What It’s Like to Ride Canyon Spirit’s 3-day Journey Through the American Southwest

In a move set to elevate rail travel across the American Southwest, Canyon Spirit, the luxury train experience formerly known as Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks, is chartering a stunning new course. Beginning in 2026, the acclaimed locomotive will extend its route to include Salt Lake City, transforming the original two-day itinerary into a three-day journey that links the Beehive State to Denver.

The train, while operating as Rocky Mountaineer, is regularly recognized by Travel + Leisure readers in the annual World’s Best Awards and even secured the No. 1 spot in 2025.

The route first launched in 2021 in response to guests who had experienced Rocky Mountaineer’s Canadian journeys but craved something more. “We connect our guests staying in natural environments and national parks,” Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, parent company of both Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit, told Travel + Leisure. “So, we went down the rabbit hole, looking at different rail journeys that could rival the scenery that we offer in Canada and rival the storytelling that has a richness in history, that has ultimately [been] a way for us to connect our guests to those communities. We looked across North America, and this was the route we identified that hit all the markers.”

The new extension connects Moab to Salt Lake City, weaving in the vast landscapes of the Great Basin and across Utah’s mountain passes. “What I love about the Moab-to-Salt Lake City route is that it really ties both these two days together,” Armstrong said. “You get a little bit of the Red Rocks, go through the canyon, and lush vegetation. You get such a wide range.”

The updated route also makes this remote part of Utah more accessible for travelers. Previously, travelers had to fly in or out of Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) near Moab, which has limited flight options. Now, guests can start or end their adventure in Salt Lake City, a major hub with nearly 300 daily flights via Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). “Of course, accessibility is a huge piece,” Armstrong said. “But we also wanted to make sure the scenery matched.”

Beyond the practical appeal, the journey also helps travelers foster a deeper connection to the region’s history, culture, and natural splendor—all from the comfort of a luxury railcar. “Rail travel is such a great way to experience the history, different cultures. The rail lines we operate on really helped connect the United States,” Armstrong said. “There’s a romance of the rail, the rhythm of the rail, and there’s a relaxation that happens on the rail. Around every corner is a new stunning vista and we get to see so much richness along this journey, but there’s also so much diversity.”

T+L was among the first to preview the journey—here’s what it’s like.

The Journey

From the moment the journey began, the experience was grounded in a meaningful sense of place. Even before the train departed Salt Lake City, an onboard host offered a land acknowledgment—honoring the traditional territories of the Ute (Nuuchu), Arapaho (Nookhose’iinenno), and Cheyenne (Tsis tsis’tas) peoples, along with the 48 contemporary Indigenous nations connected to Colorado. It was a respectful nod to the route’s cultural roots, echoing similar practices on the company’s Canadian excursions.

The first leg of the journey swept us past Utah Lake and the quaint college town of Provo, before climbing into the scenic switchbacks of the Gilluly Loops and crossing Soldier Summit. By early afternoon, the train descended into Green River and continued on to the red rock wonderland of Moab for our first overnight stop.

One of the true luxuries of the Canyon Spirit experience is the ease of travel. Overnight stays were coordinated at local hotels, and the convenience of not handling luggage simply can’t be overstated. I handed my suitcase to the team before boarding the train—keeping just my carry-on essentials. (For me: books, meds, laptop, camera, and chargers.) My bag was waiting for me in my hotel room each night. Even better? We were handed hotel key cards right on the train, eliminating the need to check in upon arrival.

The second day unfolded with views of Book Cliffs and saw us passing through the smaller desert outpost of Thompson Springs, continuing into Colorado past the striking Ruby Canyon and into the vineyard-laced valleys of Grand Junction. That evening, we arrived in Glenwood Springs, a historic mountain town famous for its restorative hot springs and charming downtown.

The final stretch was nothing short of spectacular. As the train hugged the twists of Glenwood Canyon and Burns Canyon, it traced the course of the Colorado River through dramatic gorges and alpine forests. We crossed the Continental Divide before arriving at Denver’s Union Station.

At each destination, we were given the option to explore. At Moab, that entailed walking through the downtown and taking a four-hour tour of Arches National Park. In Glenwood Springs, it also involved walking through its charming downtown and making a visit to a nearby hot springs.

