One of America’s most scenic and luxurious railroad trips is gaining a new name and final destination. Rocky Mountaineer, a luxury railroad company that operates dreamlike train journeys in the Canadian Rockies and parts of the US Southwest, announced plans to rebrand US operations as Canyon Spirit in 2026, expanding the popular Rocky to the Red Rods route.
“The names of our trains are changing, but the world-class service and onboard experience remain the same,” Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, the parent company of Canyon Spirit and Rocky Mountaineer, said in a press release.
Currently, the two-day Rockies Westbound route departs from Denver, Colorado, and will be stopped overnight in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The next three-day version of The Journey, which will begin on April 21, 2026, will allow passengers to rain down in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The train will feature glass dome coaches offering uninterrupted panoramic views of the dramatic southwest landscape, from the mountains of Aspen blanket in Colorado and alpine lakes to red sandstone canyons and the vast desert plateaus of Uta, maximizing a relaxed pace to maximize photography opportunities. The onboard crew highlights landmarks and wildlife, and passengers will be served with chef prepared meals inspired by the area where the train passes, including local stewed beef short ribs and sweet corn and pepper pepper colorado trout.
The Signature Experience (the company’s version of the coach service) features daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, so the motor coach will be relocated to the hotel, luggage transfers, and service team satisfaction. Overnight accommodation is included in the cost. The Premium Upgrade (Train First Class Service) adds access to a dedicated lounge car with advanced dining and premium alcohol and an outdoor viewing area. The seats are the same for both fare classes.
Prices start from $2,123 per person on a one-way, three-day trip. The extension will officially go on sale on April 21, 2026, but tickets are already available for pre-order at www.thecanyonspirit.com.
Canyon Spirit will also begin offering a 6-day, 5-night, 5-night Explorer package in 2026. On this trip, guests will take trains from Denver to Moab and take coach buses to Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Zion, Arch and Canyonlands national Parks. Prices for this almost weekly trip start at $5,322 per person.
It is worth noting that the only train service operated between the state of Colorado and Utah’s capitals is not the only route for Canyon Spirit. Amtrak’s Daily California Zephyr Route connects Emeryville, California (from San Francisco over the Bay) to Chicago, Illinois. It is the longest continuous train in the country, and it also stops in two cities. The National Passenger Railroad Company route, which has been in operation since 1949, ferries travelers between Denver and Salt Lake City in 14.5 hours, especially faster.
