THE LODGE
INFO
The Kitchen: is fully stocked with all the cooking ware you could want in the backcountry, no need to bring anything if your group is self-catered. Self catered groups have access to coolers located in our exterior cooler building. There may also be some room in the propane fridge/freezer. The large propane range and oven can accommodate meals for large groups of people. We even have a hand blender and a food processor as well as numerous baking tins and trays.
Linens: During this time of Covid-19, we cannot provide linens; guests must bring their own light sleeping bag (or equivalent) & pillowcase. We do provide mattresses and pillows. Our newly renovated and re-roofed lodge is warm and cozy, so a heavy sleeping bag is not required. Hut shoes and a headlamp are also highly recommended.
Catering: We cater to a variety of diets, given enough notice. However our kitchen is small, and storage is at a premium, so things are crowded together. We regularly cook with dairy products, wheat & grains, meat and fish, vegetables, spices, spreads, and a variety of sauces and condiments. We wash and sterilize all dishes using best practices. NOTE: Although we offer some Gluten Free options for meals, please be aware that we cannot guarantee that ingredients and utensils may not be cross-contaminated.
There is a caretaker present at the lodge nearly full-time during the summer season, and they are always in residence when we have guests staying with us. This way we can make sure the lodge is maintained and supervised during our busiest season, as well as ensuring we can host our Teahouse guests.
Please Stay on the Marked Paths – Alpine Meadow Protection: We had so many visitors last summer that our beautiful alpine meadows began to be dangerously overrun with paths. This year we will be working on meadow reclamation, and will be fencing off certain areas. Please respect the low fences, and use only marked paths.
Dogs at Diana Lake Lodge: We love well-behaved, friendly dogs. Experienced backcountry lodge users will recognize and appreciate that we are one of the only backcountry lodges that allows dogs. This year we will miss Amanda’s Pippi, our resident lodge dog, who passed away this winter.
We had many dogs come to visit us last summer, and had a few incidents, forcing us to implement some changes:
- Please put your dogs on leash while you are in the immediate vicinity of the lodge/Teahouse. This will help prevent squabbles, kids chasing dogs, dogs chasing kids, owners yelling at dogs, dogs ignoring owners, dogs coming into the teahouse uninvited, dogs pooping everywhere, and general mayhem.
- Please bring your own poop bags and use them to clean up after your dog. Make sure you carry these out and dispose of them at a transfer site or garbage dump in the Columbia Valley.
- For safety’s sake, if you have a territorial or non-friendly dog, please consider not bringing it into the area.
- Overnight dogs are subject to a “pet fee” of $20 due to the increased amount of cleaning encountered in and around the lodge. Overnight dogs are strictly not allowed on any furniture, especially beds.
Expansions and renovations are planned for the future, check in with us to see our progress!
TEAHOUSE
Due to our location, we cannot guarantee that we can make change, so please bring change if you want to pay with cash. We also accept payments by cheque, money order, and Interac e-transfer. Forgot your wallet? We run by the honour system, so if you give us your word you will pay us at some point, we give you our word that we will make you a meal that you will enjoy.
Beverages
- Tea - $4
- Coffee - $4
- Lemonade & Ice Tea - $4
Nibbles
Daily Baking $4
Cookies $3 (2 for $5)
Daily Lunch
Soup du Jour $5
Grilled Cheese & Meat Sandwich $15
(Vegetarian option available)
Backcountry Nachos $20
AREA INFO
The highest mountain in our area, The Judge presides over our valley at a height of 2752 m (9029 ft). From the lodge, the trail climbs to Whitetail Pass. From here you turn SE and follow the breathtaking ridge all the way to the peak. This wonderful ridge walk ends with a moderate scramble for the last couple hundred meters to the peak. The views from the Judge are amazing, as you are able to see Mt. Assiniboine, the Beaverfoot valley, the Kootenay River valley, and lots more. Keep an eye out for the numerous different alpine wildflowers up on the ridges, as well as grizzlies and mountain goats.
Known as the Darn Tarn to us here at Diana Lake, this is a small body of water located in a deep valley just SW of Diana Lake Lodge. Due to the shadows, ice and snow usually stays in this area all year round, which in combination with the large boulders and rocks scattered through the water offers a great place to take pictures. From the tarn, you can climb the ridge located just to the north for a great view of Diana Lake and the Pinnacle valley.
Another spectacular ridgewalk follows the ridge on the north end of The Pinnacle valley. From Whitetail Pass, the trail turns north and disappears as it heads up the ridge. At this point the group can make their own way, following the ridge. The ridge heads north and then turns to the west, ending in a small peak overlooking the Columbia valley. From here you get great views of the Bugaboos and Lower Bugaboo falls. You can see all the way to Invermere and Windermere Lake and look down on the small hamlet of Spillimacheen.
The meadows of Pinnacle valley are a wonderful place to slowly meander through. With some interesting rock formations and numerous natural small creek beds, the mix of evergreens including pine, spruce, and larch, as well as the abundance of wildflowers, it is an area full of nature to explore. Search for ptarmigan among the rocks, watch the hawks and eagles searching for ground squirrels, hunt down wild strawberry and blueberry plants, and look for mushrooms in the open meadows. On nice days, a dip in the lake or a nap beside it is a wonderfully relaxing experience.
ACCESS
1. Road
Diana Lake Lodge is accessed off Highway #95 North of Radium, BC. Driving time from Radium Hot Springs is about 1 hour to the trailhead. Note that this summer there is active logging in the Pinnacle valley before the Diana Lake trailhead. If you have a radio, please bring it and follow all call instructions.
From Radium, turn North towards Golden, drive 18.5km. Just after blue and white highway sign for Luxor Corrals, turn Right onto the Kindersley-Pinnacle Forest Service Road. Stay Left at 7.3km….This is the Pinnacle FSR, right is Kindersley FSR (Do not go past yellow Kindersley FSR sign). Stay Right at 8km. Stay Left at 8.5km.
From here, follow the main road all the way to the Diana Lake trailhead. Do not turn onto any marked Branch Roads. Do not cross Pinnacle Creek. There are 3 Diana Lake trail signs along the way.
Please obey all logging instructions on the road, respect all trucks and machines. Wait to pass active logging equipment until you have a clear signal from the operators.
Trailhead parking is located at 24km just as the road ends. There is a small area for turnaround for cars and trucks only, not really enough for trailers.
Forest Service Roads can have extremely marginal conditions. Please check these publications from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations on FSR safety. Vehicles with moderately high clearance are recommended.
2. Trail
Trail directions from trailhead (approx 4900 ft elevation):
Follow trail over aluminium foot bridge.
Turn right onto the FSR and follow it for 0.9km.
Trail climbs to the right, marked with orange flagging and stone cairn.
After 3km , trails turns north and mellows out as it reaches the higher valley elevation. (approx 6400 ft elevation)
Follow trail for 2 km and you reach the BCRecreation campsite.
Follow trail around east edge of Diana Lake, up into meadows, turn right at Diana Lake Lodge sign (1km)
OR
Follow trail up from Diana Lake to Lodge (300m)
