This backcountry cabin is a local legend.

Set at the base of Allenby Pass, weary riders have been resting their heads at Halfway Lodge since the 1920s. It’s been the setting for countless tales of wilderness adventures and one unbelievable story about a bear that literally dropped in for visit.

It all started with iconic mountain guide Erling Strom, who used the cabin as a stopover for his guests while travelling from Banff to Mount Assiniboine.

Strom’s wranglers slept outside in tents while the guests curled up by the fire inside the lodge.

Over the past 80 years, the experience at this rustic cabin hasn’t changed all that much. Things are kept simple: propane lanterns and candles provide the lighting while a woodstove provides the heat and keeps the coffee warm.

But Halfway Lodge did undergo one big change in 1967 when they added a second storey – for an extraordinary reason. A bear had managed to claw its way up to the roof of the cabin and then somehow worked its way inside the building.

That invasion prompted the owners at the time to build an additional storey, raising the roof far out of the reach of any type of backcountry critter.

Here’s what else you should know:

  • A second storey was added in 1967 after a bear fell through the roof
  • Two shared outhouses and an outdoor shower onsite (please note that there are no indoor facilities)
  • Cozy kitchen, dining and living areas heated by a wood-burning stove
  • There’s 4 bedrooms, sleeping up to 16 people
  • There is no cell service in the areas we ride to but there is radio communication in case of emergencies
  • There is no internet/wifi available at the lodge
  • All meals are included and there is limited selection of alcohol available to purchase
  • For full details please see our detailed list on what to bring on a lodge trip

How to get here:

Set 32 kilometres from the Banff townsite, Halfway Lodge normally takes two days of riding to get there.

Season:

June to September

TRIPS TO HALFWAY LODGE

Canadian Rockies Horseback Rides with Banff Trail Riders
Limited Space

Erling Strom Trail Lodge - 3 Nights

Ride through Alberta’s Wild West, tracing the paths that the early pioneers used while exploring these untamed forests.   On
4 Days
Wed
Limited Space

Halfway Lodge - 5 Nights

The ultimate backcountry trip, few folks ever get to experience a place like this.   Sky-piercing mountains stretch out across
6 Days
Thu, Sun