Slow down. You’ve arrived.
Forest glamping, cabin stays and retreats near Pigeon Lake
A nature-rooted homestead retreat for couples, families & groups seeking calm, connection, and a slower way of living.
Just over an hour from Edmonton · A weekend escape from Calgary
4.8 on Google
4.9 on Hipcamp
4.83 on Airbnb
Hipcamp award winner
There’s a reason guests say it feels like home here.
Not just a stay. A way of life.
Secret Sanctuary is a living, breathing homestead, where life slows down, conversations linger, and evenings are spent around the fire instead of a screen.
We’re a family and community choosing to live more consciously, more connected to the land and to each other.
You’re not just coming here to glamp. You’re stepping into a different rhythm of life.
80 acres of boreal forest
3 generations living on the land
7 minutes to Battle Lake
35 guests for a private retreat
Unique accommodations
Choose your space
Follow the trail from the Tiny Home Cabin to three glamping tents and the forest campsites. Every stay has potable well water and its own fire pit.
Stop 01 · Year round cabin
Tiny Home Cabin
A cozy year round cabin steps from the playground, with a kitchenette, TV and your own fire pit.
Sleeps 4
Kitchenette and TV
Year round
Stop 02 · Bell tent
Birch Glamping Tent
A spacious 306 ft² bell tent tucked into the forest, right by the walking trails.
306 ft² bell tent
Sleeps 4
By the forest trails
Stop 03 · Twin pole bell tent
Aspen Glamping Tent
A twin pole bell tent in a grove of aspens, the most secluded glamping site on the land.
220 ft² twin pole tent
Sleeps 2 to 4
Most secluded
Stop 04 · Cabin style glamping tent
Wild Rose Glamping Tent
Our largest glamping tent: 432 ft² with bunks, a covered porch and room for the whole crew.
432 ft²
Sleeps up to 6 to 7
Covered porch
Stop 05 · Unpowered tent and RV sites
Camping and RV Sites
Unpowered forest campsites with room for up to 4 tents, plus a small RV site. No hookups, lots of quiet.
Up to 4 tents per site
Small RV site
No hookups
More than a stay
A place to learn, relax and experience life
From hands on workshops and wellness sessions to paddleboarding and forest play. Here, play is sacred and connection is everywhere.
Wellness services
Massage, Reiki, aromatic kinesiology, yoga and mindset coaching, right here on the land.
With Veona, Sophie and Denika
Massage from $95
Yoga from $85
Forest bathing
Walk the self guided Forest Bathing Circuit, or book a 1.5 hour guided experience with Veona.
Self guided circuit
Guided with Veona
Playtime or Healing theme
Homestead animals
Sequoia and Luna, the guardian dogs, the chickens and pigs, and Bowdy the llama.
Guardian dogs
Llamas
Chickens and pigs
Campfires and gatherings
Your own fire pit at every site, summer weekend bonfires and community potlucks.
Private fire pits
Summer bonfires
Community potlucks
Activities
Trails on the land, paddle boards for Battle Lake, golf, local sips and winter fun.
Forest trails
Paddle boards $40 a day
Lakes 7 to 25 min
Face and Body Art by DJ
Face painting, UV art and Goddess Adornment sessions by Denika, for events across Alberta.
Over 10 years
From $100 an hour
Travel within 50 km
After dark
Evenings around the fire
On summer weekends, join us for a community bonfire to enjoy music, dance, roasting marshmallows, and lawn games under the stars.
Campfires and gatherings
A fire pit at every stay, bonfires on summer weekendsTogether We Thrive
Skill share, potluck dinner, bonfire and musicEvents
What is next, and what came before
Two minutes in the forest
See what it feels like to stay
Private events and retreats
Host your dream wilderness retreat
Looking for a unique venue to host your private event? The Secret Sanctuary covers 80 acres of pristine Boreal forest located 1 hour Southwest of Edmonton near the Village of Pigeon Lake.
35 guests at most
$15 per person, per day for day events
7 acres of event space
80 acres in a full venue buyout
12 seats in the Wild Rose workshop space
50 × 30 ft event tent with solar lighting
Don’t just take our word for it
Guests call it home
There is a reason guests say it feels like home here. Their words, exactly as they wrote them.
★★★★★
Absolutely beautiful location, very highly recommended for anyone wanting to relax and have a unique experience. Everyone was extremely friendly, and very responsive.
Jennifer
★★★★★
I just want to say, this was the most amazing place, me and my cousin just wanted a nice, peaceful get away and this was everything and more!! I could not recommend this place enough! We plan on making this a yearly trip and I can’t wait to join them again! Thanks again!
Netritwa
★★★★★
This is a beautiful little getaway from the big city. Peaceful and simple, it was really what I was looking for. The hosts were all great! Thanks again :)
Gabrielle
★★★★★
Quaint, rustic getaway with still a few comfort conveniences of home.
AirBNB Guest
★★★★★
A wonderfully private get away for couples or a small family.
Airbnb Guest
★★★★★
Such a great getaway. Really cozy set up with surprisingly large inside.
AirBNB Guest
★★★★★
Such a beautiful location for an escape from the city. Peaceful and relaxing, exactly what this family of four needed.
AirBNB Guest
★★★★★
The Secret Sanctuary was a great place to camp! It was a wonderful experience for my family.
Hipcamp Guest
Hipcamp
4.9 ★★★★★
98% of Hipcamp guests recommend us. Named one of the Best Hipcamps in Alberta (2026) and Best glamping in Canada (2025).
Surrounded by water
Your Pigeon Lake getaway
Our area is home to several lakes perfect for beach days, fishing trips and boat outings. We rent paddle boards for $40 a board per day.
Battle Lake 7 min
Pigeon Lake 15 min
Twin Lakes 25 min
N
Secret Sanctuary
463049 Range Road 22
Westerose, AB
Edmonton just over an hour
From the journal
Stories, recipes and simple living
Recipes · August 6, 2026
My Favourite Probiotic Ginger Ale Recipe
Denika's naturally fermented probiotic ginger ale, made with a homemade ginger bug. A simple homestead recipe from near Pigeon Lake that even picky kids love.
Simple living · July 23, 2025
DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent
Our homemade liquid laundry detergent with washing soda, baking soda, Castile soap and essential oils. Simple, safe, gentle on the earth, and it really works.
Homestead life · March 4, 2025
How to Start Making Money Off Your Land, Fast!
How we turned raw land near Pigeon Lake into forest campsites earning over $8,000 a year on Hipcamp, starting with no road and old steel drum fire pits.
Your spot by the fire is waiting
Book a glamping tent, the Tiny Home Cabin or a forest campsite, just over an hour from Edmonton.