HAP Pocket Guide — Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

KANANASKIS ALBERTA, CANADA

Open, wild, free

Welcome to Kananaskis Country, Alberta’s Hidden Gem

Your ultimate guide to Kananaskis Country, curated for adventurers with Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge as your basecamp. Created by the travel editors at Hotels Above Par, this guide offers a local’s perspective through an editorial lens.

Inside, discover the story behind the lodge—where to eat and drink, what to explore, and how to experience the best of this wild stretch of Canadian terrain.

Where Backcountry Beauty & Luxury Meet Words by Britney Eschelman

When you arrive at Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, you feel as though you’ve been let in on a well-kept secret. Tucked against the towering Canadian Rockies, this alpine retreat feels like the mountain home of your dreams brought to life. A 1-hour drive from Calgary’s city limits, you’ll find an ultra-modern getaway nestled amidst the pines where luxury and mountain living blend seamlessly.

This 247-room hotel comes complete with rustic-modern abodes, five dining outlets, a serene Nordic spa, and direct access to some of Alberta’s best hiking and cross-country trails. Beloved by locals for decades, it remains the quintessential basecamp for every kind of alpine adventure.

Photo Credit: Macsemniuk Brothers

Just steps from the Lodge, the 71-key, boutique hotel-within-a-hotel concept debuted in April 2025. Designed for discerning guests seeking the utmost in luxury, service, and amenities, Black Diamond Club blends alpine décor with contemporary motifs. With full access to the greater lodge amenities, this exclusive enclave offers a serene oasis to unwind and recharge. Expansive windows frame secluded forest vistas, while intimate gathering spaces are complemented by warm breakfast delights, après-adventure snacks, and a thoughtful selection of wines, beers, cocktails, and mocktails.

Inside the guest rooms, oversized beds dressed in crisp linens, ample closet space for outdoor gear, and rustic antler wall hooks lend a cozy, home-awayfrom-home touch. En suite bathrooms become the perfect respite after a day outside, featuring rain showers and luxurious geranium-scented soaps by the B-Corp–certified wellness brand Bamford. The property also hosted world leaders during the recent G7 Summit in Kananaskis Country—an accolade that underscores its refined sense of sophistication.

Where Every Bite Comes With a View Spread across the property grounds, five restaurants showcase the bounty of Alberta and British Columbia.

Cedar Room Cedar Room, open exclusively for dinner, is an elevated Alberta chophouse experience where advance reservations are highly recommended. Expect refined cuts and indulgent sides, plus a selection of standout starters like the seafood platter, veal carpaccio, and the beloved table-side Caesar. Going all-in?

The Tomahawk, served with honey-and-pepper carrots and creamy srirachaspiked gnocchi, is a house signature. And don’t skip dessert—the Baked Alaska remains a perennial favourite.

Cedar Room Dinner Credit: Macsemniuk Brothers

Clockwise from left: Blacktail Bar Patio Forte Appetizer, and Blacktail Bar Cocktail.

Blacktail Bar

Forte

Blacktail Bar, meanwhile, acts as the lively hub of the lobby with classic and seasonal cocktails, local beer, and delicious food served for lunch and dinner. Its patio is a summertime essential, offering mountain views that pair beautifully with an aprèsadventure drink or casual bite.

For Italian fare in a family-friendly setting, Forte is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—no reservation required. Breakfast highlights include triple-stacked pancakes with Canadian maple syrup, while dinner favourites include ricottaladen pastas and oven-fired pizzas.

Woody’s Pub

Market Café

Woody’s Pub also shines as an après spot, popular for craft beer, live music, and pool-table camaraderie; come summer, its patio is one of the best places to take in the views with friends.

Casual grab-and-go bites are found at Market Café, where egg sandwiches, Italian subs, and coffee fuel guests before they head into the wilderness.

Across Blacktail Bar, Woody’s, and Forte, patio season is a highlight—their open-air terraces offer sweeping views that rival the food itself.

Inside the Kananaskis Nordic Spa Hot. Cold. Rest. Repeat.

The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is the property’s crown jewel. The hydrotherapy circuit—anchored by the rhythmic cycle of Hot. Cold. Rest.

Repeat.—guides guests through an intentional journey of rejuvenation.

Begin in the hot stage in one of the pools, saunas, or steam rooms before stepping into the Cold Plunge or Cold Cascades, designed to awaken circulation and clarity. Between cycles, rest by a fireside nook, sway in a forest-view hammock, or stretch out in the newest indoor relaxation space, the Calm Cabin.

