Best of Bay Area Family & Dog Friendly Adventure Niles Canyon Railway
Old Movies, Old Trains & Dog That Was Once Mayor
There are not too many places in the Bay Area that one can take the whole family on an adventure, including the family dog. We’ve selected the Niles Canyon Railway as our Best Family Adventure that’s dog friendly. As in the days of the past, the Conductor has the final call regarding who boards his or her train. Only well behaved dogs that get prior approval are allowed on board.
Passengers can board the train at either the town of Sunol or the historic town of Niles and cruise the 6 ½ mile track through a beautiful undeveloped canyon while pulled by an 80 year old locomotive. Niles and Sunol are located between highways 680 and 800 east of Fremont, about an hour from San Francisco. For many passengers it’s their first experience riding a train.
Niles has a silent movies museum as the town was California’s first Hollywood back in the day. About 350 films were produced at the Essanay Studios in Niles between the years 1912-1916. These films featured both Bronco Billy and Charlie Chaplin. Families will typically combine a visit to the old silent film museum where they can take in an old movie shown on a vintage projector.
Once governed by a dog that was elected Mayor for two terms, there’s not much to the town of Sunol. Besides a rail depot, there’s a post office and a restaurant named “Bosco” after a dog that was once elected Mayor twice in the 1980’s as a hoax. Inside Bosco’s you’ll see a life size replica of the late great dog that was one the Mayor for two terms. (Doubles as a beer tap)
There’s nothing like hearing the sound of an old fashioned steam train and taking in the scenic beauty of the Niles Canyon. It’s one of the BEST adventures for the whole family, including the family dog.
Each fall the train is decorated with Holiday Lights from beginning to end for night time excursions that sell out with in 4 days of going on sale. (Holiday trains maybe too crowded for pets - please call)
