9 North American Landscapes You HAVE to See by Train
The most romantic way to explore North America has always been by rail. A century and a half ago, elite travelers would spend weeks riding slowly out West, seeking landscapes so beautiful they were thought to be rumors. The Rocky Mountains, as it turns out, were very real. And the wild vistas they offered? Unparalleled.
Today, Rocky Mountaineer keeps this romance alive while at the same time making rail travel faster, more comfortable, and more luxurious than those 19th-century voyagers could ever have imagined. On all-daylight train journeys along four routes in Western Canada and the American Southwest, guests enjoy three-course meals, glass-dome coaches, and endless panoramic views between world-class destinations like Banff, Whistler, Moab, and beyond.
Should you find yourself onboard North America’s premier rail experience, glass of wine or camera in hand, you’ll be traveling through some of the most extraordinary landscapes — including some you can only see via Rocky Mountaineer. Here are just a few of the natural wonders in store.
Location: Pyramid Falls spills into the North Thompson River between the towns of Blue River and Valemount, west of Jasper National Park.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Journey through the Clouds
The Experience: On Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey through the Clouds — a two-day route that climbs from Vancouver to Jasper National Park — guests get an up-close look at Pyramid Creek Falls, a 300-foot cascade that’s virtually impossible to access, even on foot. Those onboard Rocky Mountaineer, however, will get views mere steps from the thundering falls, all from the comfort of the train.
Surrounded by old-growth cedars and pouring down the walls of a hanging valley within Pyramid Creek Falls Provincial Park, the falls are a natural wonder that hasn’t been touched by roads. Barring a 9-hour hike, this towering experience is a Rocky Mountaineer exclusive.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: As the train approaches the cascade’s base, step out onto the outdoor viewing platform. There’s no need to rush, as Rocky Mountaineer slows down so viewers can better take in the scene — and the spray. A rolling mist fills the air as the coach passes right beneath the valley walls.
Location: Mount Rundle overlooks the towns of Banff and Canmore, Alberta, in Canada’s Banff National Park.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: First Passage to the West
The Experience: When you catch your first glimpse of Mount Rundle on Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West, you’ll know it. Tilted and wedged, this distinct peak means the train’s nearly arrived at its destination: the world-famous Banff National Park. Mount Rundle, at 9,672 feet, is one of the most photographed peaks in the Canadian Rockies.
Retracing the historic Canadian Pacific Railway from Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West is the service’s most popular route. Disembarking in Banff, guests will find themselves steps from the iconic Banff sign, which is designed to be climbed, enjoyed, and photographed — just like the area’s mountains. You can also disembark in the town of Lake Louise, moments from the eponymous lake and the acclaimed Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: Rocky Mountaineer’s onboard Host team offers storytelling throughout each rail journey. On First Passage to the West, expect to learn all about the route, peppering those fabulous Banff views with notes on Canadian Pacific Railway history, local wildlife like grizzlies and bighorn sheep, First Nations’ knowledge, and more.
Location: Howe Sound connects a network of fjords northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Rainforest to Gold Rush
The Experience: No need to travel to Alaska or Norway for fabulous views of glacially carved waterways. On the three-day Rainforest to Gold Rush route, Rocky Mountaineer passes alongside the world’s most southerly fjords. Banked by mountains and speckled with islands, Howe Sound’s dramatic landscapes are best taken in at a slow-rolling 30 mph.
Though this route shares the same terminuses as Journey through the Clouds — Vancouver and Jasper, that is — it follows a more northerly path through Whistler, home to one of the largest mountain resorts in North America, and Quesnel, a one-time gold-rush town. From rainforest to desert to fjords, the route brings guests through some of the greatest wilderness scenes anywhere in North America’s Rocky Mountains.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: On this route, all guests enjoy access to a large, exclusive outdoor viewing platform — imagine chugging along the edges of Howe Sound’s coast, practically floating above the water. Those who prefer to stay inside can view the scene from the full glass-dome windows that come standard with every seat.
Location: Mount Garfield is the highest point of the Book Cliffs, located northeast of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Rockies to the Red Rocks
The Experience: Passing through Colorado’s Grand Valley, guests onboard the Rockies to the Red Rocks route can’t miss the nearly 7,000-foot peak of Mount Garfield, rising above the shelf-like Book Cliffs. Garfield towers over the town of Palisade, famous for Palisade peaches — as you course through the Grand Valley, you’ll be seeing the heart of Colorado’s vineyard, orchard, and bread basket. This is where the Centennial State goes to eat and drink.
The rest of the rail route isn’t so lush. Stretching from Moab to Denver, it’s two full days of Wild West highlights — think canyons, red-rock hoodoos, sandstone arches, and more. Apart from entire weeks spent on horseback, this rugged landscape is still best seen (and, in many places, only seen) by rail.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: All Rocky Mountaineer menus are inspired by the regions the train travels through. With chefs crafting fresh breakfasts and three-course meals, that Palisade produce won’t just be something you see out the window.
