Métis Crossing — Attraction in Alberta

This is an absolute beautiful place, the architecture is gorgeous. The people are sweet, kind and friendly. The land is very well maintained. If this review was based only on the property it would be five stars. We stayed in the trappers tent next to the campground. This was an issue on night 2 when there was a storm. The trappers tent was secured enough but it was not completely secure or as secure as the other trappers tents. We did not notice this till minutes before the storm hit. The tent was waving around in the wind and did create more wind flow in the tent. There was also a whole over one of the beds and the rain penetrated through onto the bed. We barely slept night two. There was a wedding group there for the weekend. This created an issue on Sunday morning with the showers. There was very little water and it was freezing. I had to shower with droplets and was cold all throughout the shower experience. We planned 3 signature experiences. We did two of the excursions out of the 3 we had planned. Unfortunately on day 3 we were sick and had to go home immediately so we were unable to do the Wildlife Tour. Day one we did the Paddle into the Past. The start was nice, it was a talk about trade and the impact the Métis had on trade. We got into one of two canoes. The problem I had with this portion was that the canoes were far apart and those of us missed a significant portion of what one guide was saying in the other canoe. This was unfortunate, especially when they said they would stay close to each other so we could share the information. The canoe portion was about 45 min. Thank goodness there were young forestry men there to help move the canoes because I don’t think us older folks would have been beneficial in that department. We went to the top to the main area of Victoria settlement. This portion of the tour we learned about making a rug, underwear the lack of it and watched a video in the church. I wish we were able to take more advantage of this portion and your the house and talk to the gentleman that was there to help teach people. Definitely need to take advantage of that next time. I do not think it is worth the $100 charge. Maybe $60 but I think it needs to be built up more to be worth the $100. The second excursion was Walk In Our Mocs.

The Walk in Our Mocs Experience Includes:

Immerse yourself in Métis culture and ways of knowing Practice your skills with a bow and arrow Identify plants, animals, and the traces animals leave behind Explore the boreal forest of the North Saskatchewan River Valley Spend time on an historic Métis River Lot Enjoy Indigenous inspired cuisine (*available for an additional cost) Discover the diversity of plants and animals that call Métis Crossing home

All we did was archery. There was no forest exploration, no plant knowledge, in fact, I asked what this berry tree was and they didn’t know but one of the young men thought it might be choke cherries. It was a choke cherry bush. No traces of animal teaching were involved in this experience. We shot fake animals in a field with a bow and arrow. We were also notified the Métis did not use now and arrows but used muskets although the indigenous used bows and arrows. This was said from the guide. There was no cuisine options. The restaurant closes when there is a large event like a wedding. The menu selection is very small. Limited to bison sausage, bison burger, garden salad, soup of the day, sandwich of the day. Bring food with you, we were not notified the restaurant would be closed, we had to travel out for food. Smokey Lake is not far but the best restaurant in the area is a little further in Waskatenau, AB next to the gas station. So good.

I will be going back because I sincerely want this place to reach its potential. It definitely has a significant amount of potential. Although in the future, I will be taking advantage of the hotel or sleeping in my own tent. Although the shower situation was too much trouble to deal with on a...

One Star — Disorganized, Stressful, and Unprofessional Experience

I would not recommend anyone book their wedding or large event at Métis Crossing.

From our first interaction with the venue in February 2024, up until our wedding on August 2, 2025, we experienced repeated miscommunications, unresponsiveness, and organizational issues that caused us nothing but stress.

The first major red flag: Métis Crossing double-booked our original wedding date (August 16) and didn’t inform us until after we had sent our $3,000 deposit. We were then asked to change our date. We requested the August long weekend, only to be told there would be an additional fee because it was a holiday weekend—despite their initial mistake. To avoid the extra cost, we moved it back a day. As a “concession,” they allowed us to set up a day early, something they typically charge $500 for.

We also attempted to block off hotel rooms, the campground, and skydomes for our guests. The process was an absolute nightmare due to inconsistent communication from the event coordinator. We were told multiple different things, and I finally had to request that the room block be included in our contract to ensure it was honored.

