KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 262

$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
being well away from the well-worn tourist path of Highway 93. And it is—tucked in a
riverside setting 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) down Settler's Road, which branches off the
highway 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 ima-
gine, 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
bathrooms and kitchens with wood-burning stoves. The cabins are modern but were con-
structed 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.