroad formed in the mid-1880s, and the Skunk route has carried passengers and freight "since 1885." Per Skunk Train, the nickname "Skunk" dates to 1925, when early gasoline-powered motorcars gave off such a potent smell that locals joked you could smell them before you could see them. Today the railroad promotes a mix of historic trains and newer railbike excursions along what it bills as the Redwood Route.
When to Go and Booking Tips
Holiday trips depart from Willits on select dates through December, and local calendars list multiple daily departures from the depot. Visit Mendocino publishes dates and ticket ranges, while Secret San Francisco notes that seats often sell out quickly, so booking early or aiming for a weekday run can improve your odds. The railroad offers online reservations, VIP packages for families who want priority boarding and a calendar of seasonal departures on its site.
Getting There From San Francisco
For Bay Area drivers, the trip is a straightforward shot up Highway 101. The route covers roughly 115 miles, and Travelmath estimates the typical driving time at about 2 hours and 29 minutes, although winter holiday traffic can push that closer to three hours. Travelmath suggests planning for extra time on weekends and evenings and leaving early if you want maximum daylight among the redwoods. Willits' compact downtown and nearby Fort Bragg are easy add-ons if you decide to turn the train ride into an overnight escape.
Bottom line, the Skunk Train's holiday runs turn a short Northern California getaway into something that sticks in the memory, especially for kids and rail buffs. If you go, bundle up and bring a camera. The open-air cars offer the cleanest line of sight to a redwood that has been lighting up this stretch of the North Coast for years.
