Amtrak Vacations
California Zephyr Rail Experience
Seven-day California Zephyr crossing, Chicago to San Francisco
7 daysfrom $849
29% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Arches and Canyonlands to the Rocky Mountains with Canyon Spirit from San Francisco
Independent rail trip from San Francisco to Denver via Canyon Spirit
Amtrak Vacations runs this 7-day independent rail vacation from San Francisco to Denver. The trip opens with the California Zephyr, which climbs through the snowcapped Sierra Nevada and desert landscapes on the way to Grand Junction, Colorado, before a transfer to Moab. From there a small group tour spends a day among the sandstone arches and canyon rims of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The Signature-class Canyon Spirit then carries travelers from Moab through red sandstone canyon country to Glenwood Springs and on to Denver, following the Colorado River and crossing the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel. The final full day is a guided visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, with time set aside for wildlife viewing, photographs, and optional short hikes. The pace suits travelers who want a mix of scenic train time and guided park days, with enough free time in Moab and Denver to explore at their own pace.
What to know before you look closer
- The package includes a choice of 28 accommodation options across different tiers and cities, so the exact hotel in San Francisco and Grand Junction depends on which option you select when booking.
- No current departure dates are listed in this package's details; confirm exact travel dates with Amtrak Vacations.
- The Rocky Mountain National Park sightseeing tour is seasonal; a combination city and mountain parks tour is offered in the off season instead.
Day by day
- Day 1
Your Journey Begins in San Francisco
Depart San Francisco this morning on Amtrak and enjoy a scenic journey to Moab. Travel on the California Zephyr through the snowcapped Sierra Nevada's and through desert landscapes.
- Day 2overnight: Moab
Grand Junction, CO
Arrive in Grand Junction this morning and then be transferred to your hotel in Moab. Then begin exploring the town which is nestled in the stunning red rock landscapes between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
- Day 3overnight: Moab
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Today on a small group tour you will experience Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Arches National Park is a geological treasure featuring 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. Canyonlands National Park offers a stunning landscape filled with countless canyons, mesas, and buttes, carved by the mighty Green and Colorado rivers.
- Day 4overnight: Glenwood Springs
Canyon Spirit from Moab to Glenwood Springs
This afternoon, board the famous Canyon Spirit and settle into your luxurious accommodations. Sit back and relax with a beverage as you take in red sandstone landscapes and canyon vistas as you make your way from Utah to Colorado.
- Day 5overnight: Denver
Canyon Spirit from Glenwood Springs to Denver
Depart Glenwood Springs this morning and enjoy the passing scenery as you travel along the Colorado River. Cross the Continental Divide, travel through the Moffat tunnel, and wind along the Rocky Mountains as you travel to Denver.
- Day 6overnight: Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park
Experience the majestic splendor of the Rocky Mountains today. Drive along the Front Range through Boulder with its famous Flatirons Rock Formations. Visit Estes Park, the charming town at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Once you have entered the park your guide will take you to the best spots for wildlife viewing, photographs, walks, optional short hikes, or just relaxing.
- Day 7
Your Journey Ends in Denver
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The California Zephyr departs San Francisco and crosses the snowcapped Sierra Nevada and desert landscapes on the way to Grand Junction.
- Day 3A small group tour visits Arches National Park, home to about 2,000 sandstone arches including Delicate Arch, and the canyons, mesas, and buttes of Canyonlands National Park.
- Day 4Board the Signature-class Canyon Spirit in Moab for red sandstone landscapes and canyon vistas on the way to Glenwood Springs.
- Day 5The Canyon Spirit follows the Colorado River and crosses the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel on the way to Denver.
- Day 6A guided drive along the Front Range past Boulder's Flatirons to Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park for wildlife viewing and photography.
Included
- Canyon Spirit from Moab to Denver in Signature class
- One-way Amtrak® from San Francisco to Grand Junction on the California Zephyr® in Coach accommodations
- Transfer from Grand Junction to Moab
- 6 nights' hotel accommodations
- 4 meals (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. The package includes one-way Amtrak travel from San Francisco to Grand Junction on the California Zephyr in Coach class, plus the Canyon Spirit from Moab to Denver in Signature class.
- Is this trip guided or independent?
- It is an independent rail vacation, though it includes a small group tour of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks on Day 3 and a guided visit to Rocky Mountain National Park on Day 6.
- Which trains are used?
- The California Zephyr from San Francisco to Grand Junction in Coach class, and the Canyon Spirit from Moab to Glenwood Springs to Denver in Signature class.
- What hotels are used?
- The package offers a choice of 28 accommodation options across tiers and cities, including San Francisco properties such as the Fairmont San Francisco, InterContinental San Francisco, and Hilton San Francisco Union Square.
- What is included besides the trains and hotels?
- 6 nights of hotel accommodations and 4 meals (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner), plus sightseeing tours of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Rocky Mountain National Park.
- How much walking is involved?
- Day 6 at Rocky Mountain National Park offers wildlife viewing, photographs, walks, and optional short hikes, or you can just relax, so the activity level is up to you.
