Cathedral Lakes Lodge British Columbia: A Complete Guide to the Alpine Wilderness

Cathedral Lakes Lodge is one of Canada’s highest full-service hiking and fishing wilderness lodges, located on Quiniscoe Lake at approximately 2,000 metres above sea level in the heart of Cathedral Provincial Park and Protected Area. The lodge combines access to alpine lakes, mountain trails, wildlife, fishing, and panoramic viewpoints with lodge accommodation, cabins, and transportation into the park’s remote core area.

Cathedral Lakes Lodge is open for the 2026 season from June 12 to October 12, 2026. From the lodge, visitors can hike through alpine flower meadows, reach emerald and sapphire lakes, observe mountain goats and other wildlife, fish for trout, and access more than 60 kilometres of well-maintained alpine hiking trails.

Where Cathedral Lakes Lodge Is Located

Located near Keremeos, Cathedral Lakes Lodge is Canada’s highest full-service hiking and fishing wilderness lodge. We are located on Quiniscoe Lake, 2000 metres (6800 ft.) above sea level in the heart of Cathedral Provincial Park and Protected Area.

Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park sits where the dense, wet forest east of Vancouver eventually gives way to the desert-like Okanagan Valley. Cathedral Lakes sits just at this interchange, making it feel as though two geological worlds have collided. The impact is remarkable.

From Vancouver, take Highway 1 eastbound and merge onto Highway 3. Drive past Manning Provincial Park towards Keremeos. Around three miles before you reach Keremeos, you’ll see a sign for ‘Cathedral Lakes Lodge’. Turn off the highway here and follow the Ashnola Forest Service Road.

You’ll go over a red bridge and pass a couple of recreation sites along the way. The road turns to gravel but keep going. Your journey begins by taking Ashnola Road, just outside of Keremeos. Follow signs that direct you towards Cathedral Lakes Lodge Base Camp for about 22 km (13.7 mi).

Cathedral Provincial Park and Its Core Area

Cathedral Provincial Park extends from the Ashnola River down to the US border. In the middle - starting at around 2,000 metres up - is the core area. Hunting is prohibited here, and it’s also where most of the good stuff is.

By good stuff, I mean the campgrounds, the lakes, and some top-notch hiking trails. The core area of Cathedral Lakes is like a checklist of everything you could want from a backcountry camping trip.

Crystal clear lakes? Check. Towering mountains with unique rock formations? Yep. Wildlife viewing opportunities? For sure. In fact, the lakes are known for their trout fishing, while the park is also home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer and bears.

The core area of Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park has two backcountry camping areas, stunning hikes and azure lakes chock full of trout. The park’s landscape includes sapphire glacier lakes, rugged mountain peaks, old-growth forest, alpine meadows, waterfalls, striking rock faces, and more than 100 kilometres of alpine wilderness to explore.

How to Reach Cathedral Lakes Lodge

The shuttle from base camp

After reaching base camp, most hikers choose to ride the Unimog into the core of Cathedral Lakes (seat reservations necessary). This vehicle is heavy-duty and might make you feel like you’re apart of an infantry unit in WW2.

This beast will climb 1300 m (4265 ft) in just under an hour, an awesome experience unto itself. The lodge provides transportation services for campers and day hikers to the Cathedral Provincial Park campground.

If you’re taking the shuttle, continue along this road for about 13 miles (20.8km). Eventually you’ll see a bridge with a big gate on your left hand side. Wait here until the gate opens, which will be about 15 minutes before your departure time.

Continue along the road a little further for the Lakeview Trailhead. The shuttle takes about an hour along a bumpy, steep 4×4 road. You can expect a white-knuckle ride in either an ancient safari-style Mercedes or a decrepit Suburban.

If you’re in the open-sided vehicle, bear in mind that the road is dusty, so I advise sitting close to the front and wearing sunglasses and a mask/buff. Each person can bring two large items (such as a backpack and a cooler) and one small item (such as a day pack).

You can book the shuttle online on the Cathedral Lakes Lodge website. You can choose a one-way trip or a return trip. You start at ‘base camp’, which is the parking lot.

This is a secure parking lot which remains locked, other than to allow vehicles in and out for the shuttle. The shuttle only operates during summer and autumn, with lodge operations shutting down around the beginning of October.

Hiking into the core area

Hikers do have the option to hike in, and though it is a wonderfully beautiful hike, it is not for the faint of heart. The hike from base camp is 16 km (10 mi) including the incline previously mentioned.

It takes an extra day, so weigh your options wisely. The most direct hiking trail into the core area is the Lakeview Trail, which is 16km long and has 1,357m of vertical climbing.

