Golden in fall is quiet, understated, and beautiful. With a hint of winter in the air there’s no jostling with crowds, reservations are easy to get, and the town is bedecked in a tapestry of orange and yellow – with perhaps a dusting of snow on the mountain peaks. It’s the perfect time for a visit if you’re keen to relax, unwind and lean into the cozy season in Golden, BC.
Plan a stay in one of Golden’s cute cabins or hotels with amenities like hot tubs, fireplaces and saunas. Add in a side of soft adventure – like a mellow hike or two – to nearby places like Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park, Thompson Falls off Blaeberry Road or the Rotary Loop right in town. You might even want to give the suspension bridge a go at Golden Skybridge.
Throw in some seriously fun wildlife viewing. If your timing’s right, you can visit Boo the grizzly bear on his 20-acre home at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Or take a walk with a wolf at the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. Prefer bison? Join a tour at the Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to cozy places to stay in Golden. There’s everything from romantic B&Bs to geodesic domes to log cabins and condos close to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
Home Lodge – a luxury bed and breakfast is the epitome of cozy. Rooms are well appointed with soft sheets and warm blankets. The welcoming shortbread is a nice touch – and their breakfast is divine. After a few hours outside it’s lovely to come back to their outdoor hot tub – where you might see deer or one of their very photogenic Scottish Highland cattle wandering through their spacious yard. Sipping wine under the stars is a hit too.
I love the coziness of glamping – and The Blaeberry Base – checks off all the boxes. Located close to the Northern Lights Wolf Centre, it features two kitted out geodesic domes – with a full kitchen. Outside there’s a deck, a shared cedar sauna, a fire pit, a BBQ grill, and lots of green space.
Book one of the handcrafted log cabins at Moberly Lodge and cozy up by the fire, relax on the deck, sip wine around your private fire pit, and soak up the mountain views and all the nature that surrounds the lodge.
If you like the idea of staying near Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, check out Lush Accommodation for cozy one-bedroom condo options – all with a hot tub and many with a gas fireplace. The one I stayed in also offered beautiful mountain views.
Drive up to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, even if the lifts aren’t running. If you’re visiting in September, take the gondola to the top for a hike and enjoy a leisurely lunch with a view. The fall colours are spectacular, and you could easily spend a half day up here.
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Walk or bike a section of the 7-kilometre-long Rotary Trail along the Kicking Horse River. Be sure to include a walk over the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, especially on a starry night.
Visit Reflection Lake if you want to slow down and enjoy some bird watching in a peaceful setting. Look for a variety of waterfowl and excellent views of the Columbia Mountains.
Walk across Canada’s highest suspension bridge if you’re visiting before mid-October. If you want a break from cozy and quiet in Golden, you’ll find plenty of heart-pounding adventures at the Golden Skybridge.
Visit the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre to learn about wolves and their critical role on every plant and animal in the ecosystem. Better yet, sign up for a walk with the wolves in the wild. Over 90 minutes you can learn about their behaviour, and mug for shots with a couple of wolves that are unafraid of humans.
Check out Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch, located off Blaeberry Road just 10 minutes from Golden. The owner of the ranch, Leo Downey, a brilliant guitarist and the subject of a film at the Banff Film Festival, offers up-close tours to see the buffalo from mid-May until the end of September. Year round he offers one-of-a-kind cozy cabins to rent as well.
Visit Boo the grizzly bear at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort until late September and learn how he came to call a 20-acre ecologically diverse piece of land beneath the gondola home. You can choose from ranger assist tours to simply visiting the Grizzly Bear Refuge anytime throughout the day while the lift is in operation.
Golden’s downtown is full of small-town warmth, where you can browse locally owned stores, grab a coffee at a cozy café, or linger over a meal at one of several great restaurants.
The combo of bookstore and café is a compelling one. Linger over a bowl of soup at the Bacchus Cafe – while surrounded by books across the genres. It’s one of my favourite places to visit!
If you’re into the outdoors, take the time to browse through Golden Outdoors. They have a selection of outdoor clothing, footwear and gear – by top brands in the outdoor space. And lots of personalized attention.
If you love a massage, why not book a mobile masseuse and have them come to your cabin or condo. That’s one of the best ways to relax into cozy season in Golden.
For history lovers check out the Golden BC Museum to peak into the town’s railway and mountaineering past. It’s open every day but Sunday from 10 AM – 4 PM.
For a town of around 4,000 people, Golden, BC has a large number of very good restaurants and cafes.
To kick start your morning try the Blue Bird Café with delicious lattes and baked goods along with more substantial fare if that’s what you want. For breakfast with some local flavour and history check out Big Bend Café. Their hot sauce selection is enormous and so are the portion sizes. Bring your appetite and enjoy the atmosphere. For one of the best coffees in town head to Ethos Café.
The Island Restaurant has an interesting location – and an eclectic menu with pizza, pasta, Mexican and a little Asian Fusion thrown in for good measure. It’s perfect for cozy dinners in Golden. Another local favourite is Eleven22 – named for its address on 10th Avenue South. Located in a historic house, it offers upscale comfort food alongside local beers and Okanagan wines. Reposados Tacos is perfect for tacos and margaritas while next door at Whitetooth Bistro it’s all about old favorites like salads, steaks, bowls, and burgers.
Visit Golden’s Whitetooth Brewing Co for a flight of Belgian inspired or west coast influenced beers. If you’re hungry order food from one of three local restaurants (they’ll tell you which ones) and have it delivered straight to your table.
I also recommend picking up to go food from one of the local restaurants or a bottle of wine and dinner fixings at the grocery store. Head back to your cozy abode in Golden, pour a glass of wine with dinner and then light a bonfire, and soak up the beauty of the dark night skies.
If you’re craving mountain scenery, crisp air, and cozy moments, Golden, BC is one of the top places to visit in the Canadian Rockies in fall. The town slows down just enough to let you soak in its charm and enjoy the beauty of the region. After a few days you’ll feel like you’ve had the mountains to yourself and experienced Golden at its coziest.
A big thank you to Tourism Golden for hosting my stay. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
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