The year 2003 was the year of wildfires here in Western Canada. Fires raged throughout both British Columbia and through Alberta, closing roadways, trails, and even threatening homes and other buildings. One of the facilities threatened by wildfire was the historic Kootenay Park Lodge, located in BC's Kootenay National Park. This was our destination.

Kootenay National Park - Passed Over Too Often?

Kootenay National Park, established in 1920 and covering 1406 square kilometers, often gets passed by in favour of the better known Banff, Lake Louise, and Radium Hot Springs. Like many before us -- and likely many after -- we've passed through it numerous times on our way to other destinations. This time, though, we figured it was about time we explored this park, located a mere 2 hours from our home town of Calgary.

The Cabins

The Kootenay Park Lodge offers ten (10) cabins nestled amongst the trees. These are charming older accommodations, while the lodge awaits approval to build new ones.

These cabins are simple lodgings that blend into the beauty of the Canadian Rockies surrounding them. Our cabin had a queen bed, fireplace, bathroom with shower, plus a small room containing a sink, microwave, and bar-sized fridge. Some cabins have two double beds.

Each cabin has its own covered porch with chairs. We spotted many guests relaxing on the porch, especially as night fell and quiet descended on the lodge -- not that it could ever really be considered "noisy"! We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the porch was well-protected from the rain that fell during our visit. Neither the chairs nor the dog towels we left outside on the porch even got damp. Even while it rained, we could comfortably sit outside and enjoy the setting.

And we especially loved the sound of the rain against the cabin roof while we were snugly sequestered inside for the night.

Pet-Friendly?

Paul Holscher operates the lodge with his mother, Francis. Both are genuine pet-lovers -- Paul's beloved pooch was with him for a happy 13 years, and Francis is a brand new "mom" to an adorable little daschund pup.

As usual, when making an inquiry into availability and rates, we mentioned our two dogs. Paul welcomed them with no problem at all (I was ready to go into our spiel about how well-behaved the dogs are, but it turned out that it wasn't necessary). And the pet / cleaning fee was a mere $5 for both of them. More than reasonable.

Since we were planning to feast at the on-site restaurant, I asked Paul whether or not it would be OK to leave the dogs unattended in the cabin for short periods. I got a laid-back, "Sure, so long as they don't damage anything." Although he didn't ask that they be kenneled, we still brought the trusty kennel just as a matter of policy (we did kennel them while we had breakfast, since we weren't sure when the cleaning staff was coming in).

A large grassy area is located front of the cabins - a nice place for the pets to romp a bit or take a bathroom break. Garbage cans are available in several places on the property so that it's easy to find a place to deposit waste bags.

During our stay we saw a surprising number of dogs. On the day we left, as we stood outside chatting with Paul, we even saw one guest with three pooches -- and Paul didn't even bat an eye. Pet-friendly? You bet!

(I hasten to mention that not only are Paul and Francis pet-friendly, but they're also very people-friendly, too. It seemed like nearly everyone spent a few minutes chatting to one or the other of them.)

On-Site Amenities

The main lodge houses the office, a small library, and a critically acclaimed dining room, which received a great review from one of Calgary's local food critics. So naturally we had to give it a try. We showed up for breakfast one morning -- and embarassingly just missed breakfast hours. We weren't wearing watches and just lost track of time while taking an early morning scenic romp with the dogs. Still, Paul and Francis were good enough to accommodate us anyways. We vowed to get to dinner on-time ... and did so, only to discover that the dining room fills up fast and reservations are highly recommended (we missed seeing the "Reservations Recommended" sign upon check-in). Once again, they squeezed us in. The food is fresh and tasty ... but if you plan to get in for dinner, don't make the same mistake we did: make your reservations early.

Also on-site is a bustling store, open from April to October. There you'll find snacks, souvenirs, and gifts. Housed in the same building is the Information Centre, which offers information on hiking, fishing, and more. Guests from the lodge meander in to pick up food and coffee and to browse the displays. Other people, passing through the park, stop by as well. There are a few tables inside where visitors can sit down with a drink or snack, and have a bit of a break before carrying on their way.

The lodge is entirely self-sufficient. There's a well for water, sourced 40 feet deep, plus two diesel generators. Please note there is no telephone service or cell phone coverage in the area. However, a radio link is available in the office. Otherwise it's just you and nature.

Pet-Friendly Activities

The Kootenay Park Lodge is located in a fairly remote area of the spectacular Canadian Rockies, so as you can guess, outdoor recreation is the activity of choice (although the towns of Radium Hot Springs and Banff are an easy drive away). There are lots of hiking and walking trails available to you and your pooch.

Last year's wildfires have resulted in a few trail closures, until the park can get the trails cleaned of debris. Unfortunately that meant we weren't able to do the popular Marble Canyon trail... but there are plenty of others to choose from.

Both Rundle, the PetFriendly CEO (Chief Eating Officer), and Tonka, the PetFriendly CFO (Chief Fun Officer), are into their senior years. Yet there are lots of excellent trails that they enjoyed just as much as we did. A few of the highlights include:

• Three trails originate by Kootenay Park Lodge: Vermilion River (right beside Cabin #6 -- a nice short walk to start the morning with the dogs); Verendrye Creek (across the street; very pretty, but still with many fallen logs -- a tough feat for our little senior dog!); and Honeymoon Pass.

• The popular Paint Pots hike is just a few minutes drive from the lodge. A wonderful, easy hike, fun to see all the colours. Keep your pooch close by your side, though, unless you want him stained orange!

• Stop by Olive Lake, a pretty and peaceful picnic area located on Hwy #93 towards Radium Hot Springs. It's a great little place to take a break.

For more information on hiking in Kootenay National Park, visit the Parks Canada website.

The Kootenay Park Lodge is a perfect haven for nature enthusiasts. It's also close to Banff, Lake Louise, and to Radium Hot Springs so you're close to civilization if you miss it. You can even take a day trip and drive into Invermere or the popular resort town of Panorama.

Other Notes

• British Columbia is generally known to have fleas, ticks, and mosquitos, so if you're travelling during the season when they're active, your pet will need to be on at least a flea preventive. Contact your vet for a prescription at least a few days in advance and apply it to your pet prior to leaving.

• Bring pet towels -- several, if you can! If you do any hiking with your pooch he's bound to get a little dirty. Wipe him off before letting him back into the cabin.

• A National Park Pass is required when visiting the park. Contact Parks Canada for more information.

• Please keep your dog under control and respect the wildlife who call this wilderness park their home. Pets MUST be leashed, according to the rules of Kootenay National Park.

• The nearest full-service towns are Radium Hot Springs (located just outside the park's West Gate) and Banff (approximately 35 km east of the park's north entrance).

• The Kootenay Park Lodge is open seasonally from May to September. They are located on Highway 93, the Kootenay Parkway. Contact them here (please be sure to say, "I found you in the PET FRIENDLY Canada Directory"!)