An off-the-beaten-path experience in Jasper National Park
HI-Athabasca Falls is an idyllic mountain retreat. Five cedar panelled cabins sit amongst the trees at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The mighty Athabasca River tumbles over the nearby falls. Horseshoe Lake with its enchanting mirrored water or spring-fed Leech Lake make for ideal summertime swims. In the winter, wake up in the cozy hostel and get ready for a day of cross-country skiing on a groomed trail that runs up the Geraldine Lakes road, or if you prefer the thrills of the downhill, Marmot Basin is a short drive away.
HI-Athabasca offers a large common room, wood stove, firepit and deck.
The accommodations are comfortable but basic: simple bunk beds, shared dorms, and no running water. In the summer, there is an outdoor "cowboy" shower for those not willing to brave a morning dip in the river. No Internet, no bar, just the forest cabin that you always dreamed of. Nothing will get you closer to getting away from it all.
The Fryatt Valley and Athabasca Pass are easily accessed from the hostel offering cross-country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking opportunities.
This is a wilderness hostel with limited creature comforts - no running water, no showers, and no flush toilets. We do have purified water for cooking, a refrigerator, stoves, and solar-powered lights. Due to our wilderness location, accessibility for the physically disabled is challenging. Please call for further details.
Experience nature. Make new friends.
Return to simplicity.
Get back to nature with HI's network of wilderness hostels. They're a varied bunch! Some have lights powered by propane, some have rustic wood-burning saunas, at some you'll get electricity and hot running water, and at others you'll get to pump your own water. But whatever you're after, these hostels with their simple comforts immerse you in the natural splendour of the Rockies.
You'll be able to savour true silence, night skies bursting with stars and the knowledge that some of the world's most magnificent landscapes are, really, right outside our door. Dotted along the Icefields Parkway, and throughout the Parks, these hostels are set into pockets of trees, alongside creeks, or at the base of thousand-foot-high rock faces. Whether you get there by car, bike or on foot, your efforts are rewarded with some of the finer, simpler things in life - a warm fire, cozy lounges, and the chance to share food with new friends while you relive the day's adventures.
Our wilderness hostels are perfectly placed throughout this natural playground enabling you to get the best out of each season. In the winter they give immediate access to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, back-country skiing and ice climbing. And when the summer comes, jump on your bike and take a tour of the Icefields Parkway stopping overnight at hostels along the way. Enjoy the splendour of the Rockies on hikes, by canoe or on the perfect road trip.
These hostels are ideal for families, friends, large groups or individuals who want to experience a unique, "off-the-grid" Canadian getaway.
HI has a network of ten wilderness hostels: