Shadow Lake Lodge

My childhood friend and I hiked to Shadow Lake Lodge for a two-night stay, and we could have stayed for two months! We enjoyed the feeling of backpacking, but really enjoyed the prepared meals and real beds too. To say the staff was 5-star is an understatement. Mitch gave us trail beta, and we enjoyed chatting with him throughout our stay. Ryan was a superb chef and made amazing meals. He was also supremely friendly with the guests. Every staff member was welcoming and very friendly. The cabins were very comfortable and had about the best views of the meadow and peaks I could have dreamt up. I am already hoping to plan a few more trips out there for a winter trip and some more summer trips. The day hiking once you are out to Shadow Lake is stunning, and I now have hundreds of pictures to go through and edit! This was part of a 10 day trip to Vancouver and Banff, and was easily my favorite part (which is saying a lot, because the entire trip has been a joy and memorable). Thank you to the whole staff, and I truly hope to see you again sooner than later! Kimberly *Molly Maguire

Four of us made the 14km trek up to Shadow Lake Lodge for our first winter cross-country ski adventure recently. We thoroughly enjoyed the outstanding gourmet meals, cozy cabins and the shower hut with hot running water. There appeared to be more solar panels out and we were gifted with outstanding sunshine the weekend we were there. One of the guests played guitar music at the end of the evenings near the fire 🔥 and many engaging conversations were had by all. A sincere note of gratitude to all staff members who made our experience a memorable delight. Thank you!

My childhood friend and I hiked to Shadow Lake Lodge for a two-night stay, and we could have stayed for two months! We enjoyed the feeling of backpacking, but really enjoyed the prepared meals and real beds too.|To say the staff was 5-star is an understatement. Mitch gave us trail beta, and we enjoyed chatting with him throughout our stay. Ryan was a superb chef and made amazing meals. He was also supremely friendly with the guests. Every staff member was welcoming and very friendly.|The cabins were very comfortable and had about the best views of the meadow and peaks I could have dreamt up.|I am already hoping to plan a few more trips out there for a winter trip and some more summer trips. The day hiking once you are out to Shadow Lake is stunning, and I now have hundreds of pictures to go through and edit!|This was part of a 10 day trip to Vancouver and Banff, and was easily my favorite part (which is saying a lot, because the entire trip has been a joy and memorable).|Thank you to the whole staff, and I truly hope to see you again sooner than later!|Kimberly *Molly Maguire||Rooms: 5.0 Service: 5.0 Location5.0||Hotel highlights: Great view · Romantic · Quiet · Kid-friendly||Rooms: The cabins are really comfy. They stayed pretty cool and we were there on a warmer week in July. There are lights powered by solar, so they request you turn them off when not in the room, the beds were comfy and there was a table to play cards. There isn't running water in the cabins, rather a wash basin and gray water bucket under the counter. Each cabin has a nice little deck with chairs and a table to enjoy the views (phenomonal). The bathrooms are a short walk away and were very clean. No flushing toilets, but a nice hot shower and well-lit vanity areas with sinks.||Nearby activities: There are trails galore in the area and they varied in difficulty and lengths. A short 1km walk takes you to the lake, and a nice uphill hike to Gibbon Pass will afford you warmed up muscles and height for a new perspective of the nearby peaks. You really can choose what is best for you and your group.||Walkability:The grounds are small, and there is a small gravel path going between all of the cabins, the "rec room" cabin, bathrooms, and the dining cabin. Accessibility is fine, especially considering the hike in that has already been accomplished. The hike takes 4-5 hours, with the first 3/4 of it being pretty easy (rolling up and down hills, sure footing) and the last 1/4 totally doable. However, it will get your blood pumping as it is mostly uphill.||Food & drinks: Breakfast was at 8 am each morning and had plenty of coffee, teas, juice along with fruit, granola, yogurt, etc. Then after you get seated a hot portion of the meal is brought out. We had breakfast potatoes, eggs, a frittata etc (we requested vegetarian). A sack lunch with sandwiches are then put out to grab after breakfast along with many other snacks to pack along for the day's hikes. At 3pm the staff puts out snacks and charcuterie style offerings in the dining cabin and there is beer and wine for purchase (along with the included tea, coffee, etc). At 630 dinner is served, the chalkboard on the wall tells you what will be on the menu for that evening during the day. An appetizer is served, then a hearty entree, followed by a dessert.

We had a wonderful stay at Shadow Lake Lodge. The location is spectacular, with excellent amenities, fantastic food and great service. We were even fortunate enough to enjoy live music performed by the supremely talented Amelie Patterson! Special thanks to Alex, Ryan, Niko, Julia, and any one else I may have forgotten. This is an experience that I cannot reccomend highly enough. Can't wait to go back!

