Storm Mountain Lodge Cabin Experience
I’ve driven past Storm Mountain Lodge in Banff National Park at least a dozen times without ever stopping. That changed one winter weekend. John and I decided we wanted a short getaway where we could check out some new cross-country ski trails over a couple of days, without having to drive all the way from Calgary. We booked a two night stay.
Storm Mountain Lodge has a history dating back to 1922. It was built by CPR to help promote tourism in the Rockies. The original lodge and twelve of the log cabins are still used today.
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Storm Mountain Lodge – what our cabin was like
We had Cabin #4. You can drive right to it so this is definitely not a backcountry lodge. Inside, it’s cozy and very comfortable. There’s a bed, a wood burning fireplace, a small couch and a chest. In the bathroom there’s an old clawfoot tub but they’ve added a shower feature.
The only downside to the bedroom is the person who sleeps next to the wall, cannot easily get in and out of bed. But that’s a function of size and hard to change, especially considering they are historical cabins.
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You’ve arrived at the lodge. Now what?
There are plenty of visitors that show up at Storm Mountain Lodge with the sole purpose of doing nothing. They might light a fire in their room and curl up with a good book for several hours. And if you forgot to bring a book, no worries as there’s a great little gift shop onsite with lots of well-chosen titles.
In the main lodge, there’s a common area with a big fireplace and lots of comfy seating. Retire here for an hour or two and enjoy drinks and some conversation with fellow guests.
Throw on a pair of snowshoes (provided) and walk the roughly 3 km trail in the vicinity of Storm Mountain Lodge.
As the lodge is only about 10 minutes off the Trans-Canada Highway, it’s easy to do a day trip into Banff or Lake Louise. People we chatted with had been to Lake Louise to see the ice sculptures. Radium Hot Springs isn’t far away either. It’s a beautiful drive through Kootenay National Park to reach the hot springs. And in the summer there are loads of hiking opportunities in both Banff and Kootenay National Parks.
Nearby, as in just five minutes away, there are two divine cross-country ski trails. One I consider to be one of the prettiest I’ve done in the Rockies – Chickadee Valley. The other, Boom Lake is slightly easier and also very beautiful.
Dining at Storm Mountain Lodge
Dining at Storm Mountain Lodge isn’t just for guests. Lots of people driving Highway 93 stop in for a meal. A blizzard was raging on Friday night, so several groups rolled in out of the snow for dinner.
The menu is limited with perhaps five main courses offered for dinner. John thoroughly enjoyed bison short ribs and we both loved a fig and Gorgonzola ravioli on the second night.
At breakfast, the granola parfait with a rhubarb compote was delicious as was a slice of home-baked banana bread.
If you wander into the lodge part way through the day you can also grab a hot chocolate, tea or coffee. A mid-afternoon plate of bruschetta was especially good.
Getting to Storm Mountain Lodge
Storm Mountain Lodge is about a 90-minute drive from Calgary. It’s in Banff National Park so you will need a national park pass. To get to the lodge if you’re coming from Calgary, turn south on Highway 93 as though you were heading towards Radium Hot Springs. It’s about 7 km down the road on the north side of the highway. Signage is excellent in both directions.
Booking a night at the lodge
Storm Mountain Lodge has a great location, with the only downside being some highway noise some of the time. I found the staff to be particularly friendly and we would both happily go back.
Check rates and availability andbook the lodge right here.
Location map of Storm Mountain Lodge
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How much a nite? Available for june 2/3?
@Clayton. I’m not sure that they have room tomorrow but you can expect to pay $279 – $299 per night for two people. Weekdays are a better bet. Contact them at 1-403-762-4155.
We had a delightful stay at Storm Mountain Lodge last year. We snowshoed the 3 km trail on the property, then also had a fabulous time snowshoeing the interpretive trail at Marble Canyon. The room was cosy, as you described and the dinner we had there was delicious!
@Mandy We didn’t snowshoe the trail there but did ski at Boom Lake and Chickadee – two great outings I suspect you’ve done.
This would be my kind of place…cozy, rustic yet very comfortable! I never get tired of the world class views you provide us readers from the lens of your camera, Leigh. OMG. I had a bison burger two years ago (unknown if it was actually “cut” with beef) but it was yummy! Any cheese ravioli and I get along famously 🙂
@Mike I could totally see you enjoying Storm Mountain Lodge – especially the wood burning fireplace and a chat with someone you’ve just met – maybe one day soon.
Hi Leigh, what a lovely lodge. It’s so cozy. I can see myself there relaxing after a day of adventure with a cup of hot chocolate. The surrounding is a stunning winter wonderland. That fireplace is calling to me right now. I’m cooped up and freezing in NY right now.
@Marisol I love winter if I have lots of things planned so using Storm Mountain Lodge as a base to explore some of the nearby ski trails was a great way to spend a weekend.
Doesn’t NY feel balmy after Antarctica?
This place looks wonderfully cozy – the kind of place I’d like to retreat to and have a reading and sleeping marathon. 😉 I really want to visit Banff, so this looks like a great recommendation!
@Dana It’s got a great location and it’s one of the few spots I’ve stayed in the Rockies with an authentic woodburning fireplace in the bedroom.
Yay! You got there! I wondered if that was where you stayed when you were out exploring in Kootenay. It must be really cozy and wonderful in the winter – especially in the lodge. I think your cabin looks even tinier than ours — we had a table and chairs and a sofa with a table/trunk. Glad you enjoyed it. We LOVED the food – I’d go back there again just to eat! (Someday I’ll get my own pictures and review posted. Too much happening this summer/fall!)