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 From Deserts to Peaks: A Canyon Spirit Adventure

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20252026
7 days From $5,495 per person
4.5 stars(65 reviews)
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New Itinerary for 2026

 Find yourself swept away by scenes of the Southwest while following Canyon Spirit's new route from Salt Lake City to Denver and exploring national parklands

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

Mobility Rating 2

2026 Tour code: FCC26

About the tour

 From mountains to sandstone arches and all the varied terrain between, this week-long journey is a showcase of nature. Admire the craggy peaks of the Wasatch Mountains surrounding Salt Lake City before boarding Canyon Spirit, a train that combines luxury and adventure.

Following its brand-new route, travel from Salt Lake City into the terracotta-hued deserts of Moab. After visiting Arches National Park, continue by rail across the Colorado border to Glenwood Springs and Denver, where Rocky Mountain National Park beckons. A First Class journey with unforgettable scenes at every turn.

Unforgettable Experiences

Cross canyons and mountains on Canyon Spirit
Cross canyons and mountains on Canyon Spirit
 Spend three days traversing the mountains, canyons and rugged passes of Utah and Colorado in domed-glass carriages as the luxurious Canyon Spirit follows a scenic, daylight-only route from Salt Lake City and Denver.
Climb to the summit of Hidden Peak by tram
Climb to the summit of Hidden Peak by tram
 Marvel at incredible views of Salt Lake Valley, Twin Peaks and more while climbing 2,900 feet to the summit of Hidden Peak in Park City on the Snowbird aerial tram.
Admire the otherworldly landscapes of Arches National Park
Admire the otherworldly landscapes of Arches National Park
 Set your sights on arches of varying sizes, hues and shapes on a guided tour of Arches National Park, home to more than 2,100 unique rock formations.
Stay in two capital cities
Stay in two capital cities
Spend two nights in Salt Lake City, Utah, using the city as a base to explore the mountain resort of Park City, and two nights in beautiful Denver, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 -  Arriving in Utah’s mountainous capital, Salt Lake City

 With a First Class adventure filled with natural beauty and some of Utah and Colorado's most impressive destinations ahead, your vacation begins today in Salt Lake City. As you arrive, make your own way to the Grand America Hotel, which is easily accessible from the airport via Salt Lake City's TRAX line.

Check in for the first of two nights at this five-star, Venetian-style hotel, and then, if time allows, get to know Salt Lake City at your own pace. The Victorian-era City and County Building is just a block from the hotel and features a 256-foot clock tower. Also nearby is The Leonardo, a unique museum that combines art, science and technology.

Returning to the hotel early this evening, meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travelers, and together, sit down to dinner at the hotel. Overnight Salt Lake City.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Into the mountains of Park City

 Setting out by coach after breakfast, we head to Park City, Utah's premier skiing destination. While this city is known for its winter sports, it retains plenty of charm during the warmer months, which you can discover at your own pace.

Park City was originally a silver-mining town founded in the 1800s, and its main street is lined with historic buildings - all surrounded by stunning mountain views. You might like to find lunch in one of the cozy restaurants or uncover the city's mining and railroading past at the Park City Museum.

This afternoon, we get a different vantage point from which to admire the region as we board the Summer Scenic Tram at Snowbird and climb 2,900 feet to the summit of Hidden Peak. The 13-minute ride reveals spectacular vistas and takes us to a viewing platform overlooking numerous peaks and the Salt Lake Valley.

Upon descending the mountain, we return to our hotel, where the remainder of the day and evening is at your leisure. Later this evening, there is an optional visit to Temple Square to listen to the renowned Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. Overnight Salt Lake City.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 3 -  To Moab on Canyon Spirit

 With an early start this morning, we are transferred to the railway station to board Canyon Spirit on its brand-new route for 2026 from Salt Lake City to Denver, Colorado. This is a journey filled with quintessential scenes of the Southwest, from the mountains of the Salt Lake City region to the colorful deserts of Moab and beyond, to the stunning Colorado Rockies.

Take your seat in a domed, window-lined carriage, and settle in for an elegant journey filled with attentive service, delicious cuisine and once-in-a-lifetime views. Breakfast is served at your seat as the expedition commences, and you can look out over the changing scenery while enjoying included alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The route unfolds with highlights like the Thistle Tunnels, Soldier Summit, Price River Canyon and the Book Cliffs. The scenery becomes increasingly arid as lunch is served onboard, and then later in the afternoon, Canyon Spirit pulls into Moab.

