The Very Best Autism Getaway - William Watson Lodge, Kananaskis
Deep in the Kananaskis wilderness in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta there’s a beautiful retreat for those with disabilities. William Watson Lodge is located in Peter Laugheed Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada, and is specially designed for those with various disabilities. As a family we’ve visited several times and have enjoyed our peaceful vacations.
William Watson Lodge
Main lodge (check in, administration, activities & events, etc)
22 accessible cabin units (9 cabins)
11 accessible RV (full-service) campsites
1 comfort parks trailer
1 accessible comfort camping hut
Coin operated washer & dryer
Accessible picnic sites
More than 20 kms of accessible trails
Fire Circle
Playground
Making Reservations
Reservations must be made in advance.
Reservations may be made by phoning 403-591-7227 or in person. Reservations are NOT accepted by fax or e-mail.
No in-person bookings can be made on the first booking day.
The maximum number of reserved nights for each "season" are 7 days
14 days notice is required to cancel a reservation.
Reservation Priorities
For persons with disabilities residing in the province of Alberta - Reservations may be made up to 4 months in advance for severely disabled Albertans (nonambulatory, legally blind, profoundly deaf, dependently cognitively disabled). For example, to book for the month of July, call on the first working day in April.
For Alberta seniors (65 years and older) - Reservations may be made up to 2 months in advance, space permitting.
Phone 403-591-7227
To be connected toll-free in Alberta, dial 310-0000 followed by 403-591-7227
Reservation Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 noon and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm (excluding statutory holidays)
Getting There
As far as I know there aren’t shuttles or transit going to WWL unless you’re with a tour group, so driving is a must. The Lodge is accessible from highway 40 and is about 1.5 hours from Calgary
William Watson Lodge is located on the bottom left side of this map. Click to view the whole map.
Checking In
Check-in is super easy. Pull up to the main lodge and go to the front desk. They will get payment info from you, give you a key to your cabin and answer any and all question you may have. Check-in is open until 9pm. If you’re going to be arriving later just give them a call. We did this during our last vacation and it worked well. The front desk told us our cabin number and left our cabin unlocked. At 10pm, when we finally arrived, we quietly unloaded and settled in for the night. In the morning we went to the front desk and fully checked in.
The Cabins
8 cabins with multiple units in each. 22 units total (some are older and some are newly rebuilt)
1-3 bedroom units
$30 per night for 1-2 bedroom cabins
$40 per night for 3 bedroom cabins
2 twin beds in each bedroom – thick foam waterproof mattresses. Track lift on the ceiling above beds.
Bedside tables, reading lights, bedside plug ins, dresser, coat hooks and mirror in each room.
Pull-out couch in the main room – just a heads up, our was super uncomfortable
Fully stocked kitchen with dishes, utensils, cooking tools, dish soap and dish cloths
Fridge & freezer, sink, oven & stove, microwave and coffee maker
Low counters, sink and cupboards (wheelchair accessible)
Cleaning tools (broom, mop, etc)
Dining table with 6 chairs (2 were in the bedrooms)
BBQ on the deck
Outdoor table & chairs (seasonal)
Couch and 2 comfy chairs
Some units have fireplaces
Bathroom with shower or tub/shower (they provide toilet paper). Our cabin had a separate shower room.
Many units are animal friendly
What to Bring
Bedding & pillows – we bring twin fitted sheets for each bed. The kids bring their favourite blanket and a pillow. Sleeping bags also work well.
Towels – shower and hand towels. Some dish cloths are provided.
Hand soap for bathroom & kitchen
All toiletries
Food - Bring all the food you’ll need since access to grocery stores and restaurants is limited.
Entertainment - This is a full wilderness experience for those with disabilities. The cabins don’t have TVs or other electronics. There also isn’t cell reception in the area. No sending emails, making phone calls, checking the weather, texting pictures or watching Netflix. ZERO CELL RECEPTION! So prepare appropriately. Check out my article on activities and all the fun things to do at William Watson Lodge.
Older Cabins
This photo is of cabin H22 when we arrived. It’s an older pet-friendly two bedroom cabin. Although it’s many decades old, the cabins are well maintained and clean.
New Cabins
The new cabins are absolutely gorgeous. We recently spent 6 days in a 3 bedroom cabin and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful new addition to WWL. This is cabin B4. Not all new cabins are pet friendly, even service dogs aren’t allowed in several cabins. William Watson Lodge has special permission from the government to keep some cabins pet free for those medically compromised. B3 & B4 are pet friendly units.
The Campground
13 campsites with designated picnic tables and fire pits
One comfort cabin thats similar to a tent but permanent
Campsites are paved and surrounded by trees
Communal Showers and toilets
The Main Lodge
Bathrooms that are wheelchair accessible
Info boards with local activities, maps and the weather. They update the weather report daily.
Activity room with a piano, tables, lounging chairs and shuffle board
Laundry Room with 2 washers & 2 dryers (coin operated)
Games & Books to borrow
Equipment rental – 4 person bike
Large deck overlooking Lower Kananaskis Lake and the Rocky Mountains
Checkin Out
Checking out is a little more involved than at a hotel but less than camping. Check out is by 11am and they are really strict with that rule. You are in charge of general cleaning and a cleaning person comes in and does the deeper cleaning after. Make sure to leave time to pack up & clean.
Seriously, packing 6 peoples junk and getting everything back in the van can be a major pain in the butt! We’ve left the day before, later in the evening, so we didn’t need to rush the next morning.
After you’re completely finished packing and cleaning go to the main lodge and let them know you’re ready to go. The employee will come check your cabin and take your key.
'Some of our stuff. Like 1/3 of it or something.
William Watson Lodge Articles
Autism Travel Rating 9/10
Physical Accessibility – Excellent accessibility. All cabins and paths are wheelchair friendly. The only hiccup is with no wifi some trackers (for those who elope) may not work. We didn’t have Leo’s Angel Sense tracker when we went but I’ll update this when we go again.
Sensory - Very quiet camp site with limited guests (often elderly), we were here for Canada day and there weren’t any fireworks or parties (fireworks aren’t allowed in provincial parks). Cabins are simple and free of clutter that can cause overstimulation
Entertainment – Gorgeous scenery, lots of trails and access to other hiking options, calm lake with few visitors. The lack of TV or Wifi was a little challenging. It’s no problem when the weather is nice but you’re not guaranteed nice weather in the Alberta Rockies. Make sure to bring entertainment.
Location - Beautiful location and scenic drive . About 1.5 hour drive from Calgary.
More info
Peter Laugheed Provincial Park Discovery & Info Center
Have you visited William Watson Lodge or a similar special needs resort? What were your experiences?
Hello!
I’m Kate and I’m a mom of four. Since 2010 we’ve had one baby born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate and three children diagnosed with autism. Parenting certainly hasn’t been what I was expecting - it’s been harder (like A LOT harder) and much more wonderful. My world has expanded and knowledge deepened as I’ve spent the last decade raising these four special kids. Supporting other moms of autistic and cleft children is my passion. Here you’ll find information, strategies and first hand experiences to help you navigate these special challenges on-the-go and in your own home.
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William Watson Lodge is the perfect autism getaway. It’s meant to give special needs families a place to experience camping and the outdoors while catering to their individual needs. As a parent of 3 autistic kids I love bringing my family to Kananaskis in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Alberta travel and vacations are becoming some of our favourites.