Everything you need to know about Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer is a world-renowned, luxury train that travels by day through the wild beauty of Western Canada and Southwest America. The best way to experience the majestic Rocky Mountains, Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed nearly 2 million guests onboard since its inception in 1990. A family-owned business based in British Columbia, the goal of Rocky Mountaineer has remained the same since day one; to provide the most spectacular and unforgettable travel experience in the world. And what an unforgettable experience it is!

Here, we provide you with everything you need to know about Rocky Mountaineer:  

Vancouver ➡ Kamloops ➡ Banff/Lake Louise 

Travel through the legendary Spiral Tunnels, traverse the Continental Divide and be inspired as you wind through mountain passes and dramatic canyons. Experience the only passenger rail service on this historic rail route by Rocky Mountaineer, celebrated for connecting Canada from East to West. 

Vancouver ➡ Kamloops ➡ Jasper 

Travel through scenic valleys, along the mighty Fraser River, through Hell’s Gate and past the magnificent Pyramid Falls. This Rocky Mountaineer rail route, only accessible by train, also features the majestic Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. 

Vancouver ➡ Whistler ➡ Quesnel ➡ Jasper

Witness true wilderness. Explore the mountain mecca of Whistler. See hidden lakes and canyons few others get to see. Relax in comfort as you move through seemingly impassable terrain by the Rocky Mountaineer train. Revel in the history of the gold rush. Marvel at Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockie’s highest peak. 

Moab ➡ Glenwood Springs ➡ Denver

Journey through extraordinary landscapes between Moab and Denver. Vast canyons, inspiring deserts, natural archways and enchanting hoodoos are just a start. This Rocky Mountaineer rail route is filled with highlights best seen by train, including Ruby Canyon, Mount Garfield and crossing the Continental Divide. 

In SilverLeaf Service, your freshly-prepared meals, beverages and snacks are served at your seat and everything is located on one level. Two dedicated onboard Hosts will look after your every need in this incredibly roomy coach. These hosts are also great storytellers and will share the history and highlights of the regions you pass through during your journey. 

If the views call you outside, or if you just want a breath of fresh air, SilverLeaf Service coaches have a small, more enclosed outdoor area that can be shared comfortably by one or two people at a time. 

With a dining room and an outdoor viewing platform on the lower level, plus spacious, reclining seats and full-dome windows on the upper level, Rocky Mountaineer’s bi-level GoldLeaf Service coaches stand taller than the single-level SilverLeaf Service coaches. 

The upper level is where you can relax, stretch out in comfortable, reclining seats and enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks while one of four dedicated hosts shares stories about the areas the train passes through and serves you meals. On the lower level, you’ll find the GoldLeaf Service dining room, two bathrooms and a door leading to the outdoor viewing platform. Outside on the platform, you can take photos, enjoy conversations with fellow travellers and experience the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. 

📖 Read next: Rocky Mountaineer: GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf Service?

The dress code onboard Rocky Mountaineer is casual. While travelling, you may want to wear; comfortable, cool layers, a light jacket or cardigan, flat-soled shoes with grip and a hat and sunglasses for sunny days. Rocky Mountaineer recommends keeping a small bag with you for your valuables, personal items, medications and travel documents. 

First Passage to the West, Journey Through the Clouds and Rainforest to Gold Rush

On Rocky Mountaineer’s Canadian routes, the train travels between coastal, desert and alpine climates. Temperatures differ significantly depending on the location, the time of the day and the season. 

• A lightweight and waterproof jacket or windbreaker 
• A lightweight but warm jacket for spring and autumn journeys 
• A midweight fleece or wool sweatshirt
• Warm and cool quick-dry layers 
• Comfortable, waterproof shoes for sightseeing
• Casual trainers and sandals
• A scarf
• A hat, sunglasses and suncream
• A small backpack or day bag
• A camera

Rockies to the Red Rocks 

On Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route, the train travels between desert landscapes and the Colorado Rocky Mountains at an elevation of up to 1,750 metres / 5,741 feet. 

• Warm and cool quick-dry layers 
• Comfortable shoes with good tread for sightseeing
• Casual trainers and sandals 
• A lightweight, waterproof and breathable jacket or windbreaker 
• A midweight fleece or wool sweatshirt
• A hat, sunglasses and suncream 
• A small backpack or day bag 
• A bandana
• A swimsuit 
• A camera 

Your taste for adventure isn’t the only thing indulged on a Rocky Mountaineer train journey. The food you’ll find on your plate is almost as impressive as the views visible through the glass-dome windows. Delicious multi-course breakfasts and lunches are served onboard each day, freshly prepared by Rocky Mountaineer’s professional culinary team.

The first indication that this is going to be one delicious journey comes before you even leave the station: raise your glasses for a toast as you’re all welcomed onboard. Those travelling in GolfLeaf Service are divided into two meal seating groups per rail coach and head downstairs to the dedicated dining room. Perusing the menu, you can choose from five different main courses at each meal. Those in SilverLeaf Service choose from two main courses served at your seat. This really is restaurant-quality dining executed on the rails, as you pass through some of the most remote parts of Western Canada and Southwest America. 

Steph from the cruise and travel blog Cruise with Amber knows how wonderful the Rocky Mountaineer experience is. “My sister and brother-in-law stepped aboard Rocky Mountaineer for a short 2-day journey travelling between Vancouver and Jasper with an overnight stop at Kamloops. As this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the highlight of a holiday to Canada, they opted for the GoldLeaf Service.

“The GoldLeaf experience was certainly worth every penny; the glass-dome coach provided jaw-dropping panoramic views of the spectacular scenery. Onboard, they were treated like royalty, the red carpet was even rolled out for them as they stepped onboard. They didn’t have to ask for a thing; the stewards were attentive and informative without being intrusive. Complimentary drinks, gourmet nibbles and other sweet treats also seemed to appear from nowhere without asking. The food served at breakfast and lunch was also mouth-watering and first class!” 

Onboard Rocky Mountaineer, you’ll see parts of Western Canada and Southwest America that you can’t reach any other way - mostly untouched by humans. Likewise, there are Alaskan bays, calving glaciers and remote inlets that can exclusively be reached by ship.

“The train clatters alongside rivers and climbs through the mountains,” Dave from Shipmonk told us. “On the journey to Banff, the double locos chug through two spiral tunnels to a dizzying height before the final breathtaking descent into the town. Everywhere there is the sense of following pioneers, hunters and prospectors through colourful sights such as Hell’s Gate, Skuzzy Creek, Avalanche Alley, Jaws of Death Gorge and Kicking Horse River as the crew point out passing bears, moose and bald eagles.”