Canyon Spirit is the newest brand from the Armstrong Collective, the family company behind Rocky Mountaineer, and it runs the Rockies to the Red Rocks route, now extended to Salt Lake City. Like its Canadian sibling, it travels only by daylight, with hotel nights along the way. The two-day journey links Denver, Glenwood Springs and Moab; the three-day journey carries on to Salt Lake City, and both run in either direction, covering around 200 miles a day. The line crosses the Continental Divide through the six-mile Moffat Tunnel, follows the Colorado River for 15 miles between the sandstone walls of Ruby Canyon, and threads the 16-mile length of Glenwood Canyon, passing Mount Garfield, the 6,800-foot high point of the Book Cliffs. Guests ride in single-level glass-dome coaches with an open-air viewing area, and meals drawn from the region are prepared on board. The Premier upgrade adds a lounge car, paired wines and cocktails, and a further outdoor viewing area. Spring brings wildflowers and fewer people, and autumn turns the aspens gold. Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
- Nearest airport
- Denver International Airport (DEN), 19 Miles / 30.5 Kilometres, to Denver Union Station
- On board
- Single-level glass-dome coaches
Insider tip Take the three-day journey to Salt Lake City: it adds Price Canyon, seen only on that route, and a far better-connected airport for the flight home.
Why I choose it The American counterpart to Rocky Mountaineer, by daylight through the canyons of Colorado and Utah.
