Shadow Lake is one of my favourite places to visit in the Canadian Rockies with a gorgeous backcountry lodge located near the lake. Spending a night or two at the lodge breaks the trip up into two very reasonable travel days with an optional free day spent exploring around the beautiful lake.
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| Shadow Lake Lodge in backcountry Banff National Park |
Introduction to Shadow Lake Lodge
The Alpine Club of Canada maintains a large collection of backcountry huts, cabins, and shelters across Southern Alberta and BC, but Shadow Lake is their first luxury property offering private cabins rather than one shared cabin where you sleep slumber party style all together with other users.
Shadow Lake Lodge is located in Banff National Park and is easily reached year round in a 14 km trip distance (one way) via the Redearth Creek Trail, located 20 km west of the Town of Banff. The trail can be hiked, skied in winter, or biked year-round (using a fat bike in winter.)
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| Private cabins at Shadow Lake Lodge |
Once at the lodge, you'll find yourself in a beautiful meadow half a kilometre from Shadow Lake. The lake is easily visited on skis or snowshoes in the winter while spending a night or two at the lodge. It's also the perfect distance for a short summer stroll after dinner with a couple beverages purchased from the lodge.
In previous years, stays at Shadow Lake Lodge included meals prepared by a chef on site, and each cabin was equipped with beds that had sheets, blankets, pillows, etc.
As of the 2025 operating system, all stays are now self-catered, greatly reducing the cost and making this lodge much more affordable for guests.
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| Come for a ski getaway, return for a hiking vacation! |
Self-Catered Stays at Shadow Lake Lodge
Here is what you can expect from a stay at Shadow Lake Lodge:
- Private heated sleeping cabins that accommodate between two and five guests each. Guests have their choice of a standard cabin with two double beds, or an upgraded cabin with two queen beds or a king bed. There is also a family cabin that accommodates five people.
- A self-catered kitchen shared by all guests. Bring your own food, but everything else is provided including dishes and cooking supplies.
- Heated bathrooms with showers (quite the decadent treat in the backcountry!)
- A shared fireside cabin with cozy sofas and chairs, board games, coffee tables, and a fireplace.
- A full-time custodian on site to assist with any needs you may have.
- Wine, beer, other alcoholic + non alcoholic beverages, snacks, chocolate bars, chips, etc. available for purchase. Bring a credit card.
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| Bluebird day skiing to Shadow Lake from the lodge |
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| Evening at Shadow Lake in July |
A Lodge with Private Cabins, Showers, and Hot Water
Nothing says decadence in the backcountry like hot water and sleeping in a real bed off the ground! Take a hot shower when you arrive and enjoy a comfortable sleep in your own private heated cabin with two double or queen sized beds per cabin. (A couple of cabins also have king beds and there's one family cabin with a single bed, bunks, and a double bed.)
There are no bathrooms in the cabins, but the heated bathroom cabin is a short walk away where you'll find toilets, sinks with hot water, and showers. (Bring your own towel and shower supplies.)
Photo below shows a queen cabin when blankets and linens were provided. Now you must bring your own sleeping bags. Pillows will be available as long as guests bring their own pillow case. (You will not receive a pillow if you don't bring a case.)
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| Bring your own sheets and blankets or sleeping bag |
Alternately, I recommend bringing a fitted sheet and lightweight down blanket for each bed.
Other than the private cabins, there are two shared cabins, one for meals, and one with a fireplace for common gathering. Come winter the shared fireplace cabin is a very cozy place and it is loaded with a variety of games and a large reading selection (books + outdoor magazines.)
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| Playing games and relaxing in the fireside cabin |
Enjoying the fully stocked kitchen where you can prepare meals as a family or group
This isn't a backcountry hut. There is a large industrial professional kitchen which is more than comfortable for group cooking. It even has running potable water!!
There are propane stoves, ovens, and even a propane refrigerator guests are allowed to use.
Note please be mindful that you could potentially be sharing the refrigerator with 30+ other lodge users. Plan for a backcountry trip with a few special treats that need to be refrigerated. Don't pack in multiple cases of beer!
