A joint venture of the Central Coast Chapter, NRHS, and the Pacific Coast Chapter, R&LHS
Snake River Adventure
October 6-8, 2000
AMTRAK SPECIAL TRAIN!
Travel along the Columbia and Snake Rivers from Portland, Oregon, to Lewiston, Idaho!
A once in a lifetime rail adventure along two of America's most scenic rivers!
Ride through the 2,000 foot deep Snake River Canyon on the Camas Prairie Railroad!
THE ROUTE
Our chartered Amtrak train leaves Portland at 7:30 AM Friday, October 6. After crossing the Steel Bridge over the Willamette River, we head north and cross the mighty Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington. Here we join the BNSF line on the north side of the river and follow it east past Cascade Locks, The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams until we reach Pasco, at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We cross the Snake River on UP rails and follow the river to Ayer Junction. A few miles up river, after crossing under the spectacular Joso Bridge, we cross to the north side of the Snake River for a 70 mile run over the legendary Camas Prairie Railroad line to Lewiston. On the way, we go through many miles of 2,000 foot deep canyons as we follow the twisting path of the Snake. On arrival at Lewiston, we will be bused to our hotels. A box lunch is included on the train.
On Saturday, October 7, our Lewiston Hosts have arranged some great events. See below for details, or click here.
On Sunday, October 8, we return to Portland. Planned departure time is 9:00 AM with an estimated arrival in Portland
at about 6:30 PM. Please Note: We strongly advise against making
reservations for evening flights out of Portland. Passenger stops will not be made in Vancouver, Washington. A
box lunch is included on the train.
Note: Listed departure times may change. Please check back here for latest information, or contact us as indicated below.
PHOTO STOPS
We are negotiating with the Camas Prairie Railroad for one photo stop in each direction in the Snake River Canyon.
FARE
PORTLAND TO LEWISTON TRAIN ONLY (Round-trip)
Adult |
Children age 15 and under |
Children age 3 and under |
|
Coach |
$269 |
$239 |
Free (no lunch included) |
|
|
|
|
Please follow this link for a ticket order form.
Hotels included in the Events Menu.
All hotels are located in Lewiston, except as shown.
Name |
AAA Rating |
Price - Single |
Price - Double |
Red Lion |
|
$87 |
$92 |
Quality Inn - Clarkston |
|
$90 |
$95 |
River View |
|
$51 |
$67 |
Inn Of America |
|
$68 |
$85 |
Howard Johnson Express |
|
$68 |
$73 - $79 |
Super 8 |
|
$48 |
$66 |
Motel 6 |
n/r |
$51 |
$63 |
Comfort Inn |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Best Western - Clarkston |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Hotels must be reserved through MAP Travel at 1-877-998-3200 or www.maptravelco.com. (Internet Explorer Required)
We urge you to reserve early. There is a football game nearby at Washington State University, and those making
late reservations may be unable to secure a hotel room.
Our Lewiston Hosts have arranged some great events for Saturday, October 7.
The Lewis & Clark Live Steam Railway runs an excellent dinner train that operates from Lewiston on the scenic Kooskia Branch. The train is powered by a Camas Prairie B-23-7 diesel. Included is a choice of wild cherry smoked prime rib, chicken, or fresh Pacific Northwest salmon at a sit-down dinner/lunch. Capacity of each trip is only 100 and seats are first come, first sold. Trains leave Lewiston at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM for the five hour trip. The cost is $85 for the 10:00 AM train and $85 for the 4:00 PM train.
UPDATE! By special arrangement with the Lewis and Clark Live Steam Railway, these two trains will operate to Orofino on THIS DATE ONLY, providing a unique opportunity for 42.5 RARE MILES! Don't delay. These trains are sure to sell out fast.
Beamers Hells Canyon Tours offers 4 1/2 hour trips up the Snake to the entrance to Hells Canyon on jet boats. The $60 price includes a deli-lunch. Trips leave at 8:00, 8:30, 1:00 and 1:30.
