We offer guided handcar and electric rail bike tours across railroad tracks through Fort Ord Dunes State Park 15 minutes north of Monterey. Our tours sell out in advance so reservations are recommended.

Handcar Tours closed permanently on September 1

The Transportation Agency For Monterey County plans to remove the railroad line we operate over and replace it with a transit bus road. This is your last opportunity to ride our fleet of vehicles over the railroad before it is gone forever.

We design and handcraft our amazing fleet of railcars right here in California. We offer two types of railcars which are both effortless to ride:

Electric Assist Railbike (Easy)

Pedal over our six mile tour route aboard our fleet of electric assist rail bicycle vehicles. Our machines have comfortable seats and use wood centered wheels to smooth the ride. Our all new California built, solidly engineered rail bicycles carry two people and include a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system that will help you climb the hills of the Monterey Rail Line without exertion. These electric assist machines make traveling across our rail line easy. Our amazing pedal assist vehicles are good for riders ages 4 and older.

Electric Assist Hand Pump Car (Easy)

We are known for our unique handcar fleet available nowhere else in the world. We previously found that people not accustom to physical activity had a hard time propelling our handcars up the hills. We solved this problem by adding powerful electric motors to make the handcar experience truly effortless. Say goodbye to hard work and hello to the reimagined electric hand pump car!

These are handcars, meaning you use your legs and arms (and onboard electric motor) to propel the rail vehicle along the route. When you book one of our handcars, you are booking a car with three seats for up to three participants. The Monterey Peninsula is the only place in the world where you can participate on a handcar tour. Our handcars are now electrified and if pumping the handles proves difficult you can use the electric throttle to propel you across the rail line. For the safety of our guests the handcars have a minimum age restriction of 10 years old. If you have a child younger than 10 choose our railbikes.

Each handcar are our premium product and they each carry a maximum of three people. The handcar is a good choice for couples and groups of three.

These are guided tours with the handcars and rail bikes traveling together as one unit with trained guides leading on a handcar to the front and to the rear of the group. The experience is about 1.5 hours in duration.

Our six mile long tours travel next to the ocean through scenic Fort Ord Dunes State Park. The scenery is spectacular with the tracks rolling alongside sand dunes, through coastal scrub, Monterey Cypress groves, and finally through a Monterey Pine forest. At the top of the hill the route loops around to itself with a sweeping view of Monterey Bay. Our track is one of the most scenic rail lines in California.

Age, Weight, and other Restrictions

1. Each participant must be at least 10 years old to ride the handcar, and at least 4 years old to ride the railbike. Riders need to be under 300 pounds to ride the handcar and 325 pounds to ride the rail bike.
2. We do not allow for babies in slings do to the hazards of an infant not being tethered securely to the vehicle.
3. All participants must have full use of arms and legs to safely seat and support themselves on the vehicles.
4. Caregivers of persons with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum should consider the hazards associated with the handcar before booking. Please consider our rail bicycle that offers better protection from pinch points and other hazards.
5. Closed toed shoes are mandatory for handcars. Sandals are acceptable for railbikes, but flip flops come off.
6. Animals are not permitted as they cannot be safely transported on the rail vehicles. (There is at least one dog that was injured on an east coast rail bike operation after its tail got amputated in the chain.)
7. We often host elderly people on our railbike fleet. We have an ADA loading area where a person can be loaded from a walker or wheel chair. If they need assistance loading family or caregivers need to assist. Plan to have one person on the railbike that can pedal and activate the electric assist mechanism.

Pricing

You are paying for a rail vehicle, we do not charge per person fees. 

Electric assist rail bike – carries 2 people: Price: $160

Electric assist hand-pump cars – carries up to 3 people: $259

In compliance with California law we do not have hidden fees, nor extra fees for booking.

We also host team building events for companies looking to improve teamwork among its workgroups. Visit this link for more information.

Have more questions or want to learn more about our tours:

1. Visit our FAQ page for more questions and answers.
2. Our television media page has broadcast stories about our tours.
3. Visit our Virtual Museum and learn more about our equipment and handcars
4. Want to know what there is to do in the area? Visit our page with local restaurants and activities.