Treat yourself to an all-inclusive glamping getaway at Mount Engadine Lodge, in the heart of Kananaskis Country!
Partnership disclosure: Mount Engadine Lodge generously hosted us, but all words and opinions are my own. As an Expedia affiliate, I earn a small commission on bookings at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our family business!
With a secluded setting and divine dining, Mount Engadine Lodge is the perfect mountain getaway. And getting there is half the fun! Bumping along Spray Lakes Road, we are brought to a halt by some wild jaywalkers. Bighorn sheep, with lambs in tow, are lazily crossing the road. They look at us curiously for a moment – the feeling is mutual – before scrambling up the rocky slope on the left.
To the west, Spray Lake Reservoir glitters in the sun. The turquoise water is so inviting, we stop at Driftwood Day Use for a paddle. While it would be lovely stay on the water all afternoon, we don’t want to miss Afternoon Tea at Mount Engadine Lodge! It has become a family tradition to enjoy charcuterie and cake after adventures in Spray Valley Provincial Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.
It’s a beautiful summer day, so we grab a table on the deck and bask in the sunshine (while keeping an eye out for the moose that frequent the meadow behind the lodge). Everything is as delicious as we remember, and the chef even has gluten-free cake for me! After my second cup of tea, I wonder how we’ll have room for dinner, but between the fresh air and exercise, we have no trouble polishing off our plates a few hours later.
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Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge
The only thing better than going for tea at Mount Engadine Lodge is staying there. Delicious meals (hot breakfast, brown bag lunch to eat on the trail, gourmet dinner) and Afternoon Tea are included in your stay. All-inclusive lodging options include: lodge rooms, cabins, glamping tents, or a cozy yurt in the forest. The lodge is open year-round, so you can come stay anytime you need some R&R in the mountains.
Mount Engadine Lodge’s Glamping Tents
Our home away from home is a lovely glamping tent just steps from the lodge. Stepping inside, we are surprised at how spacious it is, and are thrilled to discover we have our own washroom (we thought we’d be trekking to the lodge to use their facilities)! The chandelier is an elegant addition, and when it cools off in the evening, we simply turn on the gas fireplace to warm up the tent.
Between teatime and dinner, we play cards on our private deck and enjoy the view. Across the creek, we can see Tent Ridge, our objective for the next day. It’s peaceful here, away from the hustle and bustle of town. The only sounds are the wind in the trees and birds chirping.
We are excited to unplug and unwind for a few days (there is no wifi, phone, or TV in the tent; but the lodge has wifi if you need to check your email), and be pampered. For me, the best part of glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge – besides a comfy bed and plumbing – is not having to cook or wash dishes!
Dining at Mount Engadine Lodge
Dinner brings everyone together in the dining room for a gourmet meal. Over a glass of wine, I chat with two families celebrating Grandma’s 70th birthday, a newly engaged couple, and a couple celebrating their anniversary. When I take in the surroundings and menu, I can see why this is a special occasion kind of place (though I would come here just to relax, too).
After an amazing mango-chipotle smoked salmon starter, we are served seared angus striploin with red wine jus, mashed potatoes, and veggies. My perfectly-cooked steak pairs nicely with the recommended wine, a Napa Valley Merlot. The girls demolish their meals in anticipation of dessert: a light, but decadent chocolate mousse.
Evenings at Mount Engadine Lodge
Evenings at Mount Engadine Lodge are for relaxing. The cozy lounge is the perfect place to read, mingle, and play board games. We sip by tea by the fire while a lodge guest tickles the ivories, adding to the atmosphere. Comfortably full and content, we lose all track of time. When the sun goes down, we head to our glamping tent for bed. We admire the dazzling night sky before settling in for the night and dreaming of adventures to come.
Things to do near Mount Engadine Lodge
Mount Engadine Lodge is your year-round base camp for adventure in the heart of Kananaskis. Located just minutes from gorgeous hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country ski trails, you won’t run out of fun things to do while staying here. During our stay in August, we paddled on Spray Lakes Reservoir and hiked Tent Ridge and West Wind Pass. Here are some more fun things to do while glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge.
Hiking
Some popular hikes in the area include: West Wind Pass, Blackshale Suspension Bridge (closed in winter), Black Prince Cirque/Warspite Lake (year-round trail), Tryst Lake, Chester Lake (year-round trail), and Tent Ridge (summer only). Going further: Rawson Lake (year-round) and Sarrail Ridge (summer only) in nearby Peter Lougheed Provincial Park are scenic dayhikes.
Note: Some of these trails are not suitable for winter travel as they are in avalanche terrain. Please see the recommended snowshoe trails below for winter fun.
Snowshoeing
In winter, enjoy one of many snowshoe trails near Mount Engadine Lodge: Black Prince Cirque, Hogarth Lakes, Watridge Lake and Karst Springs, Chester Lake, or Rummel Lake. Marl Lake (Elkwood Loop) and Rawson Lake are two more great options a short drive away. For more information, see our story: Where to Snowshoe Near Calgary.
Complimentary snowshoe rentals are included in your stay! Yaktrax (ice cleats) rentals are also available at Mount Engadine Lodge.
Cross Country Skiing
If you’ve got skinny skis, there are lots of cross country ski trails at Mount Shark, Pocaterra, Boulton Creek, Boulton Bridge, Elkwood Amphitheatre, or Elk Pass.
Fatbiking
Fatbiking is permitted on Watridge Lake Trail, High Rockies Trail (Note: The trail is closed through the Buller Slide Path from November 1 – May 1 for avalanche control), and the following Peter Lougheed Provincial Park snowshoshoe trails:
- Canyon Snowshoe
- Penstock Loop Snowshoe
- Lower Lake Snowshoe
- Marsh Loop Snowshoe
- Elkwood Loop Snowshoe
- Elk Pass Snowshoe
- Wintour Snowshoe
- Hogarth Lakes Snowshoe
- Frost Heave Snowshoe
- Graupel Snowshoe
- Snowdrift Snowshoe
- Sawmill Loop Snowshoe
- South Sawmill Loop Snowshoe
- Tailwater Snowshoe
- Frozen Toad Snowshoe
- Torpor Loop Snowshoe
For more information, please visit Alberta Parks | Fat Biking – Kananaskis Country.
Overnight guests can rent fatbikes at Mount Engadine Lodge.
Paddling
Canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) on Spray Lakes Reservoir, Lower Kananaskis Lake, or Upper Kananaskis Lake. If you’re more adventurous / experienced, you can SUP down Commonwealth Creek which flows in front of Mount Engadine Lodge. Ask lodge staff for the best place to put in.
Our story, Five fun things to do in Spray Valley Provincial Park this summer, has more summer trip inspo. Enjoy!
Know Before You Go
A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis. Purchase your pass online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx.
There is no cell phone service past Kananaskis Village, and the last chance for gas is Fortress Junction, so plan accordingly.
Getting Here
Mount Engadine Lodge is located 2 hours from Calgary, just off the Smith-Dorrien Trail. Get Google Map Directions here.
For More Information
To learn more about Mount Engadine Lodge, or book your stay, please visit: https://mountengadine.com/. If you’d like to earn Expedia points, book on Expedia.
1 comment
[…] Treat someone you love to a luxurious, all-inclusive glamping getaway at Mount Engadine Lodge. The glamping tents are heated and have their own bathrooms and decks, and the dining is divine. Breakfast, brown bag lunch, Afternoon Tea, and a gourmet dinner are included in your stay! No cooking, no dishes. Just relax and enjoy the stunning mountain setting. For information on our trip, read Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge in the Heart of Kananaskis. […]
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