By

Larry Bleiberg,

With towering mountain ranges, thousands of miles of coastline and immense wilderness, it’s hard for a visitor to experience the full scope of Alaska’s beauty — unless you take the train.

The Alaska Railroad (800-544-0552) links the state’s largest cities and offers a lifeline to remote settlements far from any road. With several routes and train cars designed for

The rail line organizes an array of touring options, including train-plane travel packages, rafting excursions and guided hikes. It also rightfully boasts about its GoldStar package, an

upgraded passenger service that includes meals in a dining car, an outdoor viewing platform and glass-topped rail cars designed for taking in soaring mountain views. (Note that the Alaska

Railroad’s wheelchair lifts are available only in Anchorage, Wasilla and Talkeetna.) Also consider the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, which is separate from the Alaska Railroad and often

listed among the world’s most scenic rail lines. One of its routes, described below, takes you from the historic town of Skagway and along the path of gold rush prospectors, deep into the

Yukon.

If you’re visiting by cruise ship, your line may offer one or more of these train trips as an optional excursion.

Here are some top trips to consider.

Route: Anchorage to Fairbanks

The backbone of the Alaska Railroad, this