Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation
| country: | Canada |
| location: | Canadian Rockies, British Columbia, Kootenay National Park |
| departures: | The lodge and cabins are open from May to September inclusive |
| price: | From CA $140 (low season) - CA $149 (high season) per person per night, including all meals. Taxes are extra. There is a two night minimum stay. Sleeps 2 adults only plus up to 2 children |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a retreat located right in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
We are located in a spectacular area, less travelled by other tourists, and although "eco tourism" is an over used term these days, here you will find the real thing, where we live this self sustainable life style each day, maintaining a minimum "footprint" on the environment from both a physical and usage impact.
We provide a modern, comfortable and safe place to visit while showing a commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in our day to day operations and activities.
Accepting and demonstrating this responsibility is shown in various ways including generating power requirements "naturally" with solar panels as well as hydro generation from a mountain stream, natural water pressure for cabin and lodge water requirements being developed via natural gravity, all heating being provided by wood fireplaces using only wind/dead fall trees just to mention a few. The pure simplicity of our facility is amazing, very satisfying and is a role model for true stewardship of the land.
We are a small family owned and operated business which contributes greatly to the facility’s friendly, personalised service and great food. Meeting and interacting with the friendly staff and other guests will, help you enjoy your activities with friendly advice, sharing common experiences and develop your passions.
Our 8 cabins offer a wilderness experience in a peaceful setting surrounded by beautiful pine trees and wild flowers with a mountain stream trickling close by and a breathtaking view of the beautiful Rocky Mountains defining the Kootenay River Valley below.
Each cabin exudes a warmth and charm that inspires a comfortable and relaxing rest. Each cabin is tastefully decorated in their own wilderness theme with a wonderful cozy atmosphere, complete with a comfortable queen sized log bed with down comforter, a twin bed, and a sitting area with wood-burning fireplace just waiting to be curled up in front of with your favorite book.
Our cabins are equipped with solar powered lights, and a modern, private three-piece bathroom with shower. All cabins and the main lodge are non-smoking environments, with daily wood delivery for your fireplace. We have a large outdoor fire pit area for wiener roasts, evening campfires, storytelling or just to sit and star gaze. Our main lodge building is very spacious, providing a large kitchen, dining area, showers, and common living room. The large living room includes vaulted ceilings, mountain views, log framed beams, fireplace, and log furniture. You can also relax on the large decks and take in the great mountain views or enjoy our wood fired hot tub after an active day on the trail or river.
All meals are freshly prepared daily by a professional resident chef. You'll dine on wonderfully authentic and unique home-cooked gourmet meals while enjoying the company of your fellow guests. We use healthy, organic products, wild meats such as buffalo and elk, fresh fruits and salads, wholesome whole grain breads and pastries. Meals are served with the utmost standard in service and hospitality, are of superior quality, and are served in an atmosphere that is cozy and relaxed. Served buffet style, all meals include non-alcoholic drinks, second helpings, and mouth-watering desserts. Lunches are either at the lodge or packed for the trail or a road trip as required. In addition, vegetarian and other special diet meals are available with advanced notice.
By air: Calgary is the closest airport to our Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation.
By Shuttle: A shuttle service from Calgary, Canmore or Banff can be arranged.
Activites
Walking:Our Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation is located in close proximity to Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park and Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park; offering some of the finest and most spectacular alpine walking and hiking in the world. We have miles of world class wilderness hiking trails, and it's easy for you to discover for yourself the wonderful scenery and unspoiled nature that are part of this area. The trails range in ability from very easy strolls, to short day hikes, to full day hiking or overnight backpacking expeditions high into the alpine meadows.
Canoeing / Kayaking / Rafting:The crystal clear waters of the Kootenay River and other neighbouring rivers offers world class paddling for persons of all ages, experience, skill level or physical condition. The excitement of thrilling rapids, hoodoos, wildlife, waterfalls, scenic gorges and pitted limestone cliffs are a few of the fascinating sights waiting for you to experience.
Mountain Biking:You won't find anything to compare with the vast wilderness and majestic mountain scenery of the surrounding area. Clean air, abundant wildlife, glacier-fed lakes and rivers are all part of the beauty and serenity of your cycling adventure. Glimpse mother nature at her finest as a compliment to your active lifestyle.
Fishing:If you are a keen sport fisherman, you can dip your line in some of the best trout streams in the world. Don't forget your waders, they come in handy. Cutthroat trout, bull trout (dolly vardens), rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish are native to rivers and streams in the area. Old and young, experienced and inexperienced can all enjoy fishing in this beautiful setting.
Cultural Learning: Cross-cultural nature-awareness activities are available based on traditional First Nations teachings as well as authentic and empowering First Nations healing ceremonies with a native elder. Ultimately, a deeper respect for ourselves and each other is fostered through these unique programs, all within the framework of reconnecting with nature in a profound and peaceful way. Like the landscape, these ancient indigenous teachings are still alive, and could offer us some valuable insights into our communities and challenges of today. These programs present uniquely inspiring and engaging moments for relaxation and reflection on the gifts of Mother Earth.
We are located in a spectacular area, less travelled by other tourists, and although "eco tourism" is an over used term these days, here you will find the real thing, where we live this self sustainable life style each day, maintaining a minimum "footprint" on the environment from both a physical and usage impact.
We provide a modern, comfortable and safe place to visit while showing a commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in our day to day operations and activities.
Accepting and demonstrating this responsibility is shown in various ways including generating power requirements "naturally" with solar panels as well as hydro generation from a mountain stream, natural water pressure for cabin and lodge water requirements being developed via natural gravity, all heating being provided by wood fireplaces using only wind/dead fall trees just to mention a few. The pure simplicity of our facility is amazing, very satisfying and is a role model for true stewardship of the land.
