Rooted in a calm, Scandinavian aesthetic, the experience is warm, minimal and quietly luxurious, combining simplicity, relaxation and community. Families, couples and groups can slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the outdoors without
the gear, stress and complexity of traditional camping.
Trailhaus offers a new take on visitor accommodation, pairing elevated outdoor
experiences with thoughtful stewardship, guest awareness, and respect for nature.
FAQs
We are pleased to provide FAQs in response to key questions and themes identified through the Town of Canmore review process and broader community discussion.
We believe it is important to share clear, accessible information about the project and how it has been thoughtfully designed and carefully considered.
Our approach is guided by five principles: respect for place, thoughtful simplicity, active stewardship, meaningful connection, and community awareness.
About the Project
The project is a seasonal, low-impact camping and glamping site designed to operate in spring, summer, and fall, and closed during winter months.
It is intended to be a managed, purpose-built form of visitor accommodation, with active on-site oversight, defined capacity, and clear operating rules.
The lands are privately owned and designated for development. The proposal is designed to respond to Canmore’s evolving tourism direction by providing a more controlled and lower-impact alternative to unmanaged visitor use.
This is a managed, design-forward outdoor accommodation experience, not a conventional campground.
Key differences include:
• No random or drop-in camping
• Pre-booked stays only
• On-site management and supervision
• Clear guest expectations and rules
• Purpose-built infrastructure for safety and environmental protection
The intent is to provide a more structured, lower-impact visitor experience.
Wildlife & Environmental Protection
Protecting wildlife is a central consideration in the project design. Technical studies have been completed to understand wildlife movement and habitat use, and the project is being designed to:
•Minimize disturbance areas within the site
• Maintain natural corridors where possible
• Limit lighting and activity in sensitive areas
• Implement ongoing monitoring and adaptive management
The site will operate under strict attractant management protocols, including:
• Bear-proof waste and food storage
• Clear rules prohibiting unsecured food
• Staff monitoring and response procedures
• Guest education on wildlife coexistence
Yes. A Visitor Education and Interpretation Plan will be implemented to ensure guests understand:
• Wildlife safety and coexistence
• Proper food and waste handling
• Respectful behaviour in a sensitive environment
The goal is to ensure visitors are informed and responsible, not passive users.
The intent of the project is to reduce unmanaged interactions by:
• Concentrating visitor use in a controlled environment
• Actively managing behaviour on-site
• Educating visitors before and during their stay
Fire Risk & Safety
Fire risk is a critical consideration. The project will include:
• FireSmart-aligned site design and operations
• Strict controls on fires, including one centralized communal fire feature
• No open wood fires at individual sites
• Suite tents to have small gas-fuelled fire pits with safeguards to prevent added accelerants
• Staff oversight and enforcement
• Emergency response planning and coordination
The site will be actively managed, including:
• Clear guest rules and orientation
• On-site supervision
• Enforcement protocols, including removal of non-compliant guests if necessary
Quarry Lake & Recreation Pressure
We understand this concern. It’s important to recognize that pressure at Quarry Lake is largely driven by unmanaged, peak-period day use.
This project is different. It is a managed, on-site accommodation model where:
• Visitor numbers are defined and controlled
• Guest behaviour is actively managed
• Expectations are clearly communicated in advance
The intent is not to add unmanaged demand, but to provide a more structured and accountable visitor experience.
Quarry Lake is one of Canmore’s most popular recreation areas and experiences high levels of use, particularly during peak summer periods.
The Town has implemented measures such as paid parking and enforcement to help manage demand, but it remains a capacity-constrained area during busy times.
Some guests may choose to visit Quarry Lake, as many visitors to Canmore already do.
However, guests at the site will:
• Receive guidance on responsible use of local amenities
• Be encouraged to plan activities thoughtfully, including timing and transportation
We recognize that managing recreation pressure is a broader community challenge.
This project is designed to be:
• Low-impact and seasonal
• Actively managed
• Supported by visitor education
The goal is to ensure that any contribution to visitor activity is controlled, informed, and aligned with responsible use of the area.
