56 avenueJANUARY.18
GETAWAYS
Camp Cookhouse photograph by Chris Amat, courtesy of Travel Alberta; Historic Reesor Ranch photograph by Carmen Drapeau PhotographyWhere to Stay
HISTORIC REESOR RANCH
It doesn’t get more authentic than Historic Reesor
Ranch, located within the park just a coyote’s
whisker over the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.
The Reesor family has been cattle ranching here
since 1904.
The 100-year-old ranch house’s B&B isn’t open
to visitors during the winter but you can stay
in the ranch’s cowboy cabin or bunkhouse. The
latter once housed hired hands and now sleeps
six, while the rustic cowboy cabin, nestled in the
trees to one side of the ranch yard, is perfect for
two. Finished inside with rough-hewn, fragrant
Cypress Hills spruce planks and decorated with
all things horsey, there’s even a two-person jetted
tub. Bring your own dinner fixings to cook on the
hot plate in the tidy kitchenette, or barbecue on
the covered porch. The Reesors also provide items
for a self-catered power breakfast: bacon, eggs,
hash browns, bread, jam, peanut butter, juice,
coffee, tea, yogurt and hot cereals, as well as fresh
and canned fruit.
The two hardy ranch dogs, Justice and Dolly,
will greet you when you arrive and essentially
lead you on a three-km snowshoe loop. Kinniki-
nik Kliff Trail climbs up through an enchanted
forest to a wide plateau affording spectacular
views of the Battle Creek Valley below and the
Cypress Hills rolling south and west. Aim to
catch a glorious sunrise or sunset.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though
it’s only 30 km through the park from Elkwater to
Reesor Ranch, it’s serious winter mountain driv-
ing, and an all-wheel- or four-wheel-drive vehicle
is recommended.
306-662-3498, reesorranch.comELKWATER LAKE LODGE AND RESORT
If you want a more conventional stay, Elkwater
Lake Lodge is the premier destination in the
Cypress Hills. Situated near the lake and only
five minutes from Hidden Valley Ski Resort,
it has 38 rooms (some with fireplaces), three
cabins open during the winter (six during the
summer) and 12 well-appointed condominium
units. The rooms are spotless, spacious and
contemporary. Request one with a Jacuzzi tub,
or go for a soak in the lodge’s indoor salt-water
pool and hot tub — you’ll need it after all those
ski runs.
401 4 St., Elkwater, Alta., 403-893-3811,
elkwaterlakelodge.comBUGLERS DINING ROOM & LOUNGE
Named for the bull elk’s call in mating season,
Buglers at Elkwater Lake Lodge and Resort serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Splash out with a 10-ounce rib-eye steak of lo-
cal AAA beef or tuck into the pan-seared pork
tenderloin served with apple chutney, scalloped
potatoes and seasonal veggies. Breakfast is classic:
two eggs as you like ’em, with ham, bacon and
sausage, potatoes and toast or pancakes slathered
with berries and whipped cream — not to men-
tion generous coffee refills.
401 4 St., Elkwater, Alta., 403-893-3811,
elkwaterlakelodge.comWhere to Eat
CAMP COOKHOUSE & GENERAL STORE
This licensed restaurant, grocery/liquor store
and gift shop-cum catering operation is run by
Top Chef Canada alumnus Becky Ross and her
partner Alexander Bruveris, who purport to be
committed to old-school food preparation “even
if it kills us.” Ross and Bruveris pickle and can
local produce, bake bread and cure meat. The
lunch and dinner menus are changed up every
two to three weeks, though you can always count
on finding some take on comfort food with an
imaginative spin (think confit-style chicken leg
on a bed of mash along with ratatouille, smoked
beets with feta and arugula dressed with vinai-
grette). Camp also pours an inspired selection
of seasonal craft beer, cider, mead and fruit wine
from B.C. and Alberta.
40 Lakeview Dr., Elkwater, Alta., 403-893-3930,
campcookhouseandgeneralstore.comTOP Smoked chuck steak on cheesy
grits with roasted cauliflower and shaved
fennel salad at Camp Cookhouse.
RIGHT The cowboy cabin at Historic
Reesor Ranch.