It did not disappoint! Grasslands National Park a quiet park in a remote part of southern Saskatchewan, which is why I loved it so much! With so few visitors, it was easy to get swallowed up in the wide open spaces.

The park is home to rolling grasslands (mostly in the West Block) and rugged badlands (mostly in the East Block). I found both gorgeous, especially in the soft light of sunset. Other highlights included hiking (of course), wildlife watching, looking for fossils, and learning about the unique native grassland ecosystem that has almost disappeared from the prairies.

If you’re planning a visit, I’ve put together a big Grasslands National Park travel guide for you. It includes:

• An interactive map of Grasslands National Park that includes all of the places I mention
• Best things to do in Grasslands National Park: Hikes, viewpoints, driving tours, wildlife watching, and more
• Camping in Grasslands National Park: where to camp and what to expect
• Hotels near Grasslands National Park: My picks for where to stay near the park
• Grasslands Travel Tips: How to get there? How long to spend? Where to buy groceries and gas? And lots more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Thanks so much to Parks Canada for hosting me in Grasslands National Park. All opinions in this post are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Map of Grasslands National Park

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Grasslands National Park for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things to Do in Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park is separated into two parts: the West Block and the East Block. It takes about 2 hours to drive between the two blocks.

I’ve organized my list of the best things to do in Grasslands National Park into West Block and East Block sections below to make it easier for you to plan your trip. I’ve also got suggestions for things to do anywhere in the park at the bottom!

Things to do in the West Block

Town of Val Marie

The tiny town of Val Marie, Saskatchewan, is located at the entrance to the West Block of Grasslands National Park. It has a population of just 120 residents today, but it used to be home to over 450 people, so it feels a bit bigger.

It’s worth wandering through its wide streets and checking out the historic grain elevator, built in 1927. You should also visit Prairie Wind and Silver Sage. It’s a cute gift shop and art gallery run by Friends of Grasslands National Park.

The Grasslands National Park Visitor Centre is also in Val Marie. It’s the best place to start your journey into the park. They have a few small exhibits about the park. But the main reason I recommend stopping is ask about current conditions and to pick up maps. They also have some great pamphlets that will help you ID flowers and other plants.

Ecotour Scenic Drive

Driving the Ecotour Scenic Drive is the number one must-do thing to do in Grasslands National Park. It’s a 20 km drive (about 80 km round trip from Val Marie) and includes 7 stops. Allow at least two hours… but probably a lot longer if you want to walk around and take photos at each stop.

Here’s a brief rundown on each stop:

Ecotour Gateway

• A pull-off with a signboard welcoming you to Grasslands National Park and the official entrance to the park.

Top Dogtown

• Take an easy and flat 750 m loop trail through a prairie dog colony.
• Bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens for a closer look – the prairie dogs hide in their burrows if you get too close. They are adorable!
• If you are going to spend an extended amount of time at just one stop, make it this one.

The Tabletop

• A short walk through the grass to some info boards where you can learn about native prairie grasses and the preservation of endangered grasslands ecoystems.

The Rubbing Stone

• Another short walk through the grass to two Indigenous cultural sites:
• The first is a bison rubbing stone, left over from the time when bison roamed the area by the millions. They used rocks like this to scratch themselves.
• There is also a tipi ring here, which is a ring of stones on the ground that marks the former location of a First Nations tipi.
• This is my pick for the best views on the Ecotour since it’s on a bluff overlooking the Frenchman Valley.

Frenchman River Valley

• View crumbling ranch corrals, left over from the days before this was a park.
• Take a short walk along grassy trails to visit info boards about how the ecosystem in the valley bottom is different than the plateau above.

The Ranch

• This stop has a few historic ranch buildings from the pre-National Park era.
• It’s also the starting point for the Larson Trail, an easy 1.5 km loop hike that has views of the Frenchman River.

Dogtown

• Another prairie dog colony. This one is even bigger – it stretches out on both sides of the road.
• I recommend pulling over and looking out your windows with binoculars.

Eagle Butte and 70 Mile Butte Trail

This was the first hike I did in Grasslands, and it was a fantastic introduction to the park. It’s two interconnected loops that go up and around Eagle Butte and 70 Mile Butte. If you don’t have much time, you could just do Eagle Butte, but I thought the views were way better from 70 Mile Butte.

We spotted lots of wildflowers along the trail, especially in the valley bottoms. From the top of the butte, there were great views of the nearby hills as well as the flatter Grasslands of the West Block.

This trail starts from a park entrance that is a few miles south of Val Marie along Highway 4. If you do both buttes, it’s a 5 km loop with 260 m of elevation gain and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. It is rated moderate to challenging. It can be really windy on top of the buttes, so hang on to your hats!

Broken Hills Trail

The Broken Hills Trail was the longest hike I did in Grasslands National Park. It’s a lollipop loop through grassy hills in the middle of the West Block. It starts near Frenchman Valley campground at the Belza Day Use Area. The first part follows an old vehicle track, but then it veers off on a narrow hiking trail that is rockier and climbs a few small hills.

This is a great hike if you want to experience prairie grasslands away from park roads. We didn’t see a single person on the entire hike. However, we did see lots of prairie dogs, a deer, lots of birds, and a burrowing owl!

The Broken Hills Trail is an 11 km loop with about 300 m of elevation gain. Plan to spend 3.5 to 4.5 hours on the hike. It is rated challenging. The entire hike has no shade, so bring lots of water and sun protection. On the day I hiked it, the temperature soared into the low 30s, which was unexpected for late May, and I definitely felt the sun exposure despite covering up and packing lots of water.

Wildlife Watching

If you want to see wildlife, the West Block is the best place to do it. We spotted deer darting through the underbrush near the Frenchman River and pronghorn hopping through fields just outside the park. You can also spot rattlesnakes, badgers, and coyotes, but we didn’t see any.

And thanks to our binoculars, we spotted about a dozen bison grazing on the hills around the Frenchman Valley. Parks Canada reintroduced bison to the park in 2005. They are an important keystone species for grasslands ecosystems since their heavy hooves till the soil as they walk, allowing grasses, wildflowers, and other plants to thrive.

Today, there are 400 to 500 bison in the park, kept contained inside a huge bison fence that encircles most of the West Block of Grasslands National Park.

They mostly hang out in the remote northeast corner of their enclosure, so apparently the best way to see lots of bison is to hike the Timbergulch Trail, a challenging 15 km loop that takes 5 to 6 hours. I didn’t have time to hike it, but it’s on my list for my next trip.

You can also see thousands of prairie dogs in the West Block. There are huge prairie dog colonies along the Ecotour Scenic Drive and on some of the hiking trails. I could spend hours watching these adorable little guys.

One of the other reasons I spent so much time watching the prairie dogs was to try to spot a burrowing owl. Burrowing owls are tiny and fat with long legs, giving them a somewhat comical appearance. They live in prairie dog and gopher burrow so prairie dog colonies are a great place to spot them. I was lucky to spot one at a small prairie dog colony on the Broken Hills Trail.

Other Things to do in the West Block

Even though I spent two days in the West Block, I didn’t have time to do everything. Here are a few more things I’d like to do on a return trip:

• Two Trees Trail and Riverwalk Trail: Two short and easy loop trails on the park’s western edge that explore the Frenchman River Valley.
• Timbergulch Trail: A rugged and challenging 15 km loop trail that meanders through coulee bottoms and has the best chance of spotting bison.
• Backcountry Loop Road: A rough dirt road through the Eastern part of the West Block that leads to some remote scenery.

Things to do in the East Block

Badlands Parkway

Just like the Ecotour Scenic Drive is the best thing to do in the West Block, Badlands Scenic Parkway is the best thing to do in the East Block of Grasslands National Park.

The 11-km-long road has six stops. Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the Parkway. Unlike most of the park, the Badlands Parkways is paved. However, it is a single-lane road, so you’ll need to watch for oncoming traffic and use the pull-outs. It also has a low speed limit, which is fine since you’ll want to admire the scenery.

Here’s a brief overview of each of the stops:

Gateway to the Grasslands

• A great viewpoint over the Rock Creek Valley and campground. It has a pair of Parks Canada red chairs.

Crackerjack

• One of the first views of the badlands.
• The info board here explains the history of dinosaur fossil hunting in this area.

Zahursky Point

• A viewpoint over the badlands with an info board about the Zahursky family, who homesteaded here over 100 years ago.
• There are a pair of Parks Canada red chairs here too.

Kapesiwin

• Kapesiwin means campsite in the Cree language. The info board here teaches you about the history of Indigenous people in this area.

Mauvais Terres

• A short trail leads to the top of a bluff with a great view of the badlands.

Ta Sunka Watogla

• The best viewpoint of the badlands. It has a pair of Parks Canada red chairs and is especially gorgeous at sunset.
• The info board here tells the story of the Lakota who sought sanctuary in this area after the Battle of Little Bighorn.
• You can follow a faint trail down the hill into the badlands. Walking off-trail is allowed in Grasslands National Park – for decades, bison hooves tilled the land here, so human footsteps are encouraged.

Rock Creek Trail

This easy 1 km loop trail goes up and over a small hill near the campground. It has good views of the Rock Creek Valley. There is also a tipi near the trailhead, which is great for photo ops.

Valley of 1000 Devils

This 10 km round-trip hike is the centerpiece hike in the East Block and takes three to four hours. It goes through grassy prairie before winding through the badlands.

I was really looking forward to this hike, but unfortunately, there was a thunderstorm that afternoon, so we had to skip it. I’d love to go back and hike it, since it looks amazing.

Guided Fossil Hike: 70 Million Years in 60 Minutes

One of the best things I did in the East Block was a guided fossil hike with a Park Ranger called 70 Million Years in 60 Minutes. The hike runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and costs $16.50 per person. You can register at the East Block visitor centre.

On the hour-long guided hike, we followed a Park Ranger on an off-trail route down into the badlands. She taught us about the KPg boundary, which is a thin geologic layer that marks the dinosaur extinction.

We also got to see lots of dinosaur fossils and learn about the sometimes tawdry history of fossil hunting in this region – many of the dinosaur skeletons in museums around the world came from Grasslands National Park!

Things to Do Anywhere in Grasslands National Park

Enjoy the Sunset

Saskatchewan sunsets are spectacular, and they are even more special amongst the native prairie landscapes of Grasslands National Park. You can see the sunset anywhere that faces west in the park, but here are two spots I recommend:

Frenchman Valley Campground/Belza Day Use Area (West Block)

A trail runs between the Frenchman Valley Campground and the Belza Day Use Area. If you take a spur trail from the main trail, you’ll go up onto a small ridge that has a spectacular view of the Frenchman River Valley. There is a pair of Parks Canada red chairs here too, so it’s a great photo op.

We headed up here for sunset on both of the nights we spent in the West Block. The pinks and purples of the sunset were gorgeous. But we also spotted a flock of pelicans migrating overhead and deer bounding through thickets near the river.

Badlands Parkway (East Block)

All of the stops along the Badlands Parkway are great sunset spots since they face west. If you’re short on time, the Gateway to Grasslands Viewpoint is the closest. (It’s also an easy 1.5 km hike from the campground.) It has a pair of Parks Canada red chairs.

However, I think it’s worth driving to the end of the Parkway to get the best view from Ta Sunka Watogla viewpoint. It looks out over the badlands. The buttes are spectacular in the soft light of sunset. There are Parks Canada red chairs here too!

Stargazing

Grasslands National Park has been a recognized National Dark Sky Preserve since 2009, and often has clear weather during summer evenings, so it is a great place to go stargazing.

You can stargaze anywhere in the park. The easiest way to stargaze is to camp. I spent three nights camping in Grasslands and spent some time stargazing each evening after it got dark. I also got to do some unplanned stargazing on a few middle-of-the-night trips to the outhouse!

If you plan to stargaze, minimize your use of lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Park your car at a pullout or day use area, set up a lawn chair, then settle in to watch the stars. Binoculars or a telescope are also a great idea.

I’m not a good astro photographer (and I didn’t have a tripod with me), so unfortunately I don’t have any good night photos to share.

Bird Watching

I got into bird watching a little bit during the pandemic. But then I went to Grasslands National Park with a friend who is even more into bird watching. We ended up taking turns driving so the other person could spot birds and then yell about finding a place to pull over so we could look at the birds through our binoculars!

Grasslands has great birdwatching opportunities. My favourite bird by far was the burrowing owl. It’s a squat little owl with a slightly derpy face that lives in prairie dog colonies. We heard about an owl nest in the East Block and drove over from the campground to watch it on several occasions.

We also spent lots of time watching songbirds and water birds near Frenchman River and Rock Creek. Another favourite were the grouse, partridge, and pheasant in the grasses beside the road. We hoped to spot the endangered Greater Sage grouse, but didn’t have any luck. (There are only about 50 of them left in the park so that wasn’t surprising.)

Be sure to look up too! We saw hawks soaring on thermals and even a flock of pelicans cruising past.

I’m not a great bird photographer, so unfortunately I don’t have any awesome close-up photos of birds to share.

Park Ranger Fireside Chats

If you want to learn more about the plants, animals, and geology in the park, head to a Park Ranger-led Fireside Chat. They are held on Friday evenings in both the Frenchman River and Rock Creek campgrounds.

At the one we attended, the ranger had free marshmallows to roast and shared all kinds of fun facts about prairie plants, buffalo, snakes, and so much more. I learned at ton!

Camping in Grasslands National Park

There are two campgrounds in Grasslands National Park, one in each block. If you can swing it, I highly recommend camping in the park. You’ll get to enjoy sunsets, sunrises, stargazing, and way more wildlife viewing. You also won’t have to commute into the park, which can take up to an hour!

The campsites all accommodate tents or RVs. If you have a big trailer, there are also a few pull-through spots at each campground. You can also book a spot in one of their glamping-style oTENTik tents.

Keep in mind that both campgrounds are 100% reserveable. Reservations open in late January or early February each year. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Both campgrounds can be very windy. Bring lots of rope and pegs to secure tents and awnings. There is also no shade and the sun can be relentless. We cooked in the day use/kitchen shelters a few times to avoid the wind and sun.

Frenchman Valley Campground (West Block)

I spent two nights at the Frenchman Valley Campground. It’s located in the middle of the West Block near the end of the Ecotour Scenic Drive.

Since this part of the park has free-roaming bison, the campground has a fence around it to keep the bison out. On the day we arrived, a bison hung out on the hill across from the campground for a few hours!

Just behind the campground is a small ridge that has great views of the Frenchman River Valley. We spent lots of time up there watching birds, bison, and deer and admiring the incredible sunset!

The campground has all the basics: drinking water taps, garbage cans, firepits, and pit toilets. There are 20 campsites and 4 oTENTik glamping tents you can rent. (More on those below.) All of the campsites and oTENTiks have power but no water.

Notably, the campground doesn’t have showers. The closest showers are at the Val Marie Campground – it’s $5 for non-registered guests. We toughed it out with wet wipes and then showered after we left the area, so I don’t have a review of the showers.

The Frenchman Valley Campground does have a great day-use shelter called the Coulee Centre. It’s a great place to get out of the sun and wind. There are picnic tables both inside and outside the building. It also has wifi, although it’s not very strong.

Rock Creek Campground (East Block)

The Rock Creek Campground is located near the entrance to the East Block of Grasslands National Park and the start of Badlands Parkway. It’s set into a small hill above Rock Creek.

There are 24 campsites and 8 oTENTiks, and they all have power but not water. Like the Frenchman Valley Campground, Rock Creek also has drinking water taps, garbage cans, firepits, and pit toilets. Rock Creek also does not have showers, and I don’t have any recommendations on the closest place to shower – sorry!

The kitchen shelter at Rock Creek is small and basic, with just a few tables and not much natural light. The outdoor tables do have a good view of Rock Creek, though.

Camping in oTENTiks in Grasslands National Park

Both campgrounds have oTENTik glamping-style tents you can rent. They are also 100% reservable and reservations open at the same as camping reservations, usually in late January or early February.

I stayed in an oTENTik at both Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek campgrounds. It was nice not to have to worry about setting up a tent and to have an indoor place to hang out, especially when it was windy.

The oTENTiks include mattresses for up to 6 people, but you have to supply your own sleeping bags/bedding. You aren’t allowed to cook inside, but there is a picnic table, BBQ, and fire pit outside. We also brought a camping stove and used it on the picnic table.

The oTENTiks do have power, which was nice for charging our phones. They have a simple overhead light and come with a small heater, although we didn’t need it.

There is no plumbing – you’ll have to collect water from the campground taps and use the pit toilets.

Hotels Near Grasslands National Park

As I said above, I really recommend camping in Grasslands National Park. And since you can stay in glamping-style oTENTik, it’s more accessible than most types of camping. However, I know camping isn’t for everyone, so I’ve got a list of hotels near the park.

When booking a hotel, keep in mind that the West and East Blocks of the Park are about 2 hours apart. Note that there is no accommodation inside the park – you’ll have to stay outside the park boundary. As well, there really aren’t that many hotels in this area. I’ve listed all the nearby ones below.

The Convent Inn: A basic B&B in the town of Val Marie near the entrance to the West Block, housed in an old brick convent.

The Sanctuary Inn: Vacation rental suites in the town of Val Marie near the entrance to the West Block inside an old church.

The Crossing at Grasslands: Remote vacation suites on a rural property a few minutes south of Val Marie near the entrance to the West Block.

Rockglen Motel: Basic motel in the town of Rockglen, 45 minutes east of the East Block. This is the closest hotel to the East Block.

Grasslands National Park Travel Tips

How to Get There

Grasslands National Park is located in southern Saskatchewan, not far from the American border. It’s in a remote and sparsely populated part of the province. The closest cities and large towns are Swift Current (1.25 hours away), Moose Jaw (2.5 hours), and Regina (3.25 hours).

There is no public transportation to Grasslands National Park, so you will need to drive yourself. If you’re flying to Saskatchewan, the nearest airport and car rentals are in Regina. I like to book with Discovercars since it lets me compare prices across different rental companies.

To get to the park from Highway 1, you’ll drive on small two-lane highways. They can be bumpy and narrow, but are fine if you go the speed limit or a little under. Use Google Maps directions and pay attention to road signs. Be careful because Google Maps may try to send you on some unmarked gravel road through farmlands. It’s faster to stick to the paved official highways.

Driving Between the West Block and East Block

It’s a 2-hour drive between the West Block and East Block of Grasslands National Park. The entire drive is on quiet 2-lane highways with signs at major junctions. There are a few tiny towns along the route, but most do not have groceries or gas. (More details on that in the restaurants, groceries, and gas section below.)

Getting Around the Park

There is no public transportation inside Grasslands National Park, so you will need to drive yourself.