Traffic, Infrastructure, & Access
Traffic impacts have been assessed through technical studies. The project will:
• Operate at a defined capacity
• Include managed parking
• Encourage alternative transportation (walking, cycling, shared transport where possible)
No. The project will include:
• Defined on-site parking limits
• No allowance for overflow parking
• Active monitoring and enforcement
The project is being designed to:
• Maintain emergency access
• Avoid disruption to existing access routes
Visitor education will also encourage responsible use of surrounding amenities.
The project is intended to be self-contained and managed, with servicing designed to meet regulatory requirements and minimize off-site impacts.
Emergency access is a key requirement of the project and will be designed in coordination with municipal and emergency services to ensure:
• Safe access for emergency vehicles
• Appropriate turnaround and access points
• Compliance with fire and safety standards
Neighbourhood Compatibility & Safety
The project is designed to operate as a quiet, low-impact use, with:
• On-site management
• Clear behavioural expectations
• Limits on noise, lighting, and activity
The intent is to align with the surrounding community, not disrupt it.
The project will operate under:
• Defined quiet hours
• Restrictions on amplified sound
• Limits on group activities and events
• Active on-site management
The site will be managed to:
• Clearly direct visitor movement
• Reduce unnecessary off-site wandering
• Reinforce respectful behaviour through education and oversight
Safety measures will include:
• On-site management 24-hour presence
• Clear rules and code of conduct
• Monitoring and response protocols
Undermining & Site Safety
The site has been subject to geotechnical and hazard assessments to identify and address any risks related to undermining.
Safety measures will include:
• Appropriate site layout and setbacks
• Engineering-informed design
• Clear identification of any restricted areas
• Ongoing monitoring where required
Where applicable, the project will comply with all relevant provincial requirements and processes related to geotechnical and site safety.
Environmental Impact
The project is designed to:
• Limit disturbance to a defined portion of the site
• Retain a significant portion of land in a natural state
• Implement ongoing stewardship and maintenance
Operations, Management, & Enforcement
A Seasonal Operations and Stewardship Plan will guide:
• Guest management
• Wildlife protocols
• Fire safety
• Noise and behaviour standards
• Monitoring and enforcement
Enforcement will include:
• On-site management
• Clear guest expectations
• Immediate response to issues
• Authority to remove non-compliant guests
The site will include:
• Proper waste collection and removal
• Bear-proof systems
• Washroom facilities
• Clear expectations for guest use
Design & Visibility
The project is being designed to:
• Minimize visual impact
• Work with existing topography and vegetation
• Maintain a low built form
Transparency & Information
The project team is working to provide clear, accessible summaries of technical studies, along with supporting materials, so that information can be understood by the public.
While public engagement is not typically required at this stage, the level of interest in the project is clear. The project team is providing information to ensure transparency, clarity, and informed discussion.
Kaleo is more than a home it’s a living rhythm. Open fields. Wooden fences weathered by time. Horses grazing at dawn. Smoke curling from the hearth as dusk settles in.
Get In Touch
Please note: This form is intended for project-related questions. All submissions will be reviewed. However, individual responses may not be provided. Information provided here will be used to support ongoing project clarity and refinement.
Kaleo was born from the desire to return — to the land, to meaning, to something deeper than speed and noise.
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Kaleo invites you to slow down — to move with purpose, to remember what life feels like when it breathes with meaning.
The land
Kaleo begins with the land — the rolling fields, still mornings, and the quiet rhythms of nature. This is a place where sheep graze under golden light, where time slows, and the earth reminds us what it means to be rooted.
The Spirit
There’s a spirit here that lives in the details — the warmth of shared meals, the honesty of hard work, the echo of footsteps on wooden floors. It’s in the stories passed down, in the breath between tasks, in the care behind every simple act.
The Vision
Our vision is to protect what matters — space, silence, beauty, and belonging. Kaleo is not just a place to visit, but a way of being. We invite those who seek intention, wonder, and a deeper kind of wealth to return to what truly nourishes.
western beauty
Some moments speak louder than words — a trail through morning mist, a hand on a horse’s mane, the shadow of trees dancing on an old wooden floor.