Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge

We had stayed at this Lodge many times over the past 30 years and were excited to return in September after its extensive renovation and remodel. It is absolutely stunning to behold! The footprint remains the same…the iconic roof, the stunning fireplaces! The interior space now houses 17 spacious guest rooms…with elegant furnishings and modern bathrooms! All new windows…no more rattling! Reinforced walls that were quite soundproof. Elegant and comfortable places to sit on the main floor and a beautiful bar. Fantastic staff and truly perhaps the best Chef and Sous Chef and crew in all of the Rockies! Wish we lived closer and could go more often…certainly will add it to our yearly trip from California! Kudos to the ownership, management and staff for creating such a treasure that is so perfectly situated away from the crowds on exquisite Bow Lake! A perfect getaway on the spectacular Icefields Parkway.

This was the best surprise. A beautiful gift shop and cafe. The cafe was amazing!! Everything is made daily. And everything had amazing presentation. Banana bread, delicious healthy sandwiches and…..Homemade ice cream sandwiches. I thought the prices were all very reasonable. Again, quality homemade delicious products. The art in the gallery gift shop was local. Many pieces were stunning. We thoroughly enjoyed this pitstop. We ate our lunch beside a gorgeous lake flanked by mountains. It exceeded our expectations. Sophia was so nice to talk to!!! Treat yourself!

The lodge has been very tastefully restored. It is a world class mountain lodge. The interiors are very luxurious with a natural feel with the use of lots of wood and earthy colours. The staff are so committed to ensure your stay is very special. They all know what a special place the Lodge is. But at the end of the day it’s all about the place. Bow Lake is a truly beautiful place to stay. We walked to the falls. It was lightly snowing. We had the trail pretty much to ourselves. I can definitely see myself returning.

My gf and I were visiting the area last summer when our van broke down the road. No service reception to call the insurance. The staff was nice enough to let us use their phone, offered us food and blanket the time we waited for the tow truck. Their kindness and help were really appreciated. As a bonus, there are worst places for your car to break down, Bow Lake is beautiful ! Once again, thanks to everyone that helped us!

My fiance and I enjoyed a night at The Lodge and it was magical! The staff were all so kind, the renovated rooms were clean and comfortable, the food was delicious (especially the ice cream sandwiches), and the location is ideal if you're looking to recharge and connect with nature. We will definitely recommend The Lodge to all our friends and family looking for a place to stay in the Banff/Lake Louise area.

The Lodge has been extensively renovated and is a delight to stay in. The renovations have honored the interesting and historical story of the Lodge, including using paintings by Canadian painters that portray the spectacular mountains and beautiful Bow Lake. The food is excellent, as are the wines which are paired with the entree's. Bruce and Allison, the hosts, had 25 years experience running the Lake Ohara Lodge, one of Canadas premier back country lodges. They and the rest of the staff are gracious and very helpful attending to the needs of the guests, including answering questions about the Lodge and it's history. If you want a place to stay that is located in a spectacular setting, is near to many great hikes and has the genuine feeling of a classic mountain lodge then the Lodge at Bow Lake is the place to stay.

Wonderful to see the updates and renovations for this iconic lodge. The rooms are all updated and very comfortable and the food was first class. Service is excellent and the staff go above and beyond. A perfect starting point to explore the Rockies!

This lodge has opened this season and are closed in the fall but will be booking for next year. This is worth your time. It is a totally new business with new owners with a lot of expertise. We went away refreshed, well fed and pleased with the workmanship in the lodge. The lodge and rooms have been renovated with all new electrical, bathrooms, heating. Gutted with new walls added and the room was spacious and welcoming. nice large bathroom. Various impressive areas to socialize. The dining room is large and high ceiling with views over the lake and a warm welcoming fireplace. The food was very delicious and they surprised us with the flavours and creativity. Packed lunch for hiking is included. Staff are awesome and very welcoming, helpful and attentive. The living room has many areas to sit at and a bar as well. You can drive in. One main hike along the lake with a different environments as you wander along. A lot of hikes nearby on the icefields parkway. No wifi but if that is important you can drive up the highway a short distance to get connected. Better to leave that behind for the time here. The people you meet here are very interesting. Beautiful area of the country - near Lake Louise but away from the crowds. Easy drive up and then walk around surrounded by the magnificent mountains. Restore your soul.