The roads inside both the West Block and East Block are gravel. In general, they are in good shape and easy to drive as long as you go slow. They can be dusty, so you’ll want to drive with your windows up and air recirculation on.

However, after it rains, the park roads can be muddy. The remote roads in the West Block are rougher and can become impassable when they are wet.

National Park Passes

You must purchase a Parks Canada pass to enter Grasslands National Park. Buy one at the Visitor Centre in the town of Val Marie outside of the West Block or at the Visitor Centre at the Rock Creek Campground in the East Block.

You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park.

Admission fees are quite reasonable: $7.25 for adults or $15 for a family/group in the same vehicle. You can also use a Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which gives you access to all National Parks and Historic Sites for one year.

Good news: The Canada Strong Pass applies in Grasslands National Park from June 19 to September 7, 2026. Park entry is free during that time period.

How Long to Spend

I think the ideal amount of time to spend in Grasslands National Park is two to three days. I recommend spending one or two nights in the West Block and one night in the East Block.

In general, there are more things to see and do in the West Block. Allow at least one full day for exploring the West Block. Add on an extra day if you want to do any of the hikes.

The East Block is also beautiful, but it doesn’t require as much time – you can get away with a half day here. If you want to do any of the longer hikes, add on an extra day or two.

I spent two nights in the West Block and one in the East Block. I wish I had a bit more time in the East Block to go for a longer hike.

Best Months to Visit

I visited in late May, and we had great weather and saw lots of wildflowers. It was warm but not incredibly hot.

In general, the best months to visit Grasslands National Park are May, June, and September. The park has no shade and can be brutally hot in July and August.

Weather

Summer weather in Grasslands National Park is generally warm to hot, with temperatures in the mid-20s °C to low-30s °C. It doesn’t rain often – you can expect intermittent afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, especially in June and July, but not a ton of actual rain. We had to cancel plans to hike one afternoon when a thunderstorm rolled in.

The park can also be quite windy, especially in the afternoon. If you are camping, bring a quality tent that can stand up to wind and stake it out really well.

The Canadian government produces weather forecasts for the West Block and East Block of Grasslands National Park.

What to Pack for Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park is a remote and rugged place, so pack for function over looks.

Bring clothing for the weather. You’ll want quick-drying clothing for hiking. I recommend wearing a long-sleeved sun hoodie so you don’t have to worry about sunscreen application as often. You’ll also want a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Ticks can be an issue in the park, so I recommend wearing lightweight long pants tucked into socks. Insect repellent with DEET can also help. (I actually didn’t spot any ticks in Grasslands, thankfully, but I did see them elsewhere in Saskatchewan.)

It can get colder at night or when it is windy, so a fleece jacket, lightweight puffy, or windbreaker is a good idea. I brought a toque and ended up wearing it at night.

The trails are maintained to a National Park standard, so they aren’t that rough. You can bring hiking boots, but I wore trail runners and found them sufficient.

The wildlife watching opportunities in the park are great, so bring binoculars. I have a pair of tiny Pentax binoculars that are light and compact enough to hike with.

You can get drinking water at the campgrounds and visitor centre. Parks Canada recommends you have 2 to 3 litres of water per person per day. I used my insulated Hydro Flask bottle to keep my water cold.

There is nowhere to buy food inside the park, so you’ll need to bring your own. See the restaurants, groceries, and gas section below for more info.

If you plan to camp, you’ll need standard camping gear: tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stove, cooler, etc. I’ve got more info about the campground facilities in the where to stay section above.

Cell Phone Service and Wifi

While there is good cell phone service in most of southern Saskatchewan, Grasslands National Park is the exception. Cell phone service is spotty or non-existent in most of the park.

You will get good 5G service in the town of Val Marie and at the West Block Visitor Centre. You’ll also get some LTE service on the western edge of the West Block and on the first part of the Ecotour Scenic Drive.

However, as you drive further into the park, you’ll hit a big dead zone. There is weak wifi at the Frenchman Valley Campground at the Coulee Centre. Otherwise, except no cell phone service further into the West Block of Grasslands National Park.

The East Block of Grasslands National Park does not have good cell phone service either. You may get some 4G service on the eastern edge of the park, but it drops off quickly as you drive into the park and along Badlands Parkway.

You will also drive through some dead zones with no cell service when you drive between the West Block and the East Block.

Thankfully, all of the roads are well-signed, and you can pick up good maps at the visitor centres, so you won’t get lost, even without cell service.

If you are going hiking, use a GPS app like AllTrails+ or Gaia GPS and download an offline map before you go. You will usually have no cell service on hiking trails. I recommend putting your phone in airplane mode while hiking. That will preserve the battery. If you leave it on, it just keeps looking for signal, which drains the battery.

Restaurants, Groceries, and Gas

Grasslands National Park is a VERY quiet part of Saskatchewan. The towns nearby are tiny and have few services. I recommend getting groceries in larger towns on the way to the park.

Gas stations are also fairly spread out here. Fill up before you head into the area and try to keep your tank fairly full in case your route doesn’t have many gas stations.

Here is a run-down on what you can expect in the area.

Near the West Block

Val Marie is by far the biggest town near the park. It is located near the entrance to the West Block and is home to the Visitor Centre.

It has a restaurant called the Val Marie Bar and Cafe that serves Chinese and Western food, but I didn’t eat there, so I can’t give it a review.

There is a tiny grocery store called VM Grocery and Liquor. It’s tiny, but it does have milk and other basics. It also has a small selection of souvenirs and sometimes serves to-go meals. It’s the closest place to buy ice near the park.

Val Marie also has a gas station. It is a cardlock, but it is open to the public as long as you have a credit card. Follow the printed instructions in the booth to use this old school, self-serve pump.

Near the East Block

There are no towns with services close to the East Block. The town of Rockglen is 45 minutes east of the park. It has a few restaurants, a small grocery store, and a self-serve cardlock gas station.

Between West Block and East Block

The drive between West Block and East Block passes through or near several tiny towns. Mankota and McCord have self-serve cardlock gas stations but no other services.

On the Way to the West Block

If you’re coming from Highway 1 to the West Block, it makes the most sense to get supplies in Swift Current, 1.5 hours away. It has gas stations, restaurants, and several large grocery stores.

Another option if you’re coming from the west is to turn off Highway 1 at Gull Lake and head to West Block via the town of Shauavon. It’s a big town with restaurants, gas stations, and a grocery store. On my trip, I stocked up on groceries and ice here.

On the Way to the East Block

If you’re driving from Highway 1 to the East Block, the best place to get supplies is the small city of Moose Jaw, about 2.5 hours away. Moose Jaw has lots of restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores.

There are a few gas stations along the route between Moose Jaw and the East Block of Grasslands National Park. You can find them in the towns of Mossbank, Assiniboia, and Limerick.

Assiniboia is the largest town and the best place to stop. It also has restaurants and a grocery store. We even found a small coffee shop here!

Indigenous Context

Grasslands National Park is the traditional Indigenous territory of the Metis, Nakoda (Assiniboine), Nehiyawak (Plains Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Dakota and Lakota (Sioux). Historically, these Nations followed the bison migration through the region.

Once the bison were hunted into extinction, Indigenous people moved elsewhere. The Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation Reserve near East Block is home to some of the remaining Indigenous people in the area.

You can still see lots of evidence of Indigenous culture in Grasslands National Park. The most obvious examples are over 20,000 tipi rings found throughout the park. These circles of rocks mark the locations where tipis were erected in summer and winter camps.

Final Thoughts

Canada is a huge place, and the Rocky Mountains and coastlines seem to dominate travel media. We tend to skip over the middle of the country… and that’s a real shame.

I loved my time in Saskatchewan, but Grasslands National Park was my favourite. It’s quietly beautiful in a way that invites you to slow down. I loved watching the grass blow in the breeze and the clouds drift past at sunset. I also loved how relaxed Grasslands was – no crowds, no drama!

If you’re looking to get off the beaten path, I encourage you to plan a trip to Grasslands National Park and to Saskatchewan in general. If you have questions about planning your trip, ask in the comments!

READ NEXT:

• How to Take an Epic Canadian National Parks Road Trip

The post Grasslands National Park Travel Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I planned my first visit to Newfoundland specifically to hike in the park. While the province has some spectacular hikes, my favourite trails are in Gros Morne.

But even though my priority is hiking, there are lots of other great things to do in Gros Morne National Park. It has beautiful scenery that is accessible without hiking, but it also has great food, cute towns, and fascinating geology.

Despite three visits to the area, I still haven’t been to a few places in the park. (Trust me, I have plans to fix that someday.) But I can recommend lots of gorgeous spots to visit.

My guide to Gros Morne National Park includes:

• Map of Gros Morne that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Gros Morne: Hikes, viewpoints, picturesque towns, boat tours, and more.
• Where to eat in Gros Morne: My picks for the best restaurants and cafes.
• Where to stay in Gros Morne from luxury hotels to campgrounds
• Gros Morne Travel Tips: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go?

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Thanks so much to Go Western Newfoundland for hosting me during my second and third trips to Gros Morne. All opinions are my own and my husband’s experiences were not hosted. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Map of Gros Morne National Park

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Gros Morne National Park for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do in Gros Morne

In this section, I’ve got suggestions for hikes, viewpoints, and boat tours in the park. There are also several of towns next to the park. While they aren’t technically in the national park, it makes the most sense to treat them as part of the greater Gros Morne region since you’ll visit them during your time in the park.

Since Bonne Bay splits the park in half and it takes about an hour to drive from one part of the park to the other, I’ve split this section into things to do in Southern Gros Morne to Northern Gros Morne.

Things to Do in Southern Gros Morne

Be sure to plan to spend part of your time in Southern Gros Morne along Highway 431 and in Woody Point. You can’t miss the starkly beautiful barrens of the Tablelands. Here are the best things to do in that area.

Gros Morne National Park Discovery Centre

The Gros Morne National Park Discovery Centre is located near Woody Point on the south side of Bonne Bay. Since the info centre is up on a hill, it has an incredible view of the bay and Gros Morne Mountain.

If you want to get a feel for the park, this is a great place to start. They have lots of exhibits about the park’s ecosystem and geology. They also have an info desk where you can ask questions and pick up park maps.

Woody Point

Woody Point is the main town on the southern side of Bonne Bay. This is where you’ll find most of the hotels and restaurants in the southern part of Gros Morne. (More on those in the Where to Eat and Where to Stay sections at the bottom of the post.) The Bonne Bay Water Shuttle also leaves from here.

It’s a cute historic town spread out along the waterfront. Most of the restaurants and businesses are down along Water Street. I recommend stopping at Galliott Studios for coffee and cute art. Molly Made Fibre Art on Main Road also has great handmade souvenirs along with sewing and knitting supplies.

Zodiac Tours in Bonne Bay

One of the best ways to get a feel for the vast landscapes in Gros Morne is to take a zodiac tour. That way you can zip around the waters of Bonne Bay and gaze up at the Tablelands from sea level. I didn’t appreciate how huge the Tablelands were until I saw them from the water.

I did the Tablelands Boat Tour with Wild Gros Morne. Our guide took us out into the bay to look up at the Tablelands while she explained their unique geology. It was a great prelude to our hike up to the top later the same day! She also took us along the coast to learn more about the history of small fishing villages.

Lookout Trail

This moderate hike has one of the best views in Gros Morne. It climbs up through the forest to the subalpine of the Lookout Hills. From the viewing platform, you can see Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, and Gros Morne Mountain.

Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours on this 5.8 km hike. While it gains 360 m, the trail is well groomed so it never feels that steep. Don’t miss this trail in late September or early October – it has incredible autumn colours and is one of my picks for the best things to do in fall in Gros Morne.

Tablelands Trail

If you’re interested in geology, you have to hike the Tablelands Trail. The rocks here look like the moon, but they are actually part of the Earth’s mantle. There are two ways to hike the Tablelands.

The first is a flat hike on an old road that follows the base of the mountain. It has great views of the rocks and is an easy walk. There are info plaques along the way to help you learn about the plants and geology.

The second option is to hike off-trail to the top of the Tablelands. It’s rocky and there are no markers, so you need to be comfortable with route finding. I went with guides from Wild Gros Morne who helped us find the best path to the top while also teaching us about the unique rocks and plants.

It was a strenuous hike, but it was definitely worth it – this is another of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Green Gardens Trail

The trailhead for the Green Gardens Trail is just a few kilometres from the Tablelands, but the scenery couldn’t be more different. The trail starts in the open moonscape of the Tablelands and then descends through lush forest to the coast.

The volcanic soil, thick forest, and steep sea cliffs reminded me more of Hawaii than of Newfoundland. The hike is a 9 km round trip, so it’s a moderate half-day outing. But if you want to stay overnight, there is a backcountry campground at Old Man’s Cove.

Given the incredible ocean views, Green Gardens Trails is another of my favourite Newfoundland hikes.

Trout River

The tiny village of Trout River is at the southwestern edge of Gros Morne National Park. The sandy beach and wooden boardwalk are picturesque, but the town really glows at sunset. I spent a memorable evening on the beach watching the setting sun light up the sky. Don’t miss the Seaside Restaurant, right on the beach.

Things to Do in Northern Gros Morne

The Northern part of Gros Morne along Highway 430 includes the towns of Rocky Harbour and Norris Point. The towering Long Range Mountains provide an imposing backdrop. Here are my must-dos in this area:

Norris Point and Rocky Harbour

These two cute towns are 10 minutes apart on the north shore of Bonne Bay. If you take the Bonne Bay Water Shuttle from Woody Point you’ll arrive in Norris Point.

Both towns have lots of restaurants and hotels. (More on those in the Where to Eat and Where to Stay sections at the bottom of the post.) If you’re looking for souvenirs, Gros Morne Crafts in Rocky Harbour has lots of options.

In Norris Point, visit the aquarium at the Bonne Bay Marine Station. They have lots of tanks with local marine life, some of which you can pick up and touch. Students working at the research station can tell you all about the animals, many of which are unique to this area.

ATV Tours with Under the Stump

If you’re looking to explore Gros Morne’s backcountry, but you want an accessible way to do it without hiking, book an ATV Tour with Under the Stump. I did a 2-hour tour with Trina in her side-by-side ATV, and it was so much fun!

She drove us out into the Rocky Harbour Hills, a small pocket of wilderness that is surrounded by Gros Morne National Park, but not actually in the park. It has incredible views of Gros Morne Mountain from its less-seen Eastern side.

Trina also told us about the history of the area, including her Mi’kmaq heritage and taught us about how to forage for several types of local plants. She is a natural storyteller, and like many Newfoundlanders, loves to talk!

Gros Morne Mountain

If you’re up for a challenge, take on the hike to the top of Gros Morne Mountain. At 806 m, it’s the second tallest mountain in Newfoundland. (The Cabox near Bay of Islands beats it at 812 m.)

It’s a tough all-day hike but the views from the top are sublime since you can see for kilometres. Since the top of the trail is a loop, you also get a good view into Gros Morne National Park’s backcountry from the backside of the peak.

I’ve got more details on the trail in my guide to the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse

On my second trip, my husband explored the historic lighthouse at Lobster Cove Head while I was off hiking. He loved the exhibits inside including the historical photos and the opportunity to chat with park interpreters about what life was like for the lighthouse keepers.

He also recommends taking a stroll along easy trails around the lighthouse. They lead along the top of a bluff to lots of viewpoints overlooking Bonne Bay.

Green Point Geological Site

The short walk at Green Point Geological Site has incredible clifftop views of the ocean and a pair of iconic Parks Canada red chairs, perfect for photo ops.

But the real reason to visit lies down a set of stairs. Once you reach the beach, you’ll see the the cliffs above are made of rock layers tilted on their sides, exposing hundreds of thousands of years of geologic time. Geologists used the rock layers here to confirm their theory of plate tectonics.

Be sure to go at low tide when you can access the beach. You can explore the site on your own, but its better to go with a guide who can explain the unique geology and help you find fossils. Parks Canada runs guided tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Or you can go with a guide from one of the local hiking tour companies – I went with Gros Morne Adventures.

Western Brook Pond

One of the easiest ways to experience the rugged interior of Gros Morne National Park is to take a boat tour on Western Brook Pond with Bon Tours. The “pond” is actually a former fjord with towering mountains on either side and lots of waterfalls.

To get to the boat dock you must walk a flat and easy 3 km trail from the parking lot. The trail has great views as well, so it’s a good option if you don’t have time for the boat tour. And if you want to do the tour but have mobility challenges, the tour company can transport you via golf cart.

The best views are from the top deck, which is outside, so be sure to dress for the weather. I recommend packing warm, waterproof, and windproof clothing just in case. The wind really picks up in the afternoon. (I’ve got more packing tips at the bottom of this post.)

Pro tip: Sit on the left side of the boat for a closer view of the scenery.

Long Range Traverse

While the Western Brook Pond boat tour is one of the easiest outdoor adventures in Gros Morne, the boat leads to the most extreme adventure in the park – the Long Range Traverse.

You disembark from the boat tour at the head of Western Brook Pond then navigate through the rugged Long Range Mountains off-trail for three to five days before finishing at the base of Gros Morne Mountains.

I planned my first trip to Newfoundland specifically to hike the Long Range Traverse and it’s by far the hardest trail on my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland. The five days I spent on the trail were incredible – we saw moose and bears, got lost in a bog, and made lots of incredible memories.

Broom Point

Another spot that my husband experienced without me (much to my chagrin) is Broom Point. It’s a viewpoint with easy trails. You can explore along the coast and get great views inland to Western Brook Pond and the Long Range Mountains. There is also a restored fishing premises here that makes for great photo ops.

Cow Head and Theatre Newfoundland

The town of Cow Head is near the northern boundary of Gros Morne National Park. The village has a long sandy beach and a picturesque lighthouse.

I haven’t spent any time in Cow Head, but my friend Vanessa from Turnipseed Travel was there recently and raved about Theatre Newfoundland.

She says “For twenty summers, the tiny community of Cow Head has hosted Neddy Norris Night, an intimate, acoustic show of traditional Newfoundland songs and stories. There are plenty of laughs but also several poignant moments as the musicians share songs alluding to hard bygone days. While the audience was packed with “CFAs” (that’s come-from-aways, i.e. visitors) this wasn’t a gimmicky show just for tourists. It’s a heartfelt creation of good cheer and authentic folklore that will stick with you long after the show ends.”

Where to Eat in Gros Morne

Restaurants in Southern Gros Morne

Galliott Studios and Cafe: This tiny coffee shop in Woody Point doubles as a pottery studio with drinks served in mugs thrown on site. Their sunny patio hangs over Bonne Bay and is lovely on a crisp fall day (but you’ll want to use one of their blankets). They also have a small selection of pottery and art for sale. I couldn’t resist the hand-drawn hiker stickers.

