Rustic Isolation
Near the summit of one of the highest mountain passes in Canada accessible by road you'll find the Hilda Creek hostel. Nestled amongst the stunted trees of the upper subalpine, this hostel is surrounded by mountain peaks, glaciers and icefields. Cyclists weary from a long and difficult ascent up the road to 2000 metres elevation will find this hostel a welcome stop on their route - but if you are planning to visit, please plan in advance!
This hostel is not staffed, has limited services (no running water, electricity or telecommunications) and is accessible only by key access system. Not for the faint of heart, hostelling here requires knowledge and application of backcountry hut procedures and ethics. To find out more about this system and what you need to be prepared, read our Key Access Information Summer or Winter.
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: