Originally published on Forbes.

Canyon Spirit Offers A Luxury Train Journey In The American Southwest

Based on the luxury train formula of Canadian sibling Rocky Mountaineer, Canyon Spirit debuts in 2026 with two and three-night trips between Denver , Glenwood Springs, Moab, and Salt Lake City

ByEverett Potter,

Apr 12, 2026, 12:15am EDTUpdated Apr 12, 2026, 07:39am EDT

The biggest news in luxury train travel in the United States this year is the Canyon Spirit, a new train journey in the American Southwest.

Well, it’s sort of new. In fact, the journey is a variation on a trip that was inaugurated in 2021 by Rocky Mountaineer, the Canadian company best known for its stunning two-day rail trip between Vancouver and Banff in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Five years ago, they launched a version in the United States.

Canyon Spirit is part of the Armstrong Collective group of travel experiences, which also includes Rocky Mountaineer. The name change is part of the company’s rebranding.

The original Canadian trip remains one of the most spectacular in the world. How could it not be when it’s showcasing the dramatic Canadian Rockies? What made it unusual and incredibly successful was dividing it in half, with a comfortable overnight stay in a hotel in Kamloops, roughly midway through the journey. You got a good night’s sleep, you only traveled in daylight, you were fed lunch in your comfortable seat, and you didn’t miss any of the sights.

When they launched in the US, they called it Rockies to the Red Rocks, and it followed the original model's concept. In this case, it was a two-day trip with an overnight stay at a hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. I wrote about both trains in my new book, National Geographic’s 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Train Rides, published by Penguin Random House.

Canyon Spirit Debuts with Two and Three-Day Journeys

Now, in 2026, it's been rebranded and expanded as Canyon Spirit. It has extended its route to include Salt Lake City, turning the two-day itinerary into a three-day trip with a dramatic, scenic journey between Utah and Denver.

Before this, the trip went from Denver to Glenwood Springs and then ended in Moab. Now it continues to Salt Lake City, taking in the landscapes of the Great Basin and across Utah's mountain passes.

The new route also makes it easier to access the train from either direction. The earlier version required travelers to fly into or out of Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) near Moab, which has relatively few flight options. Now, guests can start or end their adventure in Salt Lake City, a major hub with nearly 300 daily flights at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

Guests can still choose how long they want to stay on the train. They can travel on the original route between Denver and Moab, spending the night in Glenwood Springs, and finish their trip in Moab. Or they can do the three-day version that ends in Salt Lake City. The latter includes mid-trip overnight stays at hotels in Glenwood Springs and Moab. The latter is aimed at train buffs who want to see more from the rails.

Highlights of the American West

Highlights include Ruby Canyon, which lies within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, and red sandstone walls that run for 15 miles along the Colorado River. There’s Mount Garfield, a 6,600-foot peak that’s the highest point along the 200-mile-long Book Cliffs. Train buffs are happy to travel through the Moffat Tunnel, six miles long and crossing the Continental Divide. Glenwood Canyon has two 4,000-foot tunnels and is a 16-mile stretch, the largest canyon on the Upper Colorado River. Going beyond Moab on the way to Salt Lake City, there’s Price Canyon and its sandstone cliffs, the Book Cliffs, and the Wasatch Mountains.

Passengers on the Signature experience enjoy the views and regional cuisine. You can also upgrade to Premier for additional space, signature cocktails, and added perks. Both classes include overnight accommodation along the way.

Since the trip is done entirely in daylight, you won’t miss anything, which is the whole point behind this kind of rail voyage. To ensure you see the highlights, onboard hosts provide a narration during the ride. If there’s a bald eagle swooping past, they’ll point it out, and if anyone is seeking insights into the geology of the red rocks or the sandstone hoodoos in Utah, they can explain it.

It's a journey through canyons, alongside mountains, and across the high desert, paralleling the Colorado River in many places and offering views that only trains and whitewater rafters get to see. The overnight stop in Glenwood Springs allows you to soak in the famous Glenwood Springs Pool and enjoy the local bars and restaurants. You can also stretch your legs by climbing up to Linwood Cemetery, the alleged burial place of the gunfighter and gambler Doc Holliday. It is a packaged and pampered way to see the Rockies, and it’s likely to become as popular as its Canadian counterpart. Details at Canyon Spirit.