Here’s Why You Should Visit Cozy, Beautiful Emerald Lake Lodge
A rustic log cabin sits amongst evergreen trees, reflecting in the greenest lake I’ve ever seen. Toasted marshmallow clouds hover above granite mountains. Raindrops create ripples in the water, blurring the mirror effect. After years of dreaming, I’m finally at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park.
A bridge leads to the stone-and-wood framed building across the water. As you walk farther down the peninsula, you’ll find historic Emerald Lake Lodge, built in 1902 by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
My partner, Tavis, and I are here to celebrate our five-year anniversary. Without cell service, televisions or in-room Wi-Fi, it’s the perfect place for us to reconnect.
As the only accommodation on Emerald Lake, the lodge features 85 suites in 24 chalet-style cabins. In autumn, the tranquility of the setting is tangible: relaxed visitors wander the trails, sip cocktails in the lounge and read by the roaring fire.
Our King Suite is a recently renovated signature room boasting a log-burning fireplace, wood-paneled ceilings, a modern bathroom and a patio with views of the alpine lake.
Yellow and orange leaves cling to branches and coat the paved pathway between the cabins. We walk through the vibrant foliage to the main lodge for dinner. In the Mount Burgess dining room, we enjoy a farm-to-table three-course culinary experience with a view of the lake. I order seared scallops with watermelon and chili oil, and buffalo ribeye with scallion bacon butter. Tavis indulges in pork belly with jalapenos and red wine vinaigrette, and elk striploin with roasted tomatoes.
For dessert, we split a molten chocolate fondant. The food is divine; the wine list is impressive. We share a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and toast to a rejuvenating weekend getaway at one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
In the morning, we unwind our road tripping muscles with a soak in the steaming outdoor hot tub. Golden sunshine dances in the clouds and echoes upon the still water. The calm lake is a canvas for the forested hillsides and picturesque peaks.
After breakfast—a buffet of waffles, sausages, eggs, fresh fruit, smoothies and pastries—we leave the coziness of our accommodation to hike the 5.3-kilometre loop around Emerald Lake.
Snowflakes from an overnight flurry gather on the bridge. We stop to admire the glass-like water and frosted array of trees. The meandering, hard-packed gravel trail is mostly flat and offers plentiful photo opportunities of the stunning lake. At the half-way point, the path becomes technical with slick, slippery roots and muddy sections.
After lunch, we trek the 1.6-kilometre out-and-back trail to Hamilton Falls. It’s an uphill jaunt that wakes up my legs. We arrive at the bottom of the falls and continue up switchbacks to a better view of the cascading water. The flowing water has carved a channel into the rock, the smooth stones sculpted into natural art. On our descent, we catch glimpses of the aquamarine lake far below through dense trees.
We warm up with cinnamon and ginger sangria in the lounge, then roast s’mores at the outdoor fire pit. A staff member builds the fire and tells us about how he cold plunges into the lake every morning. I prefer the feeling of the flames that warm my hands as I toast the marshmallows and melt the chocolate into a gooey treat.
We gaze at the lake for as long as possible, until we have to leave. At different times and perspectives, the water appears seafoam green, bright teal or impossibly sky blue. It’s mesmerizing, soothing, ever-changing, and I know immediately—I will be back to see it again.
Getting Here:
- Yoho National Park is in British Columbia.
- Emerald Lake Lodge is approximately 35 kilometres from Lake Louise.
- Visitors need a valid Parks Canada pass.
When You Go:
- Guest parking is down the road from the lodge. Park and collect your bags, then call for a shuttle. Personal vehicles are not allowed across the bridge to the lodge.
- Parks Canada maintains the road to Emerald Lake. It’s plowed and accessible year-round for vehicles with winter/mud and snow tires.
- Day parking is available for visitors, who are also welcome to dine in the restaurant and use the facilities at the main lodge.
- Start the loop around the lake to the west for the best views—and turn back at the halfway point if the terrain beyond is too difficult for your group.
- Canoe rentals close for the season after Thanksgiving weekend.
- In the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails are available.
This article was sponsored by CRMR
Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR) is an innovative family company dedicated to providing world-class dining, hospitality and service to visitors from around the world.
