It’s no secret that there is a simple, whimsical nostalgia to trains and rail travel that dates back to old steamers of the 1800s and on up to the modern locomotive – the clickity-clack of tracks underway, the gorgeous landscape panoramas in the distance, the excitement of every whistle. Nearly every Idahoan has grown up with a railroad in their backyard or fallen asleep to the sound of distant cars lumbering over the tracks!

While luxury train travel is no longer a transportation option in the Gem State, there’s a unique beauty to be found in old railbeds, their remnants, and even the ornate train stations that still stand proudly in many cities. (Curious? Check out our Historic Train Depot Road Trip!) But one particularly magnificent sight towers above the rest: an abandoned railroad that boasts a century’s worth of history, a worldwide reputation that still stands the test of time, and a heartbreaking story of beauty and tragedy.

Few people realize that some of the most magnificent train trestles in the world are located right here in Idaho as part of the beautiful and historic Camas Prairie Railroad.
Charles Knowles/Getty
This stunning stretch of railbed is positively legendary for its towering trestles, which soar above multiple canyons in the high Camas Prairie of Central Idaho. The manmade wonder blends seamlessly with the colorful prairie to form a sight that is nothing short of breathtaking.
From a distance, the intimidating and seemingly spindly trestles are a truly remarkable feat of engineering, towering sky high above the valley floor - they couldn't possibly bear the rumbling weight of a locomotive. Right?
Melissa Kopka/Getty
Yet, today the remains of the now-abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad stand despite all odds.
Meandering over 150 miles of picturesque terrain, this rugged, stately rail line traverses a magnificently diverse portion of Idaho, from a roller coaster of rural farmland near Grangeville to lush pine-scapes near Lewiston.
Anna Gorin/Getty
Today, this fantastic line is no longer in use. However, this gorgeous piece of Idaho history is well worth a visit to capture a few photographs of the impressive trestles, many of which tower over 250 feet above the landscape.
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Jeff Zenner Photography
Historically, the Camas Prairie Railroad is officially referred to as the CSP. It was jointly owned by both the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific, which had created the line as a means of settling a profit dispute.
Orin Blomberg/Flickr
Opposite sides of the railroad were built simultaneously by the two begrudgingly cooperating companies, literally meeting in the middle with a huge sigh of relief.
Enormous steel girders had to be built to withstand the pressure of hundreds of tons of locomotive, passengers, and ore being hauled over the canyon.
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Orin Blomberg/Flickr
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Ed Suominen/Flickr
Altogether, this historic railroad climbs close to 2,000 feet from its low point, to an elevation of over 3,700 feet near Craigmont.
Jennifer/OnlyInYourState
Incredibly, the timbers for every mile of this glorious second subdivision stretch were cut on-site from nearby pines.

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The most scenic point is east of Culdesac, where an eight-mile loop hugs the Lapwai Canyon and uses multiple trestles to span the vibrant landscape.
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Jeff Zenner Photography
Here, the curvaceous Half Moon trestle arcs in a graceful bend at 141 feet above the ground. This famous stretch also includes six tunnels and eighteen trestles that allow the track to wind up one side of Lapwai Canyon, switch back on itself, and continue up the hill to the top.
Aging tunnels dot the extensive railbed, many of which have crumbled upon themselves.
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Jeff Zenner Photography
The treacherous, rocky Lawyer's Canyon is especially beautiful in its disrepair. A steel viaduct had to be built to run 1,520 feet across the canyon, with the height topping 280 feet. As the steel was being hauled over the canyon to build this very trestle, it had to be carried across the newly-built - yet still unfinished - portions of the railroad, testing the line's stability. With every groan and ache of the girders, no doubt builders were holding their breath.
In 1908, the railroad was finished, and for nearly a century, the Camas Prairie Railroad hauled grain and lumber products from the prairie to distant markets.
Orin Blomberg/Flickr
A gradual decline became particularly noticeable in 1975 after the building of the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, which allowed Lewiston to become its own inland seaport, thus bypassing the railroad.
The last train left the Camas Prairie on November 28, 2000, hauling just four cars of canola and three empty tankers. Then, the railroad was abandoned completely.
Jennifer/OnlyInYourState
Since then, exposure, disuse, and time have taken their toll.
Jennifer/OnlyInYourState
Rotting wood, sun-damaged metal - weakened and pitted with holes - and even human activity has made this historic line a dangerous, albeit beautiful, historic reminder of the past.
Multiple fires have also scorched many of the high-elevation trestles and entire portions have collapsed.
Jennifer/OnlyInYourState
Piles of wood beams and metal rails dot the outskirts as the tracks wind their way through West-Central Idaho. In fact, many portions of the line have been stripped completely bare.
Jennifer/OnlyInYourState
Most experts agree that the Camas Prairie Railroad is unlikely to be transformed into a rails-to-trails route, or even play host to an attraction of any kind due to finances. But there's still hope.
Night may have fallen on this incredible railroad's unique history and peak architectural beauty, but it's still a beautiful and impressive part of Idaho history, worthy of future preservation efforts.
Abandoned Camas Prairie Railroad - Idaho
Contributed by Rustic Lens Photography
You can visit portions of the railroad and check out the splendor from portions of the highway. In some areas, you can even get up close to photograph the trestles themselves - but climbing or hiking along the rails in any way could be fatal. Stay safe, Idaho!

