Winter Family Glamping Getaway at Mount Engadine Lodge, Kananaskis

Raise your hand if you like winter tent camping in the snow. Add that you've been skiing all day and you're feeling wet and cold. You're also ravenous from your adventures and dying for a hot cup of coffee or tea (in a warm place with heat!)

Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis

Now ignore the classic idea of winter camping and picture this instead:

You drive up to a beautiful backcountry lodge perched on a bench overlooking a snowy meadow with awe-inspiring mountains in the background. You then grab your bags and walk up to your tent where you'll be camping - to find out that your tent has electricity! It has heat! And it has a bathroom (with running water, a flush toilet, and a hot shower!) 

After getting cozy in your tent, you walk over to the main lodge where coffee, tea, and drinks are waiting for you in the toasty warm building. You sit down beside a fireplace and a charcuterie board is brought to your table with a decadent assortment of meats, cheese and crackers. And then you're served dessert! (And it's not even dinner yet.)

This is just the beginning of your stay at Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis where you can forget everything you thought you knew about camping. This is glamping, and it's pretty amazing!

Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge, Kananaskis

Afternoon tea at Mount Engadine Lodge

The Mount Engadine Lodge Experience

Mount Engadine Lodge was named one of the top 5 hotels in Canada and top 101 in the world for 2022 by Fodor's Travel! It is the only backcountry lodge in Alberta with drive-up to the front door access and the only front country resort I know of that offers an all inclusive stay with all meals provided. 

On our recent trip, we stayed in a glamping tent but you'll also find other accommodation options including cabins, lodge rooms, and suites. Well-behaved pets are more than welcome in the cabins, one of the suites, and in all of the glamping tents as well, and are allowed in the main lodge living room areas (so they don't need to hide in your room the whole time.)

There's also a yurt at Mount Engadine Lodge for those who really want to try "camping." The yurt is a bit more rustic and does not have indoor plumbing or heat (beyond a portable heater.) Inquire with the lodge directly if you want to stay in the yurt (which sleeps 4 people.)

The glamping tents have a king sized bed, pull out sofa, and are pet friendly

"Camping" is pretty decadent at Mount Engadine Lodge in these glamping tents

Mount Engadine Lodge Location

This front country lodge is located in Spray Valley Provincial Park on the Spray Lakes Road outside of Canmore. The Spray Lakes Road turns into the Smith Dorrien/Spray Trail (highway 742 south) and the Lodge is located beside the road to the Mount Shark trailhead past the Spray Lakes Reservoir.

Ski out the door at Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis

From the lodge you're a very short drive from Mount Shark, a popular Nordic Skiing destination near Calgary with a gorgeous trail system. Snowshoeing is also popular from the lodge with trails you can access without even driving to a trailhead.

This is just one of the trails you can ski or snowshoe from Mount Engadine Lodge

Family-friendly Mount Engadine Lodge 

Families will also feel very comfortable at Mount Engadine. There is a two bedroom cabin we've stayed at before, and you'll find pull out sofas in all of the glamping tents as well as in the suites attached to the main lodge.

It can be difficult to take children to upscale resorts, but it "works" at Mount Engadine. Our son has often retreated to the living room adjacent to the dining room between dinner courses, has been served dessert earlier in the past (when he finished his main course more quickly than the adults,) and has never had anybody look poorly at him if he needed something to occupy him at the dinner table (be it a book or electronic device.)

Family glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge

We've stayed at the lodge many times with our son and we've always felt very welcome hanging out together and playing board games in the common living areas of the lodge. The staff are very accommodating as well so let them know if you have a child who needs to eat dinner earlier so that they can get tucked into bed before dinner (which starts at 7:00pm.) On our recent trip, the kids were even offered a special meal (lasagna) if they didn't want to eat the same "fancy food" that the adults were eating.

The lodge also has Wi-Fi which helps if you have early bird risers (like my son) who would benefit from using a tablet or I-pad when they wake up at 6am!

Family time in the main lodge at Mount Engadine

Add that pets are welcome, and your whole family will be able to come with you to this amazing lodge. Nobody has to stay behind. - which would include the extended family if you want to bring the grandparents or other relatives for a big family getaway. There are plenty of room options here for other family or friends who may want to join you.

