Inside Canyon Spirit: An Elevated Rail Experience in the American Southwest

Travelers who crave a taste of American Southwest adventure can whet their appetite with Canyon Spirit, the luxury rail brand by Armstrong Collective, debuting in April 2026.

The product isn’t new, exactly. Canyon Spirit is the rebrand of Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S. routes. Plans for the new branding were unveiled last year along with a Salt Lake City extension, which serves to both extend the trip and improve airlift.

Known for its iconic trips along Canada’s West Coast, Rocky Mountaineer introduced the Rockies to the Red Rocks route in 2020—right as the global pandemic swept the travel industry. Now, six years later and on the strength of a distinct brand and better air connectivity, Canyon Spirit is ready to stake a claim within two increasingly popular niches: rail and domestic travel.

Canyon Spirit invited a select number of press to experience the new extension and get to know the distinct flavor of the new brand, which combines Rocky Mountaineer’s proven legacy of elevated service with an intrepid zest that’s unique to this region.

In an exclusive interview with Travel Market Report, Rocky Mountaineer CEO Tristan Armstrong said the rebrand was motivated by the desire to better differentiate the Canadian and U.S. journeys because “we needed to really give freedom to the American product to become its own entity.”

After experiencing Rockies to the Red Rocks firsthand, we couldn’t agree more.

Adventure to the Red Rocks

TMR experienced the extended Rockies to the Red Rocks Eastbound route, traveling between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colo. with stops in Glenwood Springs and Moab.

The journey covers an impressively diverse range of geography, with jaw-dropping views of arid deserts, towering rock formations, and lush riverbanks. The terrain is varied, making each day of the rail journey distinct and compelling. The route takes travelers away from the hustle and bustle of the roadways, traveling through unspoiled territory through Utah’s scenic canyons and along the Colorado River.

What struck us most about the experience was not the luxurious elements—although we certainly felt pampered—but rather, the spirit of rugged fun that permeated the journey. From the close-up views of majestic red-hued hoodoos that seem to defy gravity, to getting mooned by friendly Coloradans enjoying the river, Canyon Spirit delivers that promise of immersive natural discovery that drives adventure travel.

What to Expect on Canyon Spirit: Trip Details

Rockies to the Red Rocks comes in various forms, ranging from a basic two-day rail-only booking to the five-day rail and hotel option. Canyon Spirit also offers bespoke packages that can be customized to combine rail with a guided land tour.

The classic three-day rail package is bookended by stays in Denver and Salt Lake City, allowing guests more time to explore the Mile-High City and the Crossroads of the West. In total, this makes the package five days, with four nights of accommodation.

Guests arrive in the departure city (SLC for eastbound, Denver for westbound) on day one and spend the night in a hotel. On day two, guests board the Canyon Spirit for the first of three days of rail travel. On our trip, the train was scheduled to depart at 8 a.m.—early enough to necessitate the pre-trip hotel stay.

Similarly, the train arrived at its final destination late in the afternoon on day four. We stayed at a hotel directly across from the train station and flew home the following day.

Guests will spend between five and eight hours on the train on each leg of the trip. There are bathrooms on the train and open observation spots between cars where guests can get some fresh air; however, there is no smoking on the train as well as no Wi-Fi. Cell service is limited in some of the areas as well. While the hosts do an excellent job of filling the time and the views are spectacular, guests might want to bring a book (just in case).

Canyon Spirit uses assigned seating, and guests will have the same seats throughout. Seats are assigned when guests check in. Any seating requests, such as pairing together two passengers on separate bookings, must be made at least 45 days in advance.

There is limited space in the car for personal items. Guests who purchased the classic package will have their luggage transported for them ahead of arrival, but this means you don’t have access to your luggage when on the train. Guests are encouraged to bring a purse or backpack to carry personal items they may need, such as medication, camera, and sunscreen.

The Canyon Spirit Difference: Premium Service & Storytelling

Rocky Mountaineer is known for its trains, which have been designed for functionality and comfort. Canyon Spirit follows suit, but with one very important distinction: no bi-level cars.

Like Rocky Mountaineer, the Canyon Spirit trains feature oversized windows for optimal views of the scenery. The seats have tray tables, and meals are served during the journey by the hosts. At the end of the car is an outdoor viewing platform. For guests who pay for the Premier upgrade, there is also a lounge car (below) and an additional viewing platform.

