Rocky Mountaineer First Passage To The West

First Passage to the West on the Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer's most popular route through the Canadian Rockies, famous for uniting Canada's East and West.

Rocky Mountaineer A Legendary Route

First Passage to the West Travels through the legendary Spiral Tunnels and pass by Craigellachie, the spot where the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. This is the only passenger rail service on this historic route, celebrated for connecting Canada from East to West. Traverse the Continental Divide and be inspired by spectacular mountains and dramatic canyons. If you’re a history buff, this route is for you.

Vancouver.....Kamloops.....Lake Louise.....Banff

Rocky Mountaineer Amazing Sights Along the Way

Cisco Crossing
Find yourself where the CP and CN rail tracks overlap. The orange truss arch bridge, one of two bridges, is the largest single span bridge on the CN line at 247 metres (812 feet) long.

Black Canyon
Black Canyon features a unique dark shale rock wall that towers above the tracks, providing a stunning contrast against the dark blue water below and the sandy hills that roll away above.

Hoodoos
Don't mind the hair raising feeling as you pass by the Hoodoos - legend has it these formations are people turned into pillars through witchcraft.

Craigellachie
Though you're moving forward on the tracks, you're actually going back to 1885 and the site of the 'Last Spike' where Canada's East and West were united by 3,200 kilometres (1,988 miles) of railway track.

Kinbasket Lake
Pass by Kinbasket Lake, an upgraded reservoir on the Columbia River just past Golden. Kinbasket's calm, blue-green waters are the perfect back drop for your photos as the train twists along the shore.

Kicking Horse River
From here on, you'll be following the Kicking Horse River deep into the Canadian Rockies. Lucky for you, there aren't any bucking broncos to worry about.

Spiral Tunnels
Twist your way through a Swiss engineering marvel that was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and 1,000 men. The tunnels have been impressing (and disorienting) rail travellers since opening in 1909.

Castle Mountain
Tall, dark, and pretty darn big, Castle Mountain, named in 1858 for its castle-like shape, is a monster of a mountain at just over 2,766 metres (9,074 feet)!

Most Popular Rail Tours on the First Passage to the West

Canadian Rockies Adventures

Modes of Travel: Rail - Coach

VANCOUVER.....KAMLOOPS.....BANFF.....LAKE LOUISE.....CALGARY (OR REVERSE)

Number Days Rail Tour: 8 Days Rail Tour

Canadian Rockies Excursion

Modes of Travel: Rail - Coach

VANCOUVER.....KAMLOOPS.....BANFF.....CALGARY (OR REVERSE)

Number Days Rail Tour: 5 Days Rail Tour

First Passage to the West Discovery Drive

Modes of Travel: Rail - Car (Self Drive in the Rockies)

VANCOUVER.....KAMLOOPS.....BANFF.....LAKE LOUISE.....CALGARY (OR REVERSE)

Number Days Rail Tour: 6 Days Rail Tour

Ferry Tickets
Ferry Ports