This Privately-Owned Tourist Train Offers A Premium Journey Along Multiple National Parks

It is hard to imagine a country better designed to be explored by train than the United States. With its vast open plains, soaring mountain ranges, deep, dense forests, and rugged coastlines, the U.S. is a mighty canvas that packs a spectacular visual punch, and rolling along the rails is the ideal combination of transportation and sightseeing for adventurous travelers. And while the U.S. rail network might not quite match the remarkable abundance of train routes in Europe, there is something undeniably romantic about the most scenic train rides across America.

Sure, taking the train isn't usually the fastest way from A to B. But nothing beats watching the landscape whizz by the window, or the sunset over the mountains as you tuck yourself into your sleeping car on an exciting overnight train journey. Some of the best train routes in the world are in the U.S., and the last few years have seen Americans rediscovering the joy of rail travel. It might be the 35-hour Coast Starlight journey, taking in the full glory of the Pacific Coast, or the historic attractions of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. But for sheer volume of unbelievable scenic views, the Canyon Spirit from Colorado to Utah is hard to beat.

The Canyon Spirit runs from Denver, Colorado, to Moab or Salt Lake City in Utah. It runs past the lush pine stands of Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, through the towering rock walls of Glenwood Canyon, and across the alien wilderness of the Utah desert, as well as passing by the magnificent Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Passengers join the train at Denver, so most people arrive at Denver International Airport (DEN), which is around half an hour away from Union Station.

Setting off from Denver, one of the first points of interest on the route is the Moffat Tunnel. A true example of human ingenuity, this magnificent feat of engineering dives 3,000 feet below the surface of the Earth and stretches six long miles beneath Colorado, crossing the continental divide. It was the largest railroad tunnel in the Western Hemisphere when completed, and it takes the Canyon Spirit under the Rocky Mountains, shaving 173 miles off the route.

Alongside the architectural and engineering marvels of the route, there are some truly stunning landscapes. It is all about the canyons here, with the winding Glenwood Canyon near Glenwood Springs, the sandstone cliffs of Price Canyon between the Wasatch Mountains and Book Cliffs, and the magnificent red walls of Burns Canyon in the Flat Tops Wilderness. Pass by the towering, 6,800-foot peak of Mount Garfield, and make your way through the blood-red gorge of Ruby Canyon before arriving in Moab. Passengers can finish their journey here or continue on to Salt Lake City.

The Canyon Spirit is an ideal route for anyone looking to explore two of the most impressive and dramatic national parks in the Mountain West. Moab is the gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, famed for their natural stone arches, soaring pinnacles, colorful buttes, and teetering spires. Extending your Canyon Spirit adventure by exploring either or both of these marvelous wildernesses is the ideal way to complete your getaway.

While most train routes in the U.S. are run by Amtrak, the Canyon Spirit is privately owned and run by the same company that operates the award-winning "Journey Through the Clouds" luxury train in Canada, the Rocky Mountaineer. This means that booking your trip works slightly differently than with an ordinary Amtrak service. There are two route options: a two-day trip or a three-day trip. The two-day option begins in Denver, overnights in Glenwood Springs, where passengers can enjoy the opulent hot springs the town is named for, before continuing on to Moab to explore its famous views and glorious national parks. The three-day option continues on from Moab the following day to Salt Lake City and is ideal for travelers looking for a balance of outdoor adventure and city experiences.

As you might imagine from the creators of the Rocky Mountaineer, the onboard experience is extremely luxurious. A glass-dome coach gives passengers a 360-degree panorama of the stunning scenery as it passes by, and it is worth getting a good spot so you can drink in the dramatic landscapes during the day. Onboard hosts add to the experience, with information and storytelling about the region.

The onboard dining options are excellent, and the bar and waiters will bring regionally-inspired meals right to your seat. If you want an even more deluxe experience, the Premier upgrade gives passengers entry to a delightfully traditional lounge car, where you can relive the Golden Age of Rail as you set off on your adventure.