Four of us skied in to the lodge for a two night stay and had a wonderful time. The lodge setting, the cabins and the food were exquisite. We were rushing on the last day to make it to our next destination and did not get a chance to say proper goodbyes. Alex, Ryan, Mitch and the rest of the crew - you did an outstanding job, well above our expectations. We will be back next winter.

We travelled in late September 2023 from Australia. We hiked the red earth trail easily iwith two teens and a ten year old and stayed 3 nights. The scenery was spectacular and the staff were amazing- funny, encouraging and attentive. The food was incredible and adapted for fussy eaters! There was more than enough food. I found it the perfect way to experience the mountains without the hoards of tourists. We did the research about being near prepared but didn’t see anything! Such a beautiful tranquil space in absolute comfort.

This review is a general review regarding Shadow Lake Lodge because of their lack of consideration for other backcountry users. ||||Because of our experience with the Lodge, this was one of the worst experiences we have had at a Parks Canada “backcountry” campsite (and we have stayed at a lot of them). ||||While we were staying at the Shadow Lake campsite (2 nights) and Shadow Lake Lodge (now operated by the Alpine Club of Canada) ran their generator at totally inappropriate times (2230-0230 & 0630 - 1000). Totally inconsiderate! When we complained, we were given the excuse that the engineering firm the ACC contracts, controls the generator “remotely”. Also, they burned all their garbage in an incinerator! Who burns garbage these days and how much garbage do they generate in a day that they need to burn it several times within that day (especially in the remote backcountry)?! Of course this was also done at inappropriate times throughout the day with the smoke wafting into the campsite!! It was gross and again totally inconsiderate of all the other backcountry users!||||This is totally against the ACC core values (as listed on their website) and Banff Parks mandate. Unacceptable!

Individual cabins make this lodge extra cute, the food was relish and there are a lot of hiking options from the camp. Heads up the cabin is not on the lake. There is an easy way in so there’s more families and kids than other backcountry lodges but the vibe was great! We went the ‘hard’ way, it was awesome, no regrets. Way more views than the alternative. Overall fantastic experience!

Because Shadow Lake Lodge's lack of consideration of other backcountry users, we had one of the worst experiences at a Parks Canada "backcountry" campsite (and we have stayed at a lot of them). While we were staying at the Shadow Lake campsite (2 nights after Twin Lakes) and the Shadow Lake Lodge (now operated by the Alpine Club of Canada) ran their generator at totally inappropriate times (2230-0230 & 0630 - 1000). Totally inconsiderate! When we complained, we were given the excuse that the engineering firm the ACC contracts, controls the generator "remotely" (yeah right). Also, they burned all their garbage in an incinerator! Who burns garbage these days , especially in the remote backcountry?! Of course this was done consistently at inappropriate times with the smoke wafting into the campsite!! It was gross and again totally inconsiderate of all the other backcountry users! From my research, this is totally against the ACC core values (as listed on their website) and Banff Parks mandate

We stayed two nights in August 2008 (I just discovered I can review hotels). Pros: - you get your own cabin with a sink + towels - common hot water shower for all cabins on site - common dining room where the staff serves fresh breakfast and dinner + a lunch spread; easy to meet other hikers - food is pretty good, we had poached salmon, muesli, pork tenderloin, and vegetables w/every meal. you won't go hungry. - cheaper than some of the other backcountry lodges - the 8 mile hike in is flat and easy except for one small section. Cons: - rampant horse poop all over the trail in, same horses that haul in your food and laundry. - hike in is kind of boring...I'd recommend biking until the end - (maybe my fault) at the end of Aug it rained every night, the sound multiplied by the cabin roofs. There's about 2 days worth of hikes from the lodge, and this is coming from a novice hiker. Shadow lake itself is beautiful and easily accessible from the cabins.

We had an amazing family holiday at Shadow Lake Lodge. The scenery was beautiful, the hiking amazing but the food was the big surprise. It was wonderful! Everyone's need (vegan, fish allergy, vegetarian, gluten free, etc.) were met for the group of 25 or so that the lodge can accommodate. It is an eight mile hike to the cabins and spectacular scenery along the way.

This is a great backcountry lodge for beginning hikers as the hike in is short and part of it is on a boardwalk type surface. The cabins and lodge almost make you feel like you're not in the backcountry! It was very easily accessible although we opted to take the long way back as it was more scenic. The staff was very friendly and organized, and the food was delicious. Nothing negative to say about it!