Kootenay Park Lodge

Please do not stay here!! We pre-booked 2 cabins based off of the photos on their website. When we got there, there was no heat in our cabin and it was freezing. The baseboard heater was directly behind the bed, so even if it did work, it is a huge fire hazard and totally unsafe. The door was damaged so much you couldn’t use the deadbolt to lock it. There were cords everywhere and the heater in the second bedroom was open. How is that safe for small children?? The bathroom was very slanted and so small that you got cobwebs in your hair. The cabin was literally full of cobwebs. And the shower was too small for my husband to even stand under. We would not stay there for our family’s safety and we did not get refunded at all. They told us to contact management (which we did) and they never responded. If you’re looking for a rustic experience this is not it. I can’t see how this cabin would pass any safety inspections. Also want to add that my sisters cabin had a propane leak that made her son instantly sick and they couldn’t stay there for their health and safety either and they did not get refunded either.

It’s a basic wooden cabin. No coffee machine or TV or cell service. No breakfast included. There no other facilities. The Resturant is not open in the afternoon. So if you arrive hoping for an evening meal - you are on your own. Not worth the money to stay here - sorry. The staff were very understanding and gave us free food and drinks. So that was nice. Very close to the river.

We stopped here for a night and will definitely be back! The cabin was one of the renovated ones (11 and 12) and was quiet, comfortable and beautiful location. We walked the trail and it was gorgeous. We ate at the restaurant and they accommodated my food allergies and the food was delicious! The staff were all very friendly and new owners are doing an amazing job! We look forward to going back!

We stayed for 2 nights my girlfriend and I (really not picky people) and I Strongly DON'T recommend!! This place must have had new management that don't care about the place anymore. They are lacking in so many criterias such as; - there is NO service after 8pm, so basically we were 2 couples to arrive at the same time, a closed gate, no one to answer after calling them multiple times, the lobby completely dark and closed. Very difficult to reach someone to check-In. - No basic room stuff; no hand soap, no curtains, no shower curtain, no wi-fi or phone signal in the rooms. - There were MICE in our room, no kidding, saw them twice!! Room #3!! Had to close our luggage and make sure they didn't sabotage our stuff during the night. - Everything is crooked and super small. Someone commented earlier that if you are over 5"8, you won't fit... it's 100% true. - The owners have a aggressive and loudly barking dog which would wake everyone up whenever he would bark for several minutes. And for all of this, the room cost us 252$/night!!!! Please save your money and find another place! The surrounding towns/cities have that same sort of "forest cottage" experience and looked so much better.

I booked one evening in July. The room booked and confirmed through Expedia was 2 double beds - was supposed to have a view of the River? (Which was across the highway?) Didn't find that out until we got there. The owner is Korean, had 2 employees from Korea who I needed to use google translate, as the room I booked was unavailable due to no hot water heater & they couldn't understand with out google translate. I took pictures - it was horrendous!!! I felt like everything they advertised was a LIE. They wanted to put us in another cabin with 1 queen bed and a pull out couch!! My friend who was visiting from Bermuda was not impressed & we had to travel to invermere for something WAY cheaper and way more comfortable & accommodating. I spoke with the owner at Kootenay Park Lodge over 6 times (running back from the main bldg to the dining area, as the owner was hands deep in some orange sludge he was serving 1 other guest)while trying to check in, as we wanted our money back as it was an absolute DUMP. I recorded EVERYTHING on video, as the owner was horribly accommodating, and claimed he would refund us through Expedia. Well - HE DIDNT. Out over $400 for nothin. I suggest to KEEP DRIVING, do NOT stay there. Highly disorganized, no idea of customer service, no dining room to get food. Nothing but junk food in the main bldg. I am disgusted that we never did get reimbursed!!!

The cabins are rustic and small, but enjoyable. There are definitely some basic maintenance issues that should be taken care of (a piece of wood laying on top of the fridge in the kitchen with nails sticking out of it). The location is beautiful, but ~45 minutes from any stores or restaurants. The restaurant was closed, and the available breakfast options that were promised were non-existent, aside from coffee. A poweraid from the cooler cost $4.80. The generator runs basically all of the time. It was ~30ft from our cabin and really ruins the ambiance. I understand if that is the power source, but it should be located somewhere much less disruptive.

I've stayed in some bad places, but this might have been the worst. The place feels abandoned. The restaurant is shut, so there's nowhere for dinner, breakfast, or coffee for miles around—we checked out early in the morning and drove to Radium Hot Springs so we could eat. A lone dog tied to the side of the lodge barks when you get within 20 metres. The cabin we were given was dusty and dilapidated. One night here cost us $324 CAD. We get the feeling this place might have been wonderful, once. Maybe it will be again.

This place was the best part of our week long Honey Moon in the Banff area. I can’t say enough about it. We spent two nights and we were really disappointed that we had not booked our entire week at this place. We were a bit weary of the place based on their website photos but delightfully the pictures don’t do it justice at all! Yes it is rustic but it is rustic in the most charming way imaginable. The owners and staff were wonderful happy people. Perhaps because of their time in this paradise. The lodge where dinner and breakfast is served is delightful and the food is far above par. Given the small number of staff I had little expectations for the food but we had some of the best dining here. The burgers and chicken breast were fantastic and had the home made touch! The older cabins are a bit rough but clean, functional, and have a warm authentic feel. I absolutely loved having a real wood burning fireplace and plentiful amounts of firewood. The shower could certainly have been improved but it was fun having the experience of such a primitive system. If you want a bit more modern experience, the new cabins look quite luxurious. Keep in mind that this establishment is also completely off the grid and generates all of its own power. How cool! Despite that we had great wifi signal inside the cabin. The cell phone network was inaccessible for miles which I find to be a bonus. We found that Kootenay also seemed to be free of the masses of tourists which was probably the best part. The river surrounding the property is like something from a fairy tale and they have pleasant trails surrounding the property along the river. We saw a black bear next to the highway on the way in, got to watch a fox meander around the lodge grounds, saw two mountain goats and their young on the way to nearby Radium Hot Springs, and saw a herd of big horned sheep walk through the middle of town during our lunch at Radium. To top it off It was also the most affordable stay we had. I loved this place!!!