Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation

Classic Canada and Canadian Rockies with Seattle in Winter Westbound

Winter cross-Canada rail journey from Toronto to Seattle via Jasper

Classic Canada and Canadian Rockies with Seattle in Winter Westbound, a rail journey with Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak Vacations runs this 11-day independent rail vacation westbound from Toronto to Seattle in winter, with stops in Jasper and Vancouver. Admission to the CN Tower opens the trip in Toronto before 4 nights onboard VIA Rail's The Canadian, first across the Prairies toward the Canadian Rockies and later from Jasper to Vancouver, past Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains, with 360-degree dome car views along the way. Three nights in Jasper include a Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour looking for elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose, and a Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour to see frozen waterfalls and ice caves. Vancouver's Fly Over Canada and Seattle's Space Needle are also included. Hotels are chosen from 24 options across the four cities, so the exact property depends on the tier selected. The trip suits independent travelers who want a guided taste of winter in the Canadian Rockies bookended by long-distance train travel and self-paced city time.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package offers 24 hotel options across price tiers in Toronto, Jasper, Vancouver, and Seattle; which specific hotel you get depends on the tier chosen at booking.
  • Meals are not listed among this package's inclusions; food throughout Toronto, Jasper, Vancouver, and Seattle is on your own.
  • The rail segments are booked in standard Coach (Cascades) and Economy (VIA Rail) class; upgrading to a sleeping accommodation onboard the train is a separate optional extra.
  • No current departure dates are listed in this package's details; confirm exact winter travel dates with Amtrak Vacations.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Toronto

    Your Journey Begins in Toronto

    Welcome to Toronto, Canada's most populous city! Use your included admission to the CN Tower.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Board VIA Rail today for your journey across Canada.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Continue your journey across Canada on VIA Rail traveling through the Prairies to the Canadian Rockies.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Overnight Onboard VIA Rail

    Continue your journey across Canada on VIA Rail traveling through the Prairies to the Canadian Rockies.

  5. Day 5overnight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    Welcome to Jasper, a scenic mountain town nestled in the Canadian Rockies. Explore the local restaurants and shops in the picturesque downtown area.

  6. Day 6overnight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    Today, a Winter Wildlife Discovery tour of Jasper National park is included. Your knowledgeable guide will seek out all of the park's most iconic wildlife, you may see elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose and more! You'll also learn about the history, geology, and ecology of the area.

  7. Day 7overnight: Jasper

    Jasper, AB

    Enjoy a truly unique experience today with your Maligne Canyon Icewalk tour. You'll be taken to the bottom of Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, where you will explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and incredible ice formations.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Onboard VIA Rail

    Jasper to Vancouver

    Board VIA Rail's the Canadian to continue your journey through the majestic Canadian Rockies. The train will whisk you past Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains. Relax in the dome car and experience stunning 360-degree views of the mountain scenery all around you.

  9. Day 9overnight: Vancouver

    Vancouver, BC

    Arrive in Vancouver this morning and the rest of the day is yours to explore the city! Be sure to visit Canada Place where you'll have admission to FlyOver Canada, an ultimate flying sensation experience of Canada's beautiful vistas.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Seattle

    Vancouver to Seattle

    Make your way to the train station in Vancouver this morning for your scenic journey on Amtrak's Cascades line to Seattle. Upon arrival in Seattle, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay and begin discovering the 'Emerald City.' Check out the iconic Space Needle for 360-degree views of the entire city, picturesque Elliott Bay and the snow-capped Mt. Rainier in the distance.

  11. Day 11

    Your Journey Ends in Seattle

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Admission to the CN Tower opens the trip in Toronto, Canada's most populous city.
  • Day 6A Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour in Jasper National Park looks for elk, deer, sheep, coyotes, and moose with a guide who explains the park's history, geology, and ecology.
  • Day 7The Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour takes travelers to the bottom of Maligne Canyon, the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, to see frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and ice formations.
  • Day 8VIA Rail's The Canadian passes Moose Lake and the peaks of Mt. Robson and the Monashee Mountains, with 360-degree views from the dome car.
  • Day 10Amtrak's Cascades carries the trip from Vancouver to Seattle, arriving to views of the Space Needle, Elliott Bay, and snow-capped Mt. Rainier.

Included

  • 6 nights' hotel accommodations; 4 nights' aboard VIA Rail®
  • One-way VIA Rail in Economy accommodations from Toronto to Jasper; Jasper to Vancouver
  • One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations on the Cascades® from Vancouver to Seattle

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. One-way VIA Rail Economy class travel on The Canadian from Toronto to Jasper and Jasper to Vancouver, including 4 nights onboard, plus one-way Amtrak Coach class travel on the Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is an independent rail vacation with guided tours included in Jasper (Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour, Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour) and free time to explore Toronto, Vancouver, and Seattle on your own.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail's The Canadian from Toronto to Jasper and on to Vancouver, then Amtrak's Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle.
What hotels are used?
The package offers 24 accommodation options across Toronto, Jasper, Vancouver, and Seattle, with sample choices including the Fairmont Royal York and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
When does this trip run?
This is the winter edition of the itinerary, timed around Jasper's Winter Wildlife Discovery Tour and Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour.
What is not included?
Meals are not listed among the package's inclusions.

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