Just one of the cozy nooks where you can have afternoon tea or relax after dinner

There are no shortage of cozy places to curl up with a good book at this lodge

Five-Star Dining at Mount Engadine Lodge

All stays at Mount Engadine include afternoon tea (coffee, tea, charcuterie board, freshly baked apple strudel) a three-course dinner with soup or salad, main course, and dessert, breakfast the next day, and a packed lunch for your adventures.

And lest you worry about the "quality" of your food during your stay, this is 5-star dining at it's finest! Mount Engadine's Chef serves up gourmet meals that could include Eggs Benedict with smoked bacon for breakfast along with slow cooked bison ribs or rack of lamb for dinner. Even the sandwiches for lunch taste better than anything I could prepare myself with freshly baked bread and homemade cookies to take on the trail.

Want to drop in for afternoon tea?

The lodge accepts day visitors for their afternoon tea service. Advance reservations are recommended and the price is $35 per person. Call the lodge to inquire about availability.

Tea goes from 2-5pm with the last sitting at 4:00pm. 

A look at dinner during our recent stay at Mount Engadine Lodge

You'll be treated to 5 star dining at Mount Engadine Lodge

Fresh from the oven apple strudel is served every afternoon

More on the Engadine Glamping Experience 

The Glamping Experience includes:

• An "elevated" camping experience where you sleep in a canvas walled trappers tent, raised off the ground and accessed by a wooden walkway from the road.
  
  
• Sleeping in comfort! There's no sleeping bags or cold hard ground here. Each glamping tent includes one king sized bed which can be split into two twins if sharing with a friend. There's also a pull out sofa for parents who want to bring the kids along.
  
  
• Heat!!! You won't be shivering in your sleeping bag, waiting for the sun to come up when you camp at Mount Engadine. Each tent includes a propane fireplace to keep you toasty warm.
  
  
• Indoor heated bathrooms (in your tent!!) Each tent has hot running water, a shower, and a flush toilet.
  
  
• No Cooking!! Tell me about the last time you went camping and didn't have to lift a finger to do any cooking or camp chores? At Mount Engadine, the lodge prepares all of your meals from the comfort of the main lodge. All you are expected to do is to rest, to relax, and to enjoy.

The glamping tents at Mount Engadine are a short walk from the main lodge

A decadent breakfast is always a highlight of every stay at Mount Engadine Lodge

Cross-Country Skiing at Mount Engadine Lodge

Nordic Skiing at Mount Shark

We LOVE cross-country skiing at Mount Shark, just up the road from the lodge, but it's a long drive from Calgary for a day trip. However, Mount Shark is a whole lot closer when you stay at Mount Engadine Lodge overnight!

The Mount Shark Trails usually get groomed and freshly trackset every Thursday night, just in time for the weekend and the snow stays great here well through March and into early April. Most of the trails are fairly intermediate/advanced (you need to enjoy hills) but the Watridge Lake Trail is beginner-friendly and takes you to a pretty lake. There's one hill down to the lake that most novice skiers walk. Other than that, most of the trail is relatively flat with one practice hill near the parking lot that you'll have fun with on the return ski.

Cross-country skiing at Mount Shark near Mount Engadine Lodge

Hercules is our favourite loop for scenery

See a map of the Mount Shark Trails here and the grooming report here. To see the difficulty ratings of each trail, you can look at the map on the grooming report.

Stick to the green trails (Watridge Lake Trail and Draco) if you don't like hills. If you want to try a fun rollercoaster loop with big hills up and down, try Ursa Major. It's hard to be bored on Ursa and it has great flow! And if you consider yourself a strong intermediate skier who can handle ~300 metres of climbing, Hercules is my favourite loop. 

Watridge Lake Trail is a beginner-friendly trail at Mount Shark

Strong skiers can ski all of Ursa Major, Virgo, Pegasus, Hercules, and Orion in a 15 km loop. 

All trails (with the exception of Watridge Lake Trail) are one-way only so you'll never have to worry about running into anybody on a hill. The trails are also dog-friendly (on leash) so Fido can come with you to stay and play! 

Just "one" of the endless climbs on Hercules at Mount Shark

And NEW FOR 2024, you can now rent cross-country skis and everything you'll need for a day of Nordic skiing right from Mount Engadine Lodge. 

