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| A Premier Cabin with a loft is a great fit for families. |
For travelers looking for a soft adventure getaway this summer, try suggesting two unique wilderness lodge options in Canada: Cathedral Mountain Lodge near Lake Louise in British Columbia, and Moraine Lake Lodge in Alberta. Both lodges offer helicopter tours, mountain climbing and whitewater rafting or, for the more relaxed set, hiking through the national parks of the Canadian Rockies.
Travel Agent sat down with Nancy Stibbard, CEO of the Capilano Group of Companies, the lodges’ parent company, and David Hutton, owner of the lodges, for the inside scoop on both properties.
Cathedral Mountain Lodge
Travelers to Cathedral Mountain Lodge will find themselves in the heart of Yoho National Park, which is Canada’s first national park and one of the first in the world, Hutton says.
Originally constructed as a mining camp in the 1930s for the miners working at the Kicking Horse and Monarch mines, today the property has recycled-timber log cabins along the shore of the glacier-fed Kicking Horse River or in the pine forests of the park. The lodge’s 32-seat dining room emphasizes locally produced cuisine and wines, such as fresh-caught fish, bison and venison. Market-fresh breakfasts and afternoon tea, coffee and homemade treats are included in the stay.
For families, Hutton recommends agents book a loft cabin, which has a separate sleeping area above the main living area.
Adventure activities at the lodge include whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River, horseback riding and rock climbing. Whitewater rafting tours depart from just outside Yoho National Park, 45 minutes from the lodge—rates start from $149 per person, including transportation from Lake Louise. Reservations are required.
Icefield helicopter tours ($149 per person, reservations required) depart from the base, which is two hours from the lodge, every half hour. Horseback rides ($75 per person, reservations required) leave from Lake Louise. Available trips include rides to the Lake Agnes Tea House.
For a more relaxed approach, guests can try canoeing on Emerald Lake, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; go fly and river fishing (National Park Permit required); or take hikes along area trails, which include the Iceline and Larch Valley trails and guided hikes to the Burgess Shales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many popular wilderness sites are also within easy day-tripping distance of the property. Wilderness lovers can visit the Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Twin Falls Teahouse, Banff Hot Springs, the Banff and Lake Louise gondolas, and the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint.
Clients may even wish to bring their four-legged friend along—Hutton tells us that, being pet-friendly, the lodge does not charge for furry guests.
Moraine Lake Lodge
Designed by famous Canadian architect Arthur Erickson, Moraine Lake Lodge is the only lodge in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Hutton says.
Guests who have been to Canada before may find that the edifice looks familiar—it is featured on the old Canadian $20 bill. The property has 18 cabins and a nine-room lodge with eight lodge rooms and one honeymoon suite. Hutton says that Moraine Lake Lodge hosts a talk from a local naturalist three times per week in the main lodge, and a staff naturalist helps plan and lead daily hikes for overnight guests.
Adventure activities in the area include horseback riding, mountain biking, river rafting, golf and helicopter tours. Four golf courses are available within 90 minutes of the lodge, including the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Stewart Creek Golf Course, Kananaskis Country Golf Course and Golden Golf Club.
Guests can also enjoy complimentary canoeing on Moraine Lake, which is renowned for its unique turquoise color caused by the valley’s glacial origins. As nearby glaciers grind down the mountains surrounding the valley, the resulting scree falls to the valley floor and collects in the lake, giving the waters a color that’s found in few other places.
The property’s Walter Wilcox Dining Room is one of the top-rated gourmet restaurants in Banff National Park. It has a glassed-in dining room atrium that boasts scenic park views while eating, and it also showcases local cuisine, such as the signature buffalo carpaccio with roasted pine nuts.
Rates also include buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and coffee in the library, and Wi-Fi. Pets and children under eight are not permitted.
For travelers looking for a getaway that’s more shoulder season, Hutton recommends booking the lodge right around September 20. That’s when the larch trees start to turn. Though conifers, the needles on these trees start to change color just like deciduous leaves, making September near Moraine Lake a display of spectacular and unique fall foliage. In order to help guests focus on nature, neither property offers in-room TV sets.
Both properties offer 10 percent commission, which can rise to 15 percent for top-producing agents. For specific questions, agents should reach out to James Haguey, lodge manager at Cathedral Mountain Lodge, and Michael Clark, general manager at Moraine Lake Lodge. Either can be reached at 250-343-6442.
Getting There
Cathedral Mountain Lodge is approximately 125 miles west of Calgary International Airport (YYC), and Morraine Lake Lodge is about 90 miles from the airport. Most guests rent a car from the airport, although bus service is available to Lake Louise, where either lodge can arrange a pickup.