Rail Explorers: Boone, IA Division - Boone, Iowa

Alexis B. (.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Rail Explorers in Boone, IA, and it was an incredible experience! The beautiful atmosphere and stunning scenery along the route made for a perfect day out. The operation is extremely well run, with friendly and professional staff who enhanced our experience.

If you’re planning to visit during the cooler months, I recommend packing gloves, a beanie, and warm clothes, as it can get chilly, especially in the shade. We appreciated the ample space for a small cooler, and yes, alcohol is allowed! We packed some snacks and enjoyed them at Roses Landing, the turnaround point along the Iowa River, which was a lovely spot to relax.

Our trip took about two hours, and it was perfect for our small corporate team function. However, this activity is definitely family-friendly and would be a hit with kids too. Overall, Rail Explorers is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable outing!

Nic W. N. K.

This was an absolute blast. We got lucky today and the storm came in later than expected so we had great temps. Staff was very friendly and explained everything very well. Pedaling is even easier r than we expected. Accessible for a lot of different ability levels and it seems like the other riders were of a large variety of ages (I'm 39 and very out of shape and this felt like less joint and muscle impact than walking a mile or two on flat ground). Glad we brought sweatshirts just in case, you get moving pretty quickly and with a breeze it feels several degrees cooler during the ride than the ambient temperature. There is plenty of storage on the vehicle if you don't need a jacket or sweatshirt so just pack one anyway. We also brought a cooler with some sparkling water and stuff plus a camera bag and it all fit well. Everything was really lovely all around. Staff was really friendly and chatty in a way that gave me vibes that it's probably not the worst place to work either, certainly unique if nothing else. Great pacing and very welcoming experience. Everyone in the group/timeslot (you are spaced out but all depart within minutes of each other) seemed to have a great time. The turnaround area was beautiful with great bird watching (we saw belted kingfisher, cardinals, hawks, and the biggest bald eagle I've ever seen) and seeing the YMCA camp on the route reminded me of when I went to one of those camps ~30 years ago! We will almost certainly come back with others next year during a different season just to see how the scenery changes and/or try the other locations in different states. Pricing feels really fair too. This feels like it belongs in almost any similar sized town with well maintained rail with capacity. Great concept and execution.

Eduardo M.

The Rail Explorers tour in Boone was a memorable adventure. The views were stunning, and the experience of pedaling on a railbike was one for the books. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, making us feel safe from start to finish.

While I enjoyed the experience, I did want to mention a couple of things. The restroom facilities were a bit basic, and there was no one on staff who spoke Spanish.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I would still highly recommend this activity to anyone visiting the area.
It's an Amazing experience.

TinaEh V.

Excellent experience, awesome employees, and a very memorable time.

It is highly recommended to book in advance. We saw one couple that tried to do a walk-in, but they were denied because the group they wanted to join was already booked.

Rails: We did the sunset train rail experience. Excellent experience. It was cloudy, so we didn't really catch the sunset, but it was still an amazing view. The rails are LOUD. You will have to use your voice a lot more to chat. The rails are electric powered, so that comes in super helpful.

The first half has slight declines. The second half is an incline, so whoever is controlling the 'gas' be prepared to keep pedaling.

Overall, it was a great experience, and I would HIGHLY recommend this.

Marty H.

What a blast. We have wanted to do this for some time, but there was always something going on, tickets sold out, or not enough time. Not last night... we finally got to do this. It was a touch cool as we left at dusk and the leaves turning over the course of the ride were well worth the cost. The return trip after warming up by the fire at the turn around we were treated to an almost fullmoon. It was bright enough to light up our way. Well worth the time. Great staff and memorable trip. Can't wait to come back and do it again.

Kindra

We did the sunset tour, and it was stunning! I highly recommend to those who are questioning going or not. It's not hard to pedal as it is motorized but you do have to keep pedaling to keep the motor going.

Jana W.

We stumbled upon this and stopped in to see if they had an opening. They were very accommodating and made it happen. They do strongly suggest booking ahead. They usually don't have walk-up spots available.
The staff was extremely professional when it came to safety, but fun and laid back in the park. There are outdoor games to play while you wait or relax under a shade tree.
I recommend the morning ride if you want to see some wildlife. After the ride out, there is a nice little sitting area where you can take your lunch or just sit by the river and relax a bit. There is not a bathroom out there, so plan ahead. The ride back is slightly uphill, but not difficult. If you are thinking about doing it, get your tickets now!!

Nancy B.

Wow! This activity was such a blast. We loved riding and seeing the beautiful countryside. We went over two bridges that had a beautiful view down below. The best time to go was the 8pm time at sunset. On the way back, it was dark, but you got to see the fireflies come out. The service was friendly and gave clear instructions. I would do this again and recommend it to everyone!