Embark on a Luxurious Two-Day Train Journey Through America’s Stunning Canyons

There is something timeless about watching the world roll by from behind the window of a train. Especially when the landscapes happen to include red rock canyons carved by the Colorado River, historic tunnels, and world-class ski resorts. As the third largest country on the planet, it’s no surprise that the U.S. is scattered with such a variety of landscapes and geographic marvels. Few journeys are able to capture this natural diversity as well as the Rocky Mountaineer train, a Canadian rail company with an all-American route that winds through some of the country’s most gorgeous canyons on a two-day train ride. The best way to experience America’s Southwestern scenery is on this lavish train journey that will have you sipping cocktails and dining on regional cuisine from the comfort of your seat as you watch the landscape fly by.

The teams at Rocky Mountaineer are experts in curating unforgettable train excursions throughout North America’s Southwest and Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Instead of rushing to reach your destination, this experience is all about making the most of the journey. But unlike a classic American road trip, it’s a luxury train ride that puts an adventurous spin on the nostalgic age of train travel.

The train strikes the perfect balance between being luxurious and unpretentious. There are several service tiers, with the most basic including meals, drinks, and sweeping panoramic windows. At the top end of the spectrum, the most opulent offering includes access to a bar car and upscale dining. Not only does it include elevated services, but each journey is also hosted by a knowledgeable onboard guide, narrating every unique rocky outcrop or desert expanse that passes by the oversized windows.

As one of four routes offered by the company, Rockies to the Red Rocks is an aptly named itinerary traveling between Moab and Denver. If you begin in Utah, the journey begins in the early afternoon in Moab, one of the best cities in America for solo travelers. The first day of travel crosses the border between Utah and Colorado, passing by Arches National Park as the train shoots towards Glenwood Springs, just under 200 miles from one another. Before your arrival, you’ll be served a hot dinner and drinks on board, which you can enjoy as you gaze across Mount Garfield and Ruby Canyon — a red-tinged canyon that can only be seen from this particular train track. On arrival in Glenwood Springs, you’ll be served a signature cocktail and be escorted to your hotel room for the night.

As the train toots its horn for departure on day two, you’ll begin your morning with a two-course breakfast. As the sun sets on your surroundings, you’ll be treated to exceptional views of the Rocky Mountains, home to some of Colorado’s highest mountains. This isn’t the type of train you’d want to take out your laptop to kill time. Rather, it’s an experiential excursion where the views become the entertainment.

Before you know it, a three-course lunch is served, including a chat with your hosts about whatever lies beyond the windows at that moment. After lunch, you’ll cross the Continental Divide and cut through the iconic Moffat Tunnel, a feat of engineering used as an aqueduct and a train track since 1928. You’ll be served a final cocktail as you leave the Rockies and make your final descent towards Denver, the craft beer capital of America.