About six months out, I emailed the coordinator and got an auto-reply saying she no longer worked there—with zero notice from Métis Crossing about the staffing change. Two new people stepped in, and while we expressed how uneasy we felt, they reassured us everything was fine and that all our wedding details were saved. We weren’t convinced—and rightly so. Just a month later, I saw on Instagram that one of those two new staff members had also left. Again, no one told us.

Then came the final straw: one week before our wedding, my dad called to confirm his campsite booking. They couldn’t find it, and once they did, the dates were incorrect. Another family member's reservation was also missing. We had to ask all 130 of our guests to call and confirm their bookings, just days before our wedding. Some of them had their rooms lost entirely. The explanations we got were all over the place—system updates, untrained IT staff, hidden bookings, etc. None of it added up, and there was no consistency or accountability.

As a result, they offered to reimburse us for 2 of the 3 nights we paid for the bridal suite. We had already paid through our contract, so they said they'd send a cheque. As of today—three weeks after the wedding—we’re still waiting.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I have dozens of emails that back up the confusion, disorganization, and lack of communication we endured. No bride and groom should have to go through this.

That said, I do want to give credit where it’s due: On the day of the wedding, we worked with Jody and Laura, and they were phenomenal. Truly competent, professional, and compassionate. They worked incredibly hard to make sure the day itself ran smoothly, and we are deeply grateful to them. I genuinely wish we had worked with them from day one—they should be running the place.

I made it clear to Métis Crossing that we were dissatisfied, so this review should come as no surprise. Until they seriously improve their staffing, communication, and booking systems, I would highly discourage anyone from booking an important event here. Yes, it’s a beautiful venue—but that’s not enough when the planning process is this chaotic...

Our group recently completed an intensive, week-long advanced drone pilot certification program, and we were fortunate enough to stay at Métis Crossing. From the moment we arrived, the staff, made us feel incredibly welcome. This was without hesitation, the most positive and enriching guest experience our team has yet to experience in our 10+ years of operations. A huge shout-out to Leon and Alma for designing and delivering this experience for our group! A genuine thank you to the front desk team. They were consistently friendly, helpful, and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and conducive to studying. They understood the demands of our program and proactively offered assistance with everything from helping with last-minute session materials to providing quiet spaces for review sessions. Their genuine care and willingness to help alleviated the stress of our demanding schedule and allowed us to focus on our certifications. Additionally, they were able to assist with recommendations in exploring the rich cultural and outdoors experiences located on and around Métis Crossing. Candace, Judy, Sommer, Kali, Tammy, you are a dream-team and we are so grateful to you! Virgil and Yanna, from the moment we checked in, our group was so impressed with the cleanliness and condition of each guest suite. The oversized rooms, the bedding with luxurious linens and hand-made quilts, the immaculately kept washrooms, the in-room amenities…the list ones on. We felt absolutely spoiled by our home-away-from-home. Thank you for providing house-keeping that out-performed any recent hotel/resort stay in our memories! Over our six-night stay, we enjoyed a total of 17 meals, and each one was a 5-star experience. The culinary team's dedication to quality was evident in every dish. A special shoutout to chefs Ron and Edward, whose culinary creativity and commitment to authenticity and balance were truly remarkable. They masterfully blended traditional Métis dishes with modern cuisine, showcasing the best of local fresh ingredients ensured our hard-working group was always well-fed and satisfied. The to-go lunches, which we often enjoyed between rigorous training sessions, were far beyond what we expected – they were gourmet-level meals that rivaled any full-menu restaurant. We were consistently wowed by the variety and the sheer deliciousness of every meal. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the entire culinary team, including Jodi, Laura, Ronaldo, Edwin, Kaylee, and Kiley, for their hard work and dedication in delivering such exceptional meals. The culinary team's efforts truly elevated our stay and contributed significantly to our overall positive experience. We cannot thank the entire Métis Crossing enough for their exceptional hospitality. They transformed our stay from a mere necessity into a vital part of our successful training experience. If you're looking for a guest experience that prioritizes guest comfort and provides outstanding service, especially for groups looking for an elevated and unique experience, the Lodge at Métis Crossing is the perfect choice. We highly recommend it and would gladly return for future professional development opportunities, group stays, and family retreats to gaze out on the starry night skies in one of the luxurious...