Seaside Restaurant: This iconic restaurant in Trout River is right on the beach. The same family has been cooking up seafood here since 1981. I had the best fried fish here.

Taste: Located inside the Gros Morne Inn near Woody Point, this fine-dining restaurant that focuses on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. I had a great lunch here with an incredible lobster bisque.

Merchant Warehouse: On one of my trips, we dropped into the Merchant Warehouse in Woody Point one afternoon for a coffee. The front of the restaurant is a full-on 50s soda shop, but they also have a full restaurant and patio overlooking the water. On my most recent trip, I had great fish and chips here.

Restaurants in Northern Gros Morne

Old Store Cafe: This little cafe in Norris Point is a great spot for coffee, baked goods, and lunch. Try their “Gull Shit muffins” – they are chocolate muffins topped with cream cheese. Delicious!

Cat Stop Pub: The Bonne Bay water shuttle docks right next to Cat Stop Pub in Norris Point, which has a huge waterfront patio. It’s a good place for a beer and casual pub food.

Chanterelle’s: I had an amazing meal of duck breast with local patridgeberries at Chaterelle’s in Norris Point, located inside the Sugar Hill Inn. It offers fine-dining and exceptional food without too much pretension. Trust me: get the seafood cakes.

Java Jack’s: On my first visit to Gros Morne we had a memorable dinner at Java Jack’s in Rocky Harbour. The restaurant is in a bright yellow house in the middle of the village. They serve upscale versions of traditional Newfoundland food. I had an elevated version of stroganoff with caribou instead of beef.

Buoy & Arrow: This Indigenous-owned restaurant in Rocky Harbour has lots of locally-sourced game meat and seafood on the menu. I had an amazing moose burger. Their menu gives the names for dishes in both English and Mi’kmaq.

Where to Stay in Gros Morne

Southern Gros Morne Hotels

Bonne Bay Inn: I loved my stay at this boutique 10-room hotel. It is perched on the hillside so I had a great view of the bay from my room.

Gros Morne Inn: When I ate lunch at Taste, I got a mini tour of this hotel. They have incredible private hot tub pods. Each one has a panoramic view of Bonne Bay. The hotel is also the base for Tour Gros Morne, so it’s easy to book hiking tours if you stay here. (I had a great guided hike on the Green Gardens Trail with them.)

Northern Gros Morne Hotels

Gros Morne Base Camp: I spent four nights at Gros Morne Base Camp’s Burnt Hill Cabins on my fall visit. These rustic but cute cabins felt like home with little kitchens and full living rooms. They are also an easy walk to the waterfront in Norris Point or the Old Store Cafe for a morning coffee. Check rates.

Sugar Hill Inn: I loved my time at this quaint inn in Norris Point. It had huge rooms and the wide front porch was great for enjoying the view.

Camping in Gros Morne

Gros Morne National Park has five well-equipped campgrounds with flush toilets, showers, and even wifi. I stayed at the largest Berry Hill Campground, on my first visit to the park. It has a great central location near Rocky Harbour.

Gros Morne Travel Tips

How to Get There

Unlike some parts of the province, it’s pretty easy to get to Gros Morne National Park. You can fly directly to Deer Lake airport from big Canadian cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax. If you’re already in St. John’s, you can fly from there to Deer Lake – that’s what I did on my second trip to Newfoundland. From Deer Lake, it’s a 25-minute drive to the park.

If you are road-tripping across the province, you can drive to Gros Morne from St. John’s in about 7 hours. But of course, you’ll want to make lots of stops along the way to visit small towns like Trinity, Bonavista, Twillingate, and Fogo Island.

It’s also possible to get to the park by Marine Atlantic ferry. The ferry leaves from Nova Scotia and arrives at Port aux Basques in the southern part of Western Newfoundland. The sailing takes 7 hours and then it’s a 3 hour-drive from the ferry terminal.

The first time I went to Newfoundland we took an overnight ferry since we were living in Halifax at the time and it made the most sense to drive.

Getting Around

Gros Morne is a big park – it takes about 2 hours to drive from one side to the other. Driving is the easiest way to get around Gros Morne. The easiest place to rent a car is at the Deer Lake Airport. I use DiscoverCars since it lets me compare prices between car rental companies.

Another option is to book a tour. Several small tour companies specialize in multi-day tours in the Gros Morne area. On my trips, I did hikes with Gros Morne Adventures, Wild Gros Morne and Tour Gros Morne – they were all great.

The park is split into two parts by Bonne Bay. Use Highway 430 to access the northern part of the part and Highway 431 for the southern portion.

To get between the two sections, you can drive around Bonne Bay, which takes about an hour. Or, you can take the Bonne Bay Water Shuttle between Norris Point (north) and Woody Point (south).

I took a trip on the water shuttle on one of my visits and it was so beautiful to see the park from the water. Plus it was faster than driving! Some tour companies also have their own boats to take you across the bay.

National Park Passes

You must purchase a Parks Canada pass to stop anywhere in Gros Morne National Park. You can buy one at the entrance kiosk in Wiltondale or at either of the two park visitor centres. Some businesses in the towns near the park also sell park passes.

You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park. If you are on a guided tour, your guide will take care of park passes for you.

How Long to Spend

How long you should spend in Gros Morne National Park depends on what you want to do. At a minimum, I would say that you want at least 3 or 4 days. But if you’re a serious hiker I think 7 days is ideal – the park contains most of my favourite hikes in Newfoundland.

Best Time to Go

I’ve heard that Gros Morne is gorgeous year-round and I’ve visited in June, August, and late September/early October. The winter photos look gorgeous and locals raved to me about skiing and snowshoeing. But most visitors will have the best experience between June and late-September. That’s when the weather is the nicest and when most tourist businesses are open.

If you’re looking for a different experience than most visitors get, consider visiting in fall. It’s perfect hiking weather, the colours are gorgeous, and you’ll have the place mostly to yourself. My guide to fall in Gros Morne has all the details.

Weather

Like the rest of Newfoundland, the western part of the province is never that warm. However, in June, July, and August the average high temperature in Rocky Harbour is 23°C – a bit higher than other parts of Newfoundland!

The Blow Me Down Mountains are just outside the park, which should give you a hint that it’s often windy here. As well, rain storms are common in every month. Bring warm clothing and a rain jacket, just in case.

Cell Service

In some parts of Gros Morne, cell service is spotty or non-existent. There is LTE service in the towns adjacent to the park. However, you will often lose service as soon as you leave a town.

If you are going hiking, use a GPS app like AllTrails+ and download an offline map before you go. You will usually have no cell service on the trail.

Final Thoughts

Gros Morne is one of my favourite Canadian National Parks. Honestly, it’s right up there with the Rocky Mountain Parks. That might be because the Long Range Traverse was one of my first long backpacking trips or because the trails are stunning but not crowded.

But I think it’s also because the community around the park is in so wonderful. In places like Banff, you spend your days hiking gorgeous trails and then head back to a touristy town at night where you eat at a generic restaurant staffed by seasonal workers. It’s different in Gros Morne. The old fishing towns outside the park are full of locals who love where they live and want to make sure you have a great time.

If you’ve got questions about Gros Morne, ask them in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland
• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The post Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

In this post, I’ve got basic info for over 80 backcountry cabins in BC and Alberta. The listing for each hut includes the location, info on fees, and booking, and a link to make reservations or get more info. The backcountry hut listings are separated into six regions. Click the links below to jump to your area.

• Vancouver backcountry huts
• Sunshine Coast backcountry huts
• Vancouver Island backcountry huts
• Kootenays backcountry huts
• Canadian Rockies backcountry huts
• Northern BC backcountry huts

All info on backcountry huts in BC was up-to-date at the time of publishing. But booking policies, prices, and access can change without notice. Check the club and park links below for the latest info. And let me know if anything is incorrect so I can update it.

I’ve been to lots of the backcountry cabins on this list, especially the ones near Vancouver. But with over 80 backcountry huts in British Columbia to choose from, I haven’t made it to all of them… yet!

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

What kinds of backcountry huts are on this list?

The backcountry huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies on this list are geared toward self-propelled users and are operated by clubs and parks.

You won’t find ATV, snowmobile, or 4×4 club cabins on this list.

I also haven’t included private, for-profit lodges.

BC also has lots of “secret” un-sanctioned cabins and I haven’t included them. These unofficial backcountry huts are often illegal and increased traffic means they might get shut down. However, info on secret cabins is often widely available in local communities.

I also chose not to include emergency shelters which you shouldn’t plan to stay at – that’s why they have “emergency” in the name!

BC Backcountry Huts Map

To give you a general idea of where these backcountry cabins are located, I’ve put together a custom Google map of backcountry huts in British Columbia. Click through to zoom in.

A Note on Hut Access

Some of these backcountry huts in British Columbia are easy to reach via well-marked trails. Others involve off-trail travel, route-finding, scrambling, glacier, travel, or rock climbing.

In winter, reaching many of the backcountry cabins is more complex and may take you through avalanche terrain.

As well, road access to trailheads can be complicated. It may involve rough logging roads that are unplowed or require 4WD. In some areas, it is common to use a snowmobile to reach trailheads where users switch to skis to reach the hut.

A few huts can only be reached by helicopter.

See the links to club and park websites for more access information.

Backcountry Hut Etiquette

In general, backcountry huts in British Columbia are for outdoor adventurers. Most huts are communal, so you will share space with strangers. We all need to work together to help these cabins in good condition for everyone to enjoy. These aren’t places to have a party.

Here are a few BC backcountry hut etiquette tips:

• Research hut rules and guidelines before your trip. Know what to expect at each hut and pack accordingly. Some huts supply stoves, kitchen gear, and mattresses, but many do not.
• Pack out everything. That includes your trash and trash that other groups have left. Please don’t leave extra food as it is unlikely to get eaten and will just attract mice.
• Protect the water source. Don’t bathe, do dishes, or pee in the hut water source. In winter, there is often a designated pee area to avoid contaminating snow that will be melted for drinking water.
• Keep the noise levels down. Many hut users may go to bed early to get an early start the next morning. Skip the music unless all hut users agree.
• Leave your dog at home. Very few huts allow dogs.
• Conserve firewood. Firewood is a scarce resource that can be expensive to supply. In most huts, it is only acceptable to use the wood stove in winter.
• Keep your gear tidy and out of other people’s way. Don’t monopolize the drying rack.
• Don’t wear boots inside the hut. This keeps dirt, mud, and snowmelt off the floor. Bring hut booties or sandals to wear indoors.
• Keep the mice out. Mice are a problem at most huts. Keep the door closed and store your food and garbage inside a bin or hanging from the ceiling in a sealed bag.
• Share the chores: Help out by restocking firewood, swapping outhouse barrels, or grabbing more snow to melt.
• Clean up before you leave. Sweep the floor, wipe down the counters, and empty the grey water buckets.
• Be nice. Be welcoming and friendly to other hut users. Communicate your plans so you can optimize the use of cooking areas and agree on quiet hours.

Backcountry Huts Near Vancouver

Elsay Lake Hut

Location: Elsay Lake in Mount Seymour Provincial Park, North Vancouver.

Operated By: Mount Seymour Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking

Sleeps: 4

Booking: None. All visits are first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free.

More Info: Mount Seymour Provincial Park and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Mountain Lake Hut

Location: Near Mount Sheer east of Britannia Beach.

Operated By: BCMC

Best For: Hiking, mountaineering, scrambling, ski touring

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 180 days before your trip.

Cost: $20/person/night for non-members, $10/person/night for members

More Info: BCMC

Watersprite Lake Hut

Location: At Watersprite Lake In the mountains east of Squamish.

Operated By: BCMC

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 60 days in advance.

Cost: $300/night for the entire hut

More Info: BCMC, Watersprite Lake Facebook group (for road and trail conditions), and my book Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Elfin Lakes Shelter

Location: At Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park east of Squamish

Operated By: Garibaldi Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 33

Booking: Reservations required. Book online three months in advance.

Cost: $15/person/night

More Info: My Elfin Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

READ NEXT: Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish

Tantalus Hut (Lake Lovely Water)

Location: Lake Lovely Water in Tantalus Provincial Park west of Squamish.

Operated By: ACC Vancouver and Tantalus Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering

Sleeps: 16

Booking: Reservations required. Book online in March in advance for non-members. Members can book in January. Open in June 1 to September 30 only.

Cost: $1700 for weekday 3 night booking (Mon, Tues, Wed nights) of the entire hut or $2000 for the weekend 3 night booking (Fri, Sat, Sun nights) of the entire hut. ACC members get a 10% discount.

More Info: ACC Vancouver, Tantalus Provincial Park, and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Jim Haberl Hut

Location: On the edge of a glacier high in the Tantalus Range west of Squamish. Access requires glacier travel or helicopter.

Operated By: ACC Vancouver

Best For: Mountaineering

Sleeps: 12

Booking: Reservations required. Book online in March for non-members. Members can in January. Open March 1 to September 30 only.

Cost: $1700 for weekday 3 night booking (Mon, Tues, Wed nights) of the entire hut or $2000 for the weekend 3 night booking (Fri, Sat, Sun nights) of the entire hut. ACC members get a 10% discount.

More Info: ACC Vancouver

Brew Hut

Location: Near the summit of Mount Brew, west of the Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler.

Operated By: UBC VOC

Best For: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 12

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served but parties are encouraged to register online to avoid overcrowding.

Cost: $15/person/night

More Info: UBC VOC and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Sphinx Hut (Burton Hut)

Location: On the eastern shore of Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park between Squamish and Whistler. Summer access is via boat.

Operated By: UBC VOC

Best For: Ski touring, snowshoeing, mountaineering

Sleeps: 10

Booking: You must purchase a Wilderness Permit for Garibaldi Provincial Park by calling BC Parks. The hut is first-come, first-served, but parties are encouraged to register online to avoid overcrowding.

Cost: $15/person/night

More Info: UBC VOC

Kees and Claire Hut

Location: At Russet Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park just outside Whistler. The hut sits at the south end of the Spearhead ski traverse.

Operated By: Spearhead Huts Society

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 38

Booking: Reservations required. Book online 60 days in advance for non-members. ACC and BCMC members can book 90 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. ACC and BCMC members get a discount.

More Info: Spearhead Huts Society, Garibaldi Provincial Park, my Russet Lake hiking and backpacking guide, and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Wedgemount Lake Hut

Location: At Wedgemount Lake in the northern part of Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler.

Operated By: Garibaldi Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online three months. You will actually need to make a reservation for the Wedgemount Lake campground as there is no separate booking for the hut. Spots in the hut are first-come, first-served amongst those with campground reservations.

Cost: $10/person/night

More Info: Garibaldi Provincial Park and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Tenquille Lake Cabin

Location: Tenquille Lake, northwest of Pemberton.

Operated By: Pemberton Wildlife Association in partnership with the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations.

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, ski touring

Sleeps: 12

Booking: Reservations required. Book online 60 days before your trip.

Cost: $25/person/night.

More Info: Pemberton Wildlife Association and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

North Creek Cabin

Location: In the mountains on the north side of the Lillooet River valley west of Pemberton.

Operated By: BCMC

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 10

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 180 days before your trip.

Cost: $20/person/night for non-members. There are discounts for BCMC members.

More Info: BCMC

Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group

Harrison Hut

Location: At the edge of the Pemberton Icefield above Meager Creek east of Pemberton.

Operated By: UBC VOC

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering

Sleeps: 15

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served, but parties are encouraged to register online to avoid overcrowding.

Cost: $15/person/night

More Info: UBC VOC

Wendy Thompson Hut

Location: Near Mount Marriott on the west side of Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet.

Operated By: ACC Whistler

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 16

Booking: Reservations required. Book online 105 days before your trip. Members of the Whistler, Squamish, and Vancouver ACC sections can book 140 days in advance.

Cost: $25/person/night for non-members. $20/person/night for members of the Whistler, Squamish or Vancouver sections of the ACC.

More Info: ACC Whistler and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

Keith Flavelle Hut (Keith’s Hut)

Location: Just north of Joffre Lakes on the east side of Highway 99 in between Pemberton and Lillooet.

Operated By: Keith Flavelle Hut Society and Nlháxten/Cerise Creek Conservancy

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 14

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served and is often over capacity.

Cost: Free, but donations are welcome.

More Info: Keith Flavelle Hut Society and Nlháxten/Cerise Creek Conservancy

Brian Waddington Hut (Phelix Creek Hut)

Location: In the mountains near Birkenhead Provincial Park north of Pemberton.

Operated By: UBC VOC

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 25

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served, but parties are encouraged to register online to avoid overcrowding. The hut is voluntarily closed from August 15 to October 15 for wildlife protection.

Cost: $15/person/night.

More Info: UBC VOC

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Backcountry Huts on the Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast Trail Huts

Location: There are 14 huts spread along the length of the Sunshine Coast Trail between Saltery Bay and Lund. From north to south they are: Bliss Portage, Manzanita Bluff, Rieveley Pond, Inland Lake-Anthony Island, Confederation Lake, Fiddlehead Landing, Tin Hat, Elk Lake, Walt Hill, Golden Stanley, Mount Troubridge, Rainy Day Lake, and Fairview Bay.

Operated By: Sunshine Coast Trail/Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society

Best For: Hiking

Sleeps: Most huts sleep 10, but a few fit 3-6.

Booking: None. All huts are hut is first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free, but donations of $5/person/night are encouraged.

More Info: Sunshine Coast Trail and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

READ NEXT: Best Hikes on the Sunshine Coast

Tetrahedron Provincial Park Cabins

Location: There are four cabins accessed from the same trailhead in Tetrahedron Provincial Park north of Sechelt: Batchelor Cabin, Edwards Cabin, Mount Steele Cabin, and McNair Cabin. Batchelor and Edwards Cabins are on my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC.

Operated By: Tetrahedron Outdoor Club and Tetrahedron Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: Each cabin sleeps 12

Booking: None. All huts are first-come, first-served and are often over capacity on winter weekends.

Cost: $15/person/night for non-members, $10/person/night for Tetrahedron Outdoor Club members payable online, by mailing a cheque, or at Trail Bay Source for Sports in Sechelt.

More Info: Tetrahedron Outdoor Club, Tetrahedron Outdoor Facebook group (for trail and road conditions) Tetrahedron Provincial Park, and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

Emma Lake Cabin

Location: On the South Powell Divide in the Eldred River Valley north of Powell River.

Operated By: Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 6-10

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free, but donations of $20/person/night are welcome.