"The lodge has purchased 25 sets of cross country skis, boots, and carbon poles, catering to a diverse range of sizes. For a daily rate of $30, guests can rent a complete set of equipment on a first come, first serve basis. You can also reserve gear ahead of time via phone, but it must be picked up by 9:30am on the day of rental or it will be released.

In preparation for this launch, the lodge has invested considerable effort in refurbishing the 12 kilometers of surrounding scenic trails – all groomed and suitable for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat tire biking."

Skiing in the meadow below Mount Engadine Lodge

Skiing in the meadow below Mount Engadine Lodge

If you're looking for a short ski after checking into the lodge before afternoon  tea, I recommend checking out the trail that the lodge tracksets in the meadow below the lodge. On a bluebird day it is the BEST scenery you'll get!

Note, the meadow is only groomed and trackset when there is sufficient snow. Fortunately, Mount Shark is just up the road if you can't ski right from the lodge.

See a map of the trails available to ski from the lodge here.

Perfection on a bluebird day at Mount Engadine!

Ski out the door at Mount Engadine Lodge

No driving required to reach this ski trail at Mount Engadine Lodge

Easy ski touring along the Commonwealth Creek Trail near the lodge

The Commonwealth Creek Trailhead is just a short 1-minute drive up the road on the way to Mount Shark (you could even walk up the road from the lodge.)

The first 2 km is perfectly flat and very easy for skiing (or snowshoeing.) You'll most likely be following a packed snowshoe trail (unless it's recently snowed) and you'll know when to turn around once you reach a junction. Left starts to go downhill (and would end up at the highway.) Right continues up the Commonwealth Creek Trail, but quickly becomes too narrow and overgrown by tight bushes.

Turn around at the junction, and enjoy a pleasant 4 km return trip (perfect for a short day or an extension to a Mount Shark trip.) - and as long as avalanche hazard isn't extreme below treeline, this is generally a safe place to hike or ski.

I skied the meadow, the first 2 km of the Commonwealth Creek Trail, and most of Mount Shark in a day when I visited the area last month. It was very doable (and a gorgeous day of skiing!)

Gorgeous scenery on the Commonwealth Creek Trail near Mount Engadine

Not a bad location for an easy ski tour!

Other locations for cross-country skiing near Mount Engadine Lodge

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park - You'll find 50+ km of groomed trails trackset for cross-country skiing in this park. And chances are, if you're coming from Calgary, you'll drive past PLPP on your way to Mount Engadine Lodge if you take Highway 40 to reach the Spray Lakes Road. 

You'll find a trail grooming map at the link above.

The Canmore Nordic Centre - If you approach Mount Engadine Lodge from Canmore, you'll pass right by the official Nordic Centre. This is your best option if you need to rent skis. 

Cross-country skiing in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Mount Engadine Lodge is one of my favourite places to stay for a cross-country ski getaway near Calgary and it's a delightful experience when you can combine skiing + backcountry glamping + a decadent all inclusive resort experience all in the same trip!

Mount Engadine Lodge is also one of the incredible properties in the Charming Inns and Small Hotels of Alberta collection.

"Our collection of Inns and small hotels range from quiet back country lodges to luxury private cabin rentals, from romantic getaways with spas to family getaways, and pet-friendly hotels." - Charming Inns of Alberta

Every Charming Inn property is unique and you'll always get a special experience when you stay at one of these hotels.

You can read about more of their properties on their website at the link above. 

To make a reservation at Mount Engadine Lodge, visit the Mount Engadine Lodge website. All stays are based on double occupancy and children are discounted when you add them to your accommodation choice.

Mount Engadine Lodge is one of the properties with the Charming Inns of Alberta

Read more about our previous adventures staying at Mount Engadine Lodge

Yurt-Camping in Kananaskis at Mount Engadine Lodge

Family Winter Getaways at Mount Engadine Lodge 

Just Another Day in Paradise at Mount Engadine Lodge (summer)

Big thanks to Mount Engadine Lodge for hosting our stay for a night. As always, all words are my own and I wasn't paid to write this story.

The Mountain Getaway that every Parent Needs (without the kids!)

"Not all who wander are lost... 

                    some are just trying to escape the kids for a night."

My husband and I recently had a rare opportunity to actually run away for a night, and I'd forgotten how incredible it was to travel without a 12 year old chaperone! 

