Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, a wild family adventure in spectacular British Columbia

You’d never describe family holidays in Canada as average, but even in the land of incredible adventures, there’s nothing quite like Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch.

Horses galloping by lodge ©Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch

At Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch in British Columbia’s interior, children don’t just visit nature -they live it.

As we said, this is far from your average family holiday. Firstly, there are no kids’ clubs, no screens and no pre-set itineraries. Instead, families at Siwash Lake step into true wilderness together: trail riding across open range on their own horses; paddleboarding on glassy waters under waterfalls; sleeping under star-strewn skies in their own star camp, and learning survival skills like bushcraft, foraging, and fire-making with flint and steel.

Here, the wild is the classroom, horses are the teachers and nature is the ultimate playground.

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Exploring the trails as part of the Free-Range Kids experience ©Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch

Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort awakens the adventurous spirit in your kids

Owned and run by the Rogers family, fourth-generation ranchers themselves, Siwash Lake is more than a luxury escape, it’s a way of life.

However, families come here not just to stay, but to reconnect with the land, with each other, and with something ancient in themselves.

Siwash Synergy forges new independence

To that end, the ranch’s signature Siwash Synergy program offers children as young as six their own horse to ride and care for throughout their stay, forging a bond that builds trust, courage, and independence.

Though these aren’t pony rides around a paddock, they’re real adventure rides through wildflower meadows, canyon ridges and regenerating forests, guided, but never fenced in.

“There’s nothing quite like seeing your child take the lead on horseback across open range,” says founder Allyson Rogers. “You see a shift in them,  a new independence that no screen or schoolroom could ever give.”

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Getting close to nature ©Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch

Family holidays in Canada where nature comes naturally

Moreover, at Siwash Lake, days flow according to instinct, weather, and energy, rather than strict itineraries.

So mornings might begin with forest bathing or a guided alpine hike, followed by flyfishing or tubing down a lazy river. Then afternoons could bring archery lessons, foraging walks, or a dip in one of the resort’s hidden swimming holes.

The quiet luxury of Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort

Come nightfall, guests retreat to their own timber-frame suite, barn loft, or luxury glamping tent at Star Camp. It’s the kind of wilderness where you can hear the call of a loon and see the full Milky Way. Luxury here is understated, locally built, rooted in the land, and quietly elegant.

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Low impact learning ©Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch

Landscape leads the way at Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort

After a major wildfire reshaped the landscape in 2017, Siwash Lake chose to let nature take the lead. What’s emerged is a breathtaking study in regeneration: shimmering aspens, wild rose, willows, and rich undergrowth now carpet the terrain.

Wildlife, from moose and black bears to river otters and meadowlarks, has returned in abundance and this year black bears were seen with their cubs, for the first time since 2017.

Introducing new nature experiences for 2026

During 2026, Siwash Lake will expand its Fire Ecology Ride & Hike routes, offering guests the chance to witness this rebirth up close with naturalist guides who explain how fire breathes new life into the ecosystem.

As well as experiences being strictly non-intrusive, with no touching, no feeding, and no interference, they’re all about deep learning and quiet observation. So children come away understanding the delicate balance of wilderness. Not only will they know why wetlands matter and how to read animal tracks, they’ll see first hand what resilience looks like when nature is allowed to heal itself.

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Star Camp ©Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch

An adventure that can be yours and your family’s, exclusively

For those travelling with extended family or friends, Siwash Lake can be booked for private and exclusive use. A Star Camp Takeover accommodates up to eight guests with full use of the wood-fired hot tub, stargazing deck, and campfire area.

For even larger family holidays in Canada, the entire ranch can be reserved for up to sixteen guests (ideal for twelve) with eight king beds or a mix of kings and singles. Private stays make it easy for families to reconnect, explore, and unwind together in complete seclusion: an unforgettable shared wilderness experience.

This is all about making travel matter

As parents search for travel experiences that matter and are screen-free, sustainable, and soulful, Siwash Lake offers something rare. It’s not just a family holiday, it’s a rite of passage.

Because when a child learns to ride their own horse, build a fire with their bare hands, and paddle across a lake without another person in sight something shifts, they begin to understand their place in the world, and their responsibility to protect it.

That’s the Siwash Lake difference.

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