More Info: Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association

Knuckleheads Cabins

Location: The Knuckleheads Range north of Lois Lake near Powell River. There are three cabins: Vic Cole Lodge, E-Branch Cabin, and A-Branch Cabin (Chateau Rotary Cabin).

Operated By: Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association

Best For: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: Each cabin sleeps 8-12

Booking: None. All huts are first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free, but donations of $20/person/night are welcome.

More Info: Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association

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Backcountry Huts on Vancouver Island

Hišimy̓awiƛ Hut (5040 Peak Hut)

Location: On the slopes of 5040 Peak east of Highway 4 between Port Alberni and Ucluelet. The hut’s name means “Gather Together” in the Barkley Sound dialect of the Ucluelet First Nation and is pronounced Hi-SHIM-ya-wit.

Operated By: ACC Vancouver Island

Best for: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 12 in 2 rooms with 6 bunks each

Booking: Reservations required. Book online three months before your trip.

Cost: Bookings are per room. $150/room/night for non-members. $120/room/night for members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada Vancouver Island and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

Wheaton Memorial Hut

Location: In the Marble Meadows area of Strathcona Provincial Park. Access to the trail is via boat across Buttle Lake.

Operated By: BC Parks

Best for: Hiking, scrambling

Sleeps: 2-4

Booking: None. The hut is first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free.

More Info: BC Parks

Kludahk Huts

Location: Five huts (Meadow Cabin, Tower Cabin, Blueberry Cabin, Noyse Lake Cabin, and Tent Lake Cabin) spaced along the top of San Juan Ridge between Port Renfrew and Sooke.

Operated By: Kludahk Outdoors Club

Best for: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: Each hut sleeps 4-10

Booking: Reservations required. Only club members may use the huts.

Cost: A nightly per person fee is charged.

More Info: Kludahk Outdoors Club and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

Get My Book…

Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips

• 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Backcountry Huts in the Kootenays

Bill Putnam Hut (Fairy Meadow Hut)

Location: In the Adamant Group of the Selkirk Mountains north of Glacier National Park. Access is via helicopter.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Scrambling, mountaineering, rock climbing, ski touring

Sleeps: 20

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Winter bookings are via a lottery.

Cost: $60 for non-members. $50 for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada

Ben Ferris (Great Cairn) Hut

Location: In the Northern Selkirk Mountains north of Glacier National Park at the base of Mount Sir Sandford. Access via helicopter.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60 for non-members. $50 for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada

A.O. Wheeler Hut

Location: Southwest of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 30

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60-70/person/night for non-members. $50-60/person/night for ACC members. Prices vary by season.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Glacier National Park

Asulkan Cabin

Location: At the head of the Asulkan Valley south of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 10

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60-70/person/night for non-members. $50-60/person/night for ACC members. Prices vary by season.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Glacier National Park

Sapphire Col Hut

Location: High on the Asulkan Ridge south of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 4

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Glacier National Park

Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group

Glacier Circle Cabin

Location: Below the Illecillewaet Neve in the Dawson Range of Glacier National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Glacier National Park

McMurdo Cabin

Location: North of the Spillimacheen Glacier in the mountains southwest of Golden.

Operated By: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 5

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 8 weeks in advance.

Cost: $85/whole hut/night

More Info: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Kingsbury Cabin

Location: Near the Headwaters of Bobbie Burns Creek in International Basin southwest of Golden.

Operated By: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 4

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 8 weeks in advance.

Cost: $90/whole hut/night

More Info: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Conrad Kain Hut

Location: In Bugaboo Provincial Park in the Purcell Mountains east of Radium Hot Springs.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, rock climbing

Sleeps: 35

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Reserve six months in advance. Open in summer only.

Cost: $25/person/night or $50/night/family of two adults and two children

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Bugaboo Provincial Park

Dave White Cabin

Location: In the Forester Creek valley near the Catamount Glacier west of Radium Hot Springs.

Operated By: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 4

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 8 weeks in advance.

Cost: $70/whole hut/night

More Info: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Olive Hut

Location: On the edge of the Catamount Glacier west of Radium Hot Springs. Access requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 4

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 8 weeks in advance.

Cost: $70/whole hut/night

More Info: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Jumbo Pass Cabin

Location: At Jumbo Pass along the Purcell Divide near Invermere.

Operated By: Columbia Valley Huts

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 8 weeks in advance.

Cost: $120/whole hut/night

More Info: Columbia Valley Hut Society

Kokanee Glacier Cabin

Location: At Kaslo Lake in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson. Winter access is via helicopter.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 12-20

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Reserve 180 days in advance. Winter bookings are via a lottery.

Cost: $25/person/night or $50/night/family of two adults and two children.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

Silver Spray Cabin

Location: In the northern part of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, mountaineering, scrambling

Sleeps: 10

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Reserve 180 days in advance. The hut is closed in winter.

Cost: $25/person/night or $50/night/family of two adults and two children.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

Woodbury Cabin

Location: In the northern part of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Reserve 180 days in advance. The hut is closed in winter.

Cost: $25/person/night or $50/night/family of two adults and two children.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

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Sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Taryn at Dawn Outdoors stuffed with the latest on backpacking in BC including:

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Backcountry Huts in the Canadian Rockies

Mount Colin Centennial Hut

Location: On the southwest side of Mount Colin in the northern part of Jasper National Park.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, rock climbing, scrambling

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in winter.

Cost: $40/person/night.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Jasper National Park.

Jacques Lake Cabin

Location: Jacques Lake near Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. This hut is only open in winter.

Cost: $60/person night for non-members. $50/person/night for members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Jasper National Park.

Ramparts Hut (Wates-Gibson Memorial Hut)

Location: At Outpost Lake in the Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park. (Psst! The Tonquin Valley is on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.)

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, rock climbing, ski touring

Sleeps: 24-26

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in winter.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Jasper National Park.

Fryatt Creek Hut (Sydney Vallance Hut)

Location: In the Fryatt Valley in Jasper National Park.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, mountaineering, scrambling, ski touring

Sleeps: 12

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Jasper National Park.

Lloyd Mackay Hut (Mount Alberta Hut)

Location: On the shoulder of Mount Little Alberta in Jasper National Park. Access requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Scrambling, mountaineering, rock climbing

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $50/person/night for non-members. $40/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Jasper National Park.

Join the Backpacking in BC Facebook Group

Peter and Catharine Whyte Hut (Peyto Hut)

Location: The northern end of the Wapta Icefield near the Peyto Glacier in Banff National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 16-18

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Banff National Park.

Bow Hut

Location: On the Wapta Icefield west of Bow Lake in Banff National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 30

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Banff National Park.

Balfour Hut (Rob Ritchie Hut)

Location: On the toe of the Vulcan Glacier on the Wapta Icefield in Banff National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 16-18

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Banff National Park.

Scott Duncan Hut

Location: South end of the Wapta Icefield near Mount Daly in Yoho National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 12

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Yoho National Park.

Louise and Richard Guy Hut

Location: Just north of Yoho Peak in Yoho National Park on the Bow-Yoho Traverse. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Ski touring, mountaineering

Sleeps: 18

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in summer.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Yoho National Park.

Stanley Mitchell Hut

Location: In the Little Yoho Valley of Yoho National Park. (Psst! The Yoho Valley is on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.)

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 22

Booking: Reservations required. Book online.Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance.

Cost: $60-70/person/night for non-members. $50-60/person/night for ACC members. Prices vary by season.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada, Yoho National Park, and my guide to the Yoho Valley Loop.

Elizabeth Parker Hut

Location: Near the shores of Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park. (This is one of the destinations on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.)

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing, scrambling, mountaineering

Sleeps: 20-24

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. In summer, bookings are by lottery.

Cost: $60-70/person/night for non-members. $50-60/person/night for ACC members. Prices vary by season.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada, Yoho National Park, and my guide to Lake O’Hara

Neil Colgan Hut

Location: Above the Valley of the Ten Peaks at Moraine Lake in, Banff National Park. Access to the hut requires glacier travel.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Mountaineering, rock climbing

Sleeps: 18

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in winter.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Banff National Park.

Castle Mountain Hut, Banff

Location: Halfway up the south face of Castle Mountain. Access to the hut requires scrambling and technical rock climbing.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Rock climbing, mountaineering.

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in winter.

Cost: $60/night for non-members. $50/night for ACC members. Bookings are for the entire hut.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Banff National Park.

Elk Lakes Cabin

Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in the Kananaskis Valley south of Canmore.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, ski touring, snowshoeing

Sleeps: 14

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Reserve six months in advance.

Cost: $25/person/night or $50/night/family of two adults and two children.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Naiset Huts

Location: A cluster of five huts at Magog Lake in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park southwest of Canmore. (Mount Assiniboine is on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.)

Operated By: Mount Assiniboine Lodge and Assiniboine Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: Each hut sleeps 5-8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online for summer starting in early January. Book online for winter starting in December.

Cost: $150-$240 per night for an entire hut

More Info: My huge guide to hiking in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park and Mount Assiniboine Lodge

Queen Mary Lake Cabin

Location: At Queen Mary Lake in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park northeast of Fairmont Hot Springs.

Operated By: Height of the Rockies Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 8

Booking: None. All visits are first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free

More Info: Height of the Rockies Provincial Park

Connor Lake Cabin

Location: At Connor Lake in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park east of Canal Flats.

Operated By: Height of the Rockies Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ski touring

Sleeps: 6

Booking: None. All visits are first-come, first-served.

Cost: Free

More Info: Height of the Rockies Provincial Park

Fish Lake Cabin

Location: At Fish Lake in Top of the World Provincial Park northeast of Kimberley.

Operated By: Top of the World Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, scrambling

Sleeps: 14-18

Booking: None. All visits are first-come, first-served.

Cost: $15/person/night

More Info: Top of the World Provincial Park

Thunder Meadows Cabin

Location: Northwest of Fernie Alpine Resort near the Island Lake Lodge

Operated By: Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club

Best For: Ski touring

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Only club members may make bookings through the members-only section of the club website.

Cost: There are nightly fees charged for booking.

More Info: Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club

Tunnel Creek Cabin

Location: On the west side of Highway 3 between Fernie and Elko

Operated By: Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club

Best For: Ski touring

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Only club members may make bookings through the members-only section of the club website. The hut is closed in summer.

Cost: There are nightly fees charged for booking.

More Info: Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club

Cameron Lake Cabin

Location: At Cameron Lake in the southwest part of Waterton Lakes National Park.

Operated By: Alpine Club of Canada

Best For: Ski touring, ice climbing

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online. Non-members can reserve 90 days in advance. ACC Members can reserve 180 days in advance. Closed in summer.

Cost: $60/person/night for non-members. $50/person/night for ACC members.

More Info: Alpine Club of Canada

BC Backpacking in Your Inbox!

Sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Taryn at Dawn Outdoors stuffed with the latest on backpacking in BC including:

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• and lots more!

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Backcountry Huts in Northern BC

Plummer Hut

Location: In the remote Mount Waddington area on the central coast. Access is via helicopter.

Operated By: BCMC

Best For: Mountaineering

Sleeps: 8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online up to 180 days before your trip.

Cost: $10/person/night for non-members. Free for members.

More Info: BCMC

Hankin Lookout Cabin

Location: At the community-run, no-lifts Hankin-Evelyn ski area northwest of Smithers.

Operated By: Bulkley Backcountry Ski Society

Best For: Ski touring

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book online.

Cost: $60/whole cabin/night

More Info: Bulkley Backcountry Ski Society

Harold Price Cabin

Location: In the headwaters of Gramaphone Creek, north of Smithers.

Operated By: Bulkley Valley Backpackers Society

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 6-8

Booking: Reservations required. Contact Ellen Anderson at 778-210-0625 or ellen.anderson59@gmail.com

Cost: $10/person/night, payable by etransfer

More Info: Bulkley Valley Backpackers Society and Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre

Joe L’Orsa Cabin

Location: Silverking Basin in Babine Mountains Provincial Park east of Smithers.

Operated By: Babine Mountains Provincial Park

Best For: Hiking, ski touring

Sleeps: 15-20

Booking: None. All visits are first-come, first-served.

Cost: $10/person/night payable in cash at the cabin.

More Info: Babine Mountains Provincial Park

Morice Mountain Cabin

Location: At the Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club south of Houston.

Operated By: Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club

Best For: Ski touring, snowshoeing, hiking

Sleeps: 6

Booking: Reservations required. Book by email: mmnsclub@gmail.com

Cost: $20/person/night for the first night and $10/person/night for each additional night.

More Info: Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club

Ozalenka Cabin

Location: In the Boreal Valley north of Ozalenka Peak near McBride.

Operated By: Ozalenka Alpine Club

Best For: Hiking

Sleeps: 6-8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online.

Cost: $100/whole hut/night

More Info: Ozalenka Alpine Club

Eagle Valley Cabin

Location: In the Eagle Valley southwest of McBride.

Operated By: Ozalenka Alpine Club

Best For: Hiking

Sleeps: 6-8

Booking: Reservations required. Book online.

Cost: $80/whole hut/night

More Info: Ozalenka Alpine Club

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So that’s my big list of over 80 backcountry huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. Did I miss a BC backcountry cabin? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it.

READ NEXT:

• 30 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners
• BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know
• How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
• Get my book: Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

The post Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I spent four days hiking the Skoki Loop in Banff National Park near Lake Louise, and I was blown away – I didn’t expect to like the area this much! I went in August, so the wildflowers were in bloom, but I think I’d also like to go in the fall to see all the larches turn gold.

I’m a hiking guidebook author and have backpacked all over BC and the Canadian Rockies, so I’ve put together a detailed Skoki Loop hiking and backpacking guide for you. It includes:

• Quick facts about the Skoki Loop, including distance, how long it takes, best time to go, and more
• Map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable GPX file
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances and elevation gain
• Side trips and alternative routes so you can see the best scenery
• Skoki Loop itinerary options, from 2 to 4 days
• Camping and where to stay – details on every campground plus the Skoki Lodge
• Reservations and fees – key dates plus booking tips
• How to get to the Skoki Loop – including parking and bus info
• Skoki Loop hiking tips – advice for bears, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Skoki Loop Quick Facts

Route Overview: The Skoki Loop is a long day hike or multi-day backpacking route that makes a lollipop-shaped loop through the backcountry near Lake Louise. It goes over three passes and visits gorgeous alpine lakes.

Distance: 33.5 km

Elevation Gain: 1,295 m

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 3 days

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September when the trail is snow-free. Early to mid-August is wildflower season, and September is larch season.

Reservations and Fees: You must make reservations to camp. You must also pay National Park entry fees, backcountry camping fees, and a reservation fee. More details below.

Indigenous Context: The Skoki area is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, and Métis. The government forced Indigenous people to leave when Banff National Park was created in 1885. Today, the park works with several Indigenous groups to facilitate access for traditional, ceremonial, and cultural activities, including harvesting.

Skoki Loop Trail Maps and Elevation Profile

For the most part, the main trails on the Skoki Loop are well-marked and easy to follow. There are signs at most junctions. However, there are a few unofficial trails and easy scrambling routes that aren’t marked with signs and aren’t on the Lake Louise and Yoho Map from Gem Trek. (Otherwise, it’s a great map!)

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a trail map using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the GPX file.

PS: Want to save 10% on a premium subscription to Gaia GPS (the app I use for all my hikes)? Use my link – the discount appears in cart.

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Skoki Loop Trail Description

If you look online, you’ll find several different versions of the Skoki Loop. I’ve chosen to describe the most popular and most scenic version here. It goes from the trailhead to Baker Lake, then around Fossil Mountain to the Skoki Lodge. To complete the loop, you’ll hike from Skoki Lodge over Packer’s Pass, then rejoin the main path to the trailhead.

You might find other Skoki Loop descriptions that include Deception Pass or go around Skoki Mountain via Red Deer Lakes. I don’t recommend those routes since they aren’t as beautiful. But I do have details on them in the alternative routes section below.

Read on for my detailed description of the Skoki Loop hike.

Key Locations

Trailhead to Halfway Hut/Hidden Lake Camp

Distance: 7 km

Elevation Gain: 540 m

Elevation Loss: 30 m

From the parking area, walk past the info signs and gate onto the wide gravel road. This road is part of the Lake Louise Ski Area and is closed to public vehicles and bikes. However, you will see vehicles from the ski area, Skoki Lodge, and guided tour companies. Unfortunately, none of them will give you a ride!

Continue up the road, which is steep in places. Ignore a left fork at 1.2 km. Cross a bridge at 2.4 km. At 3.6 km, reach a parking area and info kiosk just after passing under a ski lift. This is as far as the Skoki Lodge and guided tour companies can go.

Stay on the road for a few more minutes as you cross a ski run and the road curves uphill to the right. The road turns into a trail 3.9 km from the trailhead as it heads steeply uphill.

Follow the trail across another ski run and back into the trees. The trail stays in the forest for the next few kilometres while continuing to climb gradually. Cross creeks on small bridges at 4.3 km, 5.7 km, and 6.5 km.

Cross a creek at 7 km. On the other side, a side trail straight up the hill goes to Halfway Hut. The main trail to Hidden Lake Camp goes left.

Halfway Hut is a historic log cabin, originally constructed as a stopping point along the winter ski route between Lake Louise and Skoki Lodge. Today, it’s a good place to stop for lunch, especially if it’s raining. There is an outhouse here, too.

The junction with the trail to Hidden Lake and Hidden Lake Campground is 100 metres away along the main trail. Hidden Lake Campground is another 100 meters along the side trail.

Halfway Hut/Hidden Lake Camp to Baker Lake Camp

Distance: 5.8 km

Elevation Gain: 235 m

Elevation Loss: 195 m

Past the Hidden Lake junction, the forest starts to thin out, and you’ll start to get glimpses of alpine meadows. The vegetation also starts to change, and alpine larch trees become more numerous.

The trail skirts a huge rock slide below Redoubt Mountain with lots of enormous boulders. Reach the crest of Boulder Pass at 8.5 km. The huge expanse of Ptarmigan Lake stretches out in front of you. This is a great place for a break to enjoy the incredible views.

Keep following the trail as it skirts around the northwest edge of Ptarmigan Lake. At 9.3 km, you may be able to spot the unmarked junction with the Packer’s Pass Trail. This is your return route. For now, continue along the main trail as it stays in the grassy meadows above Ptarmigan Lake.

At 10.3 km, reach the marked junction with the Deception Pass Trail. This is an alternative (and more direct) route to Skoki Lodge. However, my recommended route continues east, since it is more scenic.

Follow the trail through grassy meadows, speckled with wildflowers. Descend to the north shore of Baker Lake, then follow the trail through low bushes along its length. Arrive at the turn-off to Baker Lake Campground at 12.8 km.