The other options are the Wall Creek Trail (20km) or the Ewart Creek Trail (28km, making it by far the longest route). The hiking trails are well-marked and easy to follow.

Quiniscoe Lake and the Lodge Setting

Your nearly off-road adventure delivers you to Quiniscoe Lake. It’s an alpine Shangri La at 2072 m (6800 ft). Breathe in the mountain air; old growth forests surround you.

Even on the hottest summer day it’s cool up here. It is perfect for hiking alpine ridges smoothed by the last Ice Age. These trails were made for nearly to extremely fit hikers.

From the lodge, you have access to more than 60 km of well-maintained alpine hiking trails. Choose a shorter walk around one of the nearby lakes or grab your day pack and head up to the popular Rim Trail for breathtaking 360-degree views of the Coastal Range, North Cascades, and Thompson Plateau.

Hike from your doorstep to enjoy meadows of alpine flowers, emerald lakes, wildlife, and unbelievable panoramic views. This is a great spot for hiking, fishing, and boating activities, as well as photography and art, walking through the alpine flowers, daydreaming, and relaxing.

Accommodation at Cathedral Lakes Lodge

For something a bit less back-country, but no less rustic, plan to stay at Cathedral Lakes Lodge. It is the highest elevation full-service hiking and fishing lodge in all of Canada.

We offer all inclusive accommodations in Lodge rooms, Bungalow rooms, Harvey Walker Cabin and Herb Clarks Cabin. Tom’s cabin is available for self catered groups.

At Cathedral Lakes Lodge, we offer all-inclusive and self-catering packages as well as a variety of special events throughout the season. We also offer transportation services for campers staying at the provincial back-country campgrounds.

Stay in the lodge, an off-the-grid cabin or camp beside a jewel-toned lake and drift off to sleep to the haunting calls of the loons. No matter where you stay, one thing is certain, the memories and friendships you’ll make along the way will stay with you, like the winsome call of the loon serenading you to sleep.

Backcountry Campgrounds

There are three backcountry campgrounds in Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park, but Pyramid Lake campground has been closed due to spruce pine beetle. Sadly, this has affected lots of trees in the park. That leaves Quiniscoe Lake and Lake of the Woods campgrounds.

Quiniscoe Lake campground is closest to the lodge, so if you get the shuttle up, then you barely have to walk a few steps to find a pitch. It has bear caches and campfires are allowed. Firewood can be purchased from the park operator.

Lake of the Woods is about a 15 minute walk from the shuttle drop-off, but there are no caches (only pulleys) and campfires are prohibited. Personally, I think Lake of the Woods campground is prettier than Quiniscoe, with full frontal views of the mountains.

But it is perhaps more exposed with greater wind chill. There are outhouses in the campgrounds which the rangers keep stocked with toilet paper.

You’re asked not to pee on the ground because it attracts the mountain goats. There’s a lot of information about this in the park.

Camping fees and permits

The backcountry campgrounds aren’t free, however. It costs $10 per night, per adult, or $5 per night, per child (between six and 15 years of age).

You can either buy your permit in advance via Discover Camping. Or, you can take cash with you. There is a ranger station near the lodge, and when the ranger is on duty, he/she will do the rounds in the evening.

Otherwise, there are envelopes at the information kiosk near the lodge which you can fill out and post in the adjacent letterbox. The campgrounds aren’t reservable, so paying in advance doesn’t necessarily secure you a spot.

Hiking Trails and Alpine Views

Start your morning hiking well-marked trails, carpeted with pine needles. Your hike leads you to breathtaking vistas of cascading waterfalls and alpine meadows blooming with lupine and mountain heather.

Meander down well-marked trails to experience tumbling waterfalls, and striking rock faces. Hike for a day, a week or longer, from gentle walks to alpine hikes to scaling mountain cliffs; there are more than 100 kilometres of alpine wilderness to explore.

The Rim Trail

The Rim Trail is the most popular and with good reason. The route follows a ridgeline in a sort of horseshoe shape, providing 360-degree views of the Cascade Mountains and the Okanagan Mountain Range.

The rock formations are like nothing I’ve seen in Canada, and looking down on the lakes from above is really spectacular. The trails are signposted.

From Lake of the Woods, the route can continue towards Ladyslipper Lake, Stone City, Devil’s Woodpile, Glacier Lake, Quiniscoe Mountain, and Red Mountain. At Devil’s Woodpile, the scenery is amazing and the views extend for miles in every direction.

