I am spending 2 days around Field at teh end of May and was interested in the Spiral Tunnels Guesthouse but I got the rates for that today and it was $150 (taxes included) vs. only $111 (before taxes) at Emerald Lake Lodge. We'll be going to YoHo, maybe Revelstoke, whitewater rafting on Kicking Horse and possibly going to Lake Louise from here depending on how the weather gods have treated us earlier in our stay. My friend says Emerald Lake Lodge is one of her favorite places to stay, not only for the facility but for the setting. We really don't care that much about hotels because we generally just sleep there but this seems to be a great price.

My main concern is that it sounds like the lodge is tucked away and you have to take a van or shuttle or something to get to it. We tend to get up and go early in the morning so I don't want to be stuck waiting forever for a van to take us to our car or have to drive way out of our way to get to where we're going. Spiral Tunnels sounds like it's more accessible (and has a kitchen)which would help defray the difference in cost.

So...are these legitimate issues with Emerald Lake Lodge? If so, do you think the Lodge is special enough (in May) that it's worth the inconvenience?

Marcia

Spiral Tunnels is a good two person small apartment in the home of Karla and John Gaffney. It has a great big bed and two small couches and the best fireplace you can imagine. The bathroom is huge with a separate shower and tub.

Guests have a private entrance, and parking just a few feet from the door of the apartment. It is the easiest place in Field to find because of a distinctive landmark which Karla will tell you about. You can not miss it!!

The Truffle Pig eatery is only a few yards away. It also stocks a few groceries, and very good cookies and cakes.

I have stayed at Sprial Tunnels several times and it is always my first choice for that area.

Tell Karla that Bob sent you! She will recognize the names Bob and Pat for sure.

Don't tarry too long; the word is out and the place fills quickly for the summer season.

Last year I waited too late and the apartment was sold out for August.

Emerald Lake Lodge is one of our all time favorite places to stay and it is probably because of the absolutely beautiful setting.

We had a room that I am sure is their cheapest room--very small--part of a 4 unit building. It had a queen bed, a woodburning fireplace that was stoked and ready to light, 2 Adirondack chairs, a balcony, cofeemaker. No TV. The room had been recently refurbished and had a lovely bathroom. We only had a peek-a- boo view of the lake.

We both fell in love with the place. Even the drive from Lake Louise out to Emerald Lake is beautiful.

You park your car in a lot and shuttle to the lodge, but we never waited very long. We would love to return.

Linda: Is there enough hiking (of the moderate sort) right at Emerald Lake to warrant several days there? Or does one full day pretty much do it? Thank you-- and pardon the jump in to mdod's post....

There is an easy hike around the lake. I think it took up an hour. There seemed to be other paths leading up into the mountains but we never had time to explore them.
Don't miss Natural Bridge just after you leave the highway heading up to Emerald Lake. This sight is a giant rock spanning a section of the river with rushing water running underneath.
Keep in mind at Emerald Lake you are about a 15 minute drive from Yoho park where you can take hiking trails to your hearts content.

At Emerald Lake you ARE in Yoho National Park. Lake Louise is about 16 miles away. Takkakaw Falls are about 9 miles or so.

Depending on what kind of shape you are in there are several trails from the Emerald Lake area that go well up into the hills. Some of them are rather steep.

The hike around the lake is flat, and can be done fairly quickly.

Yoho is a hikers' park and if you want to see it, you need to walk. The glories of the Iceline Trail are legend, and the Whaleback Trail is even better.

One of the crown jewels of Yoho is Lake McArthur, which takes some planning to reach. Another one is Takkakaw Falls.
And yet another one is Waterfall Valley, which takes considerable effort to reach, but there is nothing quite like it.

Last, I will throw in Twin Falls the beautiful double waterfall about 5 miles along the trail from Takkakaw Falls.

And there are others I could list as well.

Thanks for the thoughts. Since the hotel is the last place I'm ever found, and since Emerald Lake will not be as spectacular at the end of May (which is probably why the rates are so low then), I decided to stick with Sprial Tunnels Guesthouse even though it's more expensive. It's just a better fit for my travel style.

Bob, do you have any recommendations for hikes that would be accessible at the end of May?

Thank you everyone. We're in our mid 70's, still fairly fit, but definitely not for the kind of hiking some of you are probably alluding to. Bum knees and back keep us from doing the big hills and other rough stuff these days (gentle inclines fine). We don't get tired easily-- can go for many hours-- just so long as the trails aren't overly strenuous. My sense is that we'll find enough around Yoho in our "category" to keep us busy for several days out of Emerald Lake Lodge. (We'll be staying at Lake Louise for 2 nights also.) Thanks again.

The end of May? Nope. Too much snow on the ground for the better trails.
There is avalanche danger and lakes are still frozen at the higher elevations.
Lake McArthur for example would be covered with ice and you would need crampons and an ice axe to get out there as well as snow shoes.

You might not even be able to get to Takkakaw Falls because that road is often snowed in until June. One year, a huge avalanche blocked the road until July.

I have never gone out there in May. I guess i was oblivious to when you were going even though you said so in your original post. Had I read the May date, I would have responded the same on Spiral Tunnels, but not on where to go.

I suggest you email Karla Gaffney and asked her what kind of winter she has endured in Field. Often in the winter she works at an oil field north of Peace River. But by May she is back in Field.

Last year there was not much snow and the temperatures were fairly warm for January in British Columbia.

I am a summer visitor out there! I have had no experience with May.
I heed Ben Gadd's warning: When it is spring time in the Rockies, stay away.