A special shoutout to Jeff Zenner Photography for contributing some of the awesome photos above!

Have you ever seen any portion of the Camas Prairie Railroad in person? Do you have any memories of this railroad in its prime?

For another phenomenal sight in the Camas Prairie, Idaho’s annual canola bloom is unexpected, colorful, and positively mesmerizing.  True train fanatics searching for abandoned railroads near me will also love staying overnight in this cute and modern train car.

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Camas Prairie Railroad & Related Info

Jennifer | December 11, 2022

What are some rails-to-trails in Idaho? 

The first railroad in Idaho, the Utah Northern Railroad to Franklin, was laid in 1874, launching a long legacy of mining and industrial transport. Today, many of Idaho's retired railbeds have been converted into multi-use pedestrian trails. In fact, there are over 400 miles of rail trail crisscrossing the state! Here are some of Idaho's coolest rails-to-trails sections:

  • Weiser River Trail (Weiser to New Meadows)
  • Ashton-Tetonia Trail (Teton Valley)
  • Wood River Trail (Ketchum to Bellevue)
  • Route of the Hiawatha (Coeur d'Alene)
  • Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes (Coeur d'Alene)

 

Are there any abandoned places to visit in Idaho?

Whether you think they're spooky or fascinating, abandoned places have undeniable appeal. For safety purposes and to protect historical sites from damage, stick with places that offer official tours, trails, and viewing areas. Here are just a few abandoned and/or historic places in Idaho that you can visit - although you're sure to stumble upon plenty more along the way:

  • Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, Stanley
  • White Knob Mine, Mackay
  • B-23 "Dragon Bomber" Crash Site, McCall
  • Nicholia/Birch Creek Charcoal Kilns, Nicholia
  • Pioneer/Boot Hill Cemetery, Idaho City
  • American Falls Original Townsite, American Falls
  • Eileen Dam, Moyie
  • Sierra Silver Mine, Wallace
  • Celebration Park Petroglyphs, Melba
  • Circle Creek Rock House/Tracy Homestead, City of Rocks
  • Minidoka National Historic Site, Minidoka
  • Crystal Gold Mine, Kellogg
  • Rock Creek Station, Twin Falls
  • Nez Perce National Historical Park/Heart of the Monster, Kooskia
  • Old Mission State Park, Cataldo
  • Bear River Massacre Historical Site, Preston
  • Three Island Crossing State Park, Glenns Ferry

 

Are there any ghost towns in Idaho?

Rooted in centuries of mining and Native American history, Idaho is home to quite a few gold and silver boomtowns that have been lost to time. Some of these town sites are still considered "living" ghost towns or even "semi ghost towns," while others have little to nothing remaining. For a taste of true Idaho history, visit some of these unique ghost towns in Idaho:

  • Silver City, Idaho
  • Gilmore, Idaho
  • De Lamar, Idaho
  • Custer, Idaho
  • Bonanza, Idaho
  • Placerville, Idaho
  • Rocky Bar, Idaho
  • Boulder City, Idaho
  • Bayhorse, Idaho
  • Chesterfield, Idaho
  • Murray, Idaho
  • Burke, Idaho
  • Wickahoney, Idaho

 

 

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