I didn't fully appreciate Num-Ti-Jah Lodge when I stayed here 2 years ago because I was so bent on staying up to date on my social media accounts. Looking back I wish I didn't bother with Wi-Fi at all (it didn't work half the time anyway) & enjoyed the experience more. The restaurant, The Elkhorn Dining Room, had really great food. We went down & had dinner once, as well as one night we sat in the little seating area outside of the restaurant as we didn't make a reservation in time but they did serve us. We only went for dessert anyway so they really didn't mind. It was a nice atmosphere to just sit back & relax with some cheesecake. We also managed to grab some breakfast the day we were leaving & it was also very good. Like VERY good! I still dream of it to this day. The scenery alone is worth going back for. This lodge sits on the shores of Bow Lake amongst some of the most beautiful and, dare I say it, Instagram-able, mountains. There's a hike up to Bow Glacier Falls that is said to take about an hour & a half to get to and, judging by the pictures I've seen, a must see. I wasn't able to make the hike myself but am fully prepared to make the trip this year. I should add: this is an OLD lodge & does not have an elevator. I made the mistake of packing a suitcase. Next time I'll stick to backpacks. Much easier to lug up a couple flights of stairs (our room was on the top floor)! If you ever visit Num-Ti-Jah please use it as a chance to unplug & relax! It's an amazing place! I know I regret not slowing down & appreciating it more. It truly is a beautiful place.

We found this gem by accident when our rental car broke down a few kilometres away. Or maybe, fate willed us there. The staff were amazingly welcoming, we needed food and were blown away by the menu and then by the quality of the food. Amazing dining. It lives up to its name of a lodge, and if that sounds right for you this place will easily exceed your expectations.

We stayed here for one night and for someone who enjoys photography, this is the place to be to capture the amazing scenery around Bow Lake. I was able to capture the ever changing effects of lights during a storm and sun afterwards to the scenery since you are perfectly positioned right in front of the lake and Bow Glacier. The dinner at the lodge was the best dinner during our vacation in the Canadian Rockies. I tried the 5 tasting menus and the food were delicious and beautifully presented. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We would eat here again if ever we make it back to the Banff area.

