The lodge is set in a provincial park, surrounded by a meadow, a meandering stream, forested mountains, and a mud wallow that draws moose, elk and deer in the early morning and at dusk. The ambiance at the lodge is special. There is no television or telephone in your room and no cell phone service in the surrounding area. Instead there is the comraderie of guests from around the world and the lodge's friendly staff. The meals are fabulous. Breakfast is served at 8 am and dinner at 7 pm. You dine communally with the other guests and serve yourself from a buffet with many dishes. Right after breakfast, a lunch bar is set out from which you can pack a lunch to take with you on the hiking trail. Between 3 and 5 pm, afternoon tea is served.
There are many good local hiking trails for all skill levels. It is a bit disconcerting, though, to read Bear Warnings on signs and in local travel materials since the Canadian Rockies are grizzly and black bear country. Due to the lodge's secluded location, the trails are not as busy as those at Lake Louise, for example. This is good . . . and bad. On the one hand, you do not have to share the trail with anyone else. On the other hand, you worry that a bear may not hear you and stumble upon you.
This is a place to hike, read, dine and chat. (The Moose Suite has many large windows and two sofas that are wonderfully comfy for reading.) The access road to the lodge is a gravel road for a long stretch. Thus, the lodge is not a practical base for sightseeing in Banff and Lake Louise. For that part of your trip, you are better off to stay in a hotel in those areas. But if you want to immerse yourself in a beautiful, quiet setting close to nature, animals, good food and good company, this is the place for you.
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