We are a small family owned and operated business which contributes greatly to the facility’s friendly, personalised service and great food. Meeting and interacting with the friendly staff and other guests will, help you enjoy your activities with friendly advice, sharing common experiences and develop your passions.
Our 8 cabins offer a wilderness experience in a peaceful setting surrounded by beautiful pine trees and wild flowers with a mountain stream trickling close by and a breathtaking view of the beautiful Rocky Mountains defining the Kootenay River Valley below.
Each cabin exudes a warmth and charm that inspires a comfortable and relaxing rest. Each cabin is tastefully decorated in their own wilderness theme with a wonderful cozy atmosphere, complete with a comfortable queen sized log bed with down comforter, a twin bed, and a sitting area with wood-burning fireplace just waiting to be curled up in front of with your favorite book.
Our cabins are equipped with solar powered lights, and a modern, private three-piece bathroom with shower. All cabins and the main lodge are non-smoking environments, with daily wood delivery for your fireplace. We have a large outdoor fire pit area for wiener roasts, evening campfires, storytelling or just to sit and star gaze. Our main lodge building is very spacious, providing a large kitchen, dining area, showers, and common living room. The large living room includes vaulted ceilings, mountain views, log framed beams, fireplace, and log furniture. You can also relax on the large decks and take in the great mountain views or enjoy our wood fired hot tub after an active day on the trail or river. All meals are freshly prepared daily by a professional resident chef. You'll dine on wonderfully authentic and unique home-cooked gourmet meals while enjoying the company of your fellow guests. We use healthy, organic products, wild meats such as buffalo and elk, fresh fruits and salads, wholesome whole grain breads and pastries. Meals are served with the utmost standard in service and hospitality, are of superior quality, and are served in an atmosphere that is cozy and relaxed. Served buffet style, all meals include non-alcoholic drinks, second helpings, and mouth-watering desserts. Lunches are either at the lodge or packed for the trail or a road trip as required. In addition, vegetarian and other special diet meals are available with advanced notice.
how to find us
By car: One hour southwest of Banff and two and a half hours southwest of Calgary, Alberta.By air: Calgary is the closest airport to our Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation.
By Shuttle: A shuttle service from Calgary, Canmore or Banff can be arranged.
Activites
Walking:Our Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation is located in close proximity to Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park and Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park; offering some of the finest and most spectacular alpine walking and hiking in the world. We have miles of world class wilderness hiking trails, and it's easy for you to discover for yourself the wonderful scenery and unspoiled nature that are part of this area. The trails range in ability from very easy strolls, to short day hikes, to full day hiking or overnight backpacking expeditions high into the alpine meadows.
Canoeing / Kayaking / Rafting:The crystal clear waters of the Kootenay River and other neighbouring rivers offers world class paddling for persons of all ages, experience, skill level or physical condition. The excitement of thrilling rapids, hoodoos, wildlife, waterfalls, scenic gorges and pitted limestone cliffs are a few of the fascinating sights waiting for you to experience.
Mountain Biking:You won't find anything to compare with the vast wilderness and majestic mountain scenery of the surrounding area. Clean air, abundant wildlife, glacier-fed lakes and rivers are all part of the beauty and serenity of your cycling adventure. Glimpse mother nature at her finest as a compliment to your active lifestyle.
Fishing:If you are a keen sport fisherman, you can dip your line in some of the best trout streams in the world. Don't forget your waders, they come in handy. Cutthroat trout, bull trout (dolly vardens), rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish are native to rivers and streams in the area. Old and young, experienced and inexperienced can all enjoy fishing in this beautiful setting.
Cultural Learning: Cross-cultural nature-awareness activities are available based on traditional First Nations teachings as well as authentic and empowering First Nations healing ceremonies with a native elder. Ultimately, a deeper respect for ourselves and each other is fostered through these unique programs, all within the framework of reconnecting with nature in a profound and peaceful way. Like the landscape, these ancient indigenous teachings are still alive, and could offer us some valuable insights into our communities and challenges of today. These programs present uniquely inspiring and engaging moments for relaxation and reflection on the gifts of Mother Earth.
how this holiday makes a difference
 We are a family owned and operated business who promote appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of our fragile surroundings. The main lodge and all cabins are self-sufficient and environmentally friendly. Power is provided by both solar energy and hydro generated power, sustaining an eco-sensitive and natural setting to ensure that special experience for all. We aim to offer guests real wilderness experiences that challenge and empower not only the body, but also the mind and the soul, through a heightened connection with the natural world and all its inhabitants. As opposed to just hiking, paddling, or peddling through nature, we aim to role model, teach, and inspire travellers with an awareness of the wilderness that actually opens up the possibility to learn from it, and all of creation. To help achieve this outcome consistently, we aim to maintain our lodging area clean and natural, and are devoted to a philosophy of respect for the earth. Our garbage is hauled out every week, our power is generated only from hydro and solar energy, our water supply is natural spring water from the mountain side, and we have a gravity feed septic tank with gravel field bed and the septic tank is pumped periodically. Our simple guest lodgings are themselves recycled and authentically renovated settler cabins from the turn of the 20th century. The trees and surroundings are as they were when we arrived, and as landowners, as well as conservationists, we have stopped all hunting and logging in our immediate area. We have also been involved in opposing irresponsible commercial developments nearby, such as a large-scale ski hill. All of the food at our Rocky Mountain vacation accommodation is purchased at local businesses, and the basic supplies for the running and maintenance of our mountain retreat are purchased or contracted out, when necessary, to local companies in the district.We support other local small businesses as well with binders in each of our guest lodges containing helpful brochures to nearby restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions, in case guests choose to venture back out of the wilderness for a night during some free time. Furthermore, all of our certified guided river rafting and canoeing trips are contracted out to the local river guiding company. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |