What It is Wish to Trip Canyon Spirit’s 3-day Journey By means of the American Southwest

In a transfer set to raise rail journey throughout the American Southwest, Canyon Spirit, the posh prepare expertise previously often called Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Crimson Rocks, is chartering a surprising new course. Starting in 2026, the acclaimed locomotive will lengthen 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 prepare, whereas working as Rocky Mountaineer, is repeatedly acknowledged by Journey + Leisure readers within the annual World’s Greatest 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, guardian firm of each Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit, instructed Journey + Leisure. “So, we went down the rabbit gap, taking a look at 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 in the end [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 mentioned. “You get somewhat little bit of the Crimson Rocks, undergo the canyon, and luxurious 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 Subject Airport (CNY) close to Moab, which has restricted flight choices. Now, visitors can begin or finish their journey in Salt Lake Metropolis, a serious hub with almost 300 each day flights through Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC). “In fact, accessibility is a big piece,” Armstrong mentioned. “However we additionally needed to verify the surroundings matched.”

Past the sensible enchantment, 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 a good way to expertise the historical past, totally different cultures. The rail traces we function on actually helped join the US,” Armstrong mentioned. “There is a romance of the rail, the rhythm of the rail, and there is a rest that occurs on the rail. Round each nook is a brand new beautiful 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—here 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 prepare departed Salt Lake Metropolis, an onboard host supplied a land acknowledgment—honoring the normal territories of the Ute (Nuuchu), Arapaho (Nookhose’iinenno), and Cheyenne (Tsis tsis’tas) peoples, together with the 48 up to date 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 prepare descended into Inexperienced River and continued on to the crimson rock wonderland of Moab for our first in a single day cease.

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

The second day unfolded with views of Ebook Cliffs and noticed us passing via the smaller desert outpost of Thompson Springs, persevering with into Colorado previous the placing 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 sizzling springs and charming downtown.

The ultimate stretch was nothing wanting spectacular. Because the prepare hugged the twists of Glenwood Canyon and Burns Canyon, it traced the course of the Colorado River via 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 via the charming downtown and occurring a guided tour of Arches Nationwide Park. In Glenwood Springs, exploration included a stroll via the historic downtown and a soothing soak within the close by sizzling springs.

Armstrong hinted at much more enhancements to come back, noting that a number of new journey packages and preplanned experiences can be unveiled forward of the journey’s debut subsequent 12 months. “Salt Lake Metropolis is such a vibrant group; it has its personal distinctive and wealthy historical past. Naturally, town itself is gorgeous, however then the encompassing areas, like Park Metropolis, rival that,” he mentioned.

The Onboard Expertise

Although the prepare averages a relaxed 30 miles per hour, it slows to a crawl at notably 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 consists of entry to open-air vestibules, giving visitors an opportunity to breathe in recent air and snap postcard-perfect images 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 encompassing panorama to life. Except for the snug seating, there is a lounge automotive (unique for visitors on the signature bundle) that gives passengers a second house 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. In the event you’re fortunate, as I used to be, you may 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 domestically sourced wines whereas gliding previous sandstone cliffs to listening to about how the world got here to be, Canyon Spirit is a completely curated expertise in movement.

Meals & Drink

Meals on board function a guided tasting of the area, and so they’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 varieties 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 only see the native space. They will expertise it—they will style the flavors of the native areas.”

This philosophy was made clear from the primary chew: 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, in keeping with 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 provide candy punctuation to the lunch meals.

Between programs, visitors are handled to small nibbles—suppose popcorn, flavored nuts, or the occasional handed hors d’oeuvre. Earlier than arriving in Glenwood Springs, for example, pulled pork tacos have been supplied as a farewell chew, 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 Espresso 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 keeping with Cudmore, within the Colorado River.

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

Ebook 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 individual, which incorporates in a single day lodge stays in Moab and Glenwood Springs. Reservations may be made at thecanyonspirit.com.