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

In a transfer set to raise rail journey throughout the American Southwest, Canyon Spirit, the luxurious practice expertise previously often known as Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks, is chartering a stunning new course. Starting in 2026, the acclaimed locomotive will prolong its route to incorporate Salt Lake Metropolis, remodeling the unique two-day itinerary right into a three-day journey that hyperlinks the Beehive State to Denver.

The practice, whereas working as Rocky Mountaineer, is often acknowledged by Journey + Leisure readers within the annual World’s Finest Awards and even secured the No. 1 spot in 2025.

The route first launched in 2021 in response to visitors who had skilled Rocky Mountaineer’s Canadian journeys however craved one thing extra. “We join our visitors staying in pure environments and nationwide parks,” Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, mum or dad firm of each Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit, instructed Journey + Leisure. “So, we went down the rabbit gap, totally different rail journeys that would rival the surroundings that we provide in Canada and rival the storytelling that has a richness in historical past, that has finally [been] a manner for us to attach our visitors to these communities. We appeared throughout North America, and this was the route we recognized that hit all of the markers.”

The brand new extension connects Moab to Salt Lake Metropolis, weaving within the huge landscapes of the Nice Basin and throughout Utah’s mountain passes. “What I like in regards to the Moab-to-Salt Lake Metropolis route is that it actually ties each these two days collectively,” Armstrong stated. “You get just a little little bit of the Crimson Rocks, undergo the canyon, and plush vegetation. You get such a variety.”

The up to date route additionally makes this distant a part of Utah extra accessible for vacationers. Beforehand, vacationers needed to fly in or out of Canyonlands Discipline Airport (CNY) close to Moab, which has restricted flight choices. Now, visitors can begin or finish their journey in Salt Lake Metropolis, a significant hub with practically 300 each day flights through Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC). “In fact, accessibility is a large piece,” Armstrong stated. “However we additionally wished to ensure the surroundings matched.”

Past the sensible attraction, the journey additionally helps vacationers foster a deeper connection to the area’s historical past, tradition, and pure splendor—all from the consolation of a luxurious railcar. “Rail journey is such an effective way to expertise the historical past, totally different cultures. The rail strains we function on actually helped join america,” Armstrong stated. “There is a romance of the rail, the rhythm of the rail, and there is a leisure that occurs on the rail. Round each nook is a brand new gorgeous vista and we get to see a lot richness alongside this journey, however there’s additionally a lot range.”

T+L was among the many first to preview the journey—this is what it is like.

The Journey

From the second the journey started, the expertise was grounded in a significant sense of place. Even earlier than the practice departed Salt Lake Metropolis, an onboard host supplied a land acknowledgment—honoring the standard territories of the Ute (Nuuchu), Arapaho (Nookhose’iinenno), and Cheyenne (Tsis tsis’tas) peoples, together with the 48 modern Indigenous nations related to Colorado. It was a respectful nod to the route’s cultural roots, echoing related practices on the corporate’s Canadian excursions.

The primary leg of the journey swept us previous Utah Lake and the quaint school city of Provo, earlier than climbing into the scenic switchbacks of the Gilluly Loops and crossing Soldier Summit. By early afternoon, the practice descended into Inexperienced River and continued on to the purple rock wonderland of Moab for our first in a single day cease.

One of many true luxuries of the Canyon Spirit expertise is the benefit of journey. In a single day stays had been coordinated at native accommodations, and the comfort of not dealing with baggage merely cannot be overstated. I handed my suitcase to the group earlier than boarding the practice—retaining simply my carry-on necessities. (For me: books, meds, laptop computer, digital camera, and chargers.) My bag was ready for me in my resort room every night time. Even higher? We had been handed resort key playing cards proper on the practice, eliminating the necessity to examine in upon arrival.

The second day unfolded with views of Guide Cliffs and noticed us passing by way of the smaller desert outpost of Thompson Springs, persevering with into Colorado previous the putting Ruby Canyon and into the vineyard-laced valleys of Grand Junction. That night, we arrived in Glenwood Springs, a historic mountain city well-known for its restorative scorching springs and charming downtown.

The ultimate stretch was nothing wanting spectacular. Because the practice hugged the twists of Glenwood Canyon and Burns Canyon, it traced the course of the Colorado River by way of dramatic gorges and alpine forests. We crossed the Continental Divide earlier than arriving at Denver’s Union Station.

