We stayed two nights at Emerald Lake Lodge and left with mixed feelings. The lake and scenery are spectacular, and the food at every meal was good. But the service, facilities, and overall guest experience fell short of the price.
Staff were disengaged from the moment we arrived. We waited for the shuttle while several employees walked past us without a greeting. It took over an hour for our luggage to be delivered—better to carry your own.
The bar setup was oddly rigid, with guests only allowed to sit at the edges. Watching someone get told they couldn’t sit in an empty seat next to us was awkward. At Cilantro, $20 cocktails came mostly as ice in small glasses—and inconsistent glassware became a strange sticking point. Service there also seemed overwhelmed and slow.
The biggest disappointment was the cabin. It felt worn, not well maintained, and nothing like the website photos. No A/C, just a fan. The “gym” was basically two machines in a sauna-like room.
On the plus side, we saw a bear, enjoyed every meal, and the lake is absolutely breathtaking. But despite the setting, the overall experience didn’t match the price—or expectations.
Would we recommend it? Absolutely not. Beautiful to visit, but not to stay.