My beautiful stay in “Clementine” in Longview’s extraordinary Willow Hill Lodge

By MALIK MERCHANT

I am spontaneous, and I don’t always make specific plans when I travel to Alberta’s beautiful towns, mountains, rivers, and lakes to experience nature and, if lucky, to spot wildlife. For example, a few months ago, I was driving to the Kananaskis via Okotoks and Longview for a day trip. As I was about to take the exit to Okotoks, I decided to drive to Waterton National Park instead, which was almost 250 km away from my location. Because of that instinctive and spontaneous feeling I have, I carry a small suitcase with up to two days’ worth of extra clothes. I always keep a pair of good hiking shoes in my car.

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Now, my plan, following an earlier trip that covered Longview, Edmonton, Maligne, and Medicine Lakes all in one day and 1,200 km, had been to leisurely drive through the Kananaskis to Longview and then return to Calgary late in the evening. On my way, I decided to stop at Calgary’s West Farmers’ Market, where I grabbed a Turkish lunch at Anatolia to enjoy it at the fantastic Canyon Day Use area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, en route to Kananaskis Lakes. Luckily, as I was leaving the market, fresh boxes of BC peaches were being unpacked. I stopped by to pick several peaches, as well as fresh BC apricots, my cherished fruit, and extremely sweet clementines, also my cherished fruit.

Longview, a charming town, offered limited accommodations. Still, my search the previous evening led me to a genuinely unique spot — the Willow Hill Lodge, just a couple of kilometres east of the renowned Longview Steak House, which requires reservations weeks or months in advance.

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This Lodge had never been on my radar, but as I weaved through its website, I learned that it offered unique accommodations in two trucks, including a 50-year-old truck called Clementine. It was rare to get a reservation for Clementine, but I was lucky. Perhaps the weather forecast for the following day had deterred people. There was a last-minute cancellation at the luxurious suite — and I mean incredibly luxurious. However, I had to experience Clementine, and I decided to stay in it, despite some inconveniences — for example, the bathroom is a shared facility located about 40 metres from the colourful truck.

Habitable? Absolutely! Did I sleep well? Yes! Was breakfast served? A personalized one, beautifully prepared and presented by Cathy on a table outside Clementine at my requested time of 7:30 AM. Cathy’s story about how she and her husband James acquired the home and property and renovated it so they could  turn it into a Bed and Breakfast and share the beautiful surroundings with guests is truly a dream story

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What did I do outdoors at the property? I took on a challenging round-trip 2.5 km hilly trail with four benches along the way. I was warned that I might encounter a cinnamon-coloured black bear with a cub, as well as a moose with a calf, along with deer. I carried a bear spray and made a lot of noise on the way to the top. I didn’t encounter any animals. The 3rd bench at the top of the hill offered a stunning view of the nearby meadows and the Rocky Mountains in the Kananaskis. On the way down, at the fourth bench, I sat for about an hour and took the time to contemplate as well as take photos of beautiful wildflowers growing around the fenced property.

Next time, wherever I go, I will carry a book to read, as recommended by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in his Farman during his historic visit to France — indeed, a travel book! He asked us to form a habit of reading — he said to pick whatever interests us, whether it is history, fiction, nature, or poetry, and read.

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My checkout time was 11:00 AM, and I took advantage of visiting a beautiful vegetable garden, which is maintained by Cathy’s mother, Shirley, who lives on the property. As I was preparing to depart, Cathy intuitively asked me if I had visited the Enchanted Forest, and I replied that I hadn’t. Cathy personally took me through the forest, which she has uniquely developed in stages over the past two to three years. It was incredible to walk through the thematic forest, which featured numerous stories and artistic objects mounted on trees and throughout the forest grounds. She said she hadn’t worked in the forest the entire spring because an owl had given birth to owlets. I saw the nest.

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I was deeply touched and inspired by my entire experience at Willow Hill Lodge, which is impeccably maintained by Cathy and James. I was even tempted to stay for another night, but the Lodge was reserved for a wedding that was scheduled to take place. My time at the Lodge was truly unique — an extraordinary experience that I hope to have again, perhaps in the Clementine, Nellie the Sheep Wagon, or one of the luxurious suites. Before leaving the Lodge, I couldn’t resist taking home a piece of the local charm. I purchased two bottles of delicious strawberry jam that proudly stood on a shelf in the Lodge’s exquisite suite.

Longview essentially consists of one main street, Morrison Road. It features a couple of excellent cafes, a world-renowned jerky shop, a great outdoors BBQ and Grill restaurant, alongside a meat shop, a charming library with a beautiful garden space featuring historic monuments, as well as a decent visitor centre. I loved the vibrant murals painted on a few walls, including one of the town. I entered the Wild Stuff shop and discovered a wide range of interesting books, clothing, and several kinds of specialty teas, all of which were created by the owner. I grabbed pastries at Little Apple Café and Bakeshop, and I took out a Philly sandwich from the BBQ and Grill restaurant, which I enjoyed several hours later in Calgary. The burger from the same place, with delicious fries, was a treat. I enjoyed it for lunch at one of my favourite picnic spots, the Mist Creek Day Use area by the river, before Highwood Pass, as I safely drove through the Kananaskis Trail on a somewhat chilly and rainy day, dreaming about the wonderful time I spent at Willow Hill Lodge and Longview.

Date posted: July 21, 2025.
Last updated: July 22, 2025.

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