We stayed 3 nights at Moraine Lake Lodge in a deluxe cabin #9. This was a splurge but for location and experience it was well worth it.
Our cabin was on the upper level in a block of 2 cabins furthest from the main lodge. We had a view between 2 cabins & over the lower row of cabins to the lake. As a bed & breakfast proprietor I expected this standard of accommodation to provide a small bar fridge and fresh milk for tea & coffee, not coffee whitener. Also for a 3 night stay I expected regular replenishing and adequate supplies of tea & coffee.
The location is superb. There are walks for all levels of ability. The lakeshore walk is a gentle stroll, the Rockpile for the CAD$20 bill view of the 10 peaks is easily achieved by most people. The longer walks to Consolation Lakes, Larch Valley etc are sometimes ranger led. When we were there we had a day of rain so only had time for one longer walk and chose an unaccompanied walk to Consolation Lakes. To take this walk groups of 4 people are recommended for protection against bears. It was simple to wait at the trailhead and soon meet other walkers. It was an easy walk after crossing a boulder field, which really just required care, and mostly through lovely forest carpeted with soft fir needles. We were rewarded by beautiful views of lakes, mountains and hanging glaciers. The walk took 2 hours with 30-40 minutes at the lakes.
As we had a 2 night package with an extra night added so we had complimentary canoeing on Moraine Lake. As complete novices we had a wonderful hour or so on the lake. We paddled to the furthest end to the source of the lake at the Wenkchemna River and into a secluded little bay. The clarity and colour of the water was amazing, crystal clear and turquoise blue, we could almost count the pebbles on the bottom.
One evening we attended a very entertaining and interesting talk in the library on bird brains from a Great Divide presenter. We would highly recommend attending any of the talks but do make sure to ask we were not informed about them during our orientation and almost missed attending.
"Afternoon tea" is served in the library. Don't expect much, leftover pastries from breakfast for early birds and then when these are gone packet biscuits!! Really Moraine Lake Lodge you can do better than this.
Dining was a convoluted affair with greeters and waiters. The food was delivered far too quickly for enjoyable dining. We can highly recommend their scallop appetiser & beef tenderloin but the chef needs to restrain his hand with vegetables and cook meat to guests' liking. Elk tendeloin ordered rare was served barely warm and medium rare served blue. The vegetables on the plate did not compliment the meat. Braised red cabbage, asparagus, baby carrots and potatoes with red wine reduction were perfect but why add yellow bell pepper and a tomato, this did not show understanding of culinary balance. Desserts were generally poorly made and oversweet.
Despite some minor criticism we would still recommend staying here over any other venue in Banff National Park.