Each element of the circuit is purposefully placed: the Gathering Pool hums with soft conversation, the Elements Pool bubbles beneath mountain air, and the Forest View Sauna offers serenity framed by evergreens. The philosophy is simple —alternate temperatures, reset the nervous system, and find stillness in motion. The results? Reduced stress, improved circulation, deeper sleep, and that unmistakable post-spa glow that lingers long after you’ve left.

Committed to delivering an unparalleled wellness experience, the Nordic Spa has recently added new elements to each stage of the hydrotherapy circuit, with more to come. Recent additions include the Forest View Sauna, Cabin Sauna, Calm Cabin, Cold Cascades, and the newly renovated Two Trees Bistro—“where reconnect meets refuel.”

Exploring the Wild of Kananaskis Country Adventure unfolds in every direction here, from pine-lined trails to alpine lookouts. Beyond the lodge’s doors, trails wind through pinescented air, ridgelines rise into the clouds, and hidden lookouts reward those who wander.

Before You Go Carry bear spray, and check Alberta Parks Public Safety & Advisories for trail updates, closures, and wildlife warnings.

Wedge Pond: A calm, reflective lake framed by Mount Kidd—visit at sunrise or sunset when the peaks shimmer in gold.

Barrier Lake: A glacier-fed turquoise gem perfect for paddling or a shoreline picnic.

For elevated views of the valley, head up the Barrier Lake Trail, a local favourite.

Canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals are available at the Kananaskis Boathouse on the shore of Barrier Lake—ensure proper PFD use when exploring glacial waters.

Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes: Two of the region’s most iconic lakes, offering stunning views, cascading waterfalls, picnic spots, and scenic lakeside trails. Don’t miss Rawson Lake for its emerald waters, and for experienced hikers, the legendary Sarrail Ridge Trail delivers one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the province.

Troll Falls: A family-friendly trail leading to a lovely series of cascades—perfect for kids, photographers, and anyone seeking a low-effort, high-reward outing.

Blackshale Suspension Bridge: Another great family option, featuring a gently swaying suspension bridge above a forested canyon with sweeping views and a standout photo op.

Tent Ridge: For more experienced hikers, Tent Ridge offers epic 360° panoramas of Spray Lakes and the surrounding peaks—an unforgettable sunrise ridge-loop.

Clockwise from top left: Sarrail Ridge (Photo: Mike Seehagel @mikeseehagel), Chester Lake (Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Silver Fern Productions), Wedge Pond (Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Silver Fern Productions), Upper Kananaskis Lake (Photo: Karl Lee @karlleephoto), and Barrier Lake (Photo: Karl Lee @karlleephoto).

Kananaskis Outfitters: Adventure Starts Here At 23, Ontario native Michelle Earls traded lake country for the peaks of Alberta. With a background in Nature-Based Travel Tourism, Michelle founded Kananaskis Outfitters in 2006. Today, her team runs the region’s premier outdoor hub, right in Kananaskis Village.

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Rentals for Every Adventure

Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for exploring glacier-fed lakes; mountain bikes and e-bikes for forest trails; and in winter, snowshoes, cross-country skis, ice skates, and fat bikes. If it gets you outside, they’ve got it.

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Guided Tours

Join expert-led outings ranging from forest bathing and guided hikes to night-sky programs, wildlife interpretation, and seasonal specialty tours.

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The Kananaskis Boathouse

Located on stunning Barrier Lake, the Boathouse is your launch point for paddling sessions, SUP lessons, and shoreline exploration. (Life jackets/PFDs are required on all glacial waters.)

Local Tip: Reserve rentals early on summer weekends —they book up quickly.

Scan the QR code to browse the adventures.

Cowboy Culture at Boundary Ranch Words by Britney Eschelman If there’s one experience to book beyond the activities offered at the lodge, make it the Trail Ride excursion with Boundary Ranch. Whether you’re a horse lover or not, this ride is worth it as much for the sweeping views as for the story it tells. Saddle up and wind through Kananaskis’ postcard-perfect valleys with the family-run ranch founded by Richard and Denise Guinn—true cowboy-meets-cowgirl legends who carry on a generational legacy of wrangling and Western culture in the region.

