Tracks and Yaks Rail Biking Is Fantastic Family Fun!

We recently went on a totally fun, unique, and family friendly day trip to Tracks and Yaks Rail Biking in Allegany County, Maryland. If you enjoy doing outdoor activities with your kids, you have to add a tour with Traks and Yaks to your family fun bucket list!

Tracks and Yaks Tour Options

Jump to Section

Tracks and Yaks, which operates out of the Frostburg Train Depot, offers a number of different tours. Here is a quick rundown of the options:

Helmstetter Hotshot

A 2 hour and 10 mile ride on the railroad track (the same one used by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad). You start at the Frostburg Train Depot and the entire ride is downhill. At the end of the 10 mile ride, a shuttle bus brings you back to Frostburg.

Queen City Excursion

A 4-hour and 15+ mile ride on the same track as Helmstetter Hotshot. This is one of the longest rail bike routes in the country. You cruise all the way to Cumberland. There is a 1-hour layover to explore the town, and then the shuttle bus brings you back to Frostburg.

Track and Yak

This is a combination of rail biking and a float or paddle trip. This is a 7-hour excursion where you rail bike to Cumberland and then do a float or paddle. The shuttle bus brings you back to Frostburg.

On this tour you enjoy the guided railbiking. Then, once you reach Mountainview you will disembark and enjoy a campfire before taking the shuttle back to Frostburg.

Woodcock Hollow Express

This is similar to the Mountain View tour. You railbike to Woodcock Hollow instead though, and enjoy some ice-cold lemonade before taking the shuttle back.

Biking and Paddling Excursions

You can also sign up for biking, paddling, or biking/paddling combination tours.

Tracks and Yaks opened a new location in Berlin, MD!

We haven’t been to the Berlin, MD location yet but I am sure it will be just as amazing as the Western Maryland location!

There are two excursion options in Berlin.

Ironshire Express

This tour departs from 115 Broad St, Berlin Md. It is a 6-mile rail biking experience that will take about 1.5 hours and is good for kids and adults of all ages. This particular tour will meander through farmland and the Eastern Shore forests.

Note: At least one person on the tour will need to be able to pedal at a moderate pace.

Queponco Excursion

This is a 13-mile round-trip rail biking trip where you pedal 6.5 miles to the Queponco Train Station. At the turn around point you will get to learn some history about the train station and area.

Note: Unlike some of the other rail biking trips (notably the Western Maryland ones), at least 2 people on your rail bike should be able to pedal at a moderate pace for the entire 13 miles.

The pedaling is not difficult, but Tracks and Yaks recommends this excursion for guests who would like a more strenuous experience.

What to Expect on a Tracks and Yaks Rail Biking Tour (Frostburg Location)

We opted for the Helmstetter Hotshot tour, mostly because we didn’t know what to expect. If I had known how fun and easy the experience would be, we would have picked the Queen City Excursion.

But if you are unsure, have younger kids, are rail biking with older participants, or– like me– are out of shape and middle aged (ha!), the Helmstetter Hotshot tour is fantastic.

You start off at the Frostburg Train Depot. There is plenty of parking on site. Meet up inside the depot for an orientation briefing. You can also purchase snacks for the trip. Yes, it’s that relaxing that you can snack on the way.

Get Fitted For Your Rail Bike!

Depending on the size and makeup of your travel party, you will either be fitted on a 2 (tandem) or 4-person (quad) rail bike. Note: The cost for the rail bike is for the entire bike, not per person. As of Spring 2023, pricing for the Helmstetter Hotshot tour is $99 and $169 respectively.

The tour operators will help get you buckled in and away you go! This tour is incredibly scenic. We did a rail biking tour in October and the fall foliage was just starting to pop. I imagine the tour would be scenic in the Spring and Summer too!

The Rail Biking Route

scenic viewpoints great allegheny passage

The rail biking route takes you on the same track as the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Don’t worry, they time it so that you are not on the track at the same time. It’s very safe.

The route runs alongside the Great Allegheny Passage and you will see bikers and walkers on your excursion.

The tour is a gentle downhill grade the entire 10-mile ride. Near the end you get to rail bike through the iconic brush tunnel. The tour ends at Cash Valley Crossing. From there a shuttle bus takes you back to the Frostburg Train Depot.

FAQ

How much does rail biking cost?

For the basic tour, which is 2 hours long, $99 for a tandem bike and $169 for a quad bike. You pay per bike, not per person.

Are rail bikes hard to pedal?

The Tracks and Yaks rail bikes are not hard to pedal. The route is downhill and it is not strenuous at all.

What is a rail bike?

A rail bike is an open air cart that riders pedal on railroad tracks. In many cases these rail tracks are not used. However, Tracks and Yaks shares the track with the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

Is rail biking strenuous?

No, not really. Rail biking is great for families, multi-generational groups, and more.

Can kids rail bike?

Yes.. and sort of. If your kids can reach the pedals, they are more than welcome to help power the bike. However, if they can’t reach, they can just ride. As long as there is at least 1 person who can pedal the rail bike will move. The more the merrier, but on our excursion, I sat in the front and barely touched the pedals.

Is rail biking safe?

Yes, very much so. You can wear a helmet but helmets are not provided because it’s really that safe.

Know Before You Go

Address: 19 Depot St, Frostburg, MD 21532
Tracks and Yaks Website– Reservations are strongly recommended as they tend to sell out.
When do rail biking excursions run? Their season starts late April and runs through the beginning of November.

Make a Day of It

Frostburg is such a cute town! Either before or after your rail biking excursion, we recommend the Princess Restaurant. This is a fantastic diner that offers comfort food favorites like grilled cheese, milkshakes, soups, and sandwiches. Save room for pie!

And if you wanted to add another stop onto your day, The Thrasher Carriage Museum is located at the Frostburg Train Depot as well! This is a FREE museum (but they accept donations) which is a fun peek back to when horse drawn carriages were the main mode of transportation.

Tracks and Yaks Rail Biking Is Fantastic Family Fun!