Far from highways, screens, and room service, a new breed of wilderness retreat is reshaping Canadian adventure. These aren’t resorts. And they’re a far cry from bare-bones backcountry shelters. These are boutique lodges deep in nature—where high-alpine ridgelines, frozen lakes, and boreal trails begin right out your door, and the food is as unforgettable as the views.
Across Canada, these “basecamps” blend the rugged demands of true backcountry access with surprising luxuries: chef-prepared meals, down duvets, hot saunas, and curated solitude. Whether you’re ski-touring in British Columbia, paddling Northern Ontario’s wild waterways, or hiking the Chic-Choc Mountains of Quebec, these lodges offer more than comfort—they offer connection, grit, and reward.
This is the new Canadian wilderness experience. Welcome to the best of both worlds.
Skoki Lodge – Banff National Park, Alberta
Built in 1931, Skoki Lodge sits in the heart of Banff National Park, surrounded by craggy peaks and hidden alpine lakes. It’s an 11-kilometre hike or ski from the Lake Louise Ski Resort, which means every guest has to earn their way in—hauling gear through mountain passes and snow-choked valleys.
There’s no electricity. No running water. But inside, there’s sourdough baking, oil lamps flickering, and mountain hospitality served in generous portions. After a long day on the trail or skintrack, you’ll return to a hearty dinner (think bison stew and wild berry pie) and a shared table of fellow adventurers.
Summer brings wildflowers and long hikes into the Slate Range. Winter brings champagne powder and quiet ski touring terrain that’s still uncrowded in a world of over-subscribed destinations.
Mount Engadine Lodge – Kananaskis, Alberta
Tucked deep in Spray Valley Provincial Park but accessible by road, Mount Engadine Lodge offers a rare combination of remote access and creature comforts. Unlike traditional backcountry lodges, here you’ll find private suites, glamping tents, and even Wi-Fi (though you won’t miss it). The lodge’s panoramic dining room looks out on open meadows where moose and elk wander through fresh snow or summer grasses.
Come winter, guests strap on snowshoes or skis to explore a labyrinth of trails and frozen valleys. Summer brings ridgeline hikes and mountain biking routes straight from the lodge’s doorstep. The afternoon tea spread—complete with cheese boards, smoked meats, and baked goods—could rival that of a luxury hotel.
Yet there’s nothing artificial about it. The lodge feels embedded in the landscape. You come for the access, but you stay for the silence, the stargazing, and the way the wilderness lingers on your skin and breath long after you leave.
Purcell Mountain Lodge – Golden, BC
If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping to a remote mountain hut where the only sounds are wind and skis slicing fresh snow, Purcell Mountain Lodge is that dream realized—with better food. Perched at 2,200 metres on a ridgeline in the Columbia Mountains, the lodge is only accessible by helicopter from Golden, BC. Once you land, you’re enveloped by true alpine wilderness: glaciers, meadows, couloirs, and deep powder bowls.
Winter here is all about guided ski touring and snowshoeing in untouched terrain. Summer brings ridgeline hikes and golden larch forests. Inside, you’ll find home-cooked meals, local BC wine, and warm common spaces ideal for swapping stories with a small group of fellow adventurers.
Purcell is not just a lodge; it’s a philosophy. Leave the car, the road, and the Wi-Fi behind. Gain clarity in a place where every step is earned, and every meal feels like a reward.
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Island Lake Lodge – Fernie, BC
You don’t have to helicopter into Island Lake Lodge—but it still feels like a world apart. Surrounded by the Lizard Range in southeastern BC, this iconic lodge is best known for its winter cat-skiing operation. But in summer, it shifts into a quiet, luxury hiking basecamp.
Guests spend the day hiking to alpine lakes, wandering through old-growth cedar forests, or taking in summit views from the peaks above. And when the sun sets, they return to a fine-dining experience that includes craft cocktails, a wine cellar, and seasonal menus that pull from the Kootenay bounty.
With a full spa, yoga options, and luxury suites overlooking the lake, it’s one of the most refined ways to immerse yourself in BC’s mountains—without sacrificing the wild.
Smoothwater Wilderness Lodge – Temagami, Ontario
Hidden in the ancient forests of Northern Ontario, Smoothwater Wilderness Lodge sits at the edge of Temagami’s legendary canoe routes. Built to blend into its surroundings, the eco-lodge offers private cabins, hearty meals, and a wood-fired sauna perfect after a long day of winter snowshoeing or paddling.
In winter, 45 km of groomed trails crisscross through pine forests, over frozen lakes, and past ice-wrapped waterfalls. In summer, the lodge is a launch point for week-long canoe trips into Wabakimi or Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater parks.
Temagami is one of Ontario’s last true wilderness frontiers—and Smoothwater is your gateway to exploring it, with just enough warmth and comfort to come back to.
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Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs – Gaspésie, Quebec
If you want alpine terrain without flying west, head to Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs, perched at 615 metres in the namesake mountains, offers some of Eastern Canada’s best access to wild peaks, with over 60 km of trails to explore by ski, snowshoe, or foot.
The lodge is only accessible by shuttle, and once there, you’re completely off-grid—no phones, no distractions, just snow-laden forests and the occasional moose sighting. The lodge itself is warm, welcoming, and well-appointed, with expert guides on-hand and meals made from local fare.
With views of untouched wilderness out every window, it feels more like a secret alpine hideaway than a hotel.
Fogo Island Inn – Newfoundland
At the edge of North America, on a wind-battered rock in the North Atlantic, sits Fogo Island Inn (pictured top) perhaps Canada’s most breathtaking remote retreat. It’s not your typical backcountry lodge, but it earns its place on this list for sheer remoteness, rugged terrain, and its deep connection to community and place.
The Inn’s modernist architecture rises from the granite like a beacon. Inside, every detail—from the handwoven quilts to the cod-inspired cuisine—is rooted in local culture. Hiking trails wrap around the island’s wild coast, icebergs drift past the windows, and guests are invited to meet local guides, artisans, and storytellers.
It’s part backcountry, part cultural immersion—and 100% unlike anywhere else on earth.
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