My horse, Walker, and I trotted and galloped through the woods (only stopping for two snack breaks along the way). I was told Walker tends to be on the slower side— hence his name—but during our ride, he took the lead the entire way. The Boundary Ranch crew joked that maybe he had a soft spot for me (which, of course, I chose to believe). After the ride, you can pop into the Guinn Family Wildlife Museum to explore the family’s fascinating multi-generational history and deep roots in Alberta’s cowboy heritage.

Photo credit: Travel Alberta / Karl Lee @karlleephoto

Tee it Up at Kananaskis Country Golf Course Boasting two 18-hole courses—Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette—the Kananaskis Country Golf Course is a local gem. Awarded the title of “Best Value Golf Course in North America,” it offers a world-class experience for a fraction of what you’d expect.

Between the crisp alpine air, fairways that frame the peaks, and that unmistakable hush that settles over the valley, it’s easily one of the most scenic rounds you’ll ever play.

After a morning on the greens, grab a seat at The Summit Restaurant inside the clubhouse. The views alone are worth the visit—it’s where one of the G7 meals was once hosted, after all—but the food delivers, too. Order the club sandwich (trust me on this one) and settle onto the patio, where the Kananaskis Valley unfolds before you like a cinematic short film.

Scan the QR code to book Boundary Ranch.

Scan the QR code to schedule your tee time.

Hop on. Hop off.

Explore More.

Discover the beauty of Kananaskis with ease on the Explore Kananaskis Shuttle—your free and convenient way to get to the region’s top destinations.

This hop-on, hop-off shuttle makes it simple to explore iconic trails, attractions, and experiences without the hassle of parking. Routes and stops rotate each season, connecting you with the best trails and experiences at the perfect time to explore.

Plan Your Ride Scan for shuttle routes, stops, and seasonal schedules.

Courtesy of Explore Kananaskis

Leave the keys. We’ll handle the roads.

How it Works

Shuttle Stops

– Free service for all visitors – First-come, first-serve seating – Runs daily with stops at popular locations in the Kananaskis region – Look for the shuttle marked with the Explore Kananaskis logo – Pet-friendly service – The schedule changes seasonally

Village Centre (hub) – Kananaskis Mountain Lodge – Black Diamond Club – Kananaskis Nordic Spa – Kananaskis Outfitters – Moose Family Kitchen – Woody’s Pub – Forte Restaurant – Blacktail Bar – Cedar Room Restaurant – Little Detour Gift Shop

Kananaskis in Winter Wonderland With Kananaskis Mountain Lodge as your cozy base, adventure meets alpine comfort at every turn. Spend the morning gliding through powdery trails or skating across a frozen lake so clear you can see the bubbles trapped beneath the ice.

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Snow Sports & Trails

From snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to downhill runs at Nakiska Ski Area, winter in Kananaskis offers endless ways to play in the snow. During the holidays, step into a Hallmark movie moment with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the forest at Boundary Ranch.

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Guided Winter Experiences

Join expert-led outings ranging from forest bathing and wildlife interpretation to nightsky programs and seasonal specialty tours. These immersive experiences are designed to help guests connect with the landscape in new and meaningful ways.

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Ice Adventures

Skate across glassy frozen lakes, try your hand at ice fishing, or warm up between Village Pond laps with a fireside hot chocolate. For a true Kananaskis highlight, glide across ice so clear you can see the bubbles suspended below the surface.

Clockwise from top left: Sleigh rides at Boundary Ranch; skiing at Nakiska (Credit: Travel Alberta); snowshoeing and stargazing (Credit: Travel Alberta and Jaime Vedres).

Each December, the lodge comes alive with festive décor, enchanting family traditions, and seasonal experiences that make Kananaskis feel like a true alpine holiday haven.

Those who visit during the winter months will see that the holiday spirit runs deep here. Each December, the lodge transforms into a snow-dusted storybook scene for its “Merry Kananaskis” festivities—complete with sparkling décor, festive dining, and twinkling alpine charm.

Families can visit Santa’s real reindeer, ride the holiday train through the forest, and even book an Elf Tuck-In Service, where a Christmas elf stops by the room for bedtime stories and cookies. Adults get their share of magic, too, from festive cocktails at the Blacktail Bar to elegant holiday dinners beneath the glow of the grand tree in the lodge lobby.

Whether you’re watching snowflakes fall from the spa pools or sipping mulled wine by the fire, the season here feels like its own private Christmas village.

