Booking choice: The Royal Gorge Route Railroad, from $148 per person. Check dates Tour details
Official facts come from canyonspirit.com (the FAQs, the promotion page and the company's news releases), checked on 6 November 2026. Canyon Spirit has not printed 2027 from-prices on its own pages, so 2027 prices and departure days below are what travel resellers list, and we say so each time.
Canyon Spirit is not sold on this site. We cover it because it is the train most people search for, and because a day ride from Denver fits well before or after it.
The quick answer
Canyon Spirit's season runs from April to November. The two-day trip goes Denver to Moab with a night in Glenwood Springs; the three-day trip adds Moab to Salt Lake City. The three-day journey launched from $2,123 per person plus tax, and resellers list 2027 three-day fares from $2,439 in Signature. The $250 per person offer covers eligible 2026 packages only and ends on 20 November 2026.
Is Canyon Spirit the same as the Rocky Mountaineer?
Yes, in all but name. The company behind Rocky Mountaineer renamed its US train Canyon Spirit for the 2026 season; the Rocky Mountaineer name now covers its Western Canada routes.
The route is the one Rocky Mountaineer introduced in 2021, Rockies to the Red Rocks, and the old Rocky Mountaineer route page now forwards to canyonspirit.com. The class names changed with it. SilverLeaf and SilverLeaf Plus are now Signature and Premier, the upgrade with lounge-car access. GoldLeaf was never offered on this route, so if you are searching for a GoldLeaf seat from Denver, Premier is the closest thing.
Some things did not change: it travels in daylight only, there are no sleeper cars, and you spend the nights in hotels. All onboard meals, snacks and drinks are included. Our Rocky Mountaineer in Colorado guide goes through the classes and the food in detail.
When does the Canyon Spirit 2027 season run, and on which days?
From April to November, per Canyon Spirit. Resellers list 2027 three-day departures from Salt Lake City on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 April to 6 November 2027, and two-day April 2027 departures from Denver on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Canyon Spirit has not posted a full 2027 calendar on its own pages, so check your date with the company or a travel professional. Both trips run in either direction. The two-day journey ends in Moab; the three-day journey carries on to Salt Lake City, with nights in Glenwood Springs and Moab. Daily travel runs from about 5.5 to 9.5 hours.
Which month? Canyon Spirit describes spring as quieter, with wildflowers, summer as hot and dry with a chance of elk and bald eagles, and fall as the season for colorful aspen and oak. Late September is the one we would pick.
| Day | Distance and time | What you see | Where you stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver to Glenwood Springs | 175 miles, about 8 hours | The Moffat Tunnel and the Continental Divide, then Glenwood Canyon | Hotel in Glenwood Springs |
| Glenwood Springs to Moab | 194 miles, about 5.5 hours | Ruby Canyon's red sandstone and Mount Garfield | End of the two-day trip; hotel in Moab on three-day trips |
| Moab to Salt Lake City (three-day only) | 233 miles, about 6 hours | Price Canyon | End of the three-day trip |
How much does Canyon Spirit cost in 2027?
The only official figure is the launch price: the three-day journey launched from $2,123 per person plus tax. For 2027, resellers list the three-day trip from $2,439 in Signature (July and August) and the two-day trip from $1,739.
Resellers list the 2027 three-day rail-only fare at $2,529 in Signature, $2,439 in July and August, and $3,165 in Premier, $3,039 in July and August, before tax and the same for single or double occupancy. For the two-day Denver to Moab trip, resellers list from $1,739 per person twin share, with most April 2027 dates at $1,809. Packages with extra hotel nights cost more.
There is no children's fare, and no senior discount appears on Canyon Spirit's pages. One cost you can cross off: onboard Host gratuities are already included in the price. Driver guides, tour escorts and hotel porterage are not.
| Trip | Signature | Premier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-day, at launch (official) | From $2,123 | n/a | Canyon Spirit's 2025 launch release, plus tax |
| Three-day, 2027 (resellers list) | $2,529 ($2,439 in July and August) | $3,165 ($3,039 in July and August) | Rail only, before tax |
| Two-day Denver to Moab, 2027 (resellers list) | From $1,739; most April 2027 dates $1,809 | n/a | Rail only, twin share |
| Host gratuities included | Signature | Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Two-day | $48 | $62 |
| Three-day | $71 | $94 |
Does the $250 Canyon Spirit offer apply to 2027?
No. The America Celebrates 250 offer takes $250 per person ($500 per couple) off eligible 2026 packages on select travel dates, for new bookings, and it ends on 20 November 2026.