At each stop, guests had the option to build their own adventure. In Moab, for me, that means a stroll through the charming downtown and going on a guided tour of Arches National Park. In Glenwood Springs, exploration included a stroll through the historic downtown and a relaxing soak in the nearby hot springs.

Armstrong hinted at even more enhancements to come, noting that several new travel packages and preplanned experiences will be unveiled ahead of the journey’s debut next year. “Salt Lake City is such a vibrant community; it has its own unique and rich history. Naturally, the city itself is beautiful, but then the surrounding areas, like Park City, rival that,” he said.

The Onboard Experience

Though the train averages a relaxed 30 miles per hour, it slows to a crawl at particularly scenic stretches, allowing for optimal viewing. In some sections, it picks up to 60 miles per hour, but never at the expense of the sights. Each railcar includes access to open-air vestibules, giving guests a chance to breathe in fresh air and snap postcard-perfect photos without obstruction or glare.

On board, passengers are immersed in a world of refined comfort. Panoramic glass-domed coaches frame the ever-changing cinematic views, while attentive hosts serve up regional-inspired cuisine, craft beverages, and stories that bring the surrounding landscape to life. Aside from the comfortable seating, there’s a lounge car (exclusive for guests on the signature package) that offers passengers a second space to absorb views and to order drinks.

Throughout my journey, the onboard hosts shared insights into the geology, history, and folklore of each passing region. If you’re lucky, as I was, you’ll hear a personal story or two woven in. With each leg of the trip, I walked away with a deeper connection to and appreciation for the landscape outside my windows.

From sipping a locally sourced wines while gliding past sandstone cliffs to hearing about how the area came to be, Canyon Spirit is a fully curated experience in motion.

Food & Drink

Meals on board serve as a guided tasting of the region, and they’re a reflection of the land rolling past the windows. “We work with our outside environments and bring them in for the guests’ experience, and that forms the cornerstone of our culinary vision here on board,” Kaelhub Cudmore, the director of culinary strategy, told T+L. “We want to express the local communities, culture, and scenery that we see outside the windows on the plates in front of the guests, so we can be tangible. Guests don’t get to just see the local area. They can experience it—they can taste the flavors of the local areas.”

This philosophy was made clear from the first bite. My first meal started with a mimosa and a Utah scone served with a side of whipped honey butter—a nod to the Beehive State, which produced over 1.2 million pounds of honey in 2022, according to the USDA.

Morning menus balance comfort and indulgence, offering dishes like Wild Mountain Berry French toast, huevos rancheros, avocado toast topped with cactus, and the Free Range Plate (scrambled eggs, bacon, peppers and onions, and biscuit with sausage gravy) inspired by cowboy meals.

Lunch stretched the culinary map further, with regionally inspired mains like Baja prawn Cobb salad, smoked salmon salad, boneless pork ribs with cornbread and charred corn, and bison and mushroom lasagna. One standout: the seared beef tenderloin served with butter carrot puree, balsamic-glazed beets, and “celebration potatoes”—a Utah classic found at funerals, potlucks, and family gatherings alike. Pistachio cream cake, blood orange chocolate pecan tarts, warm apple tart, dark chocolate mouse torte, cheesecake, and strawberry champagne sponge cake offer sweet punctuation to each meal.

Between courses, guests are treated to small nibbles—think popcorn, flavored nuts, or the occasional passed hors d’oeuvre. Before arriving in Glenwood Springs, for instance, pulled pork tacos were offered as a farewell bite, complete with pickled cactus—one of the few things growing along the stark, desert stretch we’d just crossed.

Local sourcing runs deep: Denver’s DazBog Coffee is brewed on board, while pastries come from the city’s beloved Gateau Bakery. Even the trout served for one of the lunch meals is “nurtured and spawned,” according to Cudmore, in the Colorado River.

Menus are created seasonally, and each guest’s dietary needs are accounted for ahead of time.

Book Now

The new Rockies to the Red Rocks Extension will operate weekly with one westbound departure from Denver and one eastbound departure from Salt Lake City starting April 21, 2026. Pricing begins at $2,132 per person, which includes overnight hotel stays in Moab and Glenwood Springs. Reservations can be made at thecanyonspirit.com.