Photo: © Kicking Horse Resort
One of Kicking Horse’s advantages over its rivals in the Banff National Park (such as Lake Louise) is the ski-in, ski-out accommodation at the base of the slopes. At the moment, it’s still only a small village, but its compact size makes it very convenient (if a little lifeless in the middle of the week). Its chief glory are its bed and breakfasts, which are privately owned and run – it’s highly unusual to find such low-key and characterful accommodation, so close to the lifts.
As well as the properties listed, below, there are also several luxurious second homes available for rent in the resort. Check with the resort’s central reservations service (0808 101 1682 in the UK) for details.
The bed and breakfasts are superb
Copper Horse Lodge is the bed and breakfast to stay in if you want contemporary styling, and a little privacy. Owners Paul and Stacey Trudeau have devoted most of the space in their property to the bedrooms, which are cool and contemporary in style, and generous in size. Downstairs is their popular, and highly-rated restaurant, Corks, which has become a staple of the KH scene. Next door is the Highland pub, and the gondola is “100 paces” away. The Tripadvisor reviews are glowing. Vagabond Lodge is next door, but Ken and Lori Chilibeck’s B&B is rather different in feel: there’s a bar, and a big lounge, and the owners like it when their guests get out of their rooms and socialise (there are no TVs in the rooms, which helps get conversation going). Rooms are a decent size, and decorated in a less urban style than the Copper Horse, and the owners lay on a free lunch of chilli, stew or soup for their guests.
Winston Lodge is a traditional wood and stone mountain lodge with a small spa and ten ski-in ski-out suites. It is located 150m from the gondola and houses the Local Hero Western pub.
Kicking Horse doesn’t get more convenient than the Glacier Mountaineer Lodge: slap-bang next to the gondola. It houses a range of hotel rooms and self-catering apartments – fairly generous in size, but a little scuffed at the corners by guests’ luggage. There’s a health club in the basement, and the ground floor houses a sushi bar, the ski rental store, and the resort’s main apres-ski venue, the Peaks Bar and Grill. One block away is the closest thing the resort has to a grocery store – which is not very close. So don’t expect to have a full range of ingredients available if you want to cook dinner.
Stay up the mountain or in the wilderness
If you are eating at the famous Eagle’s Eye restaurant but can’t tear yourself away after lunch, you can sleep in one of the two comfortable suites (booked in advance) before making tracks down the mountain in the morning. If you really want to impress someone, this is where to bring them.
Emerald Lake Lodge is 45km away on the other side of Kicking Horse Pass. The lakeside mountain retreat is built of hand-hewn timber and features massive stone fireplaces. Accommodation is in 24 cabin-style buildings and its Mount Burgess dining room is renowned for its Rocky Mountain cuisine featuring free-range elk, bison and caribou. Emerald Lake is great place to stay if you want to deepen the wilderness experience.
No Responses to “Where to Stay in Kicking Horse”