Indigenous-owned glamping spots to make your summer unforgettable
By Gavin John
Hideaway Adventure Grounds
Blankets of pines and poplar trees drape over the gentle rolling hills in the Kikino Metis Settlement and home of Hideaway Adventure Grounds. Minutes outside Lac La Biche, Hideaway Adventure Grounds offers glamping accommodations in their various trapper’s tents. Their elevated Wall Tents off all the comforts of home in a beautiful land this is a perfect get away. Owner and operator John Richie offers cultural and outdoor teachings, drawing from his Metis heritage.
PO Box 155, Kikino, AB. T0A 2B0 // 780-623-8885 // https://hideawayadventuregrounds.ca/
Painted Warriors Ranch
With year-round activities like glamping, archery, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and guided tours, Painted Warriors Ranch has it all. Nestled in the foothills next to the Rocky Mountains, Painted Warriors offers a place to reconnect with land-based traditional knowledge and activities. Learn from the shared history of the Ojibway, Metis, and Cree cultures, perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. Painted Warriors also offers workshops to make your ribbon skirt, as well as hunting skills courses, Outdoor Council of Canada certification, and Equestrian skills.
31341 Range Road 5.1 Mountainview County, AB // 403-637-9138 //- https://www.paintedwarriors.ca/
Mahikan Trails
Connect with the beautiful landscape of the Eastern Rockies through Medicine Walks by Mahikan Trails. Learn what medicines the land provides through a guided hike, in Banff, Canmore, or Sundre Alberta. Learn how to respectfully gather and honour the land while harvesting and listen to the stories of the plants from Brenda Holder. Mahikan Trails also offers courses on soap and salve making, using the plants gathered from the land. When it’s just you or a large group, there’s a walk and experience that’s made for everyone.
Clearwater County, AB // 403-679-8379 // – https://mahikan.ca
The Woods Experience
With Off-grid Cabins, Tipi Experiences, and traditional camping, The Woods Experience has everything you need for a nature retreat. Surrounded by thick boreal forests of Central Alberta, it offers a peaceful retreat for the weekend warrior or the outdoor enthusiast. In addition to their campsites, The Woods offers a Wilderness Spa experience with wood-fired hot tubs, barrel saunas, and cold plunges. Finally, if you’re looking for authentic Indigenous goods and cultural events, The Woods Experience is home to Native Wild Trading Post.
55416 Range Road 93, Yellowhead County, AB // 780-913-8539 // – https://atthewoods.ca
Pine Creek Stopping House and Pine Creek Retreat
Stopping houses were used as a place for travelers to rest and re-supply before heading back into the wilds of Alberta. Pine Creek Retreat continues this tradition next to the historical Pine Creek Stopping House, originally built in 1908. Along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in the community of Smoky Lake, the retreat has a range of Metis-inspired shelters that offer lavish comforts and a peaceful connection to nature. This natural sanctuary has been a gathering place for over 100 years, and it’s hard not to see why!
19176 Victoria Trail, Waskatenau, AB, T0A 3P0 // 403-404-4388 // – https://www.pinecreekretreat.ca/