CANADIAN ROCKIES - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 479

$50-100
The only lodging in the heart of the park is Kootenay Park Lodge (403/762-9196,
www.kootenayparklodge.com , mid-May-late Sept., $100-195 s or d), a cabin complex at
Vermilion Crossing, 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Radium Hot Springs. Although no rail-
way passes through the park, the 1923 lodge was one of many built by the CPR throughout
the Canadian Rockies. It consists of a main lodge with restaurant, 12 cabins, a store, and an
official park information center. The most basic cabins each have a bathroom, small fridge,
and coffeemaker, with rates rising to $195 for the newer Vermilion Cabins with a separate
bedroom and a fireplace. Utensil and cooking kits are $10 per stay.
Over $150
The well-kept M Cross River Wilderness Centre (403/271-3296 or 877/659-7665,
www.crossriver.ca , $188 per person including meals) has a real sense of privacy and of be-
ing well away from the well-worn tourist path of Highway 93. And it is—tucked in a river-
side setting 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) down Settler's Road, which branches off the high-
way 114 kilometers (71 miles) from Banff and 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Radium Hot
Springs. The smart, spacious cabins are equipped with wood-burning fireplaces, log beds
draped in down duvets, toilets, and sinks. Showers are located in the main building, along
with the main lounge, cooking facilities, a dining area, and a deck. As you can imagine,
the atmosphere is convivial, with the cabins attracting outdoorsy types who want to enjoy
the Canadian Rockies in their natural state—without room service and fine dining. Highly
recommended.
M Nipika Mountain Resort (250/342-6516 or 877/647-4525, www.nipika.com , $205 s,
$290 d) offers the same wilderness experience as the Cross River Cabins and is in the same
vicinity—along Settler's Road, which branches off Highway 93 114 kilometers (71 miles)
from Banff and 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Radium Hot Springs. Sleeping up to eight
people, the seven cabins are larger than those at Cross River and have full en suite bath-
rooms and kitchens with wood-burning stoves. The cabins are modern but were construc-
ted in a very traditional manner—the logs were milled on-site, and construction is dovetail
notching. Guests bring their own food and spend their days hiking, fishing, and wildlife
watching. In winter, an extensive system of trails is groomed for cross-country skiing.
Campgrounds
The park's largest camping area is Redstreak Campground (May-mid-Oct, $29-40) on a
narrow plateau in the extreme southwest (vehicle access from Highway 93/95 on the south
side of Radium Hot Springs township), which holds 242 sites, some with hookups, as well