At every cease, visitors had the choice to construct their very own journey. In Moab, for me, meaning a stroll by way of the charming downtown and happening a guided tour of Arches Nationwide Park. In Glenwood Springs, exploration included a stroll by way of the historic downtown and a soothing soak within the close by scorching springs.

Armstrong hinted at much more enhancements to return, noting that a number of new journey packages and preplanned experiences can be unveiled forward of the journey’s debut subsequent yr. “Salt Lake City is such a vibrant community; it has its personal distinctive and wealthy historical past. Naturally, town itself is gorgeous, however then the encircling areas, like Park Metropolis, rival that,” he stated.

The Onboard Expertise

Although the practice averages a relaxed 30 miles per hour, it slows to a crawl at significantly scenic stretches, permitting for optimum viewing. In some sections, it picks as much as 60 miles per hour, however by no means on the expense of the sights. Every railcar contains entry to open-air vestibules, giving visitors an opportunity to breathe in recent air and snap postcard-perfect pictures with out obstruction or glare.

On board, passengers are immersed in a world of refined consolation. Panoramic glass-domed coaches body the ever-changing cinematic views, whereas attentive hosts serve up regional-inspired delicacies, craft drinks, and tales that carry the encircling panorama to life. Except for the comfy seating, there is a lounge automobile (unique for visitors on the signature package) that provides passengers a second area to soak up views and to order drinks.

All through my journey, the onboard hosts shared insights into the geology, historical past, and folklore of every passing area. For those who’re fortunate, as I used to be, you will hear a private story or two woven in. With every leg of the journey, I walked away with a deeper connection to and appreciation for the panorama exterior my home windows.

From sipping a regionally sourced wines whereas gliding previous sandstone cliffs to listening to about how the world got here to be, Canyon Spirit is a totally curated expertise in movement.

Meals & Drink

Meals on board function a guided tasting of the area, they usually’re a mirrored image of the land rolling previous the home windows. “We work with our exterior environments and convey them in for the visitors’ expertise, and that kinds the cornerstone of our culinary imaginative and prescient right here on board,” Kaelhub Cudmore, the director of culinary technique, instructed T+L. “We need to specific the native communities, tradition, and surroundings that we see exterior the home windows on the plates in entrance of the visitors, so we may be tangible. Visitors do not get to simply see the native space. They will expertise it—they’ll style the flavors of the native areas.”

This philosophy was made clear from the primary chunk: a welcome mimosa and a Utah scone served with a aspect of whipped honey butter—a nod to the Beehive State, which produced over 1.2 million kilos of honey in 2022, according to the USDA.

Morning menus steadiness consolation and indulgence, providing dishes like Wild Mountain Berry French toast, huevos rancheros, avocado toast topped with cactus, and the Free Vary Plate (scrambled eggs, bacon, peppers and onions, and biscuit with sausage gravy) impressed by cowboy meals.

Lunch stretched the culinary map additional, with regionally impressed 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 traditional discovered at funerals, potlucks, and household gatherings alike. Pistachio cream cake, blood orange chocolate pecan tarts, heat apple tart, darkish chocolate mouse torte, cheesecake, and strawberry champagne sponge cake supply candy punctuation to the lunch meals.

Between programs, visitors are handled to small nibbles—assume popcorn, flavored nuts, or the occasional handed hors d’oeuvre. Earlier than arriving in Glenwood Springs, for example, pulled pork tacos had been supplied as a farewell chunk, full with pickled cactus—one of many few issues rising alongside the stark, desert stretch we might simply crossed.

Native sourcing runs deep: Denver’s DazBog Coffee is brewed on board, whereas pastries come from town’s beloved Gateau Bakery. Even the trout served for one of many lunch meals is “nurtured and spawned,” in line with Cudmore, within the Colorado River.

Menus are created seasonally, and every visitor’s dietary wants are accounted for forward of time.

Guide Now

The brand new Rockies to the Crimson Rocks Extension will function weekly with one westbound departure from Denver and one eastbound departure from Salt Lake Metropolis beginning April 21, 2026. Pricing begins at $2,132 per particular person, which incorporates in a single day resort stays in Moab and Glenwood Springs. Reservations may be made at thecanyonspirit.com.