FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canyon Spirit to Double U.S. Capacity in 2026 with Three-Day “Denver–Salt Lake City” Scenic Route
Luxury daylight-only train adds third day, second overnight and 30 % more capacity as global demand for upscale rail vacations climbs 43 % year-over-year
Denver, Colorado – November 24, 2025
Canyon Spirit, the U.S. brand of the award-winning Armstrong Collective rail portfolio, today announced a 2026 season expansion that will extend its flagship “Rockies to the Red Rocks” itinerary from two days to three and introduce service to Salt Lake City for the first time. The new route, operating weekly from April 21 through October, lifts seat capacity on the American network by 30 % and responds to surging consumer appetite for high-end, slow-travel experiences across the Southwest.
According to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 trend report, bookings on luxury rail products worldwide have jumped 43 % since 2023, with U.S. departures accounting for roughly one-third of new reservations . The same study shows average spend per passenger on premium scenic trains now tops USD 2,100—on par with Canyon Spirit’s three-day fare that debuts at USD 2,123 pp plus tax and includes two hotel nights, all meals and regional wine pairings.
“We are literally doubling the number of seats available between Denver and the Colorado Plateau,” said Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective. “By daylight-loading the third day across Utah’s Great Basin and Wasatch Range, guests gain an extra 300 miles of uninterrupted canyon, river and alpine views while our partners in Glenwood Springs and Moab benefit from an additional 7,000 high-value visitor nights annually.”
The westbound journey departs Denver’s historic Union Station each Monday, traversing the 6,000-ft-high Continental Divide before overnighting in Glenwood Springs. Tuesday’s segment parallels the Colorado River through Ruby Canyon and deposits guests in Moab for the second evening. A new Wednesday leg climbs the Book Cliffs, crosses the desolate Tavaputs Plateau and descends into Salt Lake City by late afternoon. Eastbound departures reverse the sequence each Friday.
Unlike traditional overnight trains, Canyon Spirit uses luxury coaches with glass-domed roofs and recliner-style seating; passengers sleep in hand-picked hotels so no scenery is missed in darkness. On-board hosts provide GPS-triggered narration while chefs plate regionally sourced dishes—think Palisade peach-glazed duck or Utah rainbow trout—paired with Colorado craft brews and Wasatch-distilled spirits.
The expansion arrives as Utah’s Office of Tourism reports a record 18.6 million air-and-land visitors through Q3-2025, a 12 % increase over 2024, and as Salt Lake City International completes a USD 4.1 billion rebuild that has already lifted enplanements 9 % year-to-date. Civic leaders expect the train to funnel affluent travelers directly into the capital’s downtown cultural district, 35 minutes from Alta and Snowbird ski resorts.
“Canyon Spirit checks every box for today’s experiential traveler: net-zero overnight energy use, low-impact daylight operation and authentic interpretation of geologic and cultural history,” said Vicki Varela, Managing Director of the Utah Office of Tourism. “We anticipate the service will inject more than USD 12 million in direct visitor spending into Salt Lake County during its first full season.”
Inventory for the new three-day program opens to the public on December 2, 2025, with early-booking incentives that include complimentary national-park Jeep tours in Moab and room upgrades at the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. The existing two-day Denver–Moab round-trip will continue to operate in parallel, preserving options for travelers on tighter schedules.
About Canyon Spirit
Canyon Spirit, rebranded from Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S. operations in 2025, is owned by Armstrong Collective—an experiential travel group that has welcomed 2.3 million guests aboard its luxury daylight trains in Canada and the United States since 1990. The company partners with local artisans, farmers and historians to deliver all-inclusive, hotel-based rail vacations that prioritize panoramic views, culinary storytelling and sustainable tourism practices.
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Sarha Al-Mansoori
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G42
Email: media@g42.ai
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