Stone City, Smokey the Bear, and Giant Cleft

After the little inlet the trail heads uphill towards Stone City. It was on Ladyslipper Trail that we were lucky enough to see a herd of mountain goats chilling out and munching on grass.

They began moving along the trail in the direction we were headed, so we waited a while to give them some space. We then carried on up to Stone City, stopping to admire the amazing rockfaces along the way.

Once at Stone City you can take a detour to Smokey the Bear and the Giant Cleft, after which you have to return the way you came to get back to Stone City.

Pat yourself on the back after summiting Smokey the Bear and Stone City. Grab hold and lift, climbing the rock walls of Grimface, the Matriarch and Macabre Towers.

Glacier Lake and the lower route

After Devil’s Woodpile you can take a right hand turn down to Glacier Lake. However, you can carry on along the ridgeline to Quiniscoe Mountain and Red Mountain.

At Glacier Lake, we took the left-hand spur that leads to Quiniscoe Lake. We then returned to camp at Lake of the Woods for the evening.

At Glacier Lake, you can head down towards Glacier Lake, or continue along the Rim Trail. The core area offers both shorter lake walks and demanding full-day alpine routes.

Other Lakes to Explore

There are seven lakes in the core area. The area includes Quiniscoe, Ladyslipper, Lake of the Woods, Scout, Pyramid, and Glacier Lakes.

Canoe the turquoise Queniscoe, Ladyslipper, Lake of the Woods, Scout, Pyramid, Glacier Lakes. Drop your lure, angling for rainbow and cutthroat trout or picnic beside sun-dappled lakes.

Ladyslipper Lake

We found Ladyslipper Lake to be especially plentiful. The turquoise blue of Ladyslipper Lake appeared before us.

The sun was shining, so we spent a relaxing afternoon fishing and sunbathing by the lake before heading back to camp. A resident herd of mountain goats may very well welcome you to Lake of the Woods campsite, one of three limited service sites in the park.

Fishing

Most people who make the journey to Cathedral Lakes have one of two things on their mind: hiking or fishing. Although they haven’t been stocked for decades, they have healthy populations of both cutthroat and rainbow trout.

Fishing is possible in the lakes, but remember to buy a freshwater licence if you plan to fish. It is also possible to picnic beside the lakes, photograph the scenery, and enjoy the alpine environment.

Swimming and boating

Swimming is allowed in the lakes but the water is very cold. Boating activities are also part of the area’s attractions, alongside hiking, fishing, photography, and wildlife viewing.

Wildlife and Ecology

While you’re here you’ll be sharing this magical place with mule deer, mountain goats, the rare Arctic Ptarmigan and California Bighorn Sheep. Walk the old growth forest, home to mountain goats, California Bighorn sheep, mule deer, and the rare Arctic Ptarmigan.

Marvel at mountain goats, marmots and rare Arctic Ptarmigan; wildlife viewing is up-close and personal up here. The park is also home to bears, so visitors should respect wildlife and use the available food-storage facilities where provided.

As you settle in for the night, make sure you unzip your tent flap. While you look out at your rustic surrounding, you may catch sight of rainbow trout jumping in the jewel-toned lake, just begging you to drop in a line.

The mountain goats are attracted by salt, which is why visitors are asked not to urinate on the ground. Observe wildlife from a safe distance and allow animals to move along the trails without interference.

When to Visit

Seeing as the core area sits at 2,000m plus, the hiking season is limited from summer to early autumn. The lodge is open for the 2026 season from June 12 to October 12, 2026.

The weather ‘at the top’ (i.e. in the core area) can be quite different to the weather in the parking lot. Even in summer, snow and temperatures near freezing are possible at high elevation.

It snowed when I was there - and it was only 1 September. My jaw dropped when the ranger came around the previous evening to tell us there’d be a high of 4°c the following day.

Thankfully, I never leave home without a down jacket. Still, we didn’t really feel prepared for such cold temperatures after a blistering hot summer. So, be warned! Pack warm clothes, gloves and a hat.

Summer crowds and early autumn

The BC Parks website says that the campgrounds can get very full at weekends during the summer. The campsites are first-come, first-serve.

To avoid the crowds, it’s better to visit during the week if you can. This is what I did and it was extremely quiet. On our second night we were the only ones at our campground.

If you’re willing to brave even chillier temperatures, then there are a lot of larches in the core area which turn golden during early autumn (think late September/early October).

A Two-Night Itinerary

We spent two nights up at Cathedral Lakes. We took the 10am shuttle and arrived at the lodge about an hour later.

