Railbikes on the Noyo

I had the best time at Railbikes on the Noyo and it was hands down the highlight of my time near Mendocino, and one of my favorite travel experiences. When I first read the journey would be 26 miles and a “strenuous” hike down, I was nervous. But I was glad that the hiking portion was very short compared to the overall duration of the activity. I would rate the hike short but moderate.

Our tour guides were helpful, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their jobs. They shared about the history of redwoods and the train tracks. The lunch provided was very filling and tasty, and we got to keep our custom lunch bags.

The highlight of the trip (outside of the obvious beautiful bike ride) was the gorgeous lake near the lunch area.

What to expect with the hike:
– the hike down is fully downhill, but not too steep in most places. On the hike down they take 2-3 stops along the way to rest and ensure everyone catches up
– The hike back up is the most difficult part however it is only 10-20 mins up and you hike back at your own pace so you can take as many breaks as you wish.
– The path is a well-maintained gravel path in a wooded area. My husband had on some old, flimsy vans and did just fine, however, the path is a little rocky and narrow in some parts

What to wear:
– Definitely layers as some parts of the trip you get direct sunlight and others are fully shaded and very cold (I went end of June) and went from sweating to freezing in a matter of 30 mins. I actually recommended a zip-up hoodie so you can easily take it on and off during the ride
– Please note: while each bike has a basket for your bag, it really only fits one back pack and your lunch bags that they provide. That said, if riding with someone else on your bike, I recommend trying to consolidate to one backpack or ensure the second backpack is the kind you can hook around your waist (this will allow you to hang the second backpack on the back of the seat
Other things:
– The scheduling is a bit flimsy. Outer tour was supposed to be from 9:30-3 however we didn’t get done until close to 5. I recommend not making any reservations in the evening, or make them much later just in case the schedule get derailed (pun intended)
– Note that when you arrive the only available bathroom is a porta potty, then at lunch there is an outdoor bathroom. I recommend going before you arrive

Highly recommend!!

This was a really unique and awesome experience. Yes.it’s pricey, but we thought it was well worth the money to be biking along an old railway through towering redwoods. Sochi and Atlas were great guides that had a wealth of information about the forest. The guides stagger the railbikes so that you’re on your own with your partner for miles. The bikes are e-assist, so if you’re really lazy you can just use the hand throttle to propel yourself and not pedal. And contrary to one of the reviews below, this is a 26-mile excursion roundtrip from the starting point to Camp Noyo, and they provide you with lunch. We definitely would do this again!

One of the coolest experiences of my life! Pictures don’t do it justice. The staff was very informative and professional. We loved Sochi’s kind and caring attitude towards every step of the journey. It’s a more pricey excursion, but worth every cent!!!!!!