The train tracks between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, follow one of the most stunning paths in America. But you can’t get these views from Amtrak – there hasn’t been passenger service between the two cities in over 50 years, only freight.
Rocky Mountaineer, a luxury tour company, is about to step awesomely into that gap. Mountaineer already runs three luxury trains in British Columbia and Alberta. They run between Vancouver, B.C. and the Canadian Rocky Mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Their trains are a taste of old elegance and modern refinement, with glass dome roofs, outdoor viewing platforms, chef-designed menus, and warm, comfortable salon cars.
“The work to find a new route has been underway for several years,” said Steve Sammut, president and CEO of Rocky Mountaineer in a statement announcing the expansion. “We needed to find a special location with many of the same features we have in Western Canada – incredible scenery, iconic destinations, and the option for an all daytime, multiday journey that is best experienced by train.”
And that is exactly what they’ve found here. The track from Denver to Moab passes through the Rocky Mountain National Park almost straight off the bat, with stunning open views of the mountains. The train will make an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, before continuing into the Colorado National Monument and Arches National Park in Utah, with views of the amazing natural stacks and arches.
Prices of the two-day trip are projected to begin at $1,250 per person, which includes meals and a one-night hotel stay in Glenwood Springs. The train will begin to operate in August of 2021 and should make the passage weekly through the late summer and autumn, giving travelers the chance to choose from two gorgeous seasonal passages.
Photo: Shutterstock