DO NOT STAY HERE!!! I have signed up on every website possible to review how terrible this place was and how it stained our honeymoon! Isolated it is not. It is a stop on most tour bus routes, making getting in and out of the lodge a huge headache in the morning and afternoons, attempting to get around the twenty something tour buses and all the OLD tourists on the buses attempting to take pictures of bow lake and going to the gift shop. It is very crowded and loud until about 7PM when they all leave. When I made the reservations I informed them it was our honeymoon. I asked for the king/lakeside view room. I felt I was prepared and had set a pretty good expectation (wasn't expecting champagne, free dinner/dessert, or handwritten card as we had gotten at most places), but we did not even get a Happy Honeymoon, congratulations from the staff. Speaking of staff let's start there, as that seemed to be a HUGE disappointment. The four staff that seemed to be "present" the entire time we were there were 20 something girls from foreign countries who did not seem to speak English very well and were extremely rude. They seemed annoyed at any request and when they were not working were hanging out in the common areas complaining about guests taking up common area space where guests could be hanging out, as you definitely did not want to be in your room. To forewarn you, there is no elevator, so if you are on the third floor, you or one of these poor young girls is hefting your luggage to your room. Now I had no expectation of the room, but when you brag that there is always a hot shower, make sure A- it is actually hot, and B- the water pressure is more than a drop per minute, and C- that you have more than a sheet for a shower curtain because it sprays water all over the place (hence the mold build up in the bathroom). The room was large, but let's get real people, can you call that a lake view? If you sit at the corner of the room desk in the one chair they provide you in the room, then yes you have a lakeview. Otherwise, you are staring at 100 year old wood panelling, noticing all the places it has been patched due to decay on the walls (I counted 15 total). To get a true lake view without the lodge in the picture, I had to open the window (which by the way has no screen and you are told not to open the windows) and crane my neck to get the picture I wanted. The latest dinner reservation is at 7:45 so we took that (much to the displeasure of the staff). Our waitress attempted to rush us through dinner in fifteen minutes, even after telling her we were celebrating our honeymoon she looked at us like "I don't care, eat!" We were so frustrated with her and the price of dinner there that we shared an entree, spaghetti (that was what enticed us on the menu- which says a lot to foodies like us) and left. Just an FYI as well, though this place has the most spectacular view of one of the most beautiful lakes, and it has placed its parking lot directly in front of the lake blocking any chance of a view while seated at dinner, the common area, or most rooms. Since staff was hanging out in the common areas and you cannot drink in common areas, my husband and I were forced to hang out in our room. My husband not being one for that, pulled our one chair out into the hallway (since we were at the end of the hallway on the top floor I could then sit on the landing- which led to a boarded up wall to some floor above us and him on the chair)....though I felt like Ann Frank banished to the attic- we made the most of it by drinking, playing cards, and listening to music. The next morning we came down for breakfast and were greeted by a new angry staff person that seemed annoyed we came in for breakfast at 9:20 when breakfast ended at 9:30. She refused to clean off a table by the window stating that she needed to keep that open for the lunch crowd. She rushed us through breakfast, my husband's potatoes were not even cooked, straight up still frozen out of the package hashbrowns. That day we had planned to trek up to Jasper and do some day hikes along the way. I ran upstairs to grab my camera battery as I had plugged it in the night before to get a full charge. Well half way through the day, my camera died. When I got back to the room, I checked the outlet and realized that it was not working. I was furious at this point as we saw several bears, other wildlife moments, oh and let's not forget stopping at Honeymoon Lake to capture our honeymoon with no ability to photograph ourselves there. It was a nice afternoon, so my husband and I decided to sit on the adirondack chairs in the parking lot overlooking the lake and play scrabble. Again, the staff not working the same four girls were hanging out there making it really uncomfortable. So we went back up to our attic to hang out for the evening. Also, there is no internet, so do not let them tell you there is, even the girl working, said her phone did not work, deal with it.

Historic, rustic building in beautiful location. Bedding seemed new. No screens on windows, very dusty and dirty. Bathroom was horrible. Mold along entire edge of ceiling, where it connects to the bathroom walls. Food was okay and wait staff very nice and accommodating. Probably would not stay there again. Needs a lot of updating. The walls are very thin. We slept okay, because we were so tired.

Located in between Banff and Jasper, this lodge gets less traffic than other high profile places in the area, which can feel like amusement parks with the throngs of people. It is comfortable and rustic, and not as fancy as somewhere like the Banff Springs. It used to be much more affordable, but the prices have gone up a lot recently. The setting is beautiful, on the edge of Bow lake with a nice hike around the lake and the opportunity to hike to the glacier on the other side. Given the huge price hike, I would only stay here now for a special occasion, but its still much less than other top lodges around.

Loved this place. Gave it 4 vs 5 because it could add a bit to rooms or up food server quality a bit. Lovely, lovely place. Loved the historic mountain retreat vibe. The food was delicious. Loved hanging out with the other guests. We were traveling in early May, so no tourist buses crowded us out in the parking areas or hike trails. I plan to visit again.

