Songs have been written, landscapes painted, and stories penned about the splendour of Lake O’Hara. But not until you see it will you believe such beauty really exists.
Our History
In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway was looking for a way to promote passenger traffic through the West. To attract a more adventurous bunch, they constructed a network of bungalow camps and backcountry lodges, providing alternative accommodation to the large, popular hotels like the Banff Springs and Château Lake Louise.
The Lake O’Hara Camp was one of the most elaborate, with its collection of sleeping cabins in an alpine meadow. But demand was high, and an expansion was needed to keep up. The railway chose a new spot to build — the peninsula on the lake itself.
In 1925, loads of massive Douglas Fir beams were hauled up the horse trail from Wapta Lake on sleds. Construction on the main Lodge commenced that winter. By 1926, Lake O’Hara Lodge took shape on the precipice of the peninsula where it stands today.
The following winter, the existing collection of log cabins were horse-drawn down from the alpine meadow to the shore of Lake O’Hara, surrounding the Lodge in a horseshoe shape. These became the Lodge’s eleven Lakeshore Cabins. The main building at the alpine meadow was then handed over to the Alpine Club of Canada, which still operates it as the Elizabeth Parker Hut.
Who We Are
Today, Lake O’Hara Lodge is a small family business with deep roots that keep us grounded to the same principles that have guided our operation for decades. The same group of families has owned and operated the business together for nearly half a century.
Stewardship
Three generations of families have looked after Lake O’Hara Lodge, which might be why we think of ourselves as stewards of this beautiful place — and why we take environmental conservation so seriously.
This legacy and mindset impacts every decision we make with the goal of ensuring that the pristine beauty of Lake O’Hara will be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.
Local Support
We purchase seasonal produce from local producers, minimizing the environmental costs of food transportation in addition to supporting our local economy.
We support our regional vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, which allows us to boast a drink list composed exclusively of British Columbia wines, beers, and gin & tonics.
We contribute financial and in-kind support to local charities and various academic and government institutions.
Area Conservation
We use native plants and shrubs saved from the road allowance to reclaim disturbed areas.
We offer financial support to the Lake O’Hara Trails Club, which helps to maintain the area trails.
We inform our guests and visitors of the area about trail etiquette to encourage hikers to enjoy the trails responsibly.
Impact Reduction
We make use of energy-efficient lighting wherever possible.
We have an extensive in-house recycling program for paper, glass, tin, and plastic products to ensure nothing is wasted.
We avoid phosphorus-based laundry and dishwashing soaps which can be hard on aquatic environments.
We use high-performance membrane technology to treat our wastewater to the highest degree.
Partnerships
We’re stewards of the area alongside the Lake O’Hara Trails Club, and Parks Canada. Together, we operate Le Relais, the day shelter, available to all visitors of Lake O’Hara. Here, hikers, campers, and Lodge guests alike can purchase snacks and beverages, get trail advice, attend talks by local experts, and find shelter on rainy days. All proceeds go to the LOTC, which helps to maintain the renowned Lake O’Hara trail network.
In 2013, we partnered with this group to construct the beautiful and welcoming bus shelter at the bottom of the Lake O’Hara road. We are proud of our partnerships with the area stakeholders.