Baker Lake Camp to Skoki Lodge

Distance: 6.5 km

Elevation Gain: 145 m

Elevation Loss: 285 m

From Baker Lake Camp, follow the trail east to a junction, then turn left to go north on the Cotton Grass Pass Trail. The first few minutes are in the trees, but the trail quickly emerges into a wide, grassy valley. There are great views of Oyster Peak to the east. The wavy ridge of the mountain did kind of look like an oyster shell!

Reach a junction at 15.7 km. The trail continues straight up the valley to Red Deer Lakes 2.9 km away. However, my recommended route goes left between Fossil and Skoki Mountains. The narrow trail climbs gradually through tight forest before crossing a creek in a wet meadow at 18.2 km. This is Jones Pass.

From here, follow the path slightly downhill through the forest. When the trees start to thin out, reach a junction with the trail from Deception Pass at 18.8 km. Turn right and walk a few more minutes through the open forest and meadow to Skoki Lodge at 19.3 km.

The benches and chairs outside the historic lodge are the perfect place to take a break. The lodge is a Canadian historic site, dating back to 1933, and is the first backcountry ski lodge in North America. If you aren’t staying in one of their rustic log cabins, you can buy snacks and drinks (including alcohol) from them between 2 and 4 pm. They accept cash and cards.

If you are staying at Merlin Meadows Campground, it’s 1 km away on the trail to the north.

Skoki Lodge to Zigadenus Lake

Distance: 3.1 km

Elevation Gain: 135 m

Elevation Loss: 30 m

To continue your hike around the Skoki Loop, follow the signs in front of the lodge to cross the bridge over the creek. At 19.5 km, reach a literal fork in the trail – there is a huge wooden fork propped against a tree! The route to Merlin Lake heads right, but your route goes left towards Packer’s Pass.

The Packer’s Pass Trail is not an official Parks Canada trail and does not appear on most maps. However, it is easy to follow.

The trail goes through forest and patches of meadow. After the trail leaves the forest and contours below a rock slide on the Wall of Jericho, rock hop across a wide creek at 21.3 km. Follow the trail through another patch of meadow.

Cairns take you up through a talus field beside a waterfall. It looks like the trail disappears, but it actually tucks in behind a rock fin. You’ll clamber up between the narrow rock walls of a chimney, passing under a chock stone. There is one tricky move with a big step. Some hikers may wish to take their packs off and pass them up through here. And some hikers may need a boost up the step. But in general, it is very easy scrambling.

At the top of the chimney, follow cairns southwest towards Myosotis Lake at 21.7 km. Several side trails lead you down to the lake shore. Myosotis is the Latin name for forget-me-nots – you might spot these blue flowers in alpine meadows.

The trail continues along the east side of the lake, popping in and out of the forest. On the south side of the lake, follow cairns across a talus field, then head south up a short, steep hill.

Reach the shores of Zigadenus Lake at 22.4 km. The huge tilted rock slab holds back the lake’s western edge. It reminded me a bit of the sloped concrete edge of a half-empty swimming pool! The lake gets its name from mountain deathcamas, a whitish green flower that used to be classified in the Zigadenus genus. Together, Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes are referred to as the Skoki Lakes.

Zigadenus Lake to Packer’s Pass

Distance: 1.1 km

Elevation Gain: 195 m

Elevation Loss: 0 m

Past Zigadenus Lake, the trail climbs steadily uphill through open meadow and patches of larch trees. As you approach the pass, the vegetation ends, and you walk over bare gravel.

Reach Packer’s Pass at 23.5 km. This is the high point of the Skoki Loop. The pass takes its name from hired workers who packed supplies into Skoki Lodge on foot. While horses had to take the more gentle (and slightly longer) trip through Deception Pass, the packers could take the quicker Packers Pass since they could navigate the chimney at Myosotis Pass on foot.

Packer’s Pass has the best views on the entire Skoki Loop. Look back the way you came to the Skoki Lakes with the Wall of Jericho rising behind them. In front of you, look down at Ptarmigan Lake and Redoubt Lake with Redoubt Mountain towering overhead. For even better views, scramble up the trail-less Packer’s Pass Peak. (More details on that in the side trips section below.)

Packer’s Pass to Trailhead

Distance: 10 km

Elevation Gain: 40 m

Elevation Loss: 825 m

From the pass, follow the path downhill through the gravel, then meadows, to rejoin the main trail at 24.2 km. Retrace your steps along Ptarmigan Lake to reach Boulder Pass at 25 km.

Head downhill and back into the forest, passing Halfway Hut and Hidden Lake Camp junction at 26.5 km. Keep hiking downhill to re-enter the Lake Louise ski area and start the road walk at 29.6 km. Finish your hike on the Skoki Loop back at the parking lot at 33.5 km.

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Side Trips and Alternative Routes on the Skoki Loop

Instead of rushing through your trip, I recommend building time into your itinerary to tackle some of the side trips or alternative routes. Details on those are below.

Merlin Lake Loop Side Trip

Distance: 6.7 km loop

Elevation Gain: 330 m

The Merlin Lake Loop is the most popular day hike in the Skoki area. The trail starts at Skoki Lodge. Go right at the famous “fork” in the trail, and ascend through the forest. From here, the trail cuts across steep gravel slopes on the north side of the Wall of Jericho. Lawrence Grassi, the architect of the renowned Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit, built this trail in the 1940s.

Follow the narrow trail along the steep mountainside to a spot where it heads directly uphill into a chimney. Scramble up the chimney, following stacked rocks to stay on track. At the top, head across rock slabs to the shores of the gorgeous lake at 2.6 km. The glaciers of Mount Richardson tumble down the cliffs on the far side.

You can retrace your steps from here, or take the trail at the lake’s northeast corner to make a loop. I recommend the loop since it avoids having to down climb the chimney. Plus, it’s more interesting to make a loop.

For the loop, follow the trail from the lakeshore as it descends steeply through the forest before reaching the marshy valley bottom. Continue along the trail beside the stream, then cross a narrow log bridge. Turn right and take the trail through Merlin Meadows Camp, then back to the lodge to finish the loop.

Skoki Mountain Side Trip

Distance: 3.9 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 505 m

The informal trail to Skoki Mountain starts behind the outhouses at Skoki Lodge. Since the higher sections traverse scree without a real trail, it’s a scramble, but you never need to use your hands. The first part of the trail climbs steeply through the forest, where you will clamber over several fallen trees. As you get higher, the vegetation turns to open meadows, and then to scree.

Cairns mark your route as you climb higher on the mountain’s slope. In places, it is very steep and loose, so watch your footing carefully. The summit has great views of Merlin Lake to the west, the Skoki Lakes to the southwest, and Red Deer Lakes to the northeast. Watch for fossils in the rocks.

Packer’s Pass Peak Side Trip

Distance: 1.1 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 95 m

Packer’s Pass Peak is a quick side trip from Packer’s Pass. There is no trail, but you will find a vague footbed in a few places. Just follow the path of least resistance up the grassy slopes from the pass.

The southwest side of the peak from the pass is gentle, making for a straightforward ascent. But the north side drops off precipitously, so take care on the summit. Reaching the peak will give you great views of Baker Lake, Brachiopod Mountain and Heather Ridge to the southeast, as well as Fossil Mountain to the east. This was my favourite viewpoint on the Skoki Loop.

Red Deer Lakes Loop Alternative Route

Distance: 8.9 km one way

Elevation Gain: 145 m

If you want to make the Skoki Loop a little longer, you can continue north on the Cotton Grass Pass Trail to Red Deer Lakes. From there, you’ll go northwest around Skoki Mountain, then south through Merlin Meadows to Skoki Lodge. This route is 8.9 km from the Cotton Grass/Red Deer Lakes junction to Skoki Lodge instead of the 3.6 km direct route through Jones Pass.

I haven’t taken this route, but I’ve heard that it is beautiful along the Cotton Grass Pass Trail. However, once it gets to Red Deer Lakes, I hear that it is marshy and a bit overgrown. As well, I’ve heard that the section from Red Deer Lakes to Merlin Meadows is in the trees and isn’t anything special.

On my trip, we opted for the direct route through Jones Pass so we could spend the rest of the day doing a day hike to Merlin Lake instead of doing the longer route through Red Deer Lakes.

Deception Pass Alternative Route

Distance: 3.5 km

Elevation Gain: 80 m

The route from the Baker Lake Trail via Deception Pass is the traditional and most direct route to the Skoki Lodge. This is the route to take if you don’t have time for the loop around Fossil Mountain via Baker Lake, Cotton Grass Pass, and Jones Pass, or you don’t want to climb the chimney on the Packer’s Pass Route. Horses also use the Deception Pass Route.

I didn’t take the Deception Pass route since I heard that the Cotton Grass/Jones Pass and Packer’s Pass routes were much more scenic. If you take Deception Pass, you’ll miss the incredible Skoki Lakes!

The route climbs up to the pass through open meadows, then descends gently through more meadows with views of Fossil Mountain.

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Skoki Loop Itineraries

While strong hikers with an early start can do the Skoki Loop as a day hike, I recommend spending a few days in the area to do some of the side trips. Here are some sample itineraries.

Recommended 3-Day Skoki Loop Itinerary

This is the itinerary I used and the one I recommend. It includes the Skoki Loop and has time for a side trip.

Day 1: Trailhead to Baker Lake Camp – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 775 m, Elevation Loss: 225 m, Time: 4 to 6 hours.

Day 2A: Baker Lake Camp to Merlin Meadows Camp via Jones Pass – Distance: 7.5 km, Elevation Gain: 145 m, Elevation Loss: 285 m, Time: 2 to 3 hours.

Day 2B: Merlin Lake Loop day hike – Distance: 6.7 km, Elevation Gain: 330 m, Elevation Loss: 330 m, Time: 2 to 3.5 hours.

Day 3: Merlin Meadows Camp to Trailhead via Packer’s Pass – Distance: 15.4 km, Elevation Gain: 440 m, Elevation Loss: 850 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

3-Day Base Camp Skoki Loop Itineraries

If you’d rather hike the bulk of the Skoki Loop with a day pack (or you can’t get a booking at Merlin Meadows), you can use Baker Lake or Hidden Lake campgrounds as a base camp to do the Skoki Loop.

Baker Lake Base Camp:

Day 1: Trailhead to Baker Lake Camp – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 775 m, Elevation Loss: 225 m, Time: 4 to 6 hours.

Day 2: Day hike Baker Lake Camp to Baker Lake Camp via Jones Pass and Packer Pass – Distance: 14.9 km; Elevation Gain: 520 m, Elevation Loss: 520 m, Time: 5 to 6 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Day 3: Baker Lake Camp to Trailhead – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 225 m, Elevation Loss: 775 m, Time: 3.5 to 5 hours.

Hidden Lake Base Camp:

Day 1A: Trailhead to Hidden Lake Camp – Distance: 7 km, Elevation Gain: 540 m, Elevation Loss: 30 m, Time: 2 to 3 hours.

Day 1B: Day hike to Hidden Lake from Hidden Lake Camp – Distance: 2.6 km, Elevation Gain: 120 m, Elevation Loss: 120 m, Time: 1 to 2.5 hours

Day 2: Hidden Lake Camp to Hidden Lake Camp via Baker Lake, Jones Pass, and Packer’s Pass – Distance: 19.6 km, Elevation Gain: 725 m, Elevation Loss: 725 m, Time: 6 to 8 hours.Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Day 3: Hidden Lake Camp to Trailhead: Distance: 7 km, Elevation Gain: 30 m, Elevation Loss: 540 m, Time: 2 hours.

2 or 3 Day Skoki Direct Itinerary

This route isn’t really the Skoki Loop since it doesn’t go around Skoki Mountain… but it is still a little bit of a loop since it uses both Deception and Packer’s Passes. You can do it as a 2-day route, or add on an optional third day for day hikes.

Day 1: Trailhead to Merlin Meadows Camp via Deception Pass – Distance: 15.3 km, Elevation Gain: 825 m, Elevation Loss: 415 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Optional Day 2: Merlin Lake Loop day hike – Distance: 6.7 km, Elevation Gain: 330 m, Elevation Loss: 330 m, Time: 2 to 3.5 hours AND/OR Skoki Mountain day hike – Distance: 6 km, Elevation Gain: 570 m, Elevation Loss: 570 m, Time: 2.5 to 4 hours

Day 2 or 3: Merlin Meadows Camp to Trailhead via Packer’s Pass – Distance: 15.4 km, Elevation Gain: 440 m, Elevation Loss: 850 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Camping and Where to Stay on the Skoki Loop

There are several campgrounds along the Skoki Loop as well as the Skoki Lodge. Here are details on each one:

Hidden Lake Campground

Located 7 km from the trailhead, you can use this campground as a base camp to hike into the core Skoki area, but it’s a bit far. If you’re with a slower group, you could also use this campground as a way to break up the journey into a longer trip. It’s also a great base for day hikes to Hidden Lake.

The campground has clumps of trees and patches of meadow. There is a stream on the west side of the campground for water. It has 10 tent sites on wood-framed dirt platforms, a cooking area, an outhouse, and food storage lockers.

Baker Lake Campground

Baker Lake Campground is 12.8 km from the trailhead on a bluff at the east end of Baker Lake. It’s a good first night’s stop on the Skoki Loop. You can also use it as a base camp if you want to do the Skoki Loop without packs.

The campground is set in a clump of trees on a bluff with 10 wood-framed dirt tent pads, an outhouse, and a cooking area with tables, benches, and food storage cables. But it’s a 2-minute walk down the hill to the lakeshore, which has incredible views of the surrounding mountains. You can collect water from the lake.

Merlin Meadows Campground

This is the best campground for day hikes in the Skoki area. I spent two nights here so we could do day hikes to Merlin Lake and Skoki Mountain. The campground itself is kinda meh – both the tent area and the cooking area are in the trees. However, you can walk out in the meadows by the creek for good views.

There are no tent pads here – instead, you just choose a clearing in the trees. There are two outhouses near the tenting area.

The cooking area has four tables with benches and one food storage pole with cables. The main trail runs right through the cooking area. There are more food storage cables near the tenting area. There are several informal paths down to a creek to collect water north of the campground.

Red Deer Lakes Campground

Choose Red Deer Lakes if you can’t get a booking at Merlin Meadows or if you want a bit of solitude. It’s further from the Skoki core area, so it doesn’t make a great base camp. Despite the name, the campground is not on the lakeshore.

This campground does not have designated campsites – camp in the clearings along Red Deer River, which is the water source. It has an outhouse and food hanging cables.

Skoki Lodge

This historic Skoki Lodge dates back to the 1930s and is one of the oldest backcountry lodges in Canada. You can stay in the main lodge or one of the log cabins. They have room for up to 22 guests at once. Your stay includes all meals. Prices start at about $300/person/night. The lodge is in high demand, so you need to book about one year in advance.

Skoki Loop Reservations and Fees

Since the Skoki area has some of the most popular backcountry campgrounds in Banff National Park, advance reservations are required.

Reservations for the entire summer season open in January or February each year. In 2026, reservations open on January 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. You must book on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open because popular dates will sell out in minutes.

Your booking can include up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one tent per tent pad and four people per tent.

Step-By-Step Reservation Instructions

To make a reservation, select:

• “Backcountry” at the top (with the hiker icon), the
• “Backcountry Zone” button
• “Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho” from the Park drop-down.
• Access point “Fish Creek Trailhead” from the Access Point drop-down.

Have the following info ready to go when you make your reservation:

• preferred itinerary with campgrounds and dates, plus backups
• number of tent pads and people you are booking for
• credit card

If You Didn’t Get a Reservation

If you didn’t get a reservation at your chosen Skoki area campgrounds, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up. On my trip, there were empty tent pads in the campgrounds two out of the three nights, so it seems that cancellations do happen.

A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Fees

You must pay a few different fees to hike the Skoki Loop. The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Backcountry camping reservation fee: $11.50 per booking (for up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads)
• Backcountry camping fee: $13.50/person/night
• Yoho/Banff/Kootenay National Parks entry fee: $11/person/day (or $22 per car/day with up to 7 people)

Most people spend three days/two nights in the Skoki area. In that case, a solo hiker would pay $71.50. Per-person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the expense of reservations and national park entry fees.

How to Get to the Skoki Loop

The Skoki Loop is located in Banff National Park near Lake Louise. The trailhead is near the Lake Louise Ski Area on the east side of Highway 1.

The trailhead is a 5-minute drive from the Lake Louise Visitor Centre. To get there, take the Lake Louise exit from Highway 1, then go east towards Lake Louise ski hill. Just before you get to the ski hill, take a gravel road to the right, marked with a sign for Skoki Lodge. Follow it for 1 km to a parking area.

You can park in the lot on the right or along the road. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot. You must have a valid national park pass on your dashboard to park here.

If you don’t have a car, you can take a shuttle bus to Banff, then take Roam bus route 8X from Banff to Lake Louise village. From there, it’s a 3.2 km walk to the trailhead with 120 m of elevation gain.

If you’re looking for a place to stay before your trip, I recommend booking a hotel in Golden. It’s only one-hour away and it is sooo much cheaper than Lake Louise or Banff. Basecamp Lodge Golden is a good mid-range pick. If you’re on a budget, stay at the basic Rondo Motel.

Tips for Hiking the Skoki Loop

Cooking Areas: Each campground has a communal cooking area with a few tables. It was nice to have a place to sit down each evening! But don’t hog the tables – they are for everyone to share. The cooking areas are separate from the tenting areas for bear safety. Please don’t eat or cook near your tent.

Food Storage: Most campgrounds have a pole with pulleys for food storage. Bring a waterproof bag to store your food in case it rains overnight. I always keep my food in a lightweight dry bag. The pulleys have clips, but some are broken – carry a carabiner as a backup.

Mosquitos: Bugs can be bad on the trail in July and mid-August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black and grizzly bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Porcupines: Some campsites (especially Baker Lake) are notorious for porcupines who will chew your gear. Hang packs, poles, and boots out of their reach at night or bring them into your tent.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Fires: Not allowed in the backcountry.

Check the weather before you go: The high mountains are notorious for fickle weather. Rainstorms can blow in at any time. Expect overnight lows near freezing on some days. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Skoki Mountain like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

What to Bring: This is a remote hiking trip, so you will need to bring typical backpacking gear. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need. For Skoki, I recommend a warm sleeping bag, a lightweight tarp for eating under (I use the MEC Scout UL Silicone Tarp), and a head net for bugs.

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• seasonal trip recommendations,
  
• gear deals,
  
• backpacking news,
• and lots more!

