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Rocky Mountaineer train near Red Canyon, Colorado
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
On the Westbound Train
By Laura Del Rosso
Rail journeys aboard Rocky Mountaineer bring the American West into sublime focus.
As the signature gold and blue train winds through the American West, the passing panoramas—red sandstone monoliths; sky-piercing, 12,000-plus-foot-tall peaks; and rugged canyons carved by the Colorado River—fill passengers with awe. These are just a few of the views riders have been able to enjoy on Rocky Mountaineer rail trips since the Canadian company branched out into the United States several years ago. The train travels between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, taking passengers—armed with cameras and smart phones—through mountain, plains and desert landscapes.
Train tracks beside the Colorado River
ADOBE STOCK
The two-day Rockies to the Red Rocks trips are offered westbound, starting in Denver and ending in Moab, or eastbound from Moab to Denver. Either way, travelers find the journey unforgettable as they see the red cliffs of Ruby Canyon and pass through the Moffat Tunnel, a nearly 100-year-old passageway that cuts more than 6 miles through the high peaks of the Continental Divide.
Passenger enjoying the view from the window of a Rocky Mountaineer train
The luxury rail cars, with oversized, glass-domed windows, offer opportunities for amazing photography from comfy reclining seats. Onboard hosts recount local history and point out eagles, deer and other wildlife outside.
Rocky Mountaineer’s SilverLeaf service includes breakfasts, snacks and a three-course lunch. Menu options use Colorado and Utah ingredients, such as locally raised beef and chicken with fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Travelers can amp up their experience by choosing SilverLeaf Plus, an upgraded add-on that offers access to a lounge car and a small viewing area outdoors, plus wine pairings with lunch and a mixologist who shakes and stirs signature cocktails.
Map showing the Rockies to the Red Rocks route
All passengers, whether they start in Moab or Denver, spend the night in Glenwood Springs, known for its mineral hot springs. After riders disembark and their luggage is taken to their hotels, they may have a bit of time, depending on arrival, to explore the Wild West-era downtown. Strolling the pedestrian bridge over the Colorado River and savoring dinner and perhaps a pint at Glenwood Springs’ restaurant and breweries are among the top activities. The timing could be tight due to the train’s arrival and departure times in relationship to the operation hours of Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, but indulging in the town’s hot springs is worth a dip. The resort opened in 1888 and claims to hold the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool. Five more pools were added in recent years, each with a different temperature to relax, look at the stars and unwind in the cool Rockies air.
The journey between Glenwood Springs and Moab is an especially breathtaking stretch as the train travels from Mount Logan to De Beque Canyon, a narrow, 15-mile-long canyon with high cliffs. Outside the windows, passengers can spot 6,765-foot-high Mount Garfield, part of the Book Cliffs range that spans more than 200 miles.
Rocky Mountaineer train near Ruby Canyon along the Rockies to the Red Rocks route
Tracks then follow the Colorado River to 25-mile-long Ruby Canyon, named for its deep-red walls. Towering above is 12,726-foot Mount Peale, the highest peak of the La Sal Mountains. As the train gets closer to Moab, more sandstone mountains, including those in dramatic Arches National Park, become visible.
By taking advantage of the five-night Rockies to the Red Rocks Classic, an extended tour option, travelers get two extra nights in Denver and Moab. This extra time allows deeper exploration of Moab, which is the gateway to Canyonlands and Arches national parks and is dubbed the Adventure Capital of the West. Adventures include rafting the Colorado River, an off-road Hummer tour and guided e-bike rides to a local winery. Of the many opportunities available, one of the most popular is one created for the Rocky Mountaineer: a tour of Arches National Park and its more than 2,000 natural arches.
Rocky Mountaineer train on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route near Moab, Utah.
Another Rocky Mountaineer program that includes more of Utah is the six-night Rockies to the Red Rocks Mighty Five Explorer that starts or ends in Las Vegas and Denver. Included is sightseeing between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon via Zion National Park, a guided tour of Bryce Canyon National Park and travel along Highway 12, one of the most stunning highways anywhere. Travelers see more amazing landscapes at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park. After a night spent in Moab, participants visit Arches and Canyonlands national parks and stop at the Grand View Point and the Green River overlooks within Canyonlands. Travelers choosing this tour see all “mighty five” national parks of this stunning region.
The Crawford Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond property.
THE CRAWFORD HOTEL
In Denver, where the rail trips either start or end, a rail-appropriate stay is at The Crawford Hotel, one of the accommodation options for those who extend their travels. The 112-room hotel opened as part of an extensive renovation of Union Station. While the hotel is lovely, the train station itself is a marvel—a grand Beaux Arts-style building and a fascinating place for rail fans, architecture admirers and U.S. history buffs. Union Station and the surrounding city blocks are a thriving cultural hub. Wander and explore on your own, or take advantage of independent walking tours of the mansions of Capitol Hill, including the Molly Brown House Museum, or Larimer Square, where the Mile High City was founded in the mid-19th century.
These Denver adventures, coupled with the outdoorsy options in Moab, bookend an unforgettable journey into the landscape of the American West—a journey made even more spectacular aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
Ready for your rail adventure? AAA Members save up to $150 per person on select journeys. To learn more, visit AAA.com/RockyMountaineer.
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