Ride The Rails To Missoula

Fall foliage hunters will have a chance to watch the seasons change and leave the driving to someone else.

The Montana Rockies Daylight, a restored six-car, 242-passenger train, is offering a scenic ride through the mountains between Sandpoint and Missoula.

The train began operation this summer but the owners decided to extend operations into October after callers requested an autumn color ride along the rails.

Two trips are being offered. The first is a one-day tour today from Sandpoint to Missoula. A bus will pick up Spokane passengers at 7:45 a.m. and take them to the train in Sandpoint.

The train departs at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is served onboard. Arrival time in Missoula is 5:30 p.m. Passengers then will be shuttled to a restaurant for a no-host dinner before being bused back to Spokane. The cost is $119 per person.

The second trip is an overnighter on Sunday and Monday. Spokane passengers are bused to Missoula, leaving at noon, and stay for the night. The room is included in the package. The train departs Missoula at 9 a.m. and arrives in Sandpoint at 4 p.m. Passengers will be bused back to Spokane by 6 p.m. The cost is $159 per person for coach and $199 for first class.

The train runs on the Montana Rail Link line and follows the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, the Clark Fork River and chugs through Cabinet Gorge.

For more information and reservations call (800) 519-7245.

, DataTimes