Staying With Us

Ways to Get Here

Flying

Clear Sky is 45 minutes from a regional airport. But did you know it may be cheaper to rent a car in Calgary, and drive to Clear Sky? Enjoy the scenic views on the 4.5-hour drive, and save even more by car-sharing with other visitors. Contact Michelle if you’d like to be put in touch with others who are looking to car share around the time of your trip.

Or, we can pick you up from the Canadian Rockies International Airport which has regular flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Kelowna and some direct flights from Victoria. Airlines serving the airport are Air Canada Jazz, and Pacific Coastal Airlines

Car rentals are also available at the airport and it is a 45-minute drive to Clear Sky.

Driving

Clear Sky is close to the US border, and a 4.5-hour drive from Calgary.

We are 10 minutes from the BC-93 S Highway and 20 minutes from Fort Steele along the Wardner-Fort Steele Road.

Get driving directions from google maps.

Some navigation systems may not bring you to our driveway. If you’re coming from BC-93 S Highway, look for the Bull River Road about 5 minutes past the fish hatchery on your right. Or coming from Fort Steele, after about 15 minutes look for power lines overhead, the Bull River Road is just past these lines on your left. Then Cockell Road is the next road on your left, after about three minutes; Clear Sky is the left-hand driveway at the end of Cockell Road.

	Distance	Time
Cranbrook	44km	37 mins
Fernie	65km	50 mins
Kimberley	70km	1 hr
Nelson	275km	3 hrs 35 mins
Calgary	360km	4 hrs 20 mins
Whitefish, MT	172km	2 hrs 10 mins
Sandpoint, ID	230km	3 hrs
Spokane, WA	345km	4 hrs 15 mins

What to Expect

We invite you to enjoy being part of our conscious community during your stay. Whether you’re here for a weekend or for three months, we know that you have much to offer as well as much to learn from your experience. You’ll find that fully engaging with others in this incredible space leads to profound learning, insights and new directions of personal growth.

Oh, and you’ll be more awake than when you arrived – guaranteed.

Retreats

While not all retreats may necessarily be silent, we do expect participants to help maintain the integrity of the center. This means exercising mindfulness in all activities and respecting the space and other people.

As all our retreats include some Karma Yoga each day, you will be expected to participate in the preparation or clean-up of some of the meals. (Note: this does not include personal cabin retreats)

Cleanliness and neatness allows for fewer distractions from the work of unfolding. Retreatants are asked to help by keeping their accommodation and common spaces clean and tidy.

Courses

Our courses and workshops are fully-engaging experiences, with programming, food and support of the highest quality. We pride ourselves on high standards in all we do, and that our visitors are fully engaged in learning and growing during their stays.

For residential programs, you will be asked to participate in daily Karma Yoga activities. This could include helping with meals or light cleaning. During the summer months there may be outdoor-based Karma Yoga. (Note: for those doing personal cabin retreats, Karma Yoga will be separate)

Integrity of the Space

Be aware that Clear Sky is a center for awakening and not a spa. Being mindful of your speech and actions is important for your own growth and to support a fruitful environment of unfolding for all.

Accommodation and Meals

All residential registration fees include accommodation and 3 delicious meals a day. One-day program fees usually include a lunch.

The Clear Sky menus are based on a balanced omnivore diet. Please let us know of any food allergies and strict dietary requirements well before your visit so that we can properly accommodate your needs.

Conscious cuisine at Clear Sky

It was great eating food which was thoughtfully prepared and has inspired me with regards to my own food preparation (something I actively avoid).

— Janice Reid, October 2015

The food provided through the day was amazing. Wholesome, comfort food that had amazing flavor in just the right proportions. I purchased the jams/nectar and shared with friends and the products were an overwhelming success. I personally love the Seathorn Berry Nectar… amazing.

— Kim Levie, October 2015

Our nourishing, delicious food has made the kitchen a well-loved part of people’s experience at Clear Sky. And it keeps getting better – we now have a resident professional chef to oversee the menus, ingredients, and prepare many of the meals.
We draw our ingredients fresh from local producers and use organic food whenever possible. We also harvest from our own burgeoning 1-acre food forest and gather fresh produce from our beautiful Gaia Garden.

When they reach the kitchen, these amazing ingredients are transformed into wonderful buffet-style meals – just as our karma yogis can be transformed by their experience in this fertile training ground for mindfulness. Many of our programs involve contributing in the kitchen which, for some, can be as fruitful with insights and learning as the meditation cushion.

Group Booking Menus

Our resident professional Chef Stephen can create a sumptuous and nourishing menu to meet all budgetary needs.

Accommodation

We offer indoor accommodation in one of our five spacious bedrooms, providing convenient access to teaching and meditation spaces. (Note: Personal cabins retreatants have separate accommodation)

The three-story, 5,000 square-foot main building has recently undergone upgrades to beautify and improve the comfort of your stay. The house also has five bathrooms and bright, spacious common areas with views of the valley and Bull Mountain.

Tenting

You are welcome to tent during warmer months.

Cabin upgrades

You can also upgrade to one of our private cabins, subject to availability. Contact us for more information.

What to Bring

Clear Sky provides all bedding, pillows and towels (Note: if tenting, please supply your own bedding or contact us in advance)
Please bring only eco-friendly / biodegradable toiletries, as this keeps our septic system healthier. Refrain from using strongly scented or perfumed products during your time at the center.
Each season brings its own qualities and we suggest checking below for appropriate clothing, footwear and incidentals.

The local town of Cranbrook is the sunniest town in British Columbia, according to Environment Canada.The temperature in this part of North America also varies greatly depending on the time of year and so the center experiences 4 distinct seasons.

Spring (May to June)

Temperatures at the beginning of the spring are generally warm, with daily highs averaging 17°C (62°F). Nighttime still sees the occasional frost earlier in the season. By late June, the temperatures tend to rise to 21°C (70°F) during the day, with lows of 8°C (46°F) overnight. Spring can be windy, so we suggest bringing light coats or jackets.

Summer (July to August)

The weather in summer is generally very warm, with daily highs around 27°C (81°F). Because we are in the mountains, temperatures can drop dramatically in the evenings and mornings (to about 10°C (50°F), cooler towards the end of August). To be prepared, in addition to summer clothes and loose clothes for meditation, bring some warmer layers.

Fall (September to November)

Days in the fall are generally pleasant, with daily highs around 20°C (68°F). By November, the temperatures tend to drop to 5°C (41°F) during the day, with lows of -5°C (22°F) overnight.

Winter (December to April)

We enjoy a reasonably temperate climate, without the extremes that some areas of Canada experience. The weather in the colder months of winter can vary from just above 0 to an occasional -30 degrees Celsius (32 to -22°F). Bring layers of warm and loose clothes for meditation in and outdoors. A pair of micro-spikes for walking when it is icy is recommended as well as waterproof footwear that have good grip. Please contact us if you would like to purchase some micro-spikes from our store onsite as numbers are limited.