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Rocky Mountaineer: Rockies to the Red Rocks
Explore the stunning landscapes around Moab by train with the Rockies to the Red Rocks route from Rocky Mountaineer.
This two-day rail journey is steeped in history and panoramic views — think breathtaking plains, mountain vistas and chromatic deserts alongside towering red rock canyons carved by the Colorado River. The Moab to Denver route can be traveled eastbound, westbound, or with a return journey, and includes an overnight hotel stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Whether you begin or end your journey in Moab, reserve time to explore off-train highlights like Arches and Canyonlands national parks or Dead Horse Point State Park, as well as the unlimited opportunities for guided outdoor recreation.
Train Route & Highlights
The Rockies to the Red Rocks one-way route covers more than 350 miles of the American Southwest and is filled with highlights best seen by train, including Ruby Canyon, Mount Garfield and Moffat Tunnel. The Rocky Mountaineer coaches feature oversized glass-dome windows, an outdoor viewing area and are attended by Hosts with stories about the route's historic sites, scenery and wildlife. Rocky Mountaineer offers SilverLeaf Service on this route, or guests may choose to enhance their onboard experience with SilverLeaf Plus. All guests enjoy meals served right to their seat. Guests opting for SilverLeaf Plus service enjoy an elevated dining experience with wine pairings and premium beverage options as well as exclusive access to the lounge car.
More Utah Rail Experiences
One of the most iconic and life-altering events in U.S. history — the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad — happened in Utah on May 10, 1869. Today, you can visit the Golden Spike National Historic Park in Northern Utah to relive the history with exhibits and demonstrations. And in Central Utah discover the city of Helper, named after the team of “helper” coal-powered steam engines that assisted freight trains up the neighboring canyon and summit. Home to the Western Mining and Railroad Museum, Helper features a treasured historic Main Street and burgeoning artist community.
"This two-day rail journey is steeped in history and panoramic views — think breathtaking plains, mountain vistas and chromatic deserts alongside towering red rock canyons carved by the Colorado River."
Rockies to the Red Rocks Route
Where to Stay In Moab
Tucked in southeastern Utah, Moab is a major hub for outdoor recreation and offers a plethora of lodging options. Downtown you’ll find high-end or boutique options like Hoodoo Moab and Radcliffe Moab, and on the northern outskirts of town are the Sorrel River Ranch and Red Cliffs Lodge. You’ll also find a number of nearby camping and RV options.
Things To Do in Moab
Moab is a thrill-seeker's playground. But it’s also a place where you can stretch your legs or hone your skills in nearly every outdoor pursuit. There are quick hikes leading to world-famous landmarks, technical sandstone features to bike and some of the greatest regions of undisturbed backcountry in the American West. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Moab, come prepared with a sense of exploration, adventure and plenty of water.

01
4 Days
The Complete Arches Trip
Discover a new side of Arches National Park with this four day itinerary. Start exploring the hidden gems in the Arches region today.
Hiking, Scenic Drives/Road Trips
Highlights
- Arches National Park
- Colorado River Rafting Trips
- Delicate Arch
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Manti-La Sal National Forest

02
5 Days
The Complete Canyonlands Trip
The Canyonlands Region of Utah combines the best of the Moab area's easy proximity to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park's most accessible district with some of the United State's most remote and culturally significant landscapes.
Hiking, Scenic Drives/Road Trips
Highlights
- Canyonlands National Park
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

03
3 Days
Denver to Moab: A High-Octane Weekend Road Trip
Start planning your road trip from Denver to Moab with three days of mountain biking, hiking, skydiving, rafting and experiencing the best of Moab.
Hiking, Adventure, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Mountain Biking, Watersports and Rafting
Highlights
- Colorado River Rafting
- Moab Mountain Biking
- Skydive Moab
- World-Renowned Mountain Biking