However, Canyon Spirit does not have the bi-level coach with a dining room and a glass-dome upper level, which is part of the Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf service. Canyon Spirit also uses different upgrade terminology, splitting its service into Signature and Premier (instead of SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf).

The reason for the difference comes down to tunnel clearance. The train tracks used for Rockies to the Red Rocks pass through tunnels, including the historic Moffat Tunnel (an impressive 6.2 miles long).

The travel itself is comfortable. The tracks are well-maintained, and this makes for a smooth ride, with fewer tight turns and stops than one would experience on a coach bus tour. (As someone who gets motion sick on coach rides, I had no issue with the train.)

The service is what makes Canyon Spirit feel special. Guests have the same team with them throughout the journey, and the hosts do more than serve food and beverages. They are also guides, coloring the journey with a mix of local lore, personal anecdotes, and lessons on geology. This is done in-between mingling with guests and genuinely putting forth the effort to connect with each passenger.

Mike Hannifin, one of the hosts during our journey, said he “develops relationships with guests every single time.”

Premier guests also have access to a lounge car where another host offers bartending service. This car has its own bathroom, and is a place where guests can relax and enjoy snacks. This is also a space that can be used for personalized onboard experiences. During our trip, the lounge car served as a location for a bourbon tasting event.

Food and Beverage

All guests traveling on the Canyon Spirit will be served breakfast and lunch (or lunch and snack) during their journey. The menu changes each day and features dishes inspired by the region. There are also recommended wine pairings that change each day.

Food is a major part of the Canyon Spirit experience. Guests need to be in their seats during meal service, which is prolonged over several courses. This seems to be by design, as the meals become part of the entertainment, breaking up the monotony of being on a train car for hours at a time.

Of course, those who have lounge access are not restricted to their seat in the same way the Signature guests are. In our experience, the lounge was good to have, but we didn’t feel the need to use it. Between the meal service, the captivating scenery, the host’s storytelling, and the social atmosphere in the coach, the time goes by quickly.

Drink service is also included on Canyon Spirit, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options readily available. We also had a refreshment station at the back of our train car where guests could help themselves to infused water.

Boutique & Historic Hotels

The hotel packages include four nights of accommodations. Like Rocky Moutaineer, Canyon Spirit maximizes the guest experience by limiting the time spent on the train to daylight hours when guests can enjoy the scenic views.

After each day of rail travel, guests disembark the train and retire to a hotel for the evening. This is also when free time is built into the itinerary. Hotel cards are handed out on the train, and luggage is sent separately, so the whole process of checking in each night is smooth and easy.

Canyon Spirit has partnered with several 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels to provide accommodations for guests. During our stay, TMR stayed in The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City (pictured above), Homewood Suites by Hilton in Moab, Hotel Maxwell Anderson in Glenwood Springs, and Hotel Indigo Denver in Denver.

Natural Beauty & Local Immersion

Free time is built into the itinerary, and there are opportunities to explore outside of the train. In Moab, there are several parks nearby, and Glenwood Springs boasts its famous pool (its namesake is the world’s largest hot springs pool).

Unlike motorcoach tours, which typically break up driving time with rest stops and activities, the train does not make stops as part of the Rockies to the Red Rocks, and the classic package does not include activities outside of the train. The bespoke package does allow for excursions to be added in.

TMR visited the Arches National Park as part of our trip. The four-hour private coach tour explored the park, which boasts over 2,000 natural stone arches (pictured above), including iconic landmarks like Balance Rock, The Windows, and Delicate Arch Viewpoint. 

Other options for tours in the area include Canyonlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park.

Closing Thoughts on Canyon Spirit

One of the perks of working within the travel industry is having the opportunity to experience trips that you’d never think to book for yourself. When TMR was invited to experience Canyon Spirit, we jumped at the opportunity, both because it’s a new launch and because of the rail renaissance trend. The destination itself did not factor in participating.

How wrong we were!

The Rockies to the Red Rocks trip is one of those truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that stands in a class of its own. The natural beauty on display was spectacular and awe-inspiring, and so perfectly suited for a rail trip. It was pleasant, it was laid-back, and it was so easy.

This isn’t an active product: there are people who will have trouble sitting for this length of time, especially on the eight-hour day. But for those of us who love to stop to smell the roses, it’s the right pace for a leisurely, relaxing exploration of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and Utah’s red rock country.