I found a bit difficult to find value for money in hotels and restaurants in my trip along the icefield parkway but my stay, and my dinner and my breakfast and the hike to the waterfalls near the lodge were by far the highlight of my week in Alberta. I never ever spend that much money on a hotel, not that often on a restaurant either but this was money well spent. After a divine meal, which they kindly and gracefully allowed us to have though we were a bit too late (to try to arrive before say 7.30pm), we had a lovely chat with the waiter who advised us of the great little hike you can do for 1h1/2 to Bow lake waterfalls and back, among other things. Then we stayed in the lounge area and had a good laugh and great conversations with 5 or 6 other people staying for the night. The historic lodge atmosphere with its pool and all the hunting trophies hung on the wall and the old furniture and detailed maps of the region, all that just creates a sensational atmosphere. Do not come there for a super comfortable stay though. It is quite quiet but that's as far as your neighbours are quiet, and the showers are camping quality :-D and the lamps are ancient and make noise hehe but it's part of the charms of this place. and it is at the doorsteps of Bow lake which is phenomenal.

If you are looking for luxurious pampered facilities then this is not the hotel for you. However if you are looking for a rustic experience with the best hospitality staff we have ever encountered, views that are beyond description and a menu that is varied and delicious as well as reasonably priced...then Num-Ti-Jah is perfect. The staff works very hard to ensure that your needs are met, everyone we spoke with was friendly, interesting and genuinely seemed to enjoy their role at the lodge. It was refreshing to get off the grid...no wifi, no televisions, no telephones. We weren't sure how that would feel. It felt great!!

Stayed here on the second day of a three day road trip in the Rockies. 4/5 for the room and views 2/5 for the wifi, and 4/5 for the restaurant. The wifi I can understand, it's not the city, connection is limited. The room is clean. There were 5 of us in total. Me, my mom, my kid brother and two cousins. We had two double beds and added on another cot for one of my cousins. Unfortunately there was no microwave in our room, none in the lobby either. There was one in the convenience store as my cousin found out the next day but I don't think we are allowed to use it unless we are purchasing food from there. Speaking of food, it was a bit surprising to find a high class restaurant in a three star hotel. I ate dinner and breakfast there during my stay. This being a high class restaurant the prices were quite high but the quality of the food was great. I can tell it is a high class restaurant even down to the drinks. My cousin and I got apple juice ( they have alcoholic drinks, and we are adults, but I prefer non alcoholic) We did not get the concentrated juice from grocery stores, but instead we got freshly pressed apple juice. Now, the main menu, as someone who never eats any wild game, I was in trouble, as the mains were mostly wild game. I kept thinking..do they have anything "ordinary" for me? Like there was duck leg, elk meat, bison etc. Therefore, as someone who never goes for vegetarian meals, I ended up ordering the lentil medallions with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and a side of asparagus . I didn't expect to really like a vegetarian meal but it was surprisingly good. Would recommend that, and let's save some animals shall we? My cousins also weren't interested in any of the wild game and they got salmon and fried chicken. We also got two desserts and I would recommend the sundae which is a hot cookie in a small cast iron pot, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream with a cherry on top. Very fancy sundae for someone who is used to DQ strawberry sundaes. We also got apple pie but I didn't have any because I am not a pie lover. Now the breakfast, it's a game of fortunately/ unfortunately. Unfortunately there was a power outage the next morning and when we went to the restaurant they only had the cold breakfast buffet for $14.50 per person. I didn't want a cold breakfast but at the same time I didn't want to starve( don't know when the power will be back on) so I poured myself a bowl of rice crispiest and a cup of tea. Fortunately , the power came back on about 15 min later so we ordered hot breakfast. On that day they only had eggs, bacon, sausage and potato wedges but that was decent enough for me, it's what I always order when I go out for breakfast anyway. The scrambled eggs were good, and bonus they had orange slices. Food took a bit long but I understand they just had a blackout. Unfortunately, despite not eating much from the cold breakfast buffet, we were still charged for 3 buffets plus the hot food which came to $100, and I think that's the most my family has ever spent on breakfast in the 23 years I've been alive. My advice is just to eat either the cold buffet or the hot food( I recommend the hot food) and not both.