The Magic of Heber Valley’s Historic Railroad

Photo: Mark Nelson // Heber Valley Railroad Locomotive

If the nitty-gritty of Heber Valley Railroad’s rich history and historical tracks sounds like your cup of hot cocoa, then you can visit the HVRR website and tumble down a rabbit hole of locomotive knowledge. 

During November and December, HVRR transforms into a wonderland featuring the North Pole Express, followed quickly by the After Christmas North Pole Express, both captivating family activities perfect for building holiday traditions. But Christmas isn’t the only time to engage in the festivities at HVRR.

Originally, the idea of a railroad in Heber was brought forward as a possible route for the transcontinental railroad (though that never happened and the path through Weber canyon ultimately prevailed) but construction of a railway was still heavily advocated for by the residents of Heber at the time. Several battles in court presided and eventually the railroad connected Heber to the rest of the world. Now, the HVRR is an all-season and holiday destination for taking-in the Heber Valley’s breathtaking scenery. The “Heber Creeper” boasts some of the most spectacular views and traditional experiences from the Golden Years of our state’s history for residents and nearby Utah locals to enjoy.

Holiday rides are 90 minutes round trip and you can expect hot cocoa, chocolate chip cookies, holiday sing-alongs, and Santa joining as a passenger on the way back to the station. Tickets to the North Pole Express during November and through Christmas are mostly sold out by the time Halloween has come and gone, but don’t worry, you can still experience the after Christmas North Pole Express before the merry spirit of the holiday season fades into the new year. Those tickets can be easier to come by later in the season. 

To keep up to date on the various seasonal and regularly scheduled train rides offered by HVRR all year long, check the website’s calendar to plan ahead and enjoy all of the outstanding events offered by the folks at the Heber Valley Railroad.