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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Independent

Rockies to the Red Rocks Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer

Eight-day rail and coach loop from Denver through Utah deserts to Yellowstone

Illustration of Rockies to the Red Rocks Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer

Vacations By Rail's eight-day Rockies to the Red Rocks journey combines luxury rail travel with scenic coach touring across the American Southwest and West. The trip starts in Denver and ends in Bozeman, Montana, spanning seven nights in hotel accommodation. Days two through four take you aboard the Canyon Spirit, a scenic train that departs Denver in daylight, crosses the Continental Divide, follows the Colorado River past Glenwood Springs, and winds through the red-rock deserts around Moab before arriving in Salt Lake City. The final four days transition to coach travel, carrying you through Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border, into Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park with its glacier-fed lakes and wildlife, and through the heart of Yellowstone National Park to your final stop in Bozeman. This independent itinerary suits first-time rail travellers who want hosted onboard service without a dedicated tour guide, as well as couples and photographers seeking a mix of luxury rail and scenic American landscape. The pace is balanced, with most nights in one location, allowing time to settle in before moving on.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package covers hotel accommodation, rail, and coach travel with meals as listed; flights and airport transfers are booked separately.
  • The trip is independent rather than escorted; guests transfer to Denver hotels on their own on day one and explore unguided.
  • Rail travel comprises three days (Denver to Salt Lake City); the remaining four days are by coach, so the journey is a mix of experiences, not a continuous train ride.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Denver

    Arriving in the Mile High City

    Transfer independently to your hotel in Denver and explore the city at your own pace, with dinner on your own.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Glenwood Springs

    Boarding the luxurious Canyon Spirit

    Transfer to Denver's rail station to board Canyon Spirit; breakfast and lunch served onboard as the train crosses the Continental Divide and follows the Colorado River to Glenwood Springs.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3overnight: Moab

    Into the deserts of Utah

    Rejoin Canyon Spirit; breakfast and lunch onboard as the scenery shifts from forest to the red rocks of Moab, Utah, with time to enjoy the open-air Dutch door viewing area.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4overnight: Salt Lake City

    To Utah's capital city

    Rejoin Canyon Spirit for the final leg through the Book Cliffs, Castle Gate, Price River Canyon, Soldier Summit and the Thistle Tunnels, with a late lunch and dinner served onboard, arriving in Salt Lake City.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Jackson Hole

    Into the mountains via Bear Lake

    Coach transfer to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a scenic lunch stop at Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border and a stop at Kahuna Overlook for views of the Teton Range and Snake River.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  6. Day 6overnight: West Yellowstone

    Stunning scenes of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

    Coach through Grand Teton National Park's glacier-fed lakes and wildlife, continuing into Yellowstone National Park (Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring), overnighting in West Yellowstone.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Bozeman

    Through Yellowstone to Bozeman

    Coach through Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin, Tower Falls and Mammoth Hot Springs, with a lunch stop in Gardiner, arriving in Bozeman, Montana.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8rail

    Tour conclusion

    Check out of your hotel in Bozeman and begin your onward travels home, or speak to a Rail Specialist about adding additional nights.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board Canyon Spirit in Denver and ride it as it crosses the Continental Divide and follows the Colorado River valley to Glenwood Springs.
  • Day 3Canyon Spirit traverses the red rocks around Moab, with time in the open-air Dutch door viewing area to watch the desert landscape.
  • Day 5Coach journey includes a scenic lunch stop at Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border and a stop at Kahuna Overlook for views of the Teton Range and Snake River.
  • Day 6Coach tour through Grand Teton National Park's glacier-fed lakes and wildlife, continuing into Yellowstone to view Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
  • Day 7Final coach leg through Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin, Tower Falls, and Mammoth Hot Springs en route to Bozeman.

Included

  • 7 nights' hotel accommodation
  • Choice of Signature or Premier rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Denver to Salt Lake City
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Three days aboard Canyon Spirit from Denver to Salt Lake City are included, with a choice of Signature or Premier class. Coach travel for the remaining four days is also included.
Is this an escorted tour or self-guided?
It is independent. Vacations By Rail provides onboard hosts aboard Canyon Spirit and a coach driver for the Wyoming and Montana leg, but the tour is not led by a dedicated guide. You explore Denver on your own and follow a planned itinerary.
What meals are included?
Five breakfasts, four lunches, and one dinner are included. Dinners in Denver and Moab, and other meals not listed, are on your own.
What hotels are used?
The pack lists overnight cities (Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, West Yellowstone, and Bozeman) but does not name specific hotels. Confirm accommodation details with Vacations By Rail.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary features scenic stops, overlooks, and national park touring from the coach. Guests must be able to walk to viewpoints and through parks and manage their own luggage except between Denver and Salt Lake City, where group transfers are provided.
When does this trip run?
The pack does not list specific departure dates. Contact Vacations By Rail for the schedule.

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