ROF = Ring of Fire journey
British Columbia/ Alberta, Canada
August 5, 2014 BNF 5
Baker Creek 1
It took a lifetime to get to Lake Louise, Alberta, canada. It's quite a drive to get here... the view... once in a lifetime it's worth it.
But now... lodging... where to stay.
Walk into The Fairmont... walk in rate... around $750? a night. A little steep for my budget.
I thought Lake Louise was a town; wrong! Lake Louise is a village, more like a couple of strip malls inside Banff National Park, Canadian Park service.
Lake Louise is actually a resort destination with a dozen upscale motel resort complexes and the rates start around $200+ a night.
Oh yeah... they are 99% booked up... so there are no vacancies except maybe cancellations that day.
The visitors center desk has a good line on any available openings and will assist in lodging.
We're talking with a desk agent ranger and say we don't have to be right in the village... ?what is nearby?
There's a place kinda off the main drag... Baker Creek. and reasonable for our budget; we'll go see.
Turns out... it's a GREAT place. And secluded away from all the touristy motels.
Drive out of Lake Louise village, over bridge above the Trans-Can Hwy 1 for another mile, turn right on Bow River Parkway.
Bow River Parkway is the local back road -- parallels Hwy 1-- from Lake Louise to Banff. There is no traffic on this road. No tourists.
About 14 miles down this pristine Canadian forest road come to RED metal roof Log cabin structures. It's Baker Creek.
Go up to the office and notice the "NO Vacancy" sign. T-bird goes in anyway to search for network leads for lodging... and there's a cancellation; we'll take it!
Turns out these are very nice chalet suites with kitchenettes and gas log fireplaces.
Walk out back and Baker Creek is lined with round eroded river rock ... stream rushing down from the mountains and sounds wonderful.
A bronze elk statue stands guard beside the creek. Canadian Rockies in the background... this place is good.
Baker Creek runs down another 100 yards and there's a Canadian Pacific railway tracks, ... another 100 yards and the creek flows into the Bow River. Hey, I'll trout fish some here.
TJ was the ?owner/ manager? ... a really top notch guy. There wasn't one thing wrong at Baker Creek. Check that... a light bulb burned out. But everything worked well and updated maintenance was apparent. Later found out that TJ had worked for The Fairmont hotels for 20 years and retired and went out on his own management in lodging. It showed.
Baker Creek was close enough, but far enough from Lake Louise. And the Bow River Parkway is a low traffic scenic parkway in the Canadian Rockies Bow River and the locals said it was a good place to see some wildlife at times. We did NOT see a bear, but did see a coyote.
I don't do commercials on this blog but if TJ is still running Baker Creek... I don't thin you'll be disappointed.
Also, there is a small bistro cafe there... a private contractor restaurant. We cooked in the kitchenette but the bistro is available.
