The lodge
Diana Lake Lodge Facilities
Nestled in the heart of the Canadian wilderness, Diana Lake Lodge offers a unique blend of comfort and adventure.
The Lodge/Teahouse
Holds our kitchen and entryway in front, eating and common area in the back. In summer running cold water is available in the lodge. Power is supplied by a PV electrical system, with enough electricity for phone/camera chargers.
The Bunkhouse
Contains 10 beds in 3 bedrooms with a loft. Propane heaters help keep the lodge & bunkhouse warm during cooler summer nights and winter months.
The Hot Outdoor Shower
Water is heated by propane for the outdoor shower and is carried to the lodge (“Hot Walking Water”) for washing dishes.
The Composting Outhouse
Clean and comfortable with a beautiful view of Mt. Norman.
Protect the Alpine Meadows
Please Stay on the Marked Paths: This year we will continue to work on meadow reclamation, and will be fencing off certain areas. Please respect the low fences, and use only marked paths.
Stay Overnight in the Bunkhouse
- The Kitchen (in the Lodge): is fully stocked with all the cooking/baking ware you could want in the backcountry. The large propane range and oven can accommodate meals for large groups of people.
- Beds: 3 semi-private bedrooms each with a queen and a twin XL bed; loft with 2 double and 2 twin XL beds. Mattresses provided.
- Linens: bring a light sleeping bag or equivalent and pillowcase.
- Shower: Don’t forget a towel for our wonderful hot outdoor shower.
- Hut shoes and a headlamp are also highly recommended.
Add Catering to Your Stay
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. If you are very concerned please bring all your own food.
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.
Teahouse menu
We accept Teahouse payments by cash and card.
Beverages
Tea – $4
Coffee – $4
Ice Tea / Coffee Pitchers – $4 or $9
Food
Soup with Crackers– $9
Soup with Focaccia – $14
Daily Baking – $4 to $6
Area info
Diana Lake Lodge is set in a pristine wilderness area offering breathtaking mountain views and abundant wildlife. The surrounding landscape features alpine meadows, clear streams, and rugged peaks, providing an idyllic backdrop for hiking and nature photography.
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. Or scramble up the knob above to the top of one of the peaks of Mt. Norman.
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. Observant explorers can carefully scout out the fossils found below the ridgeline (to view, not to take away).
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 scouting 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 with a nap beside it is a wonderfully relaxing experience.
Access
Diana Lake Lodge is accessed off Highway 93 North of Radium, BC. Driving time from Radium Hot Springs is about 1 hour to the trailhead, or 1 hr 45 minutes south from Golden BC.
Access to the Diana Lake Trailhead involves driving on active forest service roads. Please refer to the BC Government’s Resource Road Safety Information page for current road information and best practices. Please be mindful of active logging trucks and drive with caution.
1 — Driving to the Trailhead
Highway Directions from Radium
From the roundabout, travel North on Highway 95 for 17.5 km. Turn right onto the Kindersley-Pinnacle Forest Service Road following signs for Luxor Corrals. Reset your odometer and follow the Forest Service Road Directions below.
Highway Directions from Golden
From the Kickinghorse Bridge, travel South on Highway 95 for 85.5 km. Turn left onto the Kindersley-Pinnacle Forest Service Road following signs for Luxor Corrals. Reset your odometer and follow the Forest Service Road Directions below.
Forest Service Road Directions:
After turning off Highway 95, the Diana Lake Trailhead is 24km down the Pinnacle Creek Forest Service Road.
- At km 7, stay left at the fork to continue onto the Pinnacle FSR (the right fork is the Kindersley FSR).
- From here, follow the main road all the way to the parking lot (at 50.86548, -116.23177). Do not turn onto any marked Branch Roads. Do not cross Pinnacle Creek.
- The Diana Lake trailhead and parking area is located just as the road ends. Please park in the designated area and ensure other cars are able to turnaround.
Road conditions are always changing and can be affected greatly by rain, downed trees, and other vehicles. A moderately high clearance vehicle is recommended.
2 — Trail directions
The trail to the teahouse is just under 7 km and gains 675m of elevation. The Diana Lake Trail and is classified as a Hiking and Horse Trail and Recreation Sites and Trails BC has signs at the trailhead reminding users that the trail is for non-mechanized use (this includes no bikes).
- Follow trail over aluminum foot bridge to the inactive logging road.
- Turn right onto the inactive logging road and follow it for 800m.
- At the Diana Lake sign, turn right onto the single-track trail that heads up and into the woods.
Continue for approximately 6 km taking the well-worn trail crossing Pinnacle Creek three more times (with and without bridges).