The Festive Breakdown

Reindeer visits

Festive cocktails & dining

Christmas decor

Holiday train ride

Elf tuck-in service

The Mountains, Made for Families Whether it’s little ones splashing at the waterpark, skiing their first slopes at Nakiska’s ski school, or roasting marshmallows under the stars during Fireside Moments, Kananaskis is made for family memories.

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All-Ages Trails

Try the Village Rim Trail for a smooth, paved path with panoramic mountain views— perfect for strollers, wheelchairs, grandparents, and anyone looking for an effortless, scenic walk. For a longer adventure, the paved Bill Milne Trail connects the village to beautiful Wedge Pond, passing alpine vistas and the golf course along the way.

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Waterpark Fun

The indoor waterpark is a year-round family favourite. It’s the ultimate aprèsadventure hangout where kids can play while adults unwind in the steam room or hot tub. No matter the weather outside, the fun never slows down here.

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Ski School at Nakiska

Nakiska’s ski school offers lessons for all ages and abilities, making it the ideal place for first turns and family fun on the slopes. Certified instructors keep things safe and encouraging, and on-site rentals mean everything you need is steps away.

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Nanny Services

Available through the concierge, the lodge’s professional nanny services give parents a well-deserved evening to themselves—whether that’s a quiet dinner at Cedar Room or a dip in the spa’s outdoor pools under the stars.

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Guest Activities

From supervised kids’ programs to all-ages experiences, there’s always something happening on the lodge’s monthly activity calendar. Think candle-making workshops, cocktail classes for adults, Popcorn & PJs nights, Paint & Sip sessions, and more.

Kananaskis, Season by Season Spring & Summer Warm weather in Kananaskis opens the door to sunlit trails, turquoise lakes, and wide-open exploration. Start your day slow, sip something seasonal, then choose the adventure your mood calls for—on horseback, on wheels, or on glacial water.

7:00 a.m. — Wake Up Wake Up & Visit Market Cafe for a seasonal coffee and stroll the Village Rim Trail as Mount Kidd is lit with the rising sun.

10:00 a.m. — Sunlit Activities Choose your adventure: a two-hour Ridge Ride at Boundary Ranch, winding through cinematic alpine terrain; an e-bike journey along the Bill Milne Trail to Wedge Pond for lakeside lounging; or a scenic drive to Barrier Lake, where the Kananaskis Boathouse awaits with canoes and kayaks for glacial-water explorations.

5:00 p.m. — Sunset to Supper Return to the Village for cocktails on Blacktail Bar’s patio. Then, freshen up before a visit to the Spa and dinner at Two Trees Bistro—or settle in for a romantic evening at Cedar Room.

9:00 p.m. — Nightcap Close out the night by the fire pits, s’mores in hand, and stars settling over the valley.

Fall & Winter As the seasons shift, Kananaskis transforms into a cozy alpine retreat.

Golden larch trees, snow-dusted trails, and twinkle-lit evenings set the stage for crisp adventure and fireside relaxation.

8:00 a.m. — Wake Up Visit Market Café for a warm seasonal drink, then stroll the Village Rim Trail as snowcapped Mount Kidd catches the morning light. Enjoy breakfast at the Black Diamond Club Lounge or Forte Restaurant.

10:00 a.m. — Crisp Adventures Begin your morning with a Nordic ski or mountain bike lesson led by Kananaskis Outfitters. Prefer lifts to lessons? Hop on the Explore Kananaskis Shuttle to Nakiska for downhill skiing framed by sweeping Rocky Mountain panoramas. For something more serene, take the shuttle to Boundary Ranch for a nostalgic sleigh ride or dog-cart adventure through quiet alpine woods.

4:00 p.m. — Après to Evening Return to the Village for a warm cocktail and a bite at Blacktail Bar. Then, freshen up before an evening at the Spa and Two Trees Bistro— or enjoy a twinkle-lit Village Pond skate followed by a romantic dinner at Cedar Room.

9:00 p.m. — Nightcap Settle in by the crackling fire and toast s’mores at Fireside Moments, as the Village settles into the quiet of mountain twilight.

Your Editor-Approved Guest Guide Hotels Above Par is a digital and print publication celebrating the world’s most charming boutique hotels.

This pocket guide was crafted by Hotels Above Par’s Senior Editor & Creative Strategist, Britney Eschelman, in partnership with Explore Kananaskis and the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.

Read the full review at hotelsabovepar.com

Discover Explore Kananaskis.

View the Black Diamond Club.

Visit the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.

See you in the mountains.