While I love family getaways, those of you who've met my high-energy child will know that he likes to be included in every single aspect of our collective lives including every conversation, every hike, and every adventure. He does not like to be left behind! - but we did it. We left him with grandma for a night and we ran away (mostly guilt free.)

The mountain getaway that every parent needs (without the kids!)

Our Stay at the Bear & Bison Inn in Canmore 

We spent the night in Canmore at the Bear & Bison Inn, a cozy country-style bed & breakfast, and one of the incredible properties with the Charming Inns of Alberta. 

We were decadently treated to a stay in a honeymoon king deluxe room with jacuzzi and premium view.

Welcome to the Bear & Bison Inn, Canmore 

Make yourselves at home: Here are the keys to the house

I was impressed with our lodging from the second we walked in the door where we were warmly met by the innkeeper himself, working at the front desk to check in each couple who'd be spending the night in his cozy inn. We were given keys to the inn and there was the instant understanding that we were being trusted as house guests (not "nameless visitors" at a large hotel.)

The front desk would close at 6:00pm but we could come and go as we pleased with our own keys, make use of the common areas, and mingle with other friends or guests who might be staying there.

And lest you worry about any "incidents" that may happen in the evening, we were also given a cell phone number to reach our host at any time.

A charming stay at the Bear & Bison Inn in Canmore 

Not your average cookie cutter hotel

Every property with the Charming Inns of Alberta is unique. They stand out from the generic hotels you find when traveling that look as if they were cut out using a "hotel cookie cutter."

Our suite at the Bear & Bison Inn had lush carpeting, decorative tile, large triangle windows, original art work, and even a living house plant for an extra homey touch. The bedding was all hypoallergenic with silk filled pillows and duvets, we had a  jacuzzi soaker tub, and we had a fireplace in our room. Add a decadent king sized bed, a deck with mountain views, and breakfast served to our room the next day, and I really didn't want to leave after just one night.

I could have actually spent all day in our suite. It really had everything one could need to be comfortable, and it was gloriously sunny with the large windows. I suspect I could have curled up in the large bed for hours just reading.

Extra amenities included:

• Free WiFi
• A communal outdoor hot tub (open from 8am - 9pm daily with towels included)
• Bath robes in each room

24 hours in Canmore, no kids invited this time! 

Breakfast in bed!

My husband and I hadn't stayed at a bed & breakfast by ourselves since perhaps our honeymoon! (shocking I know since we've been married for 20 years.)

My favourite thing about our stay was the in-room breakfast we were treated to during our stay at the Bear & Bison Inn. The 3 course crystal and china served breakfast was delivered to our room at 8:30am.

We were able to choose the time we wanted our breakfast delivered between 8:15 and 9:30am (with check out at 10:30.)

Our breakfast included:

•  A fresh pot of in-house brewed coffee
  
  
• Two glasses of orange juice 
  
  
• Fruit salad with watermelon (I have to stress the watermelon because it was perfect for a summer breakfast dish) 
  
  
• Yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit puree 
  
  
• Hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon (which sounds simple, but it was put together with a layer of cheese and was far more decadent than how I cook my breakfast bacon and eggs.

Breakfast in our glorious suite at the Bear & Bison Inn 

Tips for your own visit to the Bear & Bison Inn

Our stay really couldn't have been much more perfect but below are a few suggestions to ensure your stay is just as wonderful.

1. Bring your swimsuits for the hot tub. Somehow I missed that there was a hot tub so sadly, no soaking for us.
   
   
2. Bring your own alcoholic bevies to enjoy in your room. You can purchase non-alcoholic beverages and water at the inn but you'll want to bring your own bottle of wine or other drinks.We also brought our own wine glasses with us. You can get an ice bucket and ice to chill your wine from the inn.
   
   
3. Next time I'd bring a small bottle of sparkling wine to go with the breakfast orange juice. :)
   
   
4. Don't forget a good book, a fun game (we brought crib,) or whatever other items you enjoy when you can just chill without the kids. Next time I'm bringing a crossword puzzle to enjoy in bed with my coffee - which is the absolute dream of decadence for me. 
   
   
5. Dinner is not included in your stay, but I recommend going next door to the Iron Goat Pub & Grill which has amazing food. I suggest making a reservation online ahead of time. They have a beautiful outdoor patio as well when the weather is nice.
   
