Nordegg, Alberta
Lodgings designed with riders in mind
Cheechako Cabins was thoughtfully created for outdoors enthusiasts
Trails through the trees: Entrancing terrain characterizes the area around Cheechako Cabins—photo courtesy Lowell Summers
Nestled in the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, Cheechako Cabins provides exceptional lodgings that have a special point of interest for any RidersWest reader. They are located in one of the most sublime locations for outdoor activities, especially for ATVing. Owners Lowell and Bonnie Summers share a love of the outdoors that is reflected in the success of their business.
“We moved to Nordegg in 1997,” Lowell Summers explained, “and began building Cheechako Cabins. We, along with our daughter, Sarah, who lives in the area with her husband, are the owners/operators/managers of the business.”
Identifying a need
The alpine environment was irresistible, and the Summers’ followed their vision to create lodgings that would appeal to the growing number of outdoor enthusiasts.
“I retired from the military in 1997,” said Summers. “Bonnie and I decided we liked the idea of living in a mountainous area, and that grew into the idea of rental cabins. We’ve never regretted our decision. Our intent was to provide accommodation for individuals, couples and families who would like to experience the outdoors.”
Inspired design
ATVers can settle in at the cabins, and conveniently head off to the trails without having to make a long trip to get to their destination.
“ATVers like our place, mainly because they have direct access to many kilometres of trails,” said Summers. “There’s no need to haul their machines to a start point. We can also provide maps of the local trails to supplement the recently updated Bighorn Backcountry brochure produced by the Alberta government’s department of Sustainable Resources and Development (SRD).”
The cabins are also dog-friendly and private. They are situated in such a was that they have a minimal negative impact on the surrounding environment, so nature lovers can appreciate all aspects of their stay. They are designed in the style of the early miners’ cabins, in honour of the mining history of Nordegg, and feature private covered decks.
“Cheechako is a northern aboriginal word meaning newcomer or tenderfoot,” said Summers. “Which is basically what Bonnie and I were when we moved here (from Edmonton) and began carving the place out of the land.”
For more information on Cheechako Cabins, visit www.cheechakocabins.com.
