After being re married at Lake O'Hara this August, we travelled to the Mt Shark heliport for the exciting heli trip into Mt Assiniboine Lodge for our two night / three day honeymoon. Two friends, Pierre and Kelly Lee from Ontario, joined us at Lake O'Hara and Mt Assiniboine Lodge and Provincial Park.

Having riden helicopters many times in the past, it was exciting for me to see this 8 minute flight through Margaret's neophyte helicopter eyes. Exciting, fast and safe, it was GREAT ! The support staff at both ends of the flight were well prepared and well versed in the needs of both the guests and the safety of the flight crew.
It just so happened, that the official Reopening of the Lodge, was occuring just after we arrived so we were able to listen to interesting speakers and stories of the history of the lodge over the last 100 years or so. The new leasees are the third in the long family line of operators.

The entire lodge has been revamped by Parks BC over the last year. Moving the lodging part, refurbishing the logs in both the main building and the residents' building and then putting the entire complex on a firm foundation. They did a great job. The place is like new after decades of use. Aaaand, they have a composting toilet for your use and enjoyment.

We spent three days hiking, viewing landscapes, walking high ridges and low meadows on well defined trails that are very well signposted and distance set on the signs. The wild flowers were profuse and vivid. They were everywhere.
In a word, especially for families, and even with little people of 4 or 5 years in age, this a great place. If you are into high mtn pitons and death defying drops, you can do that activitiy. If you want meadow walks and meadow flowers, you can do that and/or walk the ridges either guided or non guided day trips.

Our foursome went out to Windy Ridge for the full day hike. I chose to walk into Og Pass and into the adjacent National Park only to find on my return, that the area was / is Restricted access due to Grizzly activity. Oops. But no signs off trail to indicate any such restrictions.
I was very fortunate to find, laying in the heather and sedge grasses, a 40 lb rock with approximately 35 or 40 fossiles protruding from the rock. It is the most amazing fossil rock I have ever found in some serious hunting in BC / Alberta and the NWT's.
After a 6.5 km carry back to the Lodge, I learned that such rocks cannot be removed from Provincial Parks. News to me, so I donated the fossil rock to the Assiniboine Lodge folks who now have it settled over the fire place mantel in the dining room. Check it out, it's still in the provincial park.
The huts adjacent to the Lodge are wonderful for greater privacy than the lodge rooms. And then, if you don't want the "Lodge / hut " experieince, you can check out the Nissan Huts. $25 / person / day, a common cooking cabin very well stocked and you can fly in and out, your gear and your feet if you choose. Great for families and little folks as well.

Margaret and Kelly Lee walked out through Wonder Pass and down past Marvel Lake back to the parking lot. But . . . it was the wrong parking lot, The heliport was another 2 km further, and up hill. Ooops and ouch after about the previous 25 km walk out.

All in all, a very great experience for our 2nd time around honeymoom under the full moom those nights as well.
What a life.

This place is a rare gem of hospitality and location. The same family has been running it for over 20 years and possesses the knowledge and lore of the location to provide guests with amazing hospitality and a very fine outdoor experience. I have been here multiple times and my family has partaken in its splendor since it opened. Bring your boots, your walking sticks (or skis if in winter) and your passions for great vistas, wildlife, wild flowers and wild tranquility.

The Internet wifi is lousy because, thankfully, there is none - and no cell coverage either. Electricity to charge your devices is available only in the lodge.

If you don't enjoy the outdoors and don't tolerate the privations of the wilderness, don't consider this place. Leave it for those who do.

My wife and I spent 3days/2nights recently at the Mt. Assiniboine Lodge in British Columbia. The entire experience was exhilarating. Starting with the helicopter flight in from Canmore, Alberta, the views passing over numerous peaks and valleys was breathtaking leading to a thrilling landing on a helo pad high in the Canadian Rockies. We were escorted from the pad by one of the lodge staff while our luggage was transported to our room. The lodge has several rooms in a main building and several out cabins - we chose to stay in one of the cabins. Couldn't have made a better choice. The main building also houses the dining area where breakfast and dinner are served daily and a buffet is set up for making lunches. Our cabin was outstanding - a large, somewhat primitive, one room log cottage with a comfortable queen-sized bed and a twin. Only cold water is available in the cabin but a shower/sauna building with hot water is nearby. Hot water is brought in a bucket to the cabin every morning as well. The meals served in the dining area were superb, even more so considering the challenge of cooking in such a remote environment. The lunch buffet was substantial. No one goes away hungry. By far, the most impressive part of the experience was the opportunity to experience the amazing rugged scenery and wildlife that surrounds the lodge. Impossible to describe in words, hopefully the attached photos help. Lots of hikes available for hikers of any ability from strolls through meadows to scrambles up steep mountain slopes. Good fishing in the area as well. The staff was fabulous and each day, guided hikes are offered for those unaccustomed to the area. All in all, if your looking for an unusual adventure, somewhat rustic but with some very sophisticated touches, not to mention a wild ride in and out via helicopter, this is the trip to do.

We spent 3 nights at Assiniboine Lodge. This was our second trip there. The Renners who manage the lodge our amazing. Everything is so well organized and their knowledge of the mountains, the flora, fauna and history is second to none. This is truly a jewel of the Canadian Rockies.

The food at the lodge was great. There is not a selective menu, rather incredible food is brought out on platters for the tables. After a day of hiking everything was excellent. If you want lots of choice on a menu than stay in Calgary.

This time we stayed in a cabin. What a great experience! Eash cabin has a sink with cold, and I mean cold, water. The bathroom is an outhouse. This said warm showers are available in the shower building which also has a sauna. None of this was an issue and infact added to the whole experience.

I understand that next summer the lodge will not be open due to the need to renovate portions of it. This is a real loss as I think we will becoem annual visitors to Assiniboine Lodge.