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Final Thoughts

I’m often a one-and-done hiker – I finish a trail and don’t think about repeating it for years, or even decades. However, the Skoki Loop was so beautiful (and easy) that I’m already thinking about doing it again. I even want to splurge and stay in the Skoki Lodge so I can hike in and out with a smaller backpack!

While the Skoki area is popular, it does seem easier to book than some other Rockies backpacking trips, and it never felt busy or crowded, even with Skoki Lodge guests out on the trails.

Do you have questions about backpacking the Skoki Loop? Ask in the comments and I’ll help you out.

READ NEXT:

• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• Egypt Lake in Banff Hiking and Backpacking Guide
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

The post Skoki Loop Hiking and Backpacking Trail Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

In the winter this area is known as the Sunshine Village Ski Resort, one of the three ski areas in Banff. But in the summer the wildflowers bloom and it turns into an epic hiking destination.

On my last trip to Banff, I spent a day hiking high in the mountains at Sunshine Meadows. I’m a hiking guidebook author, so I’m always thinking about the optimal way to do each hike. So I’ve put together a custom route for you plus lots of tips for enjoying your time in this special place.

This Sunshine Meadows hiking guide includes:

• Is hiking at Sunshine Meadows worth it? Spoiler: my answer is definitely yes.
• Tips for hiking at Sunshine Meadows: What to bring, how to prep, and how to protect this gorgeous but fragile ecosystem
• Sunshine Meadows hiking basics: How far, how much, how difficult, etc.
• Sunshine Meadows hiking map – I made a custom hiking map for you
• How to get there – driving, bus, and gondola info
• My recommended Sunshine Meadows hiking route – it hits all the highlights
• Other hikes at Sunshine Meadows in case you want to extend your hike
• How to hike at Sunshine Meadows for free (without taking the gondola)
• Other things to do at Sunshine Meadows – restaurants, the Interpretive Centre, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Thanks to Sunshine Meadows for hosting me on my visit. All opinions in this post are my own and I would happily pay out of my own pocket to hike here again. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Is Hiking at Sunshine Meadows Worth It?

You might be wondering if it’s worth spending money to ride the gondola up to Sunshine Meadows to go hiking. The short answer: YES!

The gondola takes you high up into the mountains, above the treeline and in the alpine with gorgeous mountain lakes. That means there are views in every direction and wildflowers everywhere.

Sunshine Meadows is the only accessible place near Banff to go for an easy or moderate hike in the mountains. All of the other easy and moderate hikes are in the valley bottom.

The only other way to get to that kind of terrain is to hike steeply uphill for literally hours. Other hikes that take you to this type of terrain are rated difficult.

Sunshine Meadows vs. Banff Gondola and Lake Louise Gondola

With three summer sightseeing gondolas near Banff, you might wonder how Sunshine Meadows stacks up compared to the Banff Gondola and the Lake Louise Gondola.

The Banff Gondola is the closest to the town of Banff. It goes up Sulphur Mountain, which is tree-covered (unlike the alpine landscape at Sunshine). It has great views of Banff and the Bow Valley. There is a short boardwalk through the trees, but no hiking trails or wildflower meadows. It’s a bit more expensive than Sunshine.

The Lake Louise Gondola takes you up through the Lake Louise ski resort so you get views of ski runs, although sometimes people do spot bears from the gondola. There is a small viewing platform at the top where you can look across the valley to Lake Louise and the surrounding mountains. There are no hiking trails. Tickets are slightly cheaper than Sunshine Meadows.

Tips for Hiking at Sunshine Meadows

Tips for Planning Your Trip

• The best time to go to Sunshine Meadows is between mid-July and early September when the trails are snow-free. For peak wildflowers, go in late July or early August. Plan to go on a clear day so you can enjoy the views. (I visited in late August and most of the flowers were done but it was still pretty.)
• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Sunshine like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.) It’s also worth checking current conditions at Sunshine and the Rock Isle webcam.
• Check gondola hours and trail status. Make sure the trails are open and the gondola and chairlifts are running by the Sunshine trail report.
• Arrive in the morning: That gives you lots of time to hike and explore. As well, it’s more likely to be cloudy in the afternoon. Don’t go any later than 2 or 3 pm because you won’t have enough time before they close.

What to Pack

• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the valley.
• Wear sunscreen. The sun is bright up here and there isn’t much shade.
• Bring water and snacks. You can fill up your water bottles at the Centennial Lodge at the top of the gondola and grab snacks at the cafe.
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed at Sunshine or in Banff National Park without a commercial filming permit.
• Bring bear spray. Black bears and grizzly bears live here and are sometimes sighted on the trails. The staff are great about closing trails and warning hikers if there is a bear around. Bring bear spray just in case because bears go where they want, when they want.

How to Respect This Fragile Ecosystem

• Pack out all your garbage. There are garbage cans at Centennial Lodge – please pack out your trash.
• Use the toilets. There are toilets at the Centennial Lodge and outhouses near Rock Isle junction and Grizzly/Laryx junction, but there are no other toilets on the trails.
• Don’t pick the wildflowers. It can take years for each plant to produce a single flower. Leave the flowers for everyone to enjoy. Take photos instead. Visit the Interpretive Centre near the gondola for help identifying all the wildflower species you spot.
• Stay out of the lakes. While you might be tempted to take a dip on a sunny day, swimming isn’t allowed. The lakes are very shallow and sensitive ecosystems.
• Dogs aren’t allowed on the gondola or chairlift. You can hike up the access road with your dog on leash, but it’s 5.5 km each way with 510 m of elevation gain. Dogs are allowed on the Sunshine trails on leash.
• Respect Indigenous traditional territory. The Sunshine Meadows area is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Michif Piyii (Mestis), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi), Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce (Stoney) and Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis. The government forced Indigenous people to leave soon after Banff National Park was created in 1885 and prohibited them from accessing their traditional territory to hunt, fish, gather, and conduct cultural practices.

Sunshine Meadows Hiking Basics

Sunshine Meadows has 6 hiking trails that you can combine to make various loops. The must-do is the Standish Viewing Deck Loop. But I’ve got a recommended route at the bottom of this post that hits all the highlights.

Here are some stats for the hikes at Sunshine Meadows:

Duration: 30 minutes to four hours

Distance: 0.8 km to 9.8 km

Difficulty: Very easy to moderate

Elevation Change: Up 300 m

Cost: As of 2025, it’s $68/person for adults (kids and seniors are cheaper). This includes rides on both the gondola and chairlift.

Sunshine Meadows Hiking Trails Map

The Sunshine Meadows trails are easy to follow with lots of signs and maps at every junction. When you buy your gondola tickets, they will give you a paper map.

The map is pretty, but it doesn’t show a lot of the small ups and downs the way a topographic map does. I made you a custom trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite mapping app. It shows all the locations I mention in this post. Click through to zoom in and explore (and to download the GPX file).

PS: Want to save 10% on a premium subscription to Gaia GPS (the app I use for all my hikes)? Use my link – the discount appears in cart.

How to Get to Sunshine Meadows

Sunshine Meadows is located at the Sunshine Village ski area 15 minutes west of Banff. It’s easy to drive yourself and there is lots of free parking. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

If you don’t have a car, Sunshine also runs a free shuttle bus several times a day.

Once you arrive at the parking lot and gondola base, head inside and buy your gondola tickets. From there board the high-speed eight-passenger gondola and enjoy mountain scenery on the 25-minute ride up into the mountains. The gondola tops out at 2,159 meters.

When you get off the gondola staff will greet you to give you a brief overview of the area and explain how to respect this beautiful place by staying on trail, not picking flowers etc. They will also give you some bear safety tips.

I recommend going inside the Centennial Lodge to use the bathroom before you hit the trails. It’s also worth visiting the Interpretive Centre inside the lodge to check out the wildflower displays. That way you can try to recognize some of the flowers you will be seeing on your hike.

Sunshine Meadows Hiking Directions (My Recommended Route)

There are six trails at Sunshine Meadows, but if you just want the highlights, follow my recommended route (below). It has step-by-step directions to ensure you see the highlights.

Here are the stats for this route:

Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Distance: 6.9 km

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 312 m

Below are step-by-step directions for each part of the hike.

Standish Express Chairlift and Standish Viewing Deck

To start the hike, walk from the gondola over to the Standish Express Chairlift. This is an open chairlift where your feet dangle, so some people may find it unnerving to ride compared to the gondola. However, it’s not that steep and it doesn’t take long so I think you’ll be fine. You’ll also have beautiful scenery to distract you.

The chairlift will bring you to the top of Mount Standish, also called Standish Hump. This is the highest point of your hike so enjoy the 360-degree views.

When you are ready to start hiking, you can take either the left or right path – they meet up in a few minutes at the Standish Viewing Deck 300 m from the chairlift.

The Standish Viewing Deck has the best views at Sunshine Meadows. In my opinion, this is one of the best viewpoints anywhere in the Banff area. Don’t miss it!

From the two-level deck, you can look south to Rock Isle, Grizzly, and Laryx Lakes. On a clear day, you can also see the pointy top of Mount Assiniboine, nicknamed Canada’s Matterhorn. To the east you can spot the ski runs on Brewster Rock and Mount Howard Douglas. And to the west, you can see the rocky peaks of Two Cairns.

Standish Viewing Deck to Rock Isle Viewpoint

From the viewing deck, follow the trail down the stairs and then down the hill through a few clumps of trees. Arrive at Two Cairns junction about 400 m from the viewing deck.

Turn left and follow the trail towards Rock Isle Junction. The trail continues downhill, although not as steeply as before. About 300 m from Two Cairns Junction, arrive at Rock Isle Junction. There are views of Rock Isle Lake here, but continue straight for even better views.

Pass a spur trail on your left leading to an outhouse, and arrive at Rock Isle Viewpoint about 400 m from Rock Isle Junction. The benches here have an incredible view of Rock Isle Lake so it’s a great spot for a snack break. It should be pretty obvious to you how the lake got its name – the island in the lake is a big rock!

Rock Isle Viewpoint to Grizzly/Laryx Junction

When you are finished at the viewpoint, retrace your steps back to Rock Isle Junction and turn left. Follow the trail along a ridge beside Rock Isle Lake. There are more photo opportunities here too including a short spur trail to the right that takes you to a bluff top viewpoint.

At the end of the lake, the trail drops downhill on a staircase and winds through patches of trees and meadow. Arrive at Grizzly/Laryx Junction about 900 m from Rock Isle Junction.

Grizzly/Laryx Loop

At Grizzly/Laryx junction turn right to start the loop. There is an outhouse just past the junction in the trees. (FYI Laryx is the Latin name for the larch tree – there are lots of them in this area.)

Continue along the trail as it heads gently downhill through a meadow to Grizzly Lake, about 500 m from the junction. The trail follows the east shore of the lake, then heads through an open meadow which is a great place to see wildflowers.

After a few minutes in the forest, watch for the Simpson Viewpoint on your left, about 500 m after leaving Grizzly Lake. The viewpoint sits on the edge of a deep canyon. You can see the Simpson River basin, which burned in forest fires in 2017.

From the viewpoint, continue along the trail to Laryx Lake, 100 m away. The trail loops around the south and east sides of the lake. A bench on the peninsula partway along makes a good break spot.

Past the end of the lake, the trail heads through another wildflower meadow and then an open forest to arrive back at the Grizzly/Laryx junction.

Grizzly/Laryx Junction Back to Standish Chairlift

From the Grizzly/Laryx Junction, you’ll be retracing your steps back to the Standish Chairlift. Unfortunately, this section is all uphill. You’ll hike another 1.9 km and gain 180 meters. Thankfully the views are great – just remember to turn around to look at them!

Starting from Grizzly/Laryx Junction, hike back uphill through the forest and up the stairs to the shores of Rock Isle Lake. From there, turn left at Rock Isle Junction. Head uphill to Two Cairns junction, then turn right and go uphill again to the Standish Viewing Deck and the Standish Chairlift just past that. Ride the chairlift back down to Sunshine Village.

Other Hikes at Sunshine Meadows (Extending Your Trip)

The route above hits all the highlights and has the best views. However, if you want to try some of the other trails or extend your trip, here are some options I recommend:

Twin Cairns Trail and Monarch Viewpoint

This option adds 4.2 km to your hike and takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Follow the instructions in the recommended route above, but when you reach Twin Cairns junction the second time, don’t go up the hill to Standish Viewing Deck.

Instead, go left down the hill on the Twin Cairns Trail. This route works its way through a rocky valley between Twin Cairns Peak and Mount Standish. About 2 km from the start, arrive at a junction.

Go left for a few minutes to the Monarch Viewpoint. From the viewpoint, look west down the Healy Creek Valley to Healy Pass and the Monarch Ramparts. Picturesque Egypt Lake lies behind them along with pointy Pharaoh Peak.

Retrace your steps back to the junction and go left, following the Meadow Park Trail down the hill into the forest. Continue along the trail as it winds downhill and finishes at the gondola.

Rock Isle Road

If you don’t feel like climbing back up to Mount Standish to ride the gondola down, you can walk down via the Rock Isle Road. The road is 1.75 km long and loses 60 m of elevation.

The Rock Isle Road starts near Rock Isle Viewpoint and makes its way through the ski resort to the bottom of Standish Chairlift. It’s wide and dusty and not very scenic, so I don’t recommend it unless you don’t want to climb the hill back to Standish Chairlift.

Citadel Pass and Mount Assiniboine

If you want to venture further into the backcountry, follow the Citadel Pass Trail southeast from near Rock Isle Junction. It leads all the way to Mount Assiniboine, one of the most popular (and gorgeous) backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies. It’s also one of my favourite trips.

It’s 27.5 km one way to the campgrounds at Mount Assiniboine, but you don’t have to hike the entire way to get good scenery. Citadel Pass, 7.8 km from Sunshine Meadows makes an excellent day trip destination.

The route goes into Banff National Park and has great views as you go up and over Quartz Ridge. Stop at Howard Douglas Lake just off the trail for a break, then continue on the pass for beautiful views of Mount Assiniboine.

READ NEXT: Mount Assiniboine Hiking Guide

Healy Pass and Egypt Lake

Another long day hike or backpacking trip option is the trip over Simpson Pass to Healy Pass and then Egypt Lake.

This hike starts from the Monarch Viewpoint. From there, it’s 10.4 km to Healy Pass. The route goes over Simpson Pass and then skirts below the Monarch Ramparts. Healy Pass has incredible views of Pharaoh Peak and beautiful golden larch trees in the fall.

If you want to camp overnight, Egypt Lake is a further 3 km downhill from Healy Pass. I loved the Egypt Lake area – there are so many beautiful little lakes nearby you can hike to from the campground.

READ NEXT: Egypt Lake in Banff Hiking and Backpacking Guide

How to Hike at Sunshine Meadows For Free (Without Taking the Gondola)

I get it – the Sunshine Meadows gondola is expensive. It’s possible to here without taking the gondola, but it’s a very steep and boring hike so I don’t recommend it.

But if you really want to hike at Sunshine Meadows without taking the gondola, I’ll help you do it. You can hike via the gravel access road from the parking area to the top of the gondola. This is also the only way to hike at Sunshine Meadows with a dog.

Here are the key stats:

• Duration: 2.5 hours up, 1.5 hours down
• Distance: 5.6 km each way
• Difficulty: Very Challenging
• Elevation Gain: 511 m

The gravel access road starts behind the gondola buildings in the parking lot. It is free to hike but biking is not allowed. It is not open to the public, but you may encounter resort vehicles on the road, so be prepared to step to the side and let them pass.

The road climbs steadily and steeply in between the gondola and Sunshine Creek. The first 4 km are at a steady grade, but the last part isn’t as steep. The road is wide and dusty. As you get higher you’ll pass several ski runs and ski resort buildings.

Other Things to Do at Sunshine Meadows

I think the number one thing you should do at Sunshine Meadows is follow my recommended hiking route, above. And if you don’t do that, you should at least visit the Standish Viewing Deck via the Standish Chairlift to enjoy the views.

But if you’re looking to maximize your time at Sunshine Meadows, here are a few other activities I think are worthwhile.

Guided Hikes

If you want to learn more about the local flowers and mountain scenery, book a Hosted Trail Walk. There are one- and two-hour options. These are fairly short hikes so they are great for beginners or those with less stamina. These hikes are also a great way to work on your wildflower ID skills.

Both walks take in the scenery between the Standish Chairlift and the Standish Viewing Platform. The two-hour version also passes by Rock Isle Lake Viewpoint. Neither hike goes to Grizzly and Laryx Lakes.

Interpretive Centre

If you have time, I recommend visiting the Interpretive Centre both before and after your hike. It has displays about the local wildflowers, animals, and other parts of the ecosystem.

If you visit before your hike you can get an idea of which flowers are in bloom and tips for identifying them. And if you visit after, you can check to see if you identified the flowers correctly.

Restaurants and Cafes

You can bring your own food and drinks to Sunshine Meadows, but they also have several restaurants and cafes. On my visit, it was lovely to grab a coffee from the Java Lift cafe inside Sunshine Mountain Lodge and then enjoy it in the sunshine after our hike.

We ate lunch out on the trails, but I was a bit envious of people sitting on the patio outside the log-cabin-style Old Sunshine Lodge at Mad Trappers Grill. The menu includes pub staples like burgers, wings, and poutine.

There’s also a sit-down restaurant called The Chimney Corner in the Sunshine Mountain Lodge that mostly caters to overnight guests, as well as a coffee shop at the base station at the bottom of the gondola.

Stay Overnight

Did you know you can stay overnight at Sunshine Meadows? The Sunshine Mountain Lodge is right next to the gondola, so you can hike right from your hotel room. (Guests at the lodge get there via the gondola.)

Prices for winter ski season are insane (rightly so!) but summer rates are pretty reasonable considering you are staying at the only mountain-top hotel in Banff! All of the rooms have mountain views.

Final Thoughts

Most visitors to Banff stay down in the valley, looking up at the mountains. I think they are really missing out – you need to get up close to the alpine scenery to really appreciate it. If it’s in your budget, I really recommend hiking at Sunshine Meadows.

I’ve done all kinds of tough backcountry hikes around Banff, and the scenery at Sunshine is just as spectacular, except that I didn’t have to spend hours (or even days) hiking uphill through the forest to get there!

If you’ve got questions about planning a trip to Sunshine, hit me up in the comments. I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• Egypt Lake in Banff Hiking and Backpacking Guide
• Mount Assiniboine Hiking Guide
• Things to Do in Yoho National Park
• Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit Hiking Guide

The post Hiking at Sunshine Meadows in Banff – Is it Worth It? appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

On my June trip, I spent 3 nights in Mammoth, 3 nights in the backcountry and 3 nights at Norris. It was a bit of a last minute trip so we made due with what we could get. However… I always want to make sure I’m choosing the best option. So while we were touring around the park, I checked out most of the other campgrounds to see which campgrounds were awesome… and which were not.