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| A look at the Shadow Lake kitchen |
Overnight Stays at Shadow Lake Lodge
In previous years, the lodge required two night stays from their guests. That has changed now, and you can stay for one night. There is no minimum two-night requirement.
The lodge is also now open 7-nights a week.
All stays are priced based on a cabin fee (for 2-5 people.) So if you visit the website and see $350.00, that is per cabin, and not per person.
For information on rates at the lodge, visit the Shadow Lake website. And I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter where they promote their specials.
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| Skiing into Shadow Lake with light overnight packs |
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| Girls Overnight Trip to Shadow Lake Lodge |
Year-round Access to Shadow Lake via Redearth Creek
Shadow Lake is easily reached year round via the Redearth Creek Trail. The trail can be hiked, biked, or skied as a long day trip (14 km one way,) but I recommend splurging on an overnight stay at the decadent Shadow Lake Lodge. Most people won't appreciate a 30 km round trip day.
The Redearth Creek Trail follows an old road for 11km to the junction with Pharaoh Creek and then you continue for a final 3km on a narrower trail to the lodge. In winter you can bike the entire way to the lodge (fat bikes only please,) but in summer you must lock your bikes up at this junction and hike the final 3 kilometres.
The link above goes to the All Trails website and shows the full route to the lodge.
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| Beautiful backcountry skiing to Shadow Lake Lodge |
Skiing into Shadow Lake Lodge
The first 11 kilometres is a gradual climb on a wide snowmobile packed trail. Skiers may have to herringbone sections near the bottom and it's an exciting ski back down, requiring upper intermediate ski abilities. Note the trail is not trackset and this falls under the category of light ski touring or backcountry skiing. Most skiers manage just fine though with regular cross-country skis. Personally I prefer to use my light touring XC skis with metal edges so that I have more control on the steep hills.
Note if you plan to ski to the lodge, staff use snowmobiles to access the lodge in winter. They will pack down the trail, but you will also have to dodge the ridges that they create in the snow, and it can make for some sporty conditions for descending.
Hikers will also leave boot holes if the snow is soft, and fat bikes could leave ruts as well if the snow isn't firm. All in all, expect a variety of conditions!
Fortunately, worst case scenario, you can always strap your skis to your packs and start walking if you get nervous, scared, or find the trail beyond your ability.
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| Skiing up the wide Redearth Creek Trail |
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| The exciting return down Redearth Creek |
The final 3 kilometres starts with a steep hill that most skiers will walk (up and down,) carrying their skis. It takes about 15 minutes to get up the hill, and then the trail flattens out again up top. This section however, is rolling with short punchy climbs and steep twisty descents (in both directions.) On my recent trip we walked large sections both ways because the snow was very fast and the trail is quite narrow (making it hard to snow plow.)
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| Sporty conditions on the upper trail to Shadow Lake Lodge |
Overall, the trail gains approximately 400 metres of height, spread out over the 14 km. Plan for 4 to 5 hours to ski to the lodge depending on conditions.
I recommend packing a pair of ice cleats in case the trail is icy and you end up hiking up top. Also, plan a system for strapping your skis to your packs. It will come in handy for the steep hill up from the Redearth Creek junction.
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| Make sure you can strap your skis to your packs for easy hiking when necessary |
Hiking, Snowshoeing, or fat biking to Shadow Lake Lodge
Hikers are welcome on the Redearth Creek Trail as well in winter, but please walk beside any ski tracks and make sure you are not creating divots with your boots. (If so, you should be prepared to snowshoe because holes in the trail are dangerous for skiers coming down steep hills.)
Bikes are also allowed on the Redearth Creek Trail. In winter you can use a fat bike for the entire distance to the lodge. In summer, you can not bike the final 3 kilometres of the upper trail and you must lock your bike up at the junction where there are bike racks.
As with hiking, please make sure you are not sinking or leaving ruts in the trail. Again, it is very dangerous for skiers descending steep hills.
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| Our first family trip to Shadow Lake Lodge many years ago |
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| The trail is usually well packed down for easy hiking |
Avalanche hazard on the Redearth Creek Trail
From the Parks Canada website: "From the trailhead, two avalanche paths cross the trail at kilometres 3.3 and 4.4. Between kilometres 6.3 and 8, avalanche paths from Copper Mountain exist above the trail. Do not stop in these areas."
