Canyon Spirit, which has been operating under the Rocky Mountaineer brand since 2021, is the new name for the luxury train that gives travellers the opportunity to experience the beauty of the American Southwest by rail.
From next year, Canyon Spirit will be expanding its Rockies to the Red Rocks route to include Salt Lake City in Utah, connecting Denver, Colorado with Salt Lake City over three scenic travel days on board the train.
Canyon Spirit will also be the new name from 2026, for the family-owned Armstrong Collective’s luxury train in the American Southwest, which has been operating as Rocky Mountaineer since the launch of its Rockies to the Red Rockies rail route in 2021. The company also operates Rocky Mountaineer, which has welcomed more than 2.3 million guests on its three rail routes in Western Canada over the last 35 years.
The brand’s new identity reflects the company’s commitment to providing unforgettable train journeys through the American Southwest’s most picturesque and stunning landscapes that include rugged-river canyons, red-rock formations and the Colorado River.
Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, Canyon Spirit’s parent company, commented:
“We could not be more excited to bring our Canyon Spirit train to Salt Lake City, and to expand our Rockies to the Red Rocks route further into the beautiful state of Utah. Although the name of our train is changing, our world-class service and onboard experience will remain the same. Our family and team members all look forward to sharing the beauty of the American Southwest with even more guests from across the United States and around the world.”
The train’s new three-day journey will include overnight stops in Glenwood Springs in Colorado as well as Moab in Utah, so that guests can experience these charming and picturesque local communities.
The new Salt Lake City route will be available in 2026, operating in addition to the current two-day Rockies to the Red Rocks route between Denver and Moab. The extra day of travel will entail traversing the mountain passes of eastern Utah and the open vistas of the Great Basin, connecting to the urban hub of Salt Lake City.
So, what can you expect on boarding the train? Well, to start with you will be treated to the attentive service from onboard hosts, rich, historic storytelling of the areas the train travels through, along with some superb dining options featuring locally sourced and regionally inspired dishes paired with local beer, wines and spirits.
The new three-day Rockies to the Red Rocks Extension journey will start on 21st April 2026 with a weekly westbound departure from Denver and one eastbound departure from Salt Lake City. The three-day trip, including overnight hotel accommodation in Glenwood Springs and Moab, will start from $2,123 (£1,680) per person plus tax, and can be booked on www.thecanyonspirit.com.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Canyon Spirit
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