I’ve put together a truly MASSIVE guide to camping in Yellowstone for you, updated for the 2025 season. It’s got literally everything you need to know including:

• How to make reservations for camping in Yelllowstone
• My recommendations for the best campgrounds in Yellowstone
• A detailed breakdown of what you’ll find at each of Yellowstone’s 12 campgrounds
• A complete list of all the campgrounds outside Yellowstone
• Rules and tips for camping in Yellowstone

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

WANT MORE YELLOWSTONE INFO?  Check out these posts:

• 70 Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
• The Ultimate Yellowstone Packing List for Every Summer Visitor
• Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

How to Make Camping Reservations in Yellowstone

There are three main types of campgrounds in Yellowstone: National Park-run campgrounds, privately-run Yellowstone National Park Lodges campgrounds, and backcountry campgrounds. You can drive up to the first two types but you’ll need to walk, paddle or ride a horse into the backcountry.

The reservation process for each type is different.

Yellowstone National Park-Run Reservable Campgrounds

These campgrounds are rustic – they don’t have showers and some do not have flush toilets. Scroll down for details about each campground.

A few years ago, all of these campgrounds were first-come, first-served. However, since 2023, all campgrounds run by Yellowstone National Park have been reservable.

You can make reservations on Recreation.gov. You can make a reservation exactly six months in advance of the date you want to camp. So if you want to camp on July 15, the earliest you can make a reservation is January 15.

If your dates are sold out, keep checking back. They do get last minute cancellations and sites open up again.

As well, some campgrounds have a handful of first-come, first-served sites. Some campground also have sites that can be booked two weeks in advance.

If you don’t get a reservation, don’t worry – you can use an app like Campnab to automatically scan the booking site, then send you a text or email when a site becomes available to book. Learn more about how these apps work in my guide to camping cancellation apps.

Yellowstone National Park-run campgrounds are:

• Indian Creek Campground (closed in 2025)
• Lewis Lake Campground
• Mammoth Campground
• Norris Campground (closed in 2025)
• Pebble Creek Campground (closed in 2025)
• Slough Creek Campground
• Tower Fall Campground

Yellowstone National Park Lodges Privately-Run Campgrounds

The Yellowstone National Parks Lodges campgrounds are run by a park concessionaire. They are not run by the parks service. These campgrounds are huge, with hundreds of sites. They all have flush toilets and RV-friendly sites and some have showers. Scroll down for details about each campground.

You can make reservations on the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website. They get fully booked up for the summer months in advance, so make a reservation as early as you can. (The earliest you can book is 13 months before your trip, starting on the 5th of the month. So if you want to book July 20, 2024, you can book starting on July 5, 2023.)

If your dates are sold out, keep checking back. They do get last minute cancellations and sites open up again.

If you don’t get a reservation, don’t worry – you can use an app like Campnab to automatically scan the booking site, then send you a text or email when a site becomes available to book. Learn more about how these apps work in my guide to camping cancellation apps.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges-run campgrounds are:

• Bridge Bay Campground
• Canyon Campground
• Fishing Bridge RV Park
• Grant Village Campground
• Madison Campground

First-Come, First-Served Campgrounds in Yellowstone.

In previous years, many campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park did not accept reservations – they were available on a first-come, first-served basis. Starting in 2022, all camping is Yellowstone National Park is reserveable.

However starting, the Yellowstone National Park campgrounds have “secondary release” sites that are reserveable two weeks in advance. This makes last-minute camping possible.

• Indian Creek Campground – 20% of sites are available to reserve 2 weeks in advance – Note closed in 2025
• Lewis Lake Campground – 20% of sites are available to reserve 2 weeks in advance.

Another way to get last-minute camping is to hope some doesn’t show up or checks out early. If this happens, their site may become available. Check with the campground host at each campground to see if they have any sites available. Go early in the morning (before 8 a.m.) for the best chance of getting a spot.

Backcountry Campgrounds in Yellowstone

There are over 300 backcountry campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park that you can reach by foot, horseback or boat. Some of them are less than a mile from the road, while others are a LOT further.

I stayed at three of them along the Yellowstone River Trail during my trip to Yellowstone, and they were all pretty gorgeous.

However, info on backpacking in Yellowstone is outside the scope of this campground guide, so I won’t get into details. If you want more info, see the Backcountry Camping page on the Yellowstone National Park website.

Which Yellowstone Campground Should You Stay At?

That’s a tough question to answer. It really depends on what you are looking for in a campground. As well, Yellowstone is a REALLY big park so many attractions are hours apart. It might make sense to stay in one campground for a night or two, then move to another one to be close to other sights.

On my visit we stayed at Mammoth for three nights, then at Norris for three nights. I also visited most of the campgrounds just to see if we might want to consider trying to get a site there.

Here’s my campground-by-campground breakdown of each of the places to camp in Yellowstone National Park. I’ve got all the info on each campground so you can decide for yourself which Yellowstone campground is the best.

However, if you need some recommendations for the best campgrounds in Yellowstone, here are mine:

Most central campground: Norris (closed in 2025)

Best campground with showers: Canyon Village

Best Yellowstone campground for wildlife watching: Slough Creek

Best campground for RVs: Fishing Bridge

Details for Every Yellowstone Campground

Mammoth: $25/night, 85 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near Mammoth Hot Springs, reserve via Recreation.gov

Indian Creek: Closed in 2025 – $20/night, 70 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near Mammoth Hot Springs, reserve via Recreation.gov

Norris: Closed in 2025 – $25/night, 111 sites, flush toilets, no showers, near Norris Geyser basin, reserve via Recreation.gov

Madison: $33/night, 276 sites, flush toilets, no showers, near Old Faithful, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Grant Village: $39/night, 430 sites, flush toilets, showers, near West Thumb Geyser Basin, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Lewis Lake: $20/night, 85 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near West Thumb Geyser Basin, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Bridge Bay: $33/night, 432 sites, flush toilets, no showers, near Yellowstone Lake, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Fishing Bridge RV Park: $89/night, 310 sites (RVs only), flush toilets, showers, near Yellowstone Lake, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Canyon: $39/night, 273 sites, flush toilets, showers, near Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, reserve via Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Tower Fall: $20/night, 31 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near Tower Fall, reserve via Recreation.gov

Slough Creek: $20/night, 16 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near Lamar Valley, reserve via Recreation.gov

Pebble Creek: Closed in 2025 – $20/night, 27 sites, pit toilets, no showers, near Lamar Valley, reserve via Recreation.gov

Yellowstone Campground Map

Want to know where to find every single campground in Yellowstone? I made this custom Google map for you. It shows all the campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park as well as key attractions and places to buy groceries.

Mammoth Campground

Open: Year-round (part of the campground is closed from mid-October to the end of March)

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $25/night

Sites: 85 total.

RVs: Some sites will fit a max combined length of 40′ and a few will fit max 75′ combined length. Max 30′ in winter. Sites are pull-through or back-in and there may be limited width for slid-outs. Sites may not be level. No hookups.

Elevation: 6200 ft (1890m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, cell phone reception, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale. No showers. (Closest pay showers are at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.)

Nearest Grocery Stores: Mammoth town, Gardiner, MT

Location: Mammoth Campground is in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park, just a few minutes from the north entrance at Gardiner, Montana. 

Pros: It’s a good place to base for a night or two to see the sights in the northern part of Yellowstone. It’s easy to drive to Gardiner for groceries or a dinner out.

The Mammoth area is very popular with elk, especially in the spring. You may even see elk in the campground. On my visit, there were protective elk mamas with calves hanging around. We had to give them a wide berth. 

This campground used to have a fair amount of road noise, but since the entrance road was rerouted away from the campground after the 2022 floods, it is now quite quiet.

Cons: The campground is in an open sagebrush environment with few trees. Some sites don’t have much shade and it’s pretty hard to string up a tarp in wet weather.

Indian Creek Campground

NOTE: Indian Creek Campground is closed for the 2025 season due to road repairs in the area.

Open: Mid-June to early September

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $20/night

Sites: 70 total.

RVs: 10 sites with 35′  combined length. 35 sites with 30′ combined length. Sites are pull-through or back-in and there may be limited width for slid-outs. Sites may not be level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7300 ft (2225m)

Amenities: Pit toilets. No generators allowed. no cell reception. No showers. (Closest pay showers are at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.)

Nearest Grocery Stores: Mammoth town, Gardiner, MT

Location: Indian Creek Campground is south of Mammoth, but higher up in the mountains. From Indian Creek, it’s a 20-minute drive to Mammoth Hot Springs. 

Pros: Indian Creek is a rustic campground so it’s great if you want a more natural experience. The no generator rule and the location away from the main road also makes it nice and quiet. It also is usually one of the last campgrounds to fill up.

There is lots of tree cover at this campground, which is good for shade or stringing up a tarp on wet days.

Cons: There isn’t anything to do nearby. There are a few backcountry hiking trails in the vicinity, but unless you’re a hardcore hiker, you’ll need to drive a good distance to get to any of the sights from Indian Creek. 

Norris Campground

NOTE: Norris Campground is closed in 2025 and for the foreseeable future due to washed out roads. Yellowstone National Park has actually removed Norris from its website for this reason.

Open: Mid-May to late September

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $25/night

Sites: 111 total, including some walk-in sites.

RVs: 2 sites with 50′ combined length and 5 sites with 30′ combined length. Sites are pull-through or back-in and there may be limited width for slid-outs. Sites may not be level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7,500 feet (2286 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale. No cell reception. No showers. (Closest pay showers are at Canyon Village)

Nearest Grocery Store: Canyon Village General Store

Location: Norris Campground has a good central location on the western side of the park. It’s about 35 minutes to Mammoth, 25 minutes to Canyon Village, 55 minutes to Old Faithful and 55 minutes to Yellowstone Lake.

Pros: Norris is really central. It’s easy to see the whole park from here since most attractions are less than an hour drive. The only thing that is further is the Lamar Valley. The campground is located along the banks of a creek, which is really pretty. If possible, get a site in loop A or a walk-in for the best views. Bison often hang out in the area, so you might be able to spot them grazing without leaving your campsite. There is also a 1-mile trail directly from the campground to Norris Geyser Basin so you don’t have to deal with finding a parking spot there.

Cons: Norris is really popular and can fill early. As well, some of the sites are really close together (especially the walk-in sites), so they don’t feel that private.

READ NEXT: Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Madison Campground

Open: Early May to mid-October

Reservations: Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Price: $33/night + tax.

Sites: 276 total.

RVs: Some sites will fit rigs up to 40′ long. Sites are pull-through or back-in. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 6,800 feet (2073 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale, dump station. No cell reception, no showers. (Closest pay showers are at the Old Faithful Lodge.)

Nearest Grocery Store: West Yellowstone, MT

Location: Madison Campground is just 25 minutes from the west entrance of the park. It’s also only about 30 minutes to Old Faithful. It’s about an hour to Mammoth, an hour to Yellowstone Lake and 45 minutes to Canyon Village.

Pros: Camping at Madison puts you within an easy drive of all the major geyser basins on the west side of the park. It’s also not that far from Mammoth, Canyon Village or Yellowstone Lake. And if you need a bit of civilization, its easy to drive out of the park to West Yellowstone to get dinner at a restaurant. The campsites are also near the Madison River, which is good for fishing.

Cons: There’s not too much to do nearby. There are a few hiking trails (Harlequin Lake and Purple Mountain), but otherwise, you’ll have to drive everywhere from your site. Loops G and H (for tents only) are the quietest. The rest can get a lot of road noise from the highway to West Yellowstone. As well, since the campground has hundreds of sites, it can feel crowded as the sites are close together. 

Grant Village Campground

Open: Early June to mid-September

Reservations: Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Price: $39/night + tax

Sites: 430 total.

RVs: Some sites will fit rigs up to 40′ long. Sites are pull-through or back-in. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7,800 feet (2377 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, cell reception, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale, two free showers a night, dump station.

Nearest Grocery Store: Grant Village

Location: Grant Village Campground is situated on the west shore of Yellowstone Lake. It’s part of the large Grant Village community that includes a visitor centre, hotel, grocery store, marina, restaurant, and gas station. West Thumb Geyer Basin is a 5-minute drive. It’s also about 40 minutes to Old Faithful.

Pros: You can walk over to Grant Village from your campsite to check out the visitor centre, buy groceries or go to the restaurant. If you are into boating, the location on Yellowstone Lake is great. Grant Village is also an easy drive to Old Faithful. If you get a spot towards the end of loops E, G, H, or on the north side of I, you’ll be really close to Yellowstone Lake

Cons: Loops J, K, L and get road noise from the highway south to Grand Teton National Park. The sites are small and close together, without too much privacy. Being located in the south of the park means this campground is a far drive from many attractions.

Lewis Lake Campground

Open: Late June to late October

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $20/night

Sites: 85 total including some walk-in sites.

RVs: Some sites fit RVs 25′ combined length or less. Sites are pull-through or back-in. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7,800 ft (2377 m)

Amenities: Pit toilets. No cell reception. No generators allowed. No showers. (Closest pay showers are at Grant Village.)

Nearest Grocery Store: Grant Village

Location: Lewis Lake Campground is on the shores of Lewis Lake in the southern part of Yellowstone. It’s a quiet part of the park, but Grant Village is only 20 minutes away. It’s a longer drive to the rest of the park.

Pros: Lewis Lake is popular with boaters. It’s also the gateway to the backcountry of Shoshone Lake, which is only open to canoes and kayaks. The campground is rustic with no generators and pit toilets, so it’s great if you want a more natural experience. It also tends to fill up later than other campgrounds.

Cons: This is the southern-most campground in the park. That makes it the farthest away from most attractions. 

READ NEXT: 70 Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

Bridge Bay Campground

Open: Mid-May to early-September

Reservations: Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Price: $33/night + tax.

Sites: 432 total.

RVs: Some sites will fit rigs up to 40′ long. Sites are pull-through or back-in. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7,800 ft (2377 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, cell reception, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale, dump station. No showers. (Closest pay showers at Grant Village and Fishing Bridge RV Park.) 

Nearest Grocery Store: Lake Village, Fishing Bridge

Location: Bridge Bay campground is located on the northern part of Yellowstone Lake in the southern part of the park. The Bridge Bay Marina is right next door. It’s a short drive to Canyon Village and West Thumb Geyser Basin, but other sights are much further away.

Pros: This is a good campsite to choose if you brought a boat since the marina is nearby. It’s a short drive to Lake Village and Grant Village if you need groceries or want to eat at a restaurant. And you can hike the popular Natural Bridge Trail right from your campsite.

Cons: Many of the campsites are very close together with no privacy since there aren’t many trees. As well, some people have complained that the tent sites are not very level.  Being located in the south of the park means this campground is a far drive from many attractions.

Fishing Bridge RV Park

Reservations: Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Price: $89/night + tax and utility fees

Sites: 310 total for hard-sided RVs only. No tents. No tent-trailers.

RVs: Sites are 30-95′ long. Most sites are pull-through. 30′, 35′ and 40′ sites are back-in and some allow for side-by-side parking of truck and unhooked trainer. Full hookups for electricity, water, and sewer (50 or 30 amp).

Elevation: 7,800 ft (2377 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, cell reception, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, pay showers, full hookups, dump station. No campfires allowed.

Nearest Grocery Store: Lake Village, Fishing Bridge

Location: Fishing Bridge RV Park is at the north end of Yellowstone Lake. It’s close to the Fishing Bridge over the Yellowstone River and a general store. Lake Village is a short drive away. It’s a short drive to Canyon Village and West Thumb Geyser Basin, but other sights are much further away.

Pros: If you camp in an RV and want full hook-ups, this is your only option for that in Yellowstone National Park. The campground got a complete renovation (finished in 2022) with larger sites, bigger parking lot, new dump station, more showers and laundry, and updated comfort stations.

Cons: The campground is set up like a traditional RV Park with rigs parked very close together. The hard-sided RV requirement is because grizzly bears frequent the campground. You aren’t allowed to have a campfire at these sites, which is a bummer on cold nights.

Canyon Campground

Open: Late-May to mid-September

Reservations: Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Price: $39/night + tax

Sites: 273 total.

RVs: Some sites will fit rigs up to 40′ long in pull-through and back-in sites. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 7,900 feet (2408 m)

Amenities: Flush toilets, cell reception, generators allowed, amphitheater with ranger programs, firewood for sale, two free showers a night dump station.

Nearest Grocery Store: Canyon Village.

Location: Canyon campground is located in Canyon Village near the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It’s a pretty central location on the east side of the park.

Pros: Canyon Village is within walking distance of the campground and it has a grocery store and restaurants. The campground is away from the village and the main road so it is quiet. If you don’t want to worry about parking on the canyon rim, you can follow a trail one mile from the campground through the cabins to the North Rim.

Cons: The sites are small and close together. As well, people complain that some of the sites aren’t very flat.

READ NEXT: The Ultimate Yellowstone Packing List for Every Summer Visitor

Tower Fall Campground

Open: Late May to late September

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $20/night

Sites: 31 total.

RVs: Best for rigs 30′ combined length or less due to a hairpin curve. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 6,600 feet (2012 m)

Amenities: Pit toilets, amphitheater with ranger programs. No cell reception, no showers, no generators allowed. (Closest pay showers are at Roosevelt Lodge.)

Nearest Grocery Store: Tower Fall

Location: Tower Fall campground is located across the road from Tower Fall in the northern part of Yellowstone. It’s a 10-minute drive away from Tower Junction and the Roosevelt Lodge.

Pros: It’s a small campground so it won’t feel crowded. You can walk to Tower Fall from your campsite. If you want a restaurant meal, the Roosevelt Lodge is a short drive away.

Cons: The sites are smaller so they are better for tents, not RVs (although shorter RVs are permitted.)

Slough Creek Campground

Open: Mid-June to mid-October

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $20/night

Sites: 16 total.

RVs: 14 sites fit rigs up to 30′. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 6,250 feet (1905 m)

Amenities: Pit toilets. No cell reception, no showers. (Closest pay showers are at Roosevelt Lodge.)

Nearest Grocery Store: Tower Fall

Location: Slough Creek is located on a gravel road in the northeast part of Yellowstone. It is in the Lamar Valley, one of the park’s best wildlife watching destinations. Since it’s the remote northeast of the park, it’s not near any of the other attractions.

Pros: There is a wolf den nearby so this is the best place in the park to try to spot a wolf. Bison, bears, pronghorn, and elk are also common. It’s a small and quiet campground with a wilderness feel. 