   
6. For lunch the next day there are many coffee shops in town where you can pick up sandwiches and snacks. I recommend either the Summit Cafe, located just down the road from the Bear & Bison, or my personal favourite, Beamers Coffee Bar, with two locations in town.

Plan for a decadent stay at the Bear & Bison Inn in Canmore 

Other Charming Stays across Alberta

The Charming Inns & Small Hotels of Alberta are a collection of 12 boutique independent inns and hotels found in locations across Alberta. The inn keepers of these properties work together to support each other and share resources.

A quick glance at their website introduces you to a wide range of experiences (because a stay at one of these properties is always more than just an overnight accommodation.) You'll find everything from honeymoon getaways to quick overnight escapes, mountain or wilderness retreats, private cabins, and spa vacations. Some of the properties are also pet friendly and many are very welcoming of children as well.

The common ground between each property is that you'll always find something distinctive, unique, and "local" in flavor. At the Bear & Bison Inn, the tile work around the bathtub was done to feature the Three Sisters Mountains in Canmore. The bison theme was pretty prominent as well in the art work and wall hangings. Everything about the property said "you are at a beautiful mountain getaway."

Unique and decorative Rocky Mountain touches in every corner of the Bear & Bison Inn

I also love that the innkeepers and managers are present at each property. Our innkeeper gave us suggestions for where to have dinner, what to order there, and gave us a tour around the inn when I asked about other rooms. He was keen to share the inn's history with me as well and I could tell that he was proud of what he was a part of with the Charming Inns.

We've only stayed at one other property with the Charming Inns, Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis, but now I know we definitely need to visit other lodges and inns around the Canadian Rockies. I've always loved the included meals that we get at Mount Engadine Lodge and the "all inclusive" experience where you don't have to worry about any other expenses after showing up at the lodge for the night. 

Now that I've experienced the bed & breakfast decadence at the Bear & Bison, I know that we need to visit other inns as well. I have my eyes on at least one other property, Baker Creek Mountain Resort in Banff, that I know has ski in/ski out access for cross-country skiing this winter, and I've located several other properties that would give us an amazing stay in locations across Alberta where we've always wanted to visit (never knowing where to rest our heads for the night.)

Finding a great place to spend the night is very important when traveling!

Our 24 hour Escape to Canmore

Our getaway was short, but we managed to sneak a quick trip in between family hiking on Saturday and work on Monday. My husband brought his laptop with him and took a couple of short work meetings monday morning before the drive home (couldn't quite take the entire day off) so we were happy for the WiFi at the inn.

Highlights from our trip included an adults only hike where I could chat with my husband (without my son wanting to jump into the conversation every other minute) and a "no kids invited" dinner out at the Iron Goat Pub & Grill. We got to choose the restaurant, we didn't have to go at 5:30, and we didn't have to worry about the menu (and whether it had hamburgers or spaghetti!) In fact, my husband and I treated it as a true adults pub experience and ordered purely appies to share for dinner - and it was heavenly (with dessert and drinks of course!)

Dinner out at the Iron Goat Pub & Grill 

I encourage you to plan a short getaway with your partner, spouse, or even a good friend. Take a break from the chores, the work, the errands, the cooking, and the relentless child care (no matter how old your kids are.) 

Give yourselves permission to eat out the entire time! Heck, go for a spa treatment, rent bikes or paddleboards, book a fun adventure tour, and enjoy a a night of uninterrupted sleep (getting up at whatever time you want!) - my son wakes up at 6am religiously every single day for reference.

We rested well, we slept well, and we ate well. And for tired parents, that's as close to heaven on earth as it gets! Add our quiet hike for two, an adults only dinner, breakfast in bed, and nobody waking me up at 6am! Paradise, right?

The mountain getaway that every parent needs (without the kids!)

Disclaimer: Our stay at the Bear & Bison Inn was hosted and I was compensated for this trip. As always, all words are my own and we would happily stay at this inn, and other properties with the Charming Inns of Alberta, in the future. 

The Best Early Season Trails for Cross-Country Skiing near Calgary

This might actually be the biggest reason I love November. My skis FINALLY come up from the basement. We get so excited for this that one year we were practically cross country skiing on dirt at Kananaskis Village  - and the last couple of years our ski season started in October!

Early season skiing in Kananaskis (October 30th)

For those who like cross country skiing, there are a few places you'll want to check out if you aim to ski in November. 

Surreal skiing with leaves still on the trees (October 4th, 2018!)

Early Season Skiing at Lake Louise

If you want early season grooming, Lake Louise is your best bet. The Moraine Lake Road is usually groomed and track-set by early to mid November, and it's safe to say you could plan an annual trip to Louise around the second weekend of November - and have plenty of snow to ski on. 

November skiing at the Great Divide, Lake Louise

The Great Divide is also normally groomed and track-set early November and is another early-season favourite. Being an old road, it doesn't take much to cover up the pavement for skiing (as is the same with the Moraine Lake Road.)

Note the Great Divide Trail will be closed to skiing for the 2025 season due to work on the Lake Louise Fire Break. See the Parks Canada report here.

Most of the other trails still need a few weeks before they're ready to go.

Current Trail Conditions for Banff and Lake Louise

Parks Canada Trail Brochure for Lake Louise 

2024-2025 update: The Great Divide Trail will be closed to skiing this season for Lake Louise fire guard work. This will also include the Upper and Lower Telemark Trails along with the Peyto Trail.

Cross-country skiing at Lake Louise

Read: Cross-Country Skiing at Lake Louise: Where to Ski and Stay this Winter

Read: Bed and Breakfast Cross-Country Ski Getaway at Lake Louise

Stay overnight for easy access to the trails at Lake Louise at the Baker Creek Mountain Resort! The resort has cozy cabins and suites, many with kitchenettes and all with fireplaces (including wood burning fireplaces in the cabins.) The largest cabins fit up to 5 people.

By staying at Baker Creek, you'll also be very close to either the trails at Lake Louise or the trails near the Town of Banff (perfect for accessing the Cascade Fireroad as well.) 

November skiing in Paradise Valley at Lake Louise

Early Season Skiing in Banff 

We love skiing the Cascade Fire Road up the Cascade Valley in Banff in November. It requires very little snow to be enjoyed on skis and we've often skied it on the third weekend of the month (which happens to be the same time as the Banff Santa Claus Parade.) 

The trail starts from the Lake Minnewanka Parking lot and follows a section of the Lake Minnewanka loop road (closed to vehicles in winter) before heading up the Cascade Valley. We usually ski as far as the bridge and back for a 14 km return outing. (We got our son up here a few years ago by towing him up with a rope. He loved the ski down.)

Current Trail Conditions for Banff and Lake Louise

Parks Canada Guide to the Cross-country ski trails in Banff

November on the Cascade Fire Road in Banff

And for some early season ski touring in Banff, check out the Boom Lake Trail. It usually gets a lot of snow early in the winter, and we've skied it as a family.

Read more: Family Backcountry Ski Touring in Banff (Boom Lake Trail) 

Snowy bridge on the Boom Lake Trail in Banff

Early Season Skiing in Canmore

The Canmore Nordic Centre is one of the few places where you'll find snow making for x-country trails. This means that the main Banff Avenue Trail can often be open for skiing quite early in the season.

Until the ski trails are ready to go, you can also try a few laps around Frozen Thunder, an early season trail that uses snow from last season, stored up through the summer. This trail is open to the public in the afternoons after 12:00 every day starting in October, and is usually around 2 km in length.

Most years Frozen Thunder is open by October 18th - 20th. 

Early season skiing on Frozen Thunder at the Canmore Nordic Centre

Note, trail fees are charged to ski Frozen Thunder as well as on the groomed trails once tracksetting has begun.

Current Trail Conditions for the Canmore Nordic Centre


Read more: Family Cross Country Ski Trips - Our Favourite Destinations Near Calgary

Cross country skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre 

Early Season Skiing in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis

This has become my absolute favourite place to ski before December and our destination is always the Kananaskis Lookout Trail.

The Lookout Trail is only 1.7  km long (one way) but packs a punch with 200 metres of height gain. Climb up on skis and you'll feel your muscles the next day. 

The biggest challenge is that the Lookout Trail is accessed from the Pocaterra Trail, and there's no easy way to reach the junction of the two trails. The shortest way starts with a long climb up the Whiskey Jack ski trail for a total distance of 6 km (one way) to the top of the Lookout from the Boulton Parking Lot. (And Whiskey Jack also gains 200 metres of height, so you're looking at a 400 metre climb!)

