6 ladies on a hiking trip into Tonquin Valley. After a hard days hiking, to be greeted by Cable and Sara was indeed a pleasure. I don't know if you will be lucky enough to have a turkey dinner when you get there, but I am sure whatever awaits will be worth the trip.!
And the row across the lake in the morning to get a start on the trail out--PRICELESS!

I have been coming to Kable and Sarah's (Glorias too) lodge for the better part of a decade, always on skis in the winter. It is always one of the highlights of our year for myself, my kids and the many people we have helped introduce to this beautiful spot. There are not many places this remote that one can access so inexpensively; on foot, horseback or by skis.

Maintaining this site is no mean feat given the restriction on access posed by its remote location and Parks Canada regulations. After a very challenging day long ski over Maccairib Pass, often in blowing snow, there is nothing that can describe arriving at this camp and moments later being treated to home made hot cinnamon buns straight from the oven, sitting by the wood burning stove. All the food is home made and wonderful - hearty, family style in the best possible way. The proprietors, Kable, Sarah, Gloria and their friends have become our friends and we enjoy reaquainting ourselves during this annual trip.

This is a rustic horse camp built many decades ago and is without electricity, telephones, central heating, indoor plumbing and running water. The cabins are from an era when people used their rooms for sleeping and spent the rest of their time in the outdoors outdoors, or with friends in the cooking cabin. Nevertheless, they are comfortable, the down duvets wonderful, and we have never had trouble sleeping!

Visiting this lodge is one of the very few ways one can access the backcountry of Jasper in winter and unfortunately such places are likely to ultimately disappear as there is no way that they can adequately reward their owners for the incredible amount of time and effort it takes to keep them open. We have been privileged to visit this place and to have gotten to know its owners. We will be coming back annually as long as they will have us, and we can still make the trip in.

We have visited this location 3 times, twice on owners horses and once on foot.
The Lodge is very Rustic. Do not expect a 5 Star Hotel. This is an Authenic Backcountry Packers Lodge. The adventurer is travelling through big country, that allows no margin for errors in trip planning. Safety and Leave no Trace are those things the owners follow closely to ensure the visitors experience is authentic.
This is a family owned busines. They are friendly and caring and a delight to talk too. Keep in mind this is a remote location hard to equip, adminster and maintain.
The food is good, the scenery some of the best you will see in the national parks.
We plan to return in 2011.
We have travelled extensively in the National Parks in US and Canada and have found nothing to come close to the Rustic experience of Tonquin Valley Backcountry Lodge.
You may contact us at 403 678 4330 to learn more about what this area of Jasper National Park has to offer.

Les and Kathy Punshon. Canmore Alberta.

First of all, the Tonquin Vally Backcountry Lodge isn't what I would normally call a hotel. You don't check in, get a room key, or have your bed turned down with chocolates on the pillows every night by bellboys expecting tips. I think that defining it as a hotel on this website could lead to a false sense of expectation of what the Lodge is.

What the Lodge is, though, is an experience. My family has organized winter trips with friends skiing into the Tonquin Valley for several years now, and it has become an annual tradition we all look forward to. Nestled on the edge of Amethyst Lake, the Lodge is a series of smaller bunking cabins, with a larger central cabin for eating and relaxing at the end of the day. Getting away from the rest of the world to a virtually untouched valley in the middle of the Rockies for a weekend is truly the best way to 'get away from it all', and staying at the Lodge is the best way I can think of to experience this.

The staff are wonderful and very accomodating to food requests, which is incredibly impressive as all food must be carted in by snowmobile up a river during the winter. The food is absolutely fantastic too.

I absolutely cannot think of a better way to experience the Rocky Mountains than staying at the Tonquin Valley Backcountry Lodge, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.