Num-ti-Jah Lodge, Bow Lake

When Jimmy Simpson, founder of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, first came upon Bow Lake in 1898, he described it as the most beautiful thing he'd seen in Canada. Over the last century and more thousands of guests, visitors and artists have agreed with his words.

Num-Ti-Jah Lodge overlooks one of the most dramatic scenes in the Canadian Rockies. Out of Bow Lake the mountains rise steep and rugged. The blue ice of Crowfoot Glacier hangs suspended over the turquoise water. To the west, the craggy peaks of the Great Divide tower over Bow Glacier.

Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is located 40 kilometres north of Lake Louise on Highway 93 in Banff National Park, Alberta, a three hour drive from Calgary International Airport.

Jimmy Simpson's first guests at Bow Lake traveled in by horseback. They came to experience a part of the world that few had seen. Hospitality was a tent for sleeping in, wool blankets for warmth, and meals cooked on an open fire. In today's modern world, there are still only a few basics that we all need at the end of the day: shelter for the night, a hearty meal, and a warm bed. At Num-Ti-Jah Lodge the emphasis is on the simple life, with 25 rustic rooms to stretch out in, hot showers any time, thick duvets to crawl under, and no phones or TV in the room to interrupt your thoughts. (NB. Outside communication via satellite telephone and fax is available).

The Elkhorn Restaurant (pictured left) is the heart of the Lodge. The large stone fireplace built by Jimmy Simpson warms the room in the evening. On the log walls, Jimmy's collection of animal heads are evidence of an adventurer's life in the mountains. The lodge's chefs strive to use fresh, seasonal, local and organic produce whenever possible. Meals are served in a warm, relaxed, friendly atmosphere. There is also the Nashan-esen Lounge, a cosy relaxed lounge with a pool table, and The Library, a place to relax with a drink in a deep couch in front of a large stone fireplace or to read a book from the lodge's extensive library. The restaurant and lounges are all fully licenced.

The Num-ti-Jah Lodge is not a luxury lodge, but offers a warm and friendly stay in fantastic surroundings, and is the perfect base for exploring this area of the Canadian Rockies on foot. The lodge produces a leaflet - Hikes around the Num-ti-Jah Lodge - with full details of distances, elevation gain and loss, and a full description outlining what you will see and the degree of difficulty of each walk.