ICELFIELDS PARKWAY

BOW LAKE

Icefields Parkway Hostels

North of Lake Louise, four hostels are spread along the Icefields Parkway, two in Banff National Park and two in Jasper National Park. Facilities at all four are limited, and beds should be reserved as far in advance as possible. For reservations, call 800/663-5777 or book online through HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL.

Icefields Parkway Hostels—Banff National Park

The first Icefields Parkway hostel, 24 kilometres (15 miles) from Lake Louise, is HI MOSQUITO CREEK (year-round, check website for seasonal closures), which is near good hiking and offers accommodations for 32 in four- and six-bed cabins. Facilities include a kitchen, a wood-heated sauna, and a large common room with a fireplace.

HI RAMPART CREEK (year-round, check website for seasonal closures), a further 64 kilometres (40 miles) along the parkway, is nestled below the snowcapped peak of Mount Wilson, with views across the North Saskatchewan River to even higher peaks along the Continental Divide. Like Mosquito Creek, it’s near good hiking and has a kitchen and sauna. Its four cabins have a total of 24 bunk beds.

Icefields Parkway Hostels—Jasper National Park

HI BEAUTY CREEK (May-Sept., key access only rest of year), 17 kilometres (10.5 miles) north of the Columbia Icefield and 144 kilometres (90 miles) north from Lake Louise, is nestled in a small stand of Douglas fir between the Icefields Parkway and the Sunwapta River. Each of its separate 12-bed male and female cabins has a wood stove and propane lighting. A third building holds a kitchen and dining area. There are no flush toilets or showers.

Farther north is the equally rustic HI ATHABASCA FALLS (daily May-Oct., Wed.-Mon. Dec.-April), 32 kilometres (20 miles) south of the town of Jasper and 198 kilometres (123 miles) north from Lake Louise. It is larger than the one at Beauty Creek and has electricity. Athabasca Falls is only a few minutes walk away.

Athabasca Falls Hostel.

Athabasca Falls Hostel.