Kananaskis Lookout in November 

Fortunately, in November, there's a "secret" way to reach the Lookout without having to do the climb up Whiskey Jack. Skiers can sneak on to the Pocaterra Trail from an unmarked pull off on Highway 40 (past the winter road closure, hence why you have to do it in November before the highway closes on December 1st.)

The unmarked pull off to access the Pocaterra Trail is roughly 8 km past the Highway 40 winter gates on the right hand side. You'll be well on your way to Highwood Pass before you reach it. Pull over, cross the little bridge, and ski for a short distance (less than half a kilometre) until you reach the official Pocaterra Trail. Turn left and ski for another half a kilometre (at most) to the Whiskey Jack Junction - where you'll marvel that you've made your way to the TOP of Whiskey Jack by car and not by climbing.

Skiing on the Pocaterra Trail in November

From the Whiskey Jack junction it's another half a kilometre to the Lookout Junction. And your grand total distance for the day will be no more than 6 km round trip. (with no more than 250 to 300 metres of height gain.)

I've done this as a "girls day out" and we've done this as a family outing a couple of times now. The first year with our son, we carried his downhill skis with us in case he needed them for the descent. He started out in cross-country skis and would have been fine in them the entire time, but this was one of his first ski trips of the season and there was a LOT of fresh powder (with no recent grooming.) His cross-country skis were also really skinny and we knew it was still early season (with questionable conditions.)

Downhill skis for the decent worked very well in the end, and my son had a blast ripping down the steep trail through all the fresh snow.

Downhill skis were a lot of fun on the way down from the lookout

And if you have more energy, you can also ski across Pocaterra and Tyrwhitt to Elk Pass, and then ski down the Elk Pass Trail (with a car shuttle) ending much lower than you started. We did this last winter as a family and it was a lot of fun! 

Kananaskis Fire Lookout in November

Want an easier day? You can just ski the Pocaterra Trail from Highway 40 (skipping the lookout) and turn around anytime you want. 

The Pocaterra Trail is a very easy early-season ski for kids

Current Trail Report for Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park ski trail brochure


Read More: Winter Adventures in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis 

Kananaskis Lookout in November

Early Season Skiing in the Spray Valley, Kananaskis

One November we spent a weekend at Mount Engadine Lodge and skied to Watridge Lake while there. The snow was thin and the trail a bit sketchy, but we made it and I don't think we hit any rocks. Wait until early December and you should have no problems with the ski to Watridge Lake.

The trail is 7.5 km round trip and is relatively easy for families, being a wide open road with gradual elevation gain.

Current Trail Report for Spray Valley Provincial Park


Read more: Family Winter Getaways at Mount Engadine Lodge, Kananaskis 

Early season skiing to Watridge Lake in November

And for a great early-season ski touring experience, try Chester Lake, which we have done as a family.


Read more: Introduction to Family Backcountry Ski Touring  (Chester Lake, Kananaskis) 

Getting a free tow across the meadow below Chester Lake (my son used downhill skis to descend this trail)

Early Season Skiing at Kananaskis Village

Kananaskis Village is a nice close options and I've skied here most years in November. Don't expect "amazing" snow until later in November, but if you really want to get out, there should be some track setting up by early December at the latest (packing before then.)

Usually we just start with the short Terrace Loop or extend to include a loop around Kovach for a nice easy 5 km outing.

Desperate for snow early one November at Kananaskis Village

Trail Brochure and map for the Kananaskis Village and Ribbon Creek Ski Trails

Current Trail Report for the Kananaskis Valley 


Read More: Exploring Ribbon Creek in Kananaskis on Skis  (one of our favourite trails!)

Read more: Family Cross Country Ski Trips - Our Favourite Destinations Near Calgary

Once groomed, we love the Ribbon Creek Ski Trail

Early Season Skiing at West Bragg Creek 

West Bragg Creek is another close option and I've definitely skied here most Novembers (and in October a couple of times.) You won't usually get "amazing" snow until later in November, but the volunteers here are superstars at getting the trails ready to go as soon as they can.

October XC skiing at West Bragg Creek 

Official Trail Conditions for the Greater Bragg Creek Trail Association

Trail Maps for West Bragg Creek 


Read more: Family Cross Country Ski Trips - Our Favourite Destinations Near Calgary

Early season skiing at West Bragg Creek close to Calgary