After carrying our things to Lake of the Woods campground, we set up camp and had some lunch. We knew we wanted to go to Ladyslipper Lake that day but we weren’t sure of the way.

So we walked back to look at the map at Quiniscoe Lake, retraced our steps to Lake of the Woods and continued on to Ladyslipper Lake. It’s not a long hike, but there is a steep uphill section.

Soon the trail heads downhill and the turquoise blue of Ladyslipper Lake appeared before us. The sun was shining, so we spent a relaxing afternoon fishing and sunbathing by the lake before heading back to camp.

That evening the wind really picked up and the temperature dropped dramatically. That was when the ranger came round and informed us that it would be seriously cold and wet the following day.

We got into bed early because it was so cold and didn’t resurface until late the next morning. At this point we weren’t too sure what to do.

It had snowed in the night and there was a lot of cloud coverage. Also, we hadn’t really banked on hiking in adverse weather conditions.

At about 11am we decided to go for it, and thank goodness we did! The clouds dispersed and we were treated to some really amazing views.

This was our only full day and had planned to do the Rim Trail. We retraced our steps from the day before, skirting Lake of the Woods and heading up to Ladyslipper Lake.

After the little inlet the trail heads uphill towards Stone City. It was on Ladyslipper Trail that we were lucky enough to see a herd of mountain goats chilling out and munching on grass.

They began moving along the trail in the direction we were headed, so we waited a while to give them some space. We then carried on up to Stone City, stopping to admire the amazing rockfaces along the way.

Once at Stone City you can take a detour to Smokey the Bear and the Giant Cleft, after which you have to return the way you came to get back to Stone City.

From there, we carried on to Devil’s Woodpile. This section of the hike is where the real money shots are. The scenery is amazing and the views extend for miles in every direction.

I’d have loved to have stayed up there all day, but it was so windy and cold! We’d also started later than intended, so after Devil’s Woodpile we chose to take a right hand turn down to Glacier Lake.

However, you can carry on along the ridgeline to Quiniscoe Mountain and Red Mountain. At Glacier Lake, we took the left-hand spur that leads to Quiniscoe Lake.

We then returned to camp at Lake of the Woods for the evening. The following day, we had breakfast and strolled up to Pyramid Lake with our coffees.

Then we packed up our camp and dropped our bags at the shuttle pick-up. Finally we hiked the loop around Quiniscoe Lake before heading back down to our car.

Practical Information for Visitors

• Phone service is limited but you might be able to get signal near the ranger station.
• Swimming is allowed in the lakes but the water is very cold.
• There are no garbage facilities - you must pack out when you pack in.
• The hiking trails are well-marked and easy to follow.
• There isn’t an information kiosk at Lake of the Woods campground, so take a photo of the map at Quiniscoe Lake for reference.
• Campgrounds are first-come, first-serve and paying in advance doesn’t necessarily secure you a spot.
• The weather in the core area can be considerably colder than at the parking lot.
• Pack warm clothes, gloves and a hat even when travelling during summer.
• Remember to buy a freshwater licence if you plan to fish.
• Use bear caches or pulleys where provided and do not leave garbage in the park.

Camping Near the Base Camp

If you’re on an early shuttle and you don’t want to get up at the crack of sparrow’s fart, you can always camp nearby. That’s what we did, spending the night Horeshoe Canyon Recreation Site.

There are quite a few campsites down the Ashnola Forest Service Road, with other options including Red Bridge Recreation Site, Ashnola River Recreation Site, Lakeview Trailhead campground and Buckhorn campground.

Experiences at Cathedral Provincial Park

• Canoe the turquoise Queniscoe, Ladyslipper, Lake of the Woods, Scout, Pyramid, Glacier Lakes.
• Count the stars in the sky from your wilderness campsite.
• Grab hold and lift, climbing the rock walls of Grimface, the Matriarch and Macabre Towers.
• Drop your lure, angling for rainbow and cutthroat trout or picnic beside sun-dappled lakes.
• Hike for a day, a week or longer, from gentle walks to alpine hikes to scaling mountain cliffs.
• Explore your artistic inklings with photography at Cathedral Lakes Lodge.
• The Fat Dog 100 relay race is the test of your mettle against elite athletes.
• Marvel at mountain goats, marmots and rare Arctic Ptarmigan.
• Saddle up for a pack-trip to Twin Buttes and Haystack Lakes.
• Pat yourself on the back after summiting Smokey the Bear and Stone City.

Cathedral Lakes is a really stunning area and allows easy access into the backcountry wilderness thanks to the shuttle service. It’s a trip that I thoroughly recommend!

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