PHOTOS: Rockies to the Red Rocks elevated train ride from Denver to Salt Lake City
Jonathan Ingraham jonathan.ingraham@denvergazette.com
The Canyon Spirit, formerly Rocky Mountaineer, luxury train ride is expanding train service from Moab, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah in April 2026, creating a 3-day, daytime-only travel trip between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City.
Expanding on the trip’s current name, “Rockies to the Red Rocks,” the trip will feature elevated dining, scenic vistas via panorama rail cars, overnight stays in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Moab, Utah, along with stories about the history of the American southwest and surrounding geology.
Zineb Baaout stands on the stairs of train car 2015 and poses for a picture Saturday, July 26, 2025 ahead of departure for a media preview train ride from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado. The Armstrong Collective is adding an extension to Salt Lake in April 2026 to the already running 'Rockies to the Red Rocks' luxury train ride from Denver to Moab, Utah.
Australian Steve Madgwick holds up a promotion ticket to the Canyon Spirit luxury train ride from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado Saturday, July 26, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The train ride known as "Rockies to the Red Rocks" is expanding in April 2026 to include a third day of travel between Moab, Utah and Salt Lake City.
Akash Arora holds up a mimosa during a bon voyage toast as the Canyon Spirit train departs from Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The 3-day, daytime-travel only trip will be offered between Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado starting in April 2026.
Ed Elliot looks at the travel route for the Canyon Spirit train shortly after departure from Salt Lake City during a media preview train ride to Denver, Colorado. The Canyon Spirit will transport passengers via the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" ride from Salt Lake City to Denver or vice versa starting in April 2026.
Lauren Roddy, left, walks in the lounge car, along with Leigh Berry and Ed Elliot as Susmita Baral sits during a media preview train trip aboard the Canyon Spirit Saturday, July 26, 2025 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Armstrong Collective CEO Tristan Armstrong answers a question from Akash Arora during a media preview train trip aboard the Canyon Spirit luxury train Saturday, July 26, 2025 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Seared beef tenderloin with celebration potatoes, brown butter carrot puree and balsamic glazed purple beets was one lunch option during a media preview train ride on the Canyon Spirit Saturday, July 26, 2025 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Castlegate spire in Price River Canyon outside Price, Utah is a formation feature of two sheer sandstone walls on either side of the Price River, which appear to open like a giant gate as travelers approach the narrow section of the canyon.
Pronghorn stand along the railroad tracks outside Thompson Springs, Utah during a media preview train ride on the Canyon Spirit Saturday, July 26, 2025 between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Utah. Pronghorn are common along the railroad line in eastern Utah.
The entrance to the Moab Food Truck Park near downtown Moab, Utah, as seen Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Visitors to Arches National Park explore and enjoy the early morning sun at one of the arches at The Windows on Sunday, July 27, 2025 north of Moab, Utah.
Delicate Arch, with dozens of visitors along the horizon line, view the most famous arch in Arches National Park on Sunday, July 26, 2025 north of Moab, Utah.
The Balanced Rock formation, seen Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arches National Park north of Moab, Utah stands a staggering 128 feet (39m) tall and weighs approximately 3,600 tons.
A Canyon Spirit luxury train travels west toward Colorado across the eastern Utah desert, as seen Sunday, July 27, 2025. Being rebranded from the current name Rocky Mountaineer, Canyon Spirit will begin operating a Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado or vice versa route in April 2026.
A rock formation shows where the Utah and Colorado state line is north of Fruita, Colorado, as seen here from the Canyon Spirit luxury train ride Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Spencer Windes sits in his seat during a media preview train ride aboard the Canyon Spirit luxury train ride Sunday, July 27, 2025 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Glenwood Hot Springs pool is illuminated by the sunrise Monday, July 28, 2029 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
The Maxwell Anderson (formerly Hotel Denver) can be seen from 7th Street in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The hotel houses the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company and was one of the hotels the Canyon Spirit group stayed at during a preview ride from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Akash Arora and Susmita Baral walk in the early morning sunlight at Glenwood Springs Station next to a Rocky Mountaineer train they will board shortly Monday, July 28, 2025 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Sarah Anderson poses for a photo while standing on a Canyon Spirit (formerly Rocky Mountaineer) train Monday, July 28, 2025 at the Glenwood Springs Station in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
A Canyon Spirit train travels along the Colorado River passing a river raft floating on the water Monday, July 28, 2025 east of Palisade, Colorado.
Ed Elliot talks to other guests on a Canyon Spirit train ride between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado Monday, July 28, 2025. The "Rockies to the Red Rocks" train ride offered by Armstrong Collective is a 2- or 3-day, daytime travel only train ride that expands the current train ride from Denver to Moab, Utah, which will bring an extension to Salt Lake City from Moab starting in April 2026.
Onboard host Olivia Lopez presents a serving tray of bourbon whiskey while Canyon Spirit luxury train guests sample four different bourbons and whiskeys Monday, July 29, 2025 on a train ride between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado.
A Canyon Spirit train presses forward through Winter Park, Colorado with Parry Peak in the background Monday, July 28, 2025 on a train ride from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado.
Canyon Spirit onboard host Olivia Lopez presents two kinds of deserts during lunch service on the "Rockies to the Red Rocks" train ride Monday, July 28, 2025 between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado.
A Rocky Mountaineer train locomotive is stationed in Denver Union Station after completing its journey from Salt Lake City, Utah over three days, as seen Monday, July 28, 2025. The Rocky Mountaineer brand will be called Canyon Spirit once the rebranded name takes official affect in April 2026.
Jonathan Ingraham
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