Take a train ride through the Rockies

The luxurious Rocky Mountaineer, which debuted in 1990, is the largest privately owned tourist train company. It offers a unique experience. You get the comfort and convenience of train travel as well as incredible scenery, delicious cuisine, and attentive service on routes through western Canada and the American Southwest.

Ready to roll? Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rocky Mountaineer offers many itineraries on 4 unique rail routes. Three connect Vancouver, British Columbia, to the towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. A new fourth route travels between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah.

The train travels only by day. That means you won’t miss any of the magnificent scenery as the train passes mountains and crosses trestle bridges over rivers. At overnight stops, you’ll get a great night’s rest in hotels. Rocky Mountaineer partners with a variety of hotels–from standard to luxury–and tour operators, enabling you to select the package that’s best for you.   

Rocky Mountaineer operates from mid-April to mid-October. Spring and summer showcase local flora, from remote tundra to dense coastal rainforests and desert landscapes. In fall, you’ll see the changing foliage as green larch or aspen trees transform to gold and yellow hues.

The iconic First Passage to the West travels along the historic tracks of Canada’s first coast-to-coast railway between Vancouver and Banff or Lake Louise. The train passes Craigellachie, the site of the last spike driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.

When the train travels east, you’ll pass the last spike driven into the CN Rail in 1915. Highlights include passing through the engineering marvel of Spiral Tunnels, traversing the Continental Divide, and seeing Castle Mountain and Mount Rundle in Banff National Park.

Overnight stop: Kamloops, British Columbia (between Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies).

Rocky Mountaineer’s newest rail route, Rockies to the Red Rocks, travels between Moab, Utah, and Denver, Colorado. You’ll pass through the Rocky Mountains, beautiful plains, and desert landscapes in Utah and Colorado. 

Overnight stop: Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Limited on time? Short Journeys packages offer 2- to 5-day itineraries through the Canadian Rockies or the American Southwest. 

Want to see more? Book the Rockies Highlights package, so you can add extra days before and after your trip. Itineraries vary from 6 to 10 nights.

Can’t decide? Choose the Canadian Circle Journeys and combine 2 rail routes. The most sought-after package is the 11-night Grand Adventure Circle Journey that combines 2 popular routes: Rainforest to Gold Rush and First Passage to the West. 

The onboard Hosts also share fascinating stories and history about the passing regions. They’re quick to announce wildlife sightings—is that a moose grazing over there?—so you don’t miss great photo ops. 

One of Ford’s favorite memories (and photos) was on a springtime journey as the train neared Lake Louise. “A large grizzly bear was standing in a slushy meadow, watching the train, paused, as if posing for a photo,” she says.

For lunch, Canadian routes may include Alberta beef short rib. Chefs on Rockies to the Red Rocks may prepare lemon- and herb-roasted chicken breast.

Meals can be paired with local wines, craft beers, or a cup of tea. Beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, as well as snacks, are included. 

Because the train schedule varies from package to package, some itineraries include dinner as well. Otherwise, guests explore local restaurants and cafés on their own.

Rocky Mountaineer offers 2 levels of service–SilverLeaf Service and GoldLeaf Service. For both, the warm, inviting experience is the same. But each level of service has different rail cars and its own menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. 

SilverLeaf Service features spacious, single-level coaches, where you’ll be served meals in the comfort of your seat. You’ll have plenty of room to stand, stretch, or look at the view from the oversized windows. Also, 2 people can share a small, enclosed outdoor area.

SilverLeaf Plus Service, which includes access to an adjacent lounge car with elevated beverages and additional seating space, is available only on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route.

GoldLeaf Service, which is available only on Canadian routes, features bi-level coaches with an upper-level seating area with spacious, reclining seats, and full glass-dome windows. Meals are served downstairs in an elegantly appointed dining room. Meals are freshly prepared in the adjacent kitchen. 

Depending on the package you choose, some tours and activities may be included.

Packages may include a ride on the Banff Gondola and sightseeing in a national park. You can also book add-ons to customize your trip. For example, hop aboard a 12-passenger open-air, Zodiac-style boat for a waterfront sightseeing tour of downtown Vancouver. Or enjoy a sunset whale-watching tour in Vancouver. Thrill-seekers will enjoy riding a giant all-terrain vehicle onto the Athabasca Glacier and stepping out on the glass-floored platform of the Columbia icefield in Banff. 

At overnight stops, Rocky Mountaineer transports luggage and provides motorcoach transfers between the train and partner hotels. Hotel keys are provided onboard the train for guests who have booked hotels with Rocky Mountaineer as part of their package.