Utah's Mighty Five

Set out for an awe-inspiring train trip from Denver to Moab aboard Rocky Mountaineer and trek across the Southwest as you take in the sienna-colored canyons, towering spires and desert landscapes found in Utah’s five national parks. Your journey begins in the mile-high city of Denver – an urban gateway to America’s natural beauty.

It’s all aboard for a two-day train journey on the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer! Take in spectacular views of rugged canyons and valleys, cross the Continental Divide, and pass the Colorado River before arriving at the resort town of Glenwood Springs. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, this historic town is famous for the hot springs at its center. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant.

Back onboard Rocky Mountaineer, continue your scenic train ride enjoying stunning mountain views as you cross the Colorado-Utah border. Red rock sandstone landscapes emerge as you make your way to Moab, Utah’s outdoor adventure center and the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Journey through the otherworldly oases of two national parks. Hike* along red rock features as you make your way through Arches National Park. Continue to Canyonlands National Park, resting in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and discover a world of mesas and canyons. Close by, at the Island in the Sky, look out over a landscape of ethereal valleys and dreamy horizons. Today’s park pilgrimage ends atop the sheer sandstone cliffs of Dead Horse Point State Park.

*While there is opportunity to hike on this tour, all hiking is elective and should only be undertaken by people who are physically fit and have prior hiking experience, especially at high elevations.

Travel through the dramatic Utah desert on Scenic Byway 24. Visit Capitol Reef National Park, named for the curved white walls that resemble the U.S. Capitol building. On the Million Dollar Road, take in views of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where layers of warm reds and oranges melt into smooth sided peaks. Spend the night in Bryce, your jumping-off point to Bryce Canyon National Park.

Spend the day in Bryce Canyon National Park and see the famous hoodoos – vibrant rock formations likened to fairy chimneys. Perhaps you’ll start your morning with a hike,* getting up-close and personal with the graceful geology. Take in the sprawling vistas as you walk along Sunset Point, leading into Sunrise Point Rim Trail. As the day draws to a close, settle into Springdale, a small town perched just outside of Zion National Park.

*While there is opportunity to hike on this tour, all hiking is elective and should only be undertaken by people who are physically fit and have prior hiking experience, especially at high elevations.

There are few places on earth that match the beauty of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Zion. Make the most of an entire day exploring this rock-ridden paradise. On Zion’s open-air tram, wind along the Virgin River through the 2,400-foot deep, half-mile wide Zion Canyon. Choose how you spend the afternoon because it’s your choice! Hike* independently -OR- visit Zion’s Human History Museum.

*While there is opportunity to hike on this tour, all hiking is elective and should only be undertaken by people who are physically fit and have prior hiking experience, especially at high elevations.

Age-old nature is replaced with captivating energy, vibrant lights, and endless excitement in Las Vegas. Toast with your travel companions at a farewell lunch. Then, the evening is yours – spend your time along the neon-lit strip however you please.

Say goodbye to Las Vegas and the painted canyons of the west as you depart for home.