The Lodge at Bow Lake
Historic mountain inn meets intimate wilderness retreat. Communal dining tables, crackling fireplaces, wool blankets, and après-hike pisco sours. Convivial but never loud — think mountain-guide heritage with thoughtful modern restoration. The vibe is firmly analog: no TVs, no WiFi, no cell reception.
Request a Fireweed Room over a Whitebark Pine if you want more space and a daybed sofa — both are the same floor count of rooms but Fireweed is on the second floor (one flight less).
Why It Matters
2025 Michelin Guide Key recipient and one of the few fully all-inclusive mountain lodges in Banff National Park. Built by Jimmy Simpson in 1922, the property carries century-old mountaineering heritage. The strict no-tipping, no-WiFi philosophy is rare at this price point. Communal four-course dinners create a genuine sense of camaraderie among guests.
Originally built in 1922 by legendary Scottish mountain guide Jimmy Simpson — and long known as Num-Ti-Jah Lodge — The Lodge at Bow Lake is a fully restored 17-room alpine retreat on the shores of Bow Lake in Banff National Park, about 35 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway. The red-roofed log building is a landmark in the Canadian Rockies, and its new owners have refurbished it with genuine care: hand-hewn logs, stone fireplaces, curated interiors, and a strict no-tipping, no-WiFi, no-cell-service policy that makes a digital detox feel like the whole point. All-inclusive rates cover four meals a day, so once you arrive, you barely need your wallet.
Where You'll Stay
3 room types available
Fireweed Room
From CAD940 / nightEight rooms on the 2nd floor, making them more accessible than the Whitebark Pine rooms above. More spacious than the Pine rooms, with fresh pine accents, wool blankets, comfy reading chairs, and a daybed sofa — making them suitable for two adults plus one child (ages 6–16). Large ensuite bathroom. The nature-forward design brings the outdoors in.
Queen
Num-Ti-Jah Suite
From CAD940 / nightThe best room in the house — and they'll tell you that themselves. One suite on the top (4th) floor with three large windows pointing east, west, and south, giving you a panoramic sweep of the surrounding wilderness. Separate sitting room, queen bedroom, and a large ensuite with a Japanese soaking tub. Named after the lodge's original identity as Num-Ti-Jah. Be aware: this room requires climbing multiple flights of stairs, and there's no elevator.
QueenWhitebark Pine Room
From CAD940 / nightEight rooms on the 3rd floor of the lodge. Compact and cozy, these rooms smell of pine with hand-crafted furniture and soft touches from the modern restoration. Queen bed, ensuite bathroom. Good for two adults. Not the most spacious option, but the heritage character is strong and the views of surrounding peaks are there if you look out the window.
QueenThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Every afternoon from 3:30–5pm, guests gather in Jimmy's Living Room for fireside snacks, tea, and drinks. Books and board games available. Signature Pisco Sours are a standing fan favourite.
From June through October 2026, a collection of 30 paintings hangs throughout the lodge. Works are available for purchase by guests during their stay. The lodge hosts seasonal events and special exhibitions throughout the year.
Within 5 km of the lodge, thousands of hectares of backcountry terrain are accessible — from mellow tours to Bow Summit to multi-day Wapta Icefield traverses. The lodge operates guided ski touring weeks using ACMG-certified guides, and can arrange private guide bookings. Avalanche awareness required; the lodge is a member of Avalanche Canada.
Cross-country ski tracks start right outside the front door, with seemingly endless kilometres of groomed and untracked terrain through the meadows surrounding the lodge.
Snowshoe trails leave directly from the lodge's back door. Routes cross the frozen lake to Bow Summit or through the meadow behind Ram's Pasture.
Available July 1 to October 31. Catch-and-release only; no waders or wading boots permitted. Access is directly from the lodge's lakefront.
Paddling on glacier-fed Bow Lake is available during the summer/fall season. The lake's turquoise colour and surrounding peaks make this a memorable experience.
Multiple trails start directly from the lodge. Options range from easy lakeshore strolls to full-day mountain treks. Recommended routes include Peyto Lake Hike (short with exceptional views), Bow Glacier Falls (canyon views, bring a lunch), Bow Summit Viewpoint (6.8km round trip), and Helen Lake (moderate scramble to alpine meadow). The team lives in the area and gives personalised trail recommendations.
Just a 30-minute drive from The Lodge, Lake Louise Ski Resort offers world-class downhill terrain. Lodge guests receive access to discounted lift tickets at $135 CAD per person — purchasable during the booking process.
The lodge partners with Moraine Lake Bus Company for shuttle access to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Summer access to both lakes requires shuttles (no personal vehicle access to Moraine Lake). Lodge guests receive a 5% discount on shuttle bookings, plus a $15/person saving on the Lake Louise Summer Gondola add-on.
Far from city light pollution, Bow Lake's dark skies are exceptional in winter. Staff recommend bundling up with a headlamp after dinner to step outside — the Aurora Borealis is occasionally visible.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
There is no elevator in the lodge. All rooms require climbing one to four flights of stairs depending on room type. Not suitable for guests with mobility limitations.
Two massive fireplaces in the common areas — one in the Elkhorn Dining Room and one in Jimmy's Living Room. Fires are lit throughout the season.
The lodge intentionally offers no WiFi and has no cell reception. This is a feature, not a bug — the whole experience is built around disconnecting. A WiFi-free zone is maintained throughout the property.
Rates include all meals: four-course dinner at 6:30pm, full breakfast at 8am (summer) or 8:30am (winter), packed lunch to take on the trail, and afternoon après-hike/ski snacks. Non-alcoholic beverages included. Alcohol is extra.
Lodge gift cards available for purchase online. Valid for any season.
A wood patio with views of the Wapta Icefield and Bow Glacier. Used for drinks, patio dining, and special events.
Books and board games available in Jimmy's Living Room for guests to use at any time.
Staff live and work in the area year-round. They provide personalised hiking, skiing, and activity recommendations and can assist with shuttle bookings, lift tickets, and regional trip planning.
Staff are paid a fair living wage. Gratuities are neither expected nor accepted. A personal thank-you is welcomed.
Two day-use parking lots on-site. Guests are transported from the parking lot to the lodge entrance via golf cart.
Electric vehicle charging available on property.
A golf cart transfers arriving guests from the parking lot to the lodge entrance.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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