NNRY Sunset, Stars, and Champagne Train
2025-08-14 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-16 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-21 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-23 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-28 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-30 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-06 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 5 more dates | Nevada Northern Railway, 1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV, 89301, United States
The Nevada Northern Railway offers a most unique experience and look forward to having you join us for a ride back in history here in the mountains of Central Nevada, this time for the Sunset, Stars, and Champagne Train! Venture out into the rural mountains of White Pine County for nothing less than picturesque views and our renowned dark skies, all while relaxing and socializing with bottomless champagne. Basic info about Nevada Northern Railway rides, including the Sunset, Stars, and Champagne Train can be found below.

Don’t miss the train! All Nevada Northern Railway trains depart from ELY, NV on-time, regardless of the weather, as they have for over a century now, so be at the depot ready for boarding 30 minutes before departure time.
Everyone needs a ticket
No passes or discounts are available on themed trains (other than Membership discount…see below)
Sorry, pets are not allowed on the trains or tours. Certified service animals are always welcome, but please take necessary precautions for this somewhat noisy, industrial environment.

Learn more about the Railway by clicking HERE!

NNRY Star Train
2025-08-15 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-08-22 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-08-29 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-09-05 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-09-19 19:00 - 21:30 | Nevada Northern Railway, 1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV, 89301, United States
For those of you who aren’t fortunate enough to live up here in the Rural Inter-Mountain West, you are missing our breathtakingly beautiful night sky. For those of you who live in these parts, you may not have taken the time lately to stop and gaze at the Heavens. Either way, plan a special night out with those beautiful stars of ours. This area has one of the darkest skies in the lower 48 states which provides the setting for our wonderful night skies, which is why there is the Nevada Northern Railway Star Train.
Nevada Northern Railway’s Star Train pulls out of Ely on selected Summer evenings with the Dark Rangers of Great Basin National Park aboard. These rangers love the night sky as much as we all do, but they probably know a whole lot more about stars than all of us put together. They will guide us on our journey to find interesting things up in the Heavens on this journey. We will stop the train away from town to take full advantage of the dark night skies. The National Park Service Rangers will have special telescopes set up for viewing the night sky, and will be there to tell us all about it.
Watch a video of the experience as covered on the CBS This Morning Show
What to expect:

Our trains feature on-board restroom, wheelchair accessibility, and snacks and beverages available for purchase.
The Star Trains are pulled by one of our vintage diesel locomotives, and leave around sunset, so you will have a chance to see the sun as it sinks down over the Steptoe Valley. It is a great time of day to admire the rural Intermountain West at its best.
It is usually clear up here at night, but the train will still operate and the Park Rangers will still be on-board with an astronomy show-and-tell regardless of what Mother Nature dishes up.
Would you also like to take the trip up toward the old Ruth Mining District on a train pulled by a steam locomotive? Who wouldn’t? We also have a steam-powered excursion train departing at 4:30 pm on Friday afternoons, and another one at 1:00 pm on Saturday. During the check-out process you can add a Four-Day pass at a reduced rate to go on additional train rides while you are here.
Note that the trains depart from and return to Ely, NV with National Park Service Rangers on board. The train does not travel into or from Great Basin National Park. Ely is the closest town to Great Basin National Park (1h west), so it makes a logical hopping-off point for an extended visit to the Park. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the rest of the National Park, including Lehman Caves.

Learn more about the Railway by clicking HERE!

Great Basin Virtual Speaker Series
2026-01-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-24 17:30 - 20:00, 2026-04-21 18:00 - 20:00 | NV
Great Basin Virtual Speaker Series
Great Basin Virtual Speaker Series per Great Basin National Park foundation:
“In 2026, Great Basin National Park celebrates its 40th anniversary – a milestone shaped by decades of scientific research, stewardship, and community passion. To honor this legacy and expand access to the stories that make the Park extraordinary, Great Basin National Park Foundation is launching a monthly Virtual Speaker Series.
‘Whether you’re a longtime Park enthusiast and explorer, or someone discovering Great Basin National Park for the first time, the series will offer a unique opportunity to see the Park through new perspectives. We hope you’ll join us!”
Tuesday, January 27, 6 pm pacific time – Kick-Off Program
Superintendent Stories
Our kick-off event will feature three former Great Basin National Park superintendents whose leadership and passion helped define Great Basin National Park’s identity, protect its resources, and expand its impact, sustainability, accessibility, and significance.
Register
Learn more about our event and speakers!

Tuesday, February 24, 6 pm pacific time – The Park / Art Connection
What happens when painters, photographers, and composers immerse themselves in one of the most remote and inspiring landscapes in America? How do creativity, conservation, and place intertwine? And why does art matter in National Parks?
In this program we will be joined by four former Great Basin National Park Artists-in-Residence – painters, writers, and composers – to discuss why and how art benefits national parks and national parks benefit artists.
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Tuesday, March 24, 5:30 pm pacific time – Packrat Middens: Uncovering Thousands of Years of Biotic Change in the Great Basin
Did you know that packrat’s preserved nests have provided significant insight into Great Basin’s climate and biota through time? Discover packrats’ biological and ecological significance to mammalian research and beyond with Dr. Ally Coconis, packrat researcher and Curator of Mammalogy at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
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Tuesday, April 21, 6 pm pacific time – Water Warriors
Water is essential to life in the Great Basin desert. In this program, writer Michael Branch will share stories from his new book project, Water Warriors, which tells the inspiring story of how a colorful and diverse underdog alliance of rural Nevadans won a monumental battle in the water wars of the west, and helped safeguard water essential to life within the Great Basin region.
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International Dark Sky Week 2026
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-20 | NV
Celebrate International Dark Sky Week in White Pine County!