The Clearwater River Co. will stage a pageant and dinner BBQ. The pageant will describe and illustrate how the Lewis & Clark expedition came down the river and set up camp near the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Narrated events include life of early settlers and Native Americans. Morning show $85 with a deli-lunch and $92 with a dinner BBQ. You will be able to photograph the morning dinner train as it passes.
Clearwater Connections Co. has a 4 hour narrated motor coach tour of the Grangeville Branch. This will include an opportunity to photograph the dinner train. Cost is $46.20. Trips leave at 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Please note: All events except the dinner train must be reserved through MAP Travel at 877-998-3200. The dinner train may be reserved at 208-743-2233.
Enterprise Car Rental has an office in Lewiston, about a 10 minute walk from the Riverview. They will be open
from 9:00 AM until noon on Saturday. Their phone number is 208-746-2878.
All events listed above, as well as hotel reservations are the responsibility of the Lewis
& Clark Live Steam Railway Company and MAP Travel. As such, Central Pacific Coast Rail Excursions is not responsible
for changes to these events or cancellations.
Cancellation Policy. Cancellation of reservations received 30 days or more prior to the trip will result in a full refund of the ticket price less a 10% handling fee. If cancellations are made less than 30 days before the trip, ticket cost will not be refunded.
We thank Amtrak, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Camas Prairie, and the Union Pacific Railroads for allowing us to
operate this unique and exciting trip!
Central Pacific Coast Rail Excursions
P.O. Box 8167
San Jose, CA 95155
Email:
General Information and inquiries info@goldenstaterails.com
Questions or information regarding ticket orders, hotels, etc. registration@goldenstaterails.com
Phone: 408-278-5051
FAX: 425-977-9493
Important Information:
Amtrak has facilities to aid in boarding and alighting the physically challenged at the Portland Union Station. The Lewis & Clark dinner train has limited facilities in Lewiston. There are no facilities for handling the physically challenged at photo stop locations, so the physically challenged will be asked to stay on the train at photo stops unless they can alight and board the train with a minimum of help.
Responsibilities:
Central Coast Chapter - NRHS, and the Pacific Coast Chapter - R&LHS, (hereafter referred to as tour arranger) act merely in the role of tour arranger and have no control over the providers of the services set forth on this web page for passengers or attendees (hereafter referred to as attendees). Tour arranger shall not be responsible for any delays or cancellations of buses, trains, hotel reservations, or other services, nor for any personal property (including automobiles and cameras) brought or used by attendees in the participation of the tour. As a condition of accepting participation in the tour set forth on this web page, each attendee agrees to indemnity and hold tour arranger harmless from any claims or liability arising from attendees participation in the tour, including theft, personal injury, property damage, accident, loss, delays, operational problems with equipment, non-performance by persons or entities providing transportation, products, or services, changes of itinerary, force majeure, acts of God, weather, slides, fire, earthquake or other acts or omissions beyond the control of tour arranger.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth on this web page, in the event any provider of transportation cancels the tour, tour arranger shall not be responsible to refund or pay to attendees any sums in excess of the cost of the Snake River Adventure ticket. In the event the attendee has purchased a non-refundable transportation ticket, including an airline ticket, risk of loss is solely with the attendee. If the trip is canceled, a refund check will be sent to those paying by personal check or money order. Those paying by credit card will have a credit posted to their credit card account.
CPCRE is a joint venture of the Central Coast Chapter - National Railway Historical Society, and the Pacific Coast Chapter - Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, both not for profit organizations under IRS section 501 (c) 3. All work in support of these trips is done by unpaid volunteers. These trips are run for the enjoyment of our members and the public. Part of the proceeds are donated to selected western steam locomotive operators and railroad museums.
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This page last updated on 9/18/2000. Please send comments, corrections, and suggestions to webmaster@goldenstaterails.com.