The Kilmorey Lodge • A Perfect Base in Waterton
Few resort towns can compete with the natural beauty of Waterton. The quaint hamlet has been providing a place of solace for Canadians and international visitors for decades. It’s a worthy destination for any mountain enthusiast, but there are few places to stay in this small hamlet. Set along the banks of the crystal-clear waters of Waterton Lake on Emerald Bay is the Kilmorey Lodge.
The Kilmorey Lodge is iconic in Alberta and has been operating for nearly a century. It’s easily our favourite place to stay in what is arguably our favourite spot in Canada. The comfy atmosphere, modern amenities, and excellent location along the lakeshore make it an easy decision for a stay.
The lodge is a member of the Charming Inns of Alberta, which is a wonderful collection of charming small properties around the province. We’ve stayed at several properties, such as Mount Engadine, Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins, and Baker Creek, and have always appreciated the intimate stays.
The Kilmorey Lodge
A Century of History
Waterton Lakes National Park was Canada’s fourth national park and became a park in 1895. The original Kilmorey Lodge was a small rooming house built in 1926 by Ida Kemmis, which lasted until 1933 until a fire. It was quickly rebuilt in 1935 by the same builders as the Prince of Wales Hotel and then expanded in 1940. This would come to be known as the Kilmorey Lodge.
The lodge has been beloved by park visitors and has presented many visitors a chance to connect with the resplendent natural beauty of the park. Over the years, the hotel found its way into ghost stories, with Mrs. Kilmorey wandering the hallways.
Unfortunately, the lodge was destroyed by another fire in 2009. It took over a decade of work to reopen the doors in 2022. However, guests now have a modern stay in comfortable rooms, which is a bit of a rarity in Waterton.
Waterton Lakes National Park
The endlessly charming and naturally gifted Waterton National Park offers a way to escape the crowds of Alberta’s more popular mountain towns. Its resplendent natural beauty was enough to inspire the creation of the first International Peace Park in collaboration with the US National Park Service.
For over a century now, the park has been a wonderful spot for Albertans, Canadians, and international visitors to recreate in the Canadian Rockies. The park is modest in size when compared to neighbouring Glacier National Park (USA) or Banff National Park.
Its beauty isn’t much of a secret in Alberta, and the park does see crowds on a beautiful summer weekend. The trick to enjoying the park, though, is to spend the night and visit on a weekday. With a finite amount of accommodation in the park, it’s easy to enjoy the mountain solace in the evening.
The Kilmorey Today
The new Kilmorey Lodge sits closer to Emerald Bay than its predecessor for better views and access to the lakeshore. While inside, custom woodwork throughout the building pays homage to the original Kilmorey. It provides a wonderful sense of familiarity. A cozy wood-panel lobby welcomes guests with big leather seats and a gas fireplace.
At only 18 guest rooms, you’re guaranteed to have an intimate and quiet stay along the shore of the lake. Many of the rooms have sweeping views of the mountains and Emerald Bay. While most are on the second floor of the hotel, a few accessible rooms open directly onto the lake.
Our hotel room was plenty spacious, with a large bathroom, a seating area, a desk, and a bedroom. We both found the beds to be extremely comfortable and had a great night’s sleep in the quiet hotel.
The room had everything we needed to unwind, from robes to tea and biscuits. After a day of exploring the mountains, it was particularly nice to have a modern bathroom with toiletries.
Most notable is that the hotel is one of the few in the park to remain open year-round. It’s tough to not love the ability for a little mountain escape even in the winter, when everywhere else is closed.
The lodge’s location made evening lakeshore walks an easy habit after a full day in the park. There’s something about that stretch of shoreline — quite possibly the most peaceful spot in Alberta — that fills us up every single time.
A Great Spot To Eat
There are two great places to eat at the Kilmorey Lodge: the Lamp Post Dining Room and the Ram’s Head Pub. The Lamp Post Dining Room is a fine-dining experience with both an interior and a patio deck overlooking the lodge’s lakeside. While the Ram’s Head Pub offers a more relaxed environment that is open year-round.
As it was summer, we enjoyed a great meal on the patio in the dining room. Our meal was the perfect complement to a gorgeous summer day. We ordered the Kilmorey salad, French onion soup, truffle fries, wild Pacific Salmon, and a hearty local pork chop. Of course, we finished the whole thing off with a big piece of carrot cake.
The Kilmorey Lodge offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7 am to 9 pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 10 pm on Friday & Saturday.
Why You Should Stay
We’ve stayed in most of the accommodation options in Waterton and the Kilmorey is our favourite. We’ve stayed in the Prince of Wales Hotel and much prefer the Kilmorey’s rooms. The modern amenities, an on-site quality restaurant, and extremely comfortable rooms make it an easy choice for a place to stay in Waterton.
We love its lakeside location and that it’s an easy walk into town. There is some great activities right at the doorstep whether that’s a walk out to Cameron Falls, kayak on Emerald Bay, hike up Bear’s Hump, or boat cruise down to the border of Glacier National Park.
Practical Info
The hotel regularly sells out in the summer, so it’s best to make reservations well in advance—the best way to book is direct on their website. The hotel is one of the few places to stay in Waterton in winter. Unfortunately, the hotel is not pet-friendly. The Kilmorey Lodge is the first hotel you pass as you enter the townsite in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Things To Do In Waterton
While we love exploring our home, Banff, Waterton Lakes National Park has a very special place in our hearts. The park centres around one of the most magical lakes in the world and offers an amazing array of hikes and wonderful natural sights to behold. We love exploring the park and the little town! If you’d like to see some of the amazing things you can do in Waterton, check out our guide.
