10 Amazing Alberta Cabins for Summertime Adventures

Imagine waking up surrounded by towering trees and the soothing sounds of nature. When staying at a cabin in the woods, you can! Alberta is brimming with cozy cabin escapes where you can immerse yourself in nature – with all the modern comforts of home. Here’s a few warm and hospitable spots across the province to recharge and reconnect with the outdoors.  

Miette Mountain Cabins

If you ever played Lincoln Logs as a kid, you’ll get a nostalgic flashback upon arrival at Miette Mountain Cabins. These impossibly cute log cabins look like they’ve been plucked from a child’s toy set. Underneath vaulted pine ceilings, each of Miette Mountain Cabins sports a fireplace, full kitchen and dining area. Outside are BBQs, a mini golf course, hot tubs, and a seasonal heated pool. For an extra soothing dip, visit the hottest hot springs in the Canadian Rockies. Situated nearby, a soak in Miette Hot Springs is a must-do experience in Jasper National Park.

Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village 

For the ultimate Canadian experience, head to Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village to sleep in a teepee and watch the northern lights. Situated just south of Wood Buffalo National Park, one of the world’s largest dark sky areas, exceptionally clear skies and cool nights create the perfect environment for Aurora viewing. But you’ll experience more than watching the night sky’s dramatic dance. Guests can participate in a traditional smudging ceremony, try their hand at foraging and drying meat, and dine on Indigenous meals. Rest assured, you’ll be kept comfy in your all-season teepee thanks to wooden floors, raised beds and a wood-burning fireplace.

Mount Engadine Lodge

What sets Mount Engadine Lodge apart is that it’s a backcountry lodge you can drive to. That’s right, no need to hike for hours with a backpack strapped upon you for this quintessential mountain cabin experience. The lodge is all-inclusive, so everything from hearty breakfasts to hiker-ready lunches to afternoon tea to chef-driven dinners is included (except for alcohol). You can stay in the main lodge, where meals are served, or rest your head in a yurt, glamping tent or pet-friendly cabin. Cabins are open year-round and come equipped with hot showers and individual balconies overlooking a wildflower-studded meadow that moose love to frequent.

Alpine Village Cabin Resort

If you’ve ever fantasized about getting away from it all at a cabin in the woods, look no further than Alpine Village Cabin Resort. Set on a bluff above the gem-coloured Athabasca River, these individual log cabins look as pretty inside as they do outside. Whether you’re looking for multiple rooms for the entire family, a towering stone fireplace or a heritage experience with log walls, several different cabin styles can suit your needs. Though Jasper has many wildlife tours, you may not need to take one as deer, elk and the occasional bear roam the 11 acres of property.

Glamp Good

Offering A-frame cabins, geo-dome glamping bubbles and a treehouse, this pet-friendly retreat is set on 160 acres of pristine, private land. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the cabins reveal hundreds of lofty trees, or you can take in those boreal forest views from the wood-burning sauna. Glamp Good is fully off-grid, but it’s also solar-powered, so life’s little luxuries, such as heated showers and indoor propane fireplaces, are at the ready. Shared amenities include a heated cooking gazebo, BBQ and pizza oven. Though this refuge feels deliciously remote, you’re only a short drive away from swimming lakes, restaurants and a golf course. 

Glamping Resorts at Castle Provincial Park

Looking for a lake cabin? The fully equipped cabins of Glamping Resorts at Castle Provincial Park happen to be set on the shores of Beaver Mines Lake under the gaze of Table Mountain. Surrounded by the craggy peaks of the Canadian Rockies, it’s just a short drive from Castle Mountain Resort. If lake swimming and fishing aren’t what you’re after, become immersed in nature on gentle hikes and horseback rides. After your adventures, chill on your enclosed patio or around your fire pit. Fantastically, your accommodation is at hotel industry standards, whether in a cabin or geo-dome. This means you’ll be privy to proper mattresses, private ensuite washrooms, heating and air conditioning.

Zama City

Enjoy all the benefits of camping without setup (or sogginess) at Zama City Campground & Cabins. Each rustic cabin comes with a mini-fridge, microwave and a BBQ on your covered deck, making it easy to rustle up meals. Steps away are coin-operated showers and outhouses. There’s plenty to do here with horseshoe pits and a new disc golf course. Take advantage of Alberta’s long summer evenings by fishing in the fully stocked pond for rainbow trout or dive into the swimming holes. Families especially love the fenced-in playground and screened day-use shelters.

Running Reins Ranch

What’s better than a secluded cabin? One with its own teepee! But wait, it gets better. Inside the teepees at Running Reins Ranch lies your own hot tub and fire pit. If that doesn’t draw you to this secluded spot on the banks of the Red Deer River, its prime position for northern lights viewing and the forested valley surely will. Their acorn cabins are cute and cozy with an adjoining heated outhouse. The Eagles Nest cabin is kitted out with a six-person wood-burning sauna. And don’t bother packing snacks. Charcuterie boards, breakfast platters and five-course dinners complete with beverage pairings are on offer.

Expanse Cottages

Equally accessible from Calgary and Edmonton, Expanse Cottages is set in the woodlands of the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper National Parks. This region sports the same stunning mountain views and lofty forests, but fewer visitors means you might feel like an early explorer. Cabins are equipped with fully stocked kitchens, bathroom amenities and flat-screen TVs. You only need to bring your clothing and food. Feeling adventurous? Certified guides lead guests on Via Ferrata mountaineering excursions. In winter, there’s frozen waterfalls to climb. On your own, a network of scenic trails leads to turquoise-coloured lakes. Fishing, horseback riding and a 9-hole golf course also lure guests into the great outdoors.

Storm Mountain Lodge

Though you’re only a 30-minute drive from Banff townsite, you’ll feel truly away from it all at this easily accessible backcountry retreat. Set smack dab in the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, Storm Mountain Lodge is surrounded by snow-capped peaks in a fairytale-like setting. The lodge’s refined log cabins feature wood-burning fireplaces and bathrooms. Gourmet meals featuring Rocky Mountain cuisine are served in the lodge dining room. This is the spot to curl up with a good book or glass of wine on your private veranda. Or, strike out to experience all the thrilling activities at your fingertips. Whichever way you experience this dramatic setting, you’re sure to collapse exhilarated onto your bed each evening.