Getting to Shadow Lake Lodge is half the fun
Shadow Lake Lodge is accessible by hike or bike in summer and fall. This means trekking anywhere from 14–26 km (8.7–16 mi), depending on which route you opt for.
The shortest and most popular access is via the Redearth Creek Trail, located a 15-minute drive west of the Banff townsite. The trail is 14 km (8.7 mi) long, with 440 m (1,443 ft) of elevation gain—enough ascending that your legs will burn at points.
In the summer and fall, you can bike the first 10.5 km (6.5 mi) on an old fire road. Bikes must be locked up at the rack at the end of the road. Then, a steep path takes you the last few kilometres to the lodge.
How to bike to Alberta’s Shadow Lake Lodge
With your gear and food strapped into a pack on your bike or back, the ride up Redearth Creek Trail is serene. Sunlight flickers between tall pine trees and fresh mountain air is plentiful. The only sounds will be your tires crunching over gravel and the many birds singing in the forest. Oh, and the sound of your huffing and puffing on the initially very steep uphill trail (all the more reason to rent e-bikes, which are permitted on the trail).
You’ll pedal past a rushing river and an old avalanche path. Be sure to wave at hikers coming down the trail. You’ll eventually make it to the bike rack, where you must lock up. This is a great spot for a snack.
Then, put on your pack, grab your hiking poles, and follow a steep trail that climbs up into the forest. Soon, you’ll find boardwalks built over meandering and muddy creeks that lead to your ultimate destination. After hiking about 3.2 km (1.9 mi) from the bike rack, you’ll see a dark round sign that reads: Welcome to Shadow Lake Lodge, hosted by the Alpine Club of Canada. You’ve made it.
Unplug and find your calm
In an alpine meadow under the rugged face of towering Mount Ball sits Shadow Lake Lodge. The accommodations take you back in time to an era where time was slower and the noise of modern life nonexistent.
It’s a remote self-catered backcountry lodge, managed by the Alpine Club of Canada. The lodge’s legacy dates to 1929, when the Canadian Pacific Railway constructed a modest log cabin near Shadow Lake. Nearly a century ago, the structure served as a basic shelter for adventurous travelers.
Today, that same original cabin remains and is used as a cozy guest lounge packed with board games and books, best enjoyed by the wood-burning fireplace. The facility also includes a shared kitchen, outhouses, showers (a true luxury in the backcountry) and 12 private cabins. Total capacity is 35 guests, and there’s an opportunity to meet other travellers if that’s your thing.
Life at Shadow Lake Lodge
The private log cabins are simple but inviting and sleep two to five guests. There are comfortable beds and a small desk. Each cabin has a heater and lights, thanks to a solar-power system.
Evenings are unhurried and quiet. Conversation about the day’s adventures flow easily among likeminded strangers making food in the lodge.
After dinner and dishes, some guests stay to play cards and laughter bounces off the dining room’s walls. Others read a book or watch the sun set from log chairs on their private cabin’s porches. Free from city lights, the sky eventually glows with countless bright stars. Nobody is thinking about checking their email.
