National Park Service Guide on Amtrak's Coast Starlight - Santa Barbara area

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The Trails and Rails program is a collaboration between the National Park Service and Amtrak. As their local partner, the South Coast Railroad Museum trains and coordinates Trails and Rails volunteers on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight along the Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Most of the program takes place in the Sightseer Lounge car aboard the Coast Starlight.

Guides are expected to volunteer a minimum of two days per month, April through September (The program is not active during the winter months). We travel between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, returning to Santa Barbara the same day. Hours are approximately 10:00am to 6:00 pm. Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.

Potential Trails and Rails volunteers attend an initial day-long classroom training at the start of their first season, then continue their education by observing and assisting seasoned guides in peer-to-peer learning on the train. Written materials, historical articles, and related websites round out each guide’s training and continuing education.

For more information, and an opportunity to sign up for a no-obligation orientation, go to https://anzaguides.org/about-the-trails-rails-program/