Golden Spike National Historical Park

05/22/2026

🚂 Big Fill Trail Guided Hike – Rails to Promontory

Step back in time and explore the historic Transcontinental Railroad grade with a park ranger on the Big Fill Trail.

📍 Meet at the Visitor Center flagpole

🕘 9:00 a.m.

📅 June 5 & June 26

🥾 1.5-mile hike | Approximately 2 hours round trip

💲 Free | No reservations required

👧 Ages 6+ welcome

Please bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and salty snacks. No shade or facilities are available along the trail.

05/05/2026

🚂 All aboard—Golden Spike’s biggest celebration of the year is almost here! 🎉

Join us at Golden Spike National Historical Park for TWO unforgettable days of history, steam, and celebration!

📅 May 9 – National Train Day
📅 May 10 – Commemoration of the completion of America’s first transcontinental railroad

Step into the past with thrilling locomotive demonstrations, powerful reenactments, inspiring special speakers, live musical tributes, and so much more! Experience the wide-open landscape where history was made and discover how this monumental achievement from over 150 years ago continues to inspire us today.

Event details: nps.gov/gosp/special-events.htm

✨ Admission is FREE !



NPS Photo

04/29/2026

All Aboard for an Exciting Season at Golden Spike!

May 1st officially kicks off the locomotive run season and the summer schedule (see below).

The replica steam locomotives Jupiter and No. 119 are back in all their Victorian glory!

After a winter of extensive preparations and maintenance, they'll steam into the former Promontory Station and complete the historic setting by parking nose to nose at the Last Spike Site, where the country was united by rail.

Summer Schedule:
Golden Spike National Historical Park Visitor Center is open 7 days a week, 9 AM – 5 PM.

Daily Locomotive Schedule**
10:00 AM – Jupiter arrives
10:30 AM – No. 119 arrives
1:00 PM – Daily Locomotive Demonstration
4:00 PM – No. 119 departs
4:30 PM – Jupiter departs

** See summer boiler wash schedule for modified run days at: https://tinyurl.com/Boiler-Wash-Schedule

All outdoor historic features and associated amenities are open seven day a week, from sunup to sundown. This includes the Big Fill Trail, Historic Last Spike Site, East Auto Tour, and Visitor Center restrooms and picnic areas.

Shameless plug:
Join us at Golden Spike National Historical Park for TWO unforgettable days of history, steam, and celebration!

📅 May 9 – National Train Day
📅 May 10 – Commemoration of the completion of America’s first transcontinental railroad

Details can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/gosp/special-events.htm


NPS Photo

04/02/2026

Join Golden Spike NHP as a Seasonal Park Guide this summer—local hiring authority applies (must live within 75 miles). See announcement for all the details.

Park Guides greet visitors to educate and inform them in our National Parks. Work can include providing information on natural, cultural, or historical resources. Likely entry on duty: May - June 2026. Open to the first 75 applicants or until 04/03/2026 w...

02/11/2026

Join Golden Spike National Historical Park as a volunteer this summer!

Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting the National Park Service’s mission of protecting and preserving America’s national parks. Whether you volunteer one day a week or throughout the year, your help makes a difference.

Volunteer opportunities include:

📚 Education Volunteer: Engage closely with the interpretation, and education team to help students of all ages learn about the past.

🤓 Visitor Services Volunteer: Be a vital part of our interpretation team, enhancing visitor experiences through memorable and engaging interactions.

🚂 Locomotive Crew Volunteer: Become part of our locomotive team by assisting with operations as a fireman.

We also offer additional volunteer opportunities for groups and part-time volunteers.

Visit www.volunteer.gov and search for Golden Spike National Historical Park to apply.

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from Golden Spike National Historical Park!

To allow our staff to spend time with their families, the Visitor Center will be closed December 24th-25th and January 1st.

Join us this weekend for the park's annual Winter Steam Festival, Saturday, December 27, through Tuesday, December 29th. Celebrate the power of steam and step back in time to experience the sights, sounds, and power of the Victorian-era steam locomotive Jupiter. Family-friendly fun includes cab tours, handcar rides, and exciting Junior Ranger activities—perfect for all ages to enjoy!

For more information see nps.gov/gosp/special-events.

12/17/2025

The Winter Steam Festival is almost here!

Four days of steam-powered adventure await you on December 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th—perfect for making memories that warm even the chilliest winter day.

Bundle up, follow the whistle, and join Golden Spike National Historical Park for a day brimming with winter magic and steam-powered wonder.

Here’s a sneak peek at the fun rolling down the tracks:

😲 Speeder Car Rides – Hold tight as you zip back in time!
💪Hand Car Adventures – Hop on and see if you’ve got the muscle to pump your way down the rails.
🚂 Steam Locomotive Demonstrations – Feel the ground rumble as Jupiter roars to life in a cloud of winter steam.
👀 Junior Ranger Activities – Hands-on fun for kids eager to learn, explore, and earn their Junior Ranger badges!

For full details, visit our event page:
https://www.nps.gov/gosp/special-events.htm

Park entrance fee is $20.00 per vehicle. All federal public lands Interagency Passes are accepted.



NPS Photo

11/27/2025

🍂🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Golden Spike National Historical Park! 🦃🍂

Today we’re grateful for you—our visitors, history buffs, rail fans, families, and friends who explore this special place in person and from afar. Thank you for sharing your love of Golden Spike’s stories and landscapes all year long.

While our Visitor Center is closed today, the trails and outdoor sites (including the Last Spike!) are wide open for a little fresh-air adventuring.

Whether you’re carving turkey or carving out some trail time, we hope your day is filled with warmth, wonder, and a dash of railroading spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🚂✨

11/13/2025

Winter is here!
Jupiter and No. 119 have officially settled into the Engine House for their winter rest. Over the next few months, our locomotive crew and dedicated volunteers will be hard at work giving these magnificent machines the TLC they deserve.

Want to see what winter care looks like up close? Join us for one of our three ranger-led tours at the Engine House and discover what it takes to keep these iconic locomotives in top shape.
See the tour schedule below!

❄️📅Winter Schedule
Engine House Tours start at the Visitor Center (Open Thursday- Monday)
10:30 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm

09/27/2025

Join us for National Public Lands Day on September 27th, 2025!

National Parks across the United States will offer free admission to celebrate the dedicated service of volunteers. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves year-round to help restore and preserve public lands.

Get involved in Public Lands Day:

🚂Visit Golden Spike National Historical Park.
🗺️Take part in a volunteer project: search volunteer.gov for events across the nation
🥾Enjoy the outdoors. Take a hike along the Big Fill Loop trail.
📚Learn about how you can protect these special places year-round.

For more information, on Public Lands Day and service activities near you see: www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day.htm