Your Canadian Rocky Mountain Vacation
Accessible only by helicopter, Purcell Mountain Lodge is perched at 2200 meters (7200’) atop the high alpine slopes of Bald Mountain, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Here, on the remote border of Canada’s Glacier National Park, there isn’t a road to be seen.
Guests are flown in and out of the Lodge from nearby Golden, BC . The flight is 15 minutes and is a breathtaking experience as you fly over some of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world, with towering rocky peaks and tumbling glaciers around you, and lush forests and alpine lakes below.
As you come over the last range and through Grizzly Col, the Lodge emerges as a tiny dot on the meadows of Bald Mountain. Sitting in the midst of the most remote and majestic landscape anywhere, you marvel at how anyone managed to build anything up here. The staff will be happy to tell you - make sure to look for them as you land. They are the handful of smiling people waving from the porch. Welcome to Purcell Mountain Lodge.
There is more information below about Airlines, Rental Cars, Bus and Shuttles and Trip Planning.
Getting Here
Whether you reach Golden from the east, the west or the south, your drive will take you through many miles of dramatic mountains and inspiring vistas. To the east lie Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper; to the west the highway winds through Rogers Pass, the birthplace of North American mountaineering; and to the south you’ll drive up the Rocky Mountain Trench, with tall peaks rising on either side of you. We encourage you to do that drive in the day, so that you don’t miss any of this spectacular landscape!
If you are coming from Calgary International Airport, the drive is about a three-hour trip. Be sure to take some extra time to stop off in Banff and Lake Louise; maybe hike to one of the famous teahouses; or stop in at the Post Hotel; or plan to stretch your legs in Field, where you can have a coffee or a meal at the quaint Truffle Pigs Café. Emerald Lake also offers an excellent opportunity to relax and unwind as you explore this legendary and historic site. Whatever you choose, you’ll be glad you did.
N.B It is recommended that you spend the night in or around the Golden area on your way to the Lodge and on your way home. This not only gives you more time to relax, it also ensures that, should anything unforeseen happen along the way, you still have plenty of time to spare. Please click here for a list of recommended places to stay and eat in the area.
Airlines
Calgary (a three hour drive) was the host city for the 1988 Winter Olympics and is serviced daily by several major airlines. Alternatively, Vancouver and Spokane also have international airports, although the drive to Golden is significantly longer from these two cities (7-8 hours).
Rental Cars
Half a dozen car rental companies operate out of the Calgary Airport. Please note, however, that there are no rental car drop-off provisions in Golden, BC. However, most companies now offer unlimited mileage and weekly rental specials. This is a cost effective alternative to returning the car while visiting the Lodge.
Bus and Shuttles
Greyhound Bus offers regular trips from Calgary to Golden, and a shuttle service is available between the Calgary airport and the downtown Calgary Greyhound Bus Depot.
There are also a choice of shuttle companies that service Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and downtown Golden from the Calgary airport: The Banff Airport Shuttle: 1-877-992-2633, The Rocky Mountain Sky Shuttle: 1-888-762-8754, and The Kootenay Wilds Van Charter: 1-250-290-0420.
CANCELLATION INSURANCE
We strongly recommend cancellation insurance to all our guests as our cancellation policy is very clear in outlining our refund policy. We can recommend Advantage Travel World, which can be booked on line at www.advantagetravel.com , click on the "Book Insurance" link. The on-line service is only available to Canadian residents, however they can book over the phone for people who live outside of Canada.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all air travellers to the U.S. to have a passport or other secure document effective Jan. 23, including Americans returning from Canada. In addition, all travellers by land and sea must meet this requirement by an unspecified deadline, not later than June 1, 2009.
The U.S. travel industry has launched a new website, GetAPassportNow.com, to inform travellers about new passport requirements and to help them get passports. The purpose of the website is to also educate travellers about pending deadlines contained in the WHTI and provide easy access to passport information.
Trip Planning
One of the best ways to access more complete travel and accommodation information is to contact a local tourism organization. We recommend:
Tourism Rockies
250-427-4838
http://www.kootenayrockies.com
Tourism BC
1-800-HELLO BC / 1-800-435-5622
travel.bc.ca
Travel Alberta
1-800-661-8888
www.explorealberta.com
Golden & District Chamber of Commerce
1-800-622-GOLD or 250-344-7125
www.goldenchamber.bc.ca
Road Conditions
http://www.drivebc.ca/