The offer does not apply to the two- and three-day rail-only journeys, only to packages. If you were going to travel in the last weeks of the 2026 season anyway, check the eligible dates on Canyon Spirit's promotion page before 20 November.
For longer trips in 2027, Canyon Spirit announced packages with Utah Luxury Tours for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, each three days on the train and three on a motorcoach, with hotels included. The Rockies to the Red Rocks Utah Explorer runs between Denver and Las Vegas by way of Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion; the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer heads north to Yellowstone. No prices were printed in the release.
A day on the rails you can book now: about 110 minutes through the Royal Gorge, with the open-air car and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Royal Gorge Route RailroadHow far ahead should you book Canyon Spirit for 2027?
Early, and with the deadlines in mind. Canyon Spirit allows no changes within 15 days of departure, needs 60 days' notice for dietary needs and service animals, and emails final travel documents 45 days before.
Seats are pre-assigned, which is one more reason to book early for the side of the train you want. Cancellations are non-refundable unless your itinerary says otherwise, and Canyon Spirit does not arrange flights, so book those around the train. Traveling with children? The train takes a small number each season, and each child needs their own seat: no lap infants or car seats.
Accessibility needs go in at booking: there are manual lifts or ramps, and a coach with accessible washrooms can be pre-assigned. Canyon Spirit's phone line is 1-800-785-7507.
| What | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Dietary needs | At least 60 days before departure |
| Service animals | At least 60 days' notice |
| Final travel documents | Emailed 45 days before departure |
| Changes to your booking | Not allowed within 15 days of the start of your itinerary |
| Cancellations | Non-refundable unless your itinerary says otherwise |
| The $250 offer (2026 packages) | Ends 20 November 2026, new bookings only |
What can you book here before or after Canyon Spirit?
Day rides from Denver and the Front Range: the Royal Gorge Route for a canyon by train, the Cog Railway up Pikes Peak, and the Georgetown Loop day from Denver Union Station, where Canyon Spirit's westbound trips begin.
The Royal Gorge Route is the closest thing to a canyon day by rail in an afternoon: about 110 minutes along the Arkansas River with granite walls over 1,000 feet above. The private Cog Railway tour climbs to 14,115 feet. The Georgetown Loop day is a newer private listing that starts at Denver Union Station and adds the Colorado Railroad Museum. Every tour here has free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Want Glenwood Canyon by train without the hotel nights? Amtrak's California Zephyr uses much of the same line. Our Rocky Mountaineer alternatives guide compares them, and the Royal Gorge Route guide covers the classes.
| Tour | From (USD) | Length | On the rails |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Gorge Route Railroad | $148 per person | 110 minutes | 110 minutes through the Royal Gorge |
| private Pikes Peak Cog Railway tour | $799 per group | 10 hours | The cog railway up Pikes Peak and back |
| Georgetown Loop railroad day | $1,175 per group | 8 hours | The Georgetown Loop, from Denver Union Station |
| Red Rocks and Echo Lake tour | $89 per person | 5 hours | No train: Red Rocks and the foothills |
Before or after Canyon Spirit: a private day from Denver on the Cog Railway to the Pikes Peak summit, with Manitou Springs and the Garden of the Gods.
Explore the private Pikes Peak Cog Railway tour Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
When does Canyon Spirit run in 2027?
Canyon Spirit's season runs from April to November. Resellers list 2027 three-day departures from Salt Lake City from 9 April to 6 November 2027.
How much is Canyon Spirit in 2027?
The three-day journey launched from $2,123 per person plus tax. For 2027, resellers list the three-day trip from $2,439 in Signature and the two-day trip from $1,739.
Is Canyon Spirit the Rocky Mountaineer?
It is the former Rocky Mountaineer US route, renamed for 2026 by the same company. The Rocky Mountaineer name now covers its Western Canada routes.
Can you change a Canyon Spirit booking?
Changes may carry fees, and none are allowed within 15 days of departure. Dietary needs require at least 60 days' notice.
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Choose your train
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
- Scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge
- Access to the open-air car for the whole journey
- The Happy Endings Caboose Cafe and Santa Fe Depot boutique before and after
Pikes Peak Cog Railway & Garden of the Gods
- Private round-trip transport in a luxury Suburban
- Private guide
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway tickets
Georgetown Loop Railroad and Railroad Museum Day
- Denver Union Station and Red Rocks Park
- Colorado Railroad Museum, with a train ride round the grounds mid-May to October
- Georgetown Loop Railroad ride
