08/05/2026
Day 1: Canyon Spirit (Denver ➡️ Glenwood Springs) 🚂⛰️
Day one of our 3-day journey on the Canyon Spirit (the glass-domed train running the Rockies to Red Rocks route).
Once we left Denver and started winding into the mountains, the views became absolutely incredible. A few highlights along the track:
-Big 10 Curve: Famous for keeping the mountain climb at a manageable 2% grade (complete with old railcars filled with rock lined along the track as a windbreak!)
-Tunnel Time: We rattled through 30 different tunnels, including riding right through the Continental Divide via the Moffat Tunnel.
-Red Rock Canyons: Cruising past Gore Canyon was stunning, but honestly, the closer we got to Glenwood Springs, the better the views got.
The Canyon Spirit is a daylight-only train, meaning no sleeping in bunks. You stay in a hotel each night. Luggage handling is seamless, and meals are served right at your comfortable seat while you watch the scenery roll by.
Once we arrived in Glenwood Springs, we spent the last 30 min before closing time checking out local shops and grabbed a fantastic dinner at The Pullman.
One of the downsides - The hotel assignment. We were placed at the Residence Inn outside of town, which meant it wasn't walkable to the main downtown strip. The train operator provides a shuttle with two return times (plus there’s a local city bus), but it definitely takes away a bit of that step-out-your-door mountain town charm.
On to Day 2! 🌄✨