04
4 Days
Salt Lake City to Moab
Moab is Utah’s adventure epicenter — a place where world-renowned natural destinations are scattered around a town that’s brimming with local charm. Be sure to bring a vivid imagination and taste for exploration along with your hiking shoes, sunscreen and water bottle, because this is not your typical retreat.
Hiking, Adventure, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Arts, Mountain Biking
Highlights
- Arches National Park
- Guided 4x4 Wheeling
- Canyonlands Stargazing
- Floating the Colorado River
What's Nearby
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Arches National Park
Moab, UT
Arches National Park contains more than 2,000 natural arches—the greatest concentration in the country. Find places to stay, itineraries, reservation info and weather for Arches, Moab and Canyonlands National Park.
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Canyonlands National Park
Moab, UT
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
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Dead Horse Point State Park
Moab, UT
A broad peninsula of land jutting out over the spectacular White Rim of the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park specializes in the type of sweeping, jaw-dropping views that make visitors run for their cameras to try and capture the area’s grandeur. In recent years, a tight network of fun singletrack trails has begun attracting mountain bikers who want epic views with moderate rides, increasing the popularity of the park.
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Discover Moab
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10 Top Stops Along the National Pioneer Mormon Heritage Area
Written By Matcha
5 minute read
Here are 10 of the best stops along Utah's Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area’s backroads and byways. Explore rich Mormon historic sites, awe-inspiring canyons and mountains and unforgettable outdoor adventures.
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15 Non-Technical Slot Canyons
Written By Whitney Childers
7 minute read
You don’t have to be Spider-Man to explore some of the best slot canyons Utah has to offer. You just need to be ready for an adventure in tight spaces with huge photographic rewards
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5 Expert Tips to Prepare for Your Utah National Parks Adventure
Written By Visit Utah
3 minute read
If you’re planning to visit Utah national parks for a hike, learn important tips to maximize your experience and keep you and your family safe.
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7 Utah Artisan Cheeses to Try Now
Written By Darby Doyle
7 minute read
Taste delicious hand-crafted cheese from Utah dairies at farmers markets, restaurants and specialty shops. Visit Utah and find your favorite artisanal cheese.
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A Van Lifer’s Guide to Responsible Travel in Southern Utah
Written By Kristen Bor
2 minute read
When Utah’s dirt roads are calling you, it’s time to plan your van life road trip. Here’s what you need to know to travel safely, support Utah’s rural communities, and help preserve the delicate desert landscapes.
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A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months
Written By Brinley Froelich
7 minute read
Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
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Alpine Fishing Above the Red Rock Landscapes of Southern Utah
Written By Visit Utah
2 minute read
Sitting just outside of Capitol Reef National Park, this 11,000-foot peak offers views of the surrounding red canyons and desert-like region. In contrast, Boulder Mountain is heavily forested and home to more than 80 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. With an average rainfall multiple inches more than the lower regions, the area makes for some surprisingly good fishing.
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An Insider’s Guide to Torrey
Written By Melissa Fields
4 minute read
Look no further than Capitol Reef National Park and nearby Torrey for lesser-traveled red-rock hikes, plenty of lodging options, satisfying dining and night sky as our ancestors knew it.
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Artisan Cheese in Red Rock Country
Written By Darby Doyle
8 minute read
Two decades ago, Randy Ramsley traded his Dockers-and-tie city job for a 50 acre plot of land that he called a “Garden of Weedin” and the dream of establishing a sustainable farmstead. Now travelers from all over the globe know the small market and counter-service restaurant at Mesa Farm as a refreshing “must-do” respite seemingly plunked in the middle of nowhere on Highway 24 east of Capitol Reef National Park.
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Gravity and Water: Mark Making in a Winter’s Desert with Anne Kaferle
Written By Brinley Froelich
3 minute read
Finding Helper at a time when she “needed it the most,” landscape artist Anne Kaferle has put down roots in Utah, thanks to plein-air painting and the healing power of time alone in the landscape.
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Hiking the Desert in Capitol Reef National Park
Written By Visit Utah
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How to Slow Travel in Utah
Written By Elainna Ciaramella
Avoid the mad scramble and consider slow travel as a better approach to your Utah trip.
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Meet the Women Leading Utah's Food and Beverage Renaissance
Written By Darby Doyle
When it comes to food and beverage in Utah, there are key influencers who have been the proponents of change, growth, and the role of women in Utah’s food scene.
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Mesa Farm Market
Best local shops and healthy eats near Moab and Capitol Reef. Try the goat cheese!
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Moonscapes, Marscapes and More
Written By Matcha
If you want to know what Mars looks like — then the dramatic terrain of Capitol Reef National Park and the surrounding lands are a good place to start.
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Paradise and Slickrock
Written By Stephen Trimble
Utah's national parks seen through a lifelong relationship with Capitol Reef
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Permit of Solitude in Robbers Roost
Written By Visit Utah
6 minute read
Local guide Christopher Hagedorn leads a group through Robbers Roost in Southern Utah, where wind, water and time has left a primitive maze of canyons.
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Searching for Dinosaur Bones in Capitol Reef Country
Written By Matcha
4 minute read
The Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry dates back to the Jurassic Period and is approximately 150 feet wide by 600 feet long. Hundreds of dinosaur bones have been discovered here, including those of the Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus.
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See the Fall Leaves Near Utah's National Parks
Written By Visit Utah
Sure, any of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks are spectacular year round — covered in snow, peppered with spring wildflowers, and baked in sunshine. But find them exponentially special when the changing fall leaves are in juxtaposition to the immaculate red rock cliffs.
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Serenity Found in Torrey and Capitol Reef’s Cathedral Valley District
Written By Melissa Fields
5 minute read
Taking Southern Utah’s remote, less-traveled path in Capitol Reef's Cathedral Valley District to nurture your body, mind and spirit.
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The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12
Written By Visit Utah
4 minute read
This is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, a designated All-American Road.
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The Return to Robbers Roost
Written By Lindy Blanchette
10 minute read
Are you intrigued by the old American West legend involving Robbers Roost? Want to find an alleged hideout of the infamous Butch Cassidy and Gang? Explore Utah.
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Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
Written By Melissa McGibbon
5 minute read
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
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Walking Off the Ledge Into Capitol Reef
Written By Paula Colman
6 minute read
Capitol Reef is breathtaking, but as you stare across the ledge you realize that some of the best scenery is only accessible by dropping in, 20, 50, sometimes 100 feet or more.
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Winter Road Trip: Where to Stay, Hike and Eat When Traveling from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
Written By Jeremy Pugh
Need winter break ideas? Take a road trip from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon and enjoy the best of Utah landscapes during its quiet season.