As far as trail closures go, dogs and humans are in the same boat when it comes to bear activity, particularly during the height of berry season. But even if your favourite trail is among those closed on account of bears, there are several thousand kilometres of alternate hiking trails across Banff National Park and K-Country for you and your dog to explore together. In spite of the occasional hiccup of hiking with your dog, the fun and companionship tend to outweigh everything else.
Where to stay with your dog
As more and more people travel with their pets,hotels have evolved to suit their needs with pet-friendly rooms – albeit in limited numbers. In Kananaskis Country, the two major hotels, Mount Engadine Lodge and Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge welcome pets for an extra charge of $20 and $40, respectively, per night. In Banff you have a terrific amount of choice including the Fairmont Banff Springs, the Moose Hotel & Suites, Rimrock Resort Hotel, Juniper Hotel, Canalta Lodge, Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Hidden Ridge Resort and Irwin’s Mountain Inn, just to name a few. All charge extra for the privilege of bringing your dog, with prices ranging from $20 to $40 per pet, per night. Few,if any, ask for a damage deposit. Some hotels limit the size of dog and most allow a maximum of two dogs per room. Many of the hotels ask that you don’t leave your pets unattended or, if you do, that they’re housed in a kennel. In Banff there’s also the option to have your pets looked after or walked by myhotelsitter.com for an hourly fee.
Meet the Fairmont Dogs
One of the most popular staff members at the Fairmont Banff Springs these days is Bear, a black Labrador retriever and the “official dog” at the historic hotel. As a graduate of the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind program, he’s well mannered, always agreeable and a big hit with guests – even those who are normally uncomfortable around dogs. Bear can usually be found working the floor by the VIP concierge desk between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., offering a wagging tail, a shake of the paw or a cuddle. Guests can even arrange to have Bear join them on an adventure. He’s delighted to be your surrogate dog, if even for an hour.
Bear’s counterpart at theFairmont Chateau Lake Louise,a yellow Labrador named Marcus, holds the very official-sounding title of Director of Pet Relations,though these days he’s semi-retired on account of his age. Unlike energetic youngster Bear, Marcus prefers a quieter approach with visiting guests, especially during the summer when there are larger numbers of people around. If you’re lucky to see him during slow periods, stop to shake his paw and give him a gentle scratch behind the ears.