The Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S.-based operations in Colorado and Utah have been rebranded “Canyon Spirit” and will expand to Salt Lake City in 2026. 

The luxury tour train’s operator, Armstrong Collective, announced the news on March 18. The Rocky Mountaineer, which has operated in British Columbia and Alberta since the 1990s, expanded to the United States in 2021 with excursions between Denver and Moab, Utah, along the former Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. 

“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,” said Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, Canyon Spirit’s parent company. “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.”

Beginning next year, passengers will have two different riding options: the existing Rockies to the Red Rocks excursion, a two-day trip from Denver to Moab via Glenwood Springs, Colo., and a day-long extension across the Utah desert to Salt Lake City. While onboard the train, guests are treated to attentive service from onboard hosts, rich, historical storytelling of the areas the train travels through, and dining options that feature 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 begin operating on April 21, 2026. It will travel weekly with one westbound departure from Denver and one eastbound departure from Salt Lake City. The three-day rail journey, including overnight hotel accommodation in Glenwood Springs and Moab, will start at $2,123 USD plus tax per person and is available to book at www.thecanyonspirit.com. —Justin Franz