4 Winter Lodges in Canada
Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge (pictured)
Quebec
By Day: With chutes, glades and even alpine terrain, the Chic-Chocs are home to the East�s best and most consistent backcountry touring and snowshoeing. Bag a peak, stomp out a tour, carve some turns and then relax in the spa.
By Night: At 615 metres in elevation and only accessible by a track-equipped van, anticipate seclusion, but not roughing it. The four-star lodge pampers guests with hotel-quality rooms and amenities and chef-prepared meals.
Directions: Five hours northeast of Quebec City, off Highway 132.�
Beta:�$498 for two nights;�sepaq.com
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A.O. Wheeler Hut
British Columbia
By Day: In one word: skiing. Receiving an average of 10 metres of snow per year and surrounded by perfectly spaced trees, rolling glaciers and towering peaks, the Wheeler is poised for knocking off Roger Pass classics such as Asulkan Pass, Seven Steps of Paradise, Saphire Col and many others.�
By Night: The hut is just far enough from the highway for the forest to absorb the noise, but not too far to carry in a case of beer under one arm. One of the largest of all ACC huts, the propane-powered log cabin sleeps 24 people � bring your earplugs.
Directions: Located a two-kilometre ski or snowshoe from the Trans Canada Highway near Rogers Pass, an hour east of Revelstoke, BC.
Beta: $25 per person/night for ACC members, $36 per person/night for non-members;
alpineclubofcanada.ca
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Falcon Trails Resort
Manitoba
By Day: Falcon Trails� own 25 km of groomed cross-country ski trails link into the expansive South Whiteshell trail network. Snowshoers can wander endlessly among Manitoba�s Canadian Shield country of lakes and trees. Plus, there�s a plowed area for skating, a biathlon range, ice fishing and a small ski hill.�
By Night: Choose from a dozen cabins, sleeping anywhere from four to eight people, at the resort node, but for a more reclusive experience stay at one of the High Lake eco-cabins. Off-grid and sustainably built, they�re a 2.5-km ski or hike from the lodge.
Directions: Located in Whiteshell Provincial Park, near the Manitoba-Ontario border, 1.5 hours east of Winnipeg.�
Beta:$110 per night;�falcontrails.mb.ca
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Tatchu Adventures
British Columbia
By Day: Hanging on the western edge of Canada � next stop, Japan � the wild and wavy Pacific occupies centre stage at Tatchu Adventures. Perfect your technique at surf and SUP camps that take advantage of the empty waves right out-front or within a short walk or boat ride of the lodge. You can also beachcomb for Japanese glass floats or hike part of the Nootka Trail, a 60 km coastal trail.
By Night: Think Ewok Village, complete with treehouse cabins and a boardwalk network leading through old growth rainforest to a sauna, wash huts and the main lodge.
Directions: Drive to Vancouver Island�s Gold River, four hours northwest of Victoria, then boat or fly to Nootka Island.
Beta: from $1,500 for three nights;�tatchuadventures.com
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Keep posted � more great lodges posted weekly!
This article originally appeared in our Winter 2013 issue.
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