Make your way from the station to your downtown hotel, and then you are free to get to know this adventurous town for the remainder of the evening. Overnight Moab.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 - Exploring Arches National Park and onward to Glenwood Springs

 Waking with adventure on the itinerary, we set out for a guided tour of Arches National Park. Located just outside Moab, this park is renowned for its sandstone formations, carved by nature over millennia. A guide steps aboard our coach for the excursion and recounts the history and geology of the park as we see some of its most famous arches and fins, including Delicate Arch, a symbol of Utah, and Landscape Arch, the world's longest natural arch.

Returning to downtown Moab by mid-day, you can find lunch locally before we board Canyon Spirit for another route of jaw-dropping views. A host is assigned to each carriage, and they narrate the journey, telling historical stories and pointing out scenic highlights as we travel. Watch as the towering rock formations and deserts of Moab fade into the backdrop, perhaps taking the opportunity to watch the scenery from the open-air platform.

A regionally inspired dinner is served before we arrive in the resort town of Glenwood Springs. We check in at our hotel for the night with a free evening to admire the mountains. Overnight Glenwood Springs.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 5 -  Crossing the Rocky Mountains on Canyon Spirit

 Another day of remarkable scenery awaits as we make our way to the station this morning to join the final leg of Canyon Spirit's route. We weave into the Colorado Rockies, overlooking beautiful canyons and the mighty Colorado River. Look up through the domed-glass roof to see towering mountain peaks, or try to spot wildlife as we trundle through remote stretches.

Our journey crosses the Continental Divide and, again, includes the most detailed and luxurious service available on America's railways. Both breakfast and lunch are served at our seats, ensuring we never miss a moment of natural grandeur before pulling into Denver's historic Union Station this afternoon.

An included transfer takes us to our four-star hotel, The Oxford, a Denver institution that has been welcoming guests since 1891. With its privileged downtown location, the hotel puts the best of Denver at your fingertips during a free evening. Denver is known for its culinary scene, and with no planned dinner, you could try some local specialties, including game dishes, or visit a local brewery. Overnight Denver.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 -  A day in Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park

formations, 14,000-foot mountain peaks and quintessential sights of the San Juan Forest are just some of the things you can look forward to on our trip aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad today. The route follows the Animas River from Durango to Silverton, embracing all the beauty of canyon country as the journey unfolds.

Sometimes the train meanders alongside the river, while the tracks loom high above at other points. Take in all these vistas and more from our first-class seats in the Silver Vista Car, a glass-domed car brimming with amenities. Lounge on the plush leather seats while looking out the panoramic windows or venture out onto the closed vestibule with the largest viewing platform on the train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 -  Tour conclusion

 The majesty of nature has set at the forefront of this adventure. We began amidst the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City and Park City and witnessed how quickly Utah's landscapes changed while traveling through its vast, arid interior to the deserts and sandstone formations of Moab. Crossing the border into Colorado, our elevation increased once more, with the beautiful mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains framing every view. Witnessing these sights from our domed glass carriages on Canyon Spirit made the experience even more incredible.

After breakfast in the iconic Oxford Hotel, our journey comes to a close. You are free to make your way to Denver Union Station or Denver's airport for your onward travel home.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours, they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. Please reference our Mobility Ratings Information, and if you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-929-7245.

Hotels

The Oxford Hotel, Denver

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 The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City

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Train

Canyon Spirit

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 65 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (46)
  2. 4 stars
    (14)
  3. 3 stars
    (1)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (2)

Leith Gardner

5 stars

Submitted 02 Oct 2024

very enjoyable

Collected by Trustpilot

Virginia

5 stars

Submitted 01 Oct 2024

Great trip

Collected by Trustpilot

marino

5 stars

Submitted 01 Oct 2024

we travel all over the world and i must say this vacation was much more then expected, everything was with precise detailed, tour guide was one of the best, he was very knowledgable,

Collected by Trustpilot

Carol Beeman

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2024

This was a beautiful and well-run tour. Our guide, Mr. Bill Plenefisch, was very friendly and went out of his way to ensure everyone's needs were met. He also looked for additional opportunities to enhance the tour with unscheduled visits, such as Buffalo Bill's gravesite, when circumstances permitted.

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Kurt Chaloupecky

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2024

Scenery was great.

Collected by Trustpilot

Christopher Zach

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2024

Bill the tour guide was the cherry on an excellent sundae of a trip. He was prompt, polite, and very helpful in making sure we were all on the plan and able to see and do everything (and more) that this tour promised. I have to say, he ranks right up alongside Phil (our guide for our Norway trip 2 years ago) and Oliver (guide in Switzerland last year) as the kind of person you want to lead a trip like this. I loved the little extras like the petroglyphs, and his explanations kept it fun and educational throughout the trip. All of the railroads were spectacular, the Hoodo hotel was beyond impressive, and even the park tours were well guided and taught us a lot about Colorado geology and history. Thank you for an amazing trip!

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