The first two paths are signed, so stop when you reach the slope, listen and look. If all appears clear, you'll be safe to cross (even if something starts to slide while you're crossing.) They're short paths and they typically would only run in late season during times of high avalanche conditions. I also recommend skiing across one at a time, and then waiting on the other side for each member of your group.
The third area starts after the campground you'll reach at kilometre 6. Stop at the campground to have snacks, eat lunch, or address clothing issues. I was told this avalanche slope only slides every 100 years, so it's not a huge risk. Caution should always be taken though along with a good steady pace through this section. You can stop when you reach the junction to the lodge at the start of the big climb.
If you're concerned about the avalanche risk, avoid visiting the lodge when risk is high. You can check the avalanche conditions for Banff here.
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| The first two avalanche paths are signed so you won't miss them |
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| Summer hiking to Shadow Lake Lodge via Twin Lakes and Gibbon Pass |
Day Trips from Shadow Lake Lodge
If you've booked two nights, there are several options for day trips you can take from the lodge.
Top choices of places to explore from the lodge will include:
Shadow Lake - Ski or snowshoe in winter, hike in summer (no bikes) to visit the iconic Parks Canada red chairs near the end of the lake. Or for a shorter outing, stop at the bridge when you reach the lake.
In the summer there's a trail that you'll follow to the end of the lake along the shoreline, but in winter skiers and snowshoers just head straight across the meadow from the lodge and along the creek to reach the lake.
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| Our first visit to Shadow Lake Lodge many years ago |
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| Skiing to the bridge at Shadow Lake |
It takes an hour round trip to reach the red chairs from the lodge on skis. The link above goes to the All Trails website and there is no avalanche danger if you stop at the red chairs. Do not proceed to climb into the cirque beyond.
Note you will need snowshoes in winter, so if you're hiking to the lodge, strap a pair to your backpack. Postholing your way down the trail won't be a good way to make friends at the lodge with the skiers.
And in summer you won't find the red chairs unless you follow the map at the link above and take the short little side trail. It's unmarked and we walked right by it on our first visit.
Also in summer you can proceed further beyond the end of the lake to the cirque. You'll see the trail continue on the All Trails map.
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| It's an easy ski or hike to the Red Chairs at Shadow Lake |
Ball Pass Junction - From the lake, cross the bridge, and then take the trail heading towards Egypt Lake and the junction with Ball Pass. There is a campground at the junction, and there is no avalanche danger if you stop at the junction. The link goes to the All Trails website.
Last winter it took my group 3 hours round trip for this outing on Nordic XC skis, but we had to turn around before reaching the junction when we ran out of ski tracks to follow ahead of us. If nobody has done this trail recently, you'll need snowshoes (and even if it's been packed down, it's not an easy ski trail and you'll want wider skis suited for light touring.) Skins could also be very useful!
In summer you can proceed beyond the junction to Haiduk Lake. It's 16 km round trip though so make sure you have the energy.
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| Ski touring towards the Ball Pass Junction |
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| Whether you ski or snowshoe, the scenery never ends around Shadow Lake |
Gibbon Pass and Little Copper - Gibbon Pass makes for an excellent winter day trip from the lodge on snowshoes or makes for a great ski tour if you've brought full backcountry skis with skins. It is only 6 km return with 450 metres of height gain.
Don't continue past the monument at the top of the pass. There would be avalanche terrain if you were to proceed.
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| Gibbon Pass on a September family visit to the lodge |
In summer, you can climb the little peak above the pass called Little Copper. This is the best viewpoint over Shadow Lake and is a magnificent trip in the fall when the pass is covered in golden larch trees.
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| Summit of Little Copper late September |
Booking a Trip to Shadow Lake Lodge
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| Individual cabins at Shadow Lake Lodge |
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| Skiing across the upper meadow towards the lodge |
Return for Summer or Fall at Shadow Lake Lodge
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| Shadow Lake in July |
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| Autumn hiking above Shadow Lake from the lodge (photo from Little Copper summit) |