Location: Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, is situated within Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia, northwest of Jasper National Park.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Journey through the Clouds
The Experience: Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey through the Clouds could be called Journey to the Clouds. Starting in Vancouver, you climb up entire worlds: The route begins in the lush forests of the Pacific Coast, chugs through the sagebrush-rich landscapes of the interior (yes, look for desert landscapes around Kamloops), and finally to the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies — all in two days.
Just before entering Jasper, the route’s terminus, Mount Robson looms above Rocky Mountaineer’s glass-dome coaches. Guests disembark in Jasper to explore the national park of the same name; check with Rocky Mountaineer to see what activity packages are on offer.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: The emphasis on fresh and local extends to the entire dining experience, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You can expect local beers and wine, plus hand-crafted cocktails, available whenever the mood strikes. And under the Emperor Face of Mount Robson, it often does.
Location: Cheakamus Canyon is located just south of Garibaldi, BC.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Rainforest to Gold Rush
The Experience: Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest to Gold Rush route is full of evocative vistas with evocative names, from Paradise Valley to Starvation Lake. But beauty and grandeur are not always so clearly stated — take, for instance, British Columbia’s Cheakamus Canyon.
Guests onboard this Vancouver-to-Jasper route will witness the sheer-walled wonder as it channels green-hued waters from Whistler’s glaciers up north. In an act of engineering magic, Rocky Mountaineer clings to the cliffside, practically defying gravity. Those who can handle looking down will find themselves engulfed by quite the view.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: Views like Cheakamus Canyon always come shared. In the dining room, on the outdoor viewing platform, or even from your seat, guests often make friendships onboard — both with other travelers and with Rocky Mountaineer’s team members. When everyone in your coach is raising a glass to the view, the moment can feel as remarkable as the landscape itself.
Location: Hell’s Gate is a narrow section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, located just downstream of Boston Bar in the southern Fraser Canyon.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: First Passage to the West
The Experience: British Columbia’s Fraser River — the longest river in the province, famous for runs of salmon and stashes of gold — winds for more than 850 miles. Regardless of which direction you’re traveling, a trip on First Passage to the West provides fabulous views of the river’s narrowest point: Hell’s Gate.
In 1808, Simon Fraser described this 115-foot passage as “a place where no human should venture, for surely these are the gates of Hell.” Clearly, Fraser wasn’t riding the rails when he observed these granite cliffs, the salmon swimming up the rapids, and the endless groves of fir, cedar, and pine. Though this spot is but a moment in the course of the Fraser River, Rocky Mountaineer travels slowly along the raging whitewater, granting guests plenty of time to capture its wild splendor.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: Rocky Mountaineer’s onboard Host team offers storytelling throughout each rail journey. On First Passage to the West, expect to learn all about incredible places like Hell’s Gate, from its First Nations’ significance and ice-age past to how a famous rockslide stopped the salmon runs, and more.
Location: Ruby Canyon is situated on the Colorado River near the border between Colorado and Utah.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Rockies to the Red Rocks
The Experience: Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route is chock-full of canyon views, but Ruby Canyon stands out as one you definitely don’t want to miss. With a deep-red hue morning and evening, this is a hidden “gem” that stretches for 25 miles, its lustrous views only accessible by raft or train. And from the train, you’ll get to enjoy it in luxurious comfort — perhaps with a glass of ruby-red merlot to match the occasion.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: As you travel through landscapes like Ruby Canyon — spots you might not read about in most guidebooks, as they’re typically so difficult to access — your Hosts’ knowledge deepens the experience. Each coach has a dedicated team of Hosts, there to answer questions, attend to needs, and make these secret places pop with dimension and flavor.
Location: Yellowhead Pass is on the western edge of Jasper National Park.
Rocky Mountaineer Route: Journey through the Clouds
The Experience: On Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey through the Clouds, guests dip into the historic Yellowhead Pass, a route originally mapped by First Nations and then by fur-traders transporting leather. Once across this 3,711-foot break in the Rockies, the route ascends into Jasper National Park. While Banff may be better known, Jasper is the largest park in the Canadian Rockies and the second-largest International Dark Sky Preserve in the world.
Since Rocky Mountaineer is an all-daylight train, you’ll disembark in Jasper — hotel accommodations arranged — with plenty of time to go stargazing at night. Rocky Mountaineer’s onboard offerings may end with sunset, but the adventure has only just begun.
Experience It, Rocky Mountaineer Style: Make sure to take advantage of Rocky Mountaineer’s add-on activities and organized tours in destinations like Jasper. Even better, you can opt to make this route a Circle Journey and enjoy a luxurious ride back to Vancouver onboard First Passage to the West. An 11-day adventure, there’s no better way to explore the best of the Rockies.