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Rocky Mountaineer Day 2: Glenwood Springs to Moab

For this leg of the trip, you’ll have to leave your hotel early to catch the train. We’re talking about 6 am kind of early. But don’t worry; there’s a coffee and hot chocolate station outside the train to help get you started before your journey starts.

This is the shorter of the two legs of the journey, and weirdly, I had wished it would take longer.

Our journey started with a freshly baked Dreamweaver (think of a mix between a cinnamon bun and a doughnut) made by one of the local shops in Glenwood. Breakfast was soon served afterwards with your choice of peach strata bake (streusel crumbles, hickory smoked bacon, and maple whipped cream), front range plate (scrambled eggs, hickory smoked bacon, thyme-roasted tomatoes, onions, and biscuits with sausage gravy, or the Palisade pear and almond bircher muesli (overnight oats, toasted almonds, and a croissant).

The scenery quickly transformed from greenery to stunning red rocks as we made our way to Moab, and our guide, Lopez, told us that it’s the iron-enriched rock that gives these rocks their colour.

Aside from wildlife sightings, one thing to keep an eye out for is the “Colorado Salut,” which is the friendly way the Rocky Mountaineer staff refer to the people mooning the train as it passes. You may think I’m exaggerating, but we got mooned at least five times, if not more, during our two-day journey.

As a snack before the end of your train journey, you’ll be served some tamale pies with Bear River slaw, pickled red onions, and lime crema, which were a great small bite to tide you over until lunchtime. And you’ll definitely want to save room for lunch once you get into Moab.

Your train will stop in what will appear to be the middle of the desert, but don’t worry, charter busses await you to drive you into Moab.

We stayed in the Gravity Haus Moab, a modern-looking hotel just steps away from anything you might need, including the City Market and numerous restaurants.

Once settled, I made my way across the street to a food truck that had set up shop called Tey’s Home-made Mexican Food. If you weren’t paying attention, you might miss it, but this is a must-stop if you’re in the area. I enjoyed a torta that was so delicious and sloppy (in the best way possible) that I still think about it to this day. Moab is a hot spot for food trucks, but more on that later.

You and your companions will pile into a Hummer and tackle valleys and dips that you don’t think are possible in a car, all in the middle of the desert. We’re talking about climbing and going down 40-degree slopes, something my Honda Civic at home could never do in my wildest dreams.

Our driver, Nick, was not only one hell of a good driver, being able to tackle this insane course, but also extremely knowledgeable about the local fauna and the landscape. He’d discuss the juniper that grows throughout Moab one second and then simply let go of the brakes and let us freely roll down a huge hill in the next second, doing both with ease.

There are also plenty of opportunities to get out of the Hummer and explore the sights, where you’ll spot gorgeous scenery and even dinosaur footprints. Plus, experiencing the beauty of Moab during sunset is incredible. The brilliant red rocks look stunning with the backdrop of the orange and purple hues of the setting sun.

Once we finished with our Hummer tour, we stopped by Josie Wyatt Grille for dinner, a great spot for steaks, burgers, and an assortment. After roughing it out in the desert, I felt a little out of place in such a nice eatery, but once I demolished the delightful meal, all those worries disappeared.

After the day’s excitement, you’ll have some of the best sleep of your life.

Moab Day 2

While you may be sad that your train experience is over, there are still plenty of things to see and do within Moab.

A must-do is to explore Arches National Park, but it’s important to note that a reservation is required in advance to enter the park. You’ll be able to wander amongst the giant arches, which are even more massive looking up close than they are from a distance. This is your picture-perfect vacation moment, so be sure to snap some pics to make your friends jealous.

Another cool spot in Moab is the food truck park, which has a lot set up with tables and numerous food trucks serving all sorts of cuisine. There was even one that specialized in sushi, but given it was in the middle of the desert with no access to fresh fish, I opted to try something else, though I’m sure it would have been fantastic.

All the locals will tell you to head over to Quesadilla Mobilla for Tex-Mex cuisine at its finest. As the name suggests, you’ll find an assortment of cheesy quesadillas on the menu filled with all sorts of yummy goodness, from chicken to mushrooms and jalapeños.

While we didn’t end up taking the train back, there is an option to make your Rocky Mountaineer experience a round trip and head back to Denver. And I can promise you firsthand that by the time you get to Moab, you’ll wish your Rocky Mountaineer experience was longer.

The author of this article was hosted by Rocky Mountaineer