Nestled within the heart of Yoho National Park, Cathedral Mountain Lodge offers luxury log cabin accommodations surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. Blending rustic elegance with modern amenities and conveniently located near several local landmarks such as Lake Louise, the lodge offers a perfect getaway for adventure-seekers and relaxation enthusiasts alike.
Location
The Cathedral Mountain Lodge is situated in one of the most beautiful and convenient locations one can find. Located directly in the Yoho National Park, the Cathedral Mountain Lodge is surrounded by the beautiful Canadian Rockies and the banks of the Kicking Horse River. Iconic destinations such as Emerald Lake and Takkakaw Falls are a mere ten-minute drive away, while Moraine Lake and Lake Louise can be reached in around forty minutes.
Before staying at Cathedral Mountain Lodge, we read some reviews noting that there is a railway not too far from the property, which can create noise. To be honest, we did not find it noisy at all. You may hear it a bit by the river, but in the lodges themselves, we could enjoy absolute serenity. The view of the Upper Spiral Tunnel from the river’s edge is a delightful bonus for train enthusiasts.
Check in experience and first impressions
The lodge consists of 31 adorable cabins, each with a private entrance and a breathtaking view of the mountains. Check-in is located in the main lodge, with the Riverside Dining Room. We found all the staff incredibly kind and more than happy to show us around the lodges and key features we should be aware of. The complimentary parking at the lodge was a welcome bonus given the prices we’ve been seeing on the trip. However, visitors driving to the lodge should note that you will require a National Parks Pass.
Upon first glance, everything about the guest cabins and the dining room is rustic yet extremely classy and tasteful. Walking up to our log cabin, we could tell right away that we would love the property. The view of the mountains behind the cabins, and all the greenery around was absolutely incredible. The cabins are also bright, decorated with classic Canadian décor, and filled with plenty of windows to allow you to appreciate the outdoor scenery at all times. Yes – the property is expensive. In fact, our room was 695 + tax. However, as we note below, this is a one-of-a-kind experience.
The rooms
The lodge is absolutely stunning and was probably one of the best places we’ve stayed in throughout our trip. In particular, we loved the small and thoughtful touches the owners had put in for each cabins. For example, the room came equipped with picnic baskets and blankets, wine glasses and an ice bucket. We thought that was a really special touch and items we’d love to have enjoyed if we had just a bit more time in Yoho. The rooms are also heated with a beautiful gas fireplace, adding to this property’s charm. The front porch has two chairs where one can sit back and enjoy a book or a glass of wine as we enjoyed the scenery around us.
The lodge itself was absolutely spotless clean – so much so, you’d never think you were in the middle of the woods. In fact, I’d have to say it was cleaner than a lot of luxury hotels I’ve been at across the world. Each of the cabins do have a very rustic and cabin feel, however this isn't overwhelming by any means. For example, tile work in the bathroom includes designs of bears and elks, and the pillows on the beds also feature outdoor themed designs.
A word of caution for potential visitors: the lodge’s popularity and premium pricing mean rooms get booked rapidly. We reached out in March for a mid-August reservation and found only a twin bed room available. While not our first choice, the room was spacious and comfortable for both of us. This experience underscored the need to reserve well in advance, particularly during peak season.
Facilities and experiences
The Cathedral Mountain Lodge is truly meant to allow its visitors to marvel in the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Forgoing televisions and telephones ensures guests immerse themselves in the beauty of the Rockies – and you will find that you don’t need those things at all. With the beautiful river beside you, an amazing restaurant on site, and plenty of activities offered to guests, electronics are easily put aside.
Guests of Cathedral Mountain Lodge receive complimentary canoeing at Moraine Lake. All you have to do is pick up your pass at Moraine Lake Lodge and show the pass at the canoe rental location. If you plan to canoe, this is a great deal because canoes are usually $150 per hour. We really wanted to participate in this experience (and are so happy we did it)!
The property also offers s’mores kits for pick up at reception at an additional charge of $10. Graham crackers, chocolates and marshmallows intended to serve 2-3 people can be enjoyed at the outdoor fire pits located right by the Kicking Horse River. We actually didn’t get to do this because we were incredibly full from our dinner at the property. However, we absolutely love the idea and will be sure to take part in the activity next time.
One thing worth mentioning is that Cathedral Mountain Lodge only has one wheelchair accessible room/lodge. So if you need this room, ensure you contact them right away to check for availability. Our room was not accessible, which made things difficult at times. For example, to get to your lodge, you have to climb a short set of stairs – unfortunately, there is no way to get your luggage up inside the cabin without lugging it up that staircase. While not particularly difficult – I imagine this could be frustrating if you’re not travelling light, or are travelling with kids and their required items (booster chairs, car seats, etc.).
Dining
As for breakfast, the property does offer continental breakfast in the formal dining space. We were quite satisfied with the breakfast, especially given the property’s location. When we walked in, we found a buffet spread of baked goods, fruits, cereals and yoghurts amongst other things. Additionally, we were able to select from the chef’s two specials of the day – pancakes served with fresh fruit and jam, or eggs (cooked your way) with potatoes, bacon and fresh fruit. We personally enjoyed both options and found the portions to be quite large for the two of us. We also found it quite nice that items such as the whipped cream were definitely freshly made instead of store-bought products.
While the property does not offer a full seated lunch option, they offer takeaway packages for a small charge. We did not pursue this option as we had a busy day and planned lunch stops along the way – however we did appreciate that the property offered this option if you were planning to adventure our for a long hike or drive.
Now as for dinner, we were really impressed with the quality of the food. Especially considering the fact that you’re located in the middle of the woods, we were genuinely impressed that the food was almost as satisfying as the view itself. For appetizers we enjoyed duck confit with gnocchi and brandy cream sauce and the day’s special – salmon tartare. As for main course we enjoyed a seafood pasta as well as arctic char. All the food was delectable and featured local sources and sustainable product ingredients. You can really see that the lodge’s Chefs take inspiration from local traditions and surrounding nature for all menu items. Likewise, all portions were a really great size and we (surprisingly) even ended up passing up the opportunity to get dessert.
Overall scores:
Her Take:
Overall, I absolutely loved Cathedral Mountain Lodge and would say it is cemented in my memory as one of the top hotels/lodges I've ever stayed at. From the natural beauty of the property, the amazing service, the cleanliness of the room, and of course the incredible offerings provided by the property – there were very little to no negatives I have to say about the property. Probably one of the things I loved the most about the property is the fact that it allows you to enjoy all the scenic locations without feeling like you're in the middle of a touristy area – which unfortunately Banff does feel like at times. Yes, it is expensive – but I found it worth every penny and cannot wait to come back here. Absolute 10/10.
His Take:
Cathedral Mountain Lodge expertly balances rustic charm with modern comforts. I had forgotten by the time we arrived that there wasn’t a television in our room and I was about to undergo a digital detox. But it didn’t matter, the stunning backdrop of Cathedral Mountain and listening to Kicking Horse River was all I needed. This was my favourite hotel or lodge on our trip and on our drive back I already began planning our next trip here.
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