Cons: RVs won’t really fit in this campground. (Although very small rigs may fit.) This campground is a long drive from the rest of the park and frequent bison jams can make the drive even longer.

Pebble Creek Campground

NOTE: Pebble Creek Campground is closed in 2025 due to flood recovery work.

Open: Mid-June to late September

Reservations: Recreation.gov

Price: $20/night

Sites: 27

RVs: Some sites have long pull-throughs that will accommodate RVs. There may be limited clearance for slide-outs and not all sites are level. No hookups.

Elevation: 6,900 feet (2103 m)

Amenities: Pit toilets. No cell reception, no showers. (Closest pay showers are at Roosevelt Lodge.)

Nearest Grocery Store: Tower Fall, Cooke City

Location: Pebble Creek Campground is in the northeast corner of Yellowstone at the foot of the Absaroka Mountains. It’s a 20-minute drive to Cooke City, MT on the eastern edge of the park. Otherwise, it’s not near anything else in the park.

Pros: Pebble Creek is a small and quiet campground with a wilderness feel. There’s a pretty little creek right in the middle of the campground. Nearby Soda Butte Creek is popular with anglers. It’s also close to the wildlife mecca of the Lamar Valley.

Cons: It’s a LONG drive to the rest of the park.

Campgrounds Outside Yellowstone National Park

If you can’t get a campsite inside the park, you aren’t out of camping options. There are first-come, first-served campgrounds in the National Forests outside Yellowstone. There are also RV parks in some of the nearby towns. I haven’t visited any of these, so I can’t give you any recommendations.

But here’s the list of all the campgrounds near Yellowstone I know of, sorted by which park entrance they are closest to:

North Entrance:

• Eagle Creek Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest (reserveable)
• Sun Outdoors Yellowstone North (reserveable)
• Yellowstone RV Park (reserveable)

Northeast Entrance

• Soda Butte Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest (first-come, first-served)
• Colter Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest (first-come, first-served)
• Chief Joseph Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest (first-come, first-served)

East Entrance:

• Threemile Campground, Shoshone National Forest (reserveable)
• Eagle Creek Campground, Shoshone National Forest (first-come, first-served)

West Entrance:

• Yellowstone Cabins and RV Park (reserveable)
• Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and Cabins (reserveable)
• Wagon Wheel RV Cabin Campground (reserveable)
• Yellowstone Park West Gate KOA (reserveable)
• Buffalo Crossing RV Park (reserveable)
• Baker’s Hole Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest (first-come, first-served)

South Entrance:

• Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch (reserveable)
• Lizard Creek Campground, Grand Teton National Park (reserveable)

Yellowstone Campground Rules and Tips

In most ways, camping in Yellowstone is a lot like camping in any other National Park. Except for the bears… and a few other things. Here are some tips and rules you need to know about camping in Yellowstone.

And to get you in the camping mood (and help give you a better idea about what campsites look like in Yellowstone) here’s a somewhat cheesy National Parks video about camping in Yellowstone.

Campfires in Yellowstone

Each campsite at all campgrounds except Fishing Bridge RV Park has a fire ring. However, there may be seasonal fire-bans during dry summers when the fire danger is high.

You can buy firewood at some campgrounds. Keep in mind that the firewood kiosk may only be only open in the evening from 6 to 8 pm. You can also buy firewood at most stores and gas stations in the park.

Drinking Water at Yellowstone Campgrounds

There are water taps in all campgrounds in the park. It’s fresh mountain water and is safe to drink. You can fill up there or water bottle refill stations at visitor centres. There’s no need to bring wasteful and expensive bottled water!

Group Size at Yellowstone Campgrounds

You are only allowed to have six people per campsite. If you have more than that, you’ll need more campsites.

RVs in Yellowstone

Most campgrounds in Yellowstone accept RVs. RVs are welcome at all of the campgrounds. Just make sure you book a spot that is big enough to accommodate your rig – many won’t fit longer RVs and have maximum length restrictions. Check site details when making a reservation.

Bear Safety in Yellowstone

All of Yellowstone’s campgrounds have strict bear safety rules. You’ll get an info sheet about it when you check in to your campsite, and maybe a mini-lecture too! The reality is that bears walk through all the campgrounds.

To ensure the safety of campers and bears, you have to protect all your food and smelly stuff. Of course, bears (and other critters) are interested in your food, but they might also like your dishes, pots, stove, drinks, cooler, pet food, garbage, and toiletries. 

Unless you are actively using them, you need to put those items away. You can’t leave them sitting out in your campsite or store them in your tent. You can put them in your car or you can store them in the bear-proof storage box.

The bear-proof storage boxes are large metal lockers big enough to store a few large coolers. In most campgrounds, you’ll get your own, but in some of the reservable campgrounds, you will need to share them between 2 or 3 campsites.

If a ranger or campground host finds unattended food or smelly items in your campground, you could get a fine or a ticket. They will also put your gear away for you. We saw that happen to three different groups during our trip! For more tips, read my post about bear safety for campers and hikers.

READ NEXT: Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

Camping With Dogs in Yellowstone National Park

Dogs are allowed in Yellowstone National Park and at campgrounds, but there are quite a few restrictions. They must be in a car, in a crate, or on a leash that is less than six feet long.

Dogs are allowed on leash within 100 feet of roads, parking lots, and campgrounds. Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails or boardwalks. You are not allowed to leave your dog unattended in a car or tied to an object.

What to Pack for Camping in Yellowstone National Park

All of Yellowstone’s campgrounds are above 6000 feet so it can get cold at night. As well, it can rain at any time in the mountains. Make sure you’re prepared. For my recommendations on what to bring camping, see my Yellowstone Packing Lists. 

READ NEXT: How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips

Final Thoughts

So that’s everything you need to know about camping in Yellowstone. I know you’re going to have an AWESOME trip! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section. I’ll be happy to answer!

READ NEXT:

• 70 Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
• The Ultimate Yellowstone Packing List for Every Summer Visitor
• Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
• The Best Camping Cancellation Apps
• 25 Things to do in Grand Teton National Park
• How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips

The post Camping in Yellowstone in 2025: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Thankfully, Western Canada has some great hot springs. In fact, all of the hot springs in Canada are in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon Territory. Sorry Eastern Canada – we win this one 🙂

In this guide, I’ve got info and directions for the best hot springs in Canada. These hot springs are all easy to access by car, although some require a short hike or an easy to arrange boat tour.

Note: There are dozens of other hot springs in Canada, but they require hours of bushwhacking or they are really more warm springs, than hot, so I left them off this list.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Hot Springs Etiquette

Hot springs exist in unique and fragile ecosystems. If you visit an undeveloped hot spring, tread lightly to minimize your impact. Some hot springs in British Columbia have gotten overrun with trash or closed due to human-bear conflicts. Learn about Leave No Trace to protect our hot springs.

Here are some basic tips for hot springs etiquette:

• Pack out all trash with you. Avoid bringing glass bottles to hot springs.
• Use washrooms or outhouses. Every hot spring on this list has a toilet nearby. Please use them to prevent the spread of disease, which can get into the hot springs.
• Do not use soap or shampoo in the hot springs. It pollutes the pools, kills plants and fish, and creates gross algae blooms.
• Keep your dog out of the water. Dogs carry diseases like leptospirosis that thrive in warm water.
• Be considerate of other users. Many people come to hot springs to relax, not to party.
• Bring a water bottle and drink lots of water. Otherwise, you can get dehydrated or overheated easily.
• Bring some flipflops or sandals to wear around the pools. Undeveloped springs often have sharp or uneven rocks. At commercial springs, sandals are nice to have for sanitary reasons.
• At natural springs, be prepared to see some nudity. It’s often not officially permitted, but it’s still very common, especially at night. But please keep things PG if you visit the hot springs with a partner!
• If you plan to travel on backroads or hike to hot springs, leave a trip plan with a friend and carry the 10 Essentials.

Hot Springs Resources

By far the best book about Canada’s hot springs is Hot Springs of Western Canada. I used an earlier edition of this book for years and recently picked up the 4th edition. It has tons of info on every hot spring, including tons of really obscure ones that are hard to reach.

If you plan to visit any of the undeveloped hot springs in Canada, you’ll have to drive on some remote logging roads. These roads have lots of confusing junctions, which makes navigation difficult. And there’s usually no cell service out there. I always bring a copy of the Backroad map book to prevent getting lost.

I’ve also made a custom hot springs Google map for you. It includes the location of every single Canadian hot spring I mention in this post. Click the map to navigate around. As you can see, most of the hot springs on the map are in British Columbia, or very close to it.

Hot Springs in the Vancouver Area

There are several hot springs near Vancouver and in the Sea to Sky corridor near Whistler.

Harrison Hot Springs

Harrison Hot Springs is a small resort community in the Fraser Valley just east of Vancouver. The springs bubble up along the lakeshore, then are piped into a series of pools at the Harrison Hotsprings Resort as well to a public community pool.

The Harrison Hot Springs Resort is a hotel with a spa. They have two indoor pools and three outdoor pools of varying temperatures. The whole thing has a resort/spa atmosphere with rock features and deck chairs. It’s a family-friendly place, but there is an adults-only pool if you don’t want to share space with splashing kids.

You must book a room at the hotel to access the pools. Unfortunately, there are is no day-use access. I’ve never soaked here, but my husband did a charity bike ride that included access to the hot springs. He said it was amazing after riding over 100km!

You can soak in the exact same water in a less luxurious setting at the Harrison Hot Springs Public Pool. It’s basically an indoor community centre-style pool that happens to be naturally hot.

How to get to Harrison Hot Springs: From Vancouver take Highway 1 east. Then take Highway 9 to Harrison Hot Springs. Once you are in town it’s easy to find both the resort and the public hot springs pool. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Public Pool Cost: Prices are not posted online anywhere, but the last info I have says it is $15 for adults.

Resort Cost: Rooms start at $179/night and include access to the hot springs.

Where to Stay: Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Keyhole Hot Springs (Lilwatatkwa7)

Note: Keyhole Hot Springs has been closed since November 2023 due to slope destabilization from a a wildfire and have no re-opening date. The springs are usually closed between April 1st and November 15th each year due to bears.

The picturesque Keyhole Hot Springs were seldom visited until a few years ago when they got REALLY popular thanks to social media. Part of their popularity is that these hot springs are not too far from Vancouver and Whistler. They are located west of Pemberton on gravel logging roads.

A 2-kilometre long trail leads down from the road to the banks of Pebble Creek. (The hot springs are also sometimes called Pebble Creek Hot Springs.) There are a few small pools wedged against the steep bank. Each holds one or two people. The lower pools can sometimes be flooded by the river.

There is an outhouse at the parking lot and a campground on the trail to the pools. Unfortunately with increased use and some very careless campers, the area started to attract black bears and grizzly bears. After a few scary incidents, the entire area is now closed from April 1st to November 15th each year.

Getting to Keyhole Hot Springs:  Since the hot springs are located on a remote backroad that isn’t plowed, you need a 4wd and winter driving experience or a snowmobile to get to the hot springs during the months they are open.

From Pemberton, drive Pemberton Meadows Road for 23.5km, and then turn right on Lillooet Forest Service Road. Stay on this road for 20km then watch for the sign for the hot springs on the right-hand side.

Cost: Free

Where to Stay: You can walk into the unofficial campsites near the springs, but be prepared for winter camping conditions. Alternatively, book a hotel in Pemberton.

Tsek Hot Springs

Note: As of December 2024, Tsek Hot Springs remains closed. The St’át’imc First Nation have chosen not to reopen the springs following the pandemic.

The Tsek Hot Springs are located on a remote (but accessible) forest service road east of Pemberton, BC. They are also known as Skookumchuck Hot Spring or St. Agnes Well. In the last decade, these hot springs have reverted to their traditional name, Tsek, pronounced “chick”. It means water droplet or dripping water.  

Tsek Hot Springs have been run by the St’át’imc First Nation for the last decade or so. The waters of the springs are important to their culture and spirituality, so you need to be respectful if you visit. I haven’t visited these springs, but I hear they have a rustic feel.

Water from the hot spring is piped into 11 tubs. Four of them are hot water and the rest are hot water with a cold water tap so you can adjust the temperature. There’s also a cold water tub with water from a nearby creek. There is a change house and outhouses.

How to get to Tsek Hot Springs: From Pemberton, go north on Highway 99 through Pemberton and Mount Currie. Shortly after the Lillooet Lake Bridge, go right onto In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road. This is a gravel road, but it is in good shape and is fine for all vehicles. Follow this road for 47km along the shores of Lillooet Lake and the Lillooet River. The drive will take about 1.75 hours. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $7.50; Seniors and Youth: $5; Children 15 and under: free

Where to Stay: Camp at the springs or stay in nearby Pemberton.

Sloquet Hot Springs

Sloquet Hot Springs are just down the road from Tsek. It can be a bit of a party spot with drunken campers and loud music. (I had a pretty sleepless night there about 15 years ago.)

However, for the last decade, the local Xa’xtsa First Nation has managed the site on behalf of Sites and Trails BC. I’ve heard it has calmed down a bit now that there is an on-site caretaker. It’s still really busy on long weekends though.

To reach the springs, you’ll have to take a short but steep trail down to the banks of the Sloquet River. The hot springs bubble down over a hot waterfall into a small, shallow pool that is too hot for most people. From there, the water trickles into a series of natural rock pools towards the river, getting cooler as it goes downhill. It’s a pretty gorgeous setting.

There’s no change house here, so get your suit on in your car. Outhouses are located up the hill in the campground.

How to get to Sloquet Hot Springs: From Pemberton, go north on Highway 99 through Pemberton and Mount Currie. Shortly after the Lillooet Lake Bridge, go right onto In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road. This is a gravel road, but it is in good shape and is fine for all vehicles.

Follow this road for 76km to a bridge over the Lillooet River, passing Tsek Hot Springs. Turn left onto Lillooet West Forest Service Road and drive for 4km. Next, turn right onto Sloquet Forest Service Road. Follow this road for about 8.5km to the hot springs. Note: In winter the Sloquet Road is not plowed and will be impassable.

Cost: $10

Where to Stay: Camp at the springs or stay in nearby Pemberton.

READ NEXT: 40 Cheap and Free Things To Do in Whistler

Hot Springs on Vancouver Island

There is only one hot spring on Vancouver Island: Hot Springs Cove near Tofino.

Hot Springs Cove

Hot Springs Cove is a unique hot spring is located in Maquinna Provincial Park in Clayoquot Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island. The nearest town is Tofino.

Hot water bubbles up through the bedrock into a large fissure in the rocks, before flowing into the ocean. There are a series of natural rock pools that descend all the way to the sea. At high tide, only a few of the pools are exposed. This hot spring has been on my bucket list for a LONG time, so I can’t wait to visit it.

The hot spring is at the end of a 1.5km long boardwalk trail. There is an outhouse and a change room near the springs. Apparently, the rocks can be slippery and you may need to do some clambering around to get into the pools. Bring water shoes or sandals to make it easier.

How to get to Hot Springs Cove: The only way to get to Hot Springs Cove is by boat or plane from Tofino. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to arrange with several tour operators offering trips. The boat ride takes about 1.5 hours and the plane ride is about 20 minutes. Many of the boat rides can also be combined with whale watching tours.

Cost: There is a day-use fee of $3 to access the provincial park. Boat tours cost about $240/person for adults. Floatplanes start at about $375/person.

Where to Stay: Tofino has lots of hotels and rental condos.

Hot Springs in the Kootenays

There are tons of hot springs in the Kootenays, many of them in adorable small towns.

Canyon Hot Springs

Canyon Hot Springs are located right along Highway 1 so they make a good road trip pit stop. Unfortunately, I’ve never had time.

The hot springs bubble out of the mountain at a temperture of about 25C. They are piped to the nearby resort where they are heated slightly for better soaking. There are two pools. The family pool is 32C, while the soaking pool is 40C. The resort was built in the 1970s and looks to be showing its age a bit. The pools are only open between May and September.

How to get to Canyon Hot Springs: Canyon Hot Springs is located on Highway 1 in between Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park. It’s 33km east of Revelstoke and 116km west of Golden. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $16.50, Kids and Seniors: $14.25, Kids 4 and under: free

Where to Stay: Canyon Hot Springs Resort has cabins and camping on site. But you’ll find nicer accommodations in Revelstoke.

Halcyon Hot Springs

Halcyon Hot Springs is on Highway 23 in the West Kootenays. It sits just above the shore of Upper Arrow Lake. The pools at Halcyon Hot Springs are some of the nicest resort-style pools I’ve been to. (Although I have to admit I only stopped in for a look during a trip to Revelstoke and didn’t have time to actually soak.) Built in the early 2000s, the curved pools have an amazing view of the lake and the Monashee Mountains.

On the upper deck, there is a 42C hot pool, a 37C warm pool, and a cold plunge pool. There’s also a lower deck with a 30C warm pool and a children’s spray park. They also have a spa and a restaurant.

How to Get to Halcyon Hot Springs: The springs are located on highway 23 in between Revelstoke and Nakusp. From Revelstoke take Highway 23 south for 70km. The journey includes the free Arrow Lakes ferry, which runs every hour. From Nakusp, take Highway 23 north for 35km. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: $15/person

Where to Stay: Halcyon Hot Springs Resort has cabins and camping on site. You can also stay in Revelstoke, which is about an hour away.

Halfway River Hot Springs

The hot springs at Halfway River are one of my favourite natural hot springs in Canada and one of the reasons I love going to Revelstoke. The springs are near Arrow Lake and Halcyon Hot Springs south of town.

There are several pools lined with river rocks near the rushing Halfway River. There are also a few pools on the edge of the river itself. Some of the pools are really hot, but most are about 42C. If you get too warm, go for a plunge in the river.

The 10-minute walk to the springs from the parking lot is one of my favourite hikes in Revelstoke. You head steeply downhill on switchbacks and stairs. There is an outhouse near the bottom of the stairs and a changing hut right next to the main pools. 

How to Get to Halfway River Hot Springs: These hot springs are located on a gravel road off Highway 23 in between Revelstoke and Nakusp. From the turnoff on Highway 23, it’s 11km of gravel road driving to the parking lot. The road is fine for 2wd vehicles as long as you go slow and avoid the potholes. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Free

Where to Stay: You can camp on-site either in a car-accessible campground or in walk-in sites that are just steps from the pools. If you prefer something less rustic, the cabins at Halcyon Hot Springs are the closest, or you can book a hotel in Nakusp or Revelstoke.

Nakusp Hot Springs

The Nakusp Hot Springs near the village of Nakusp have the distinction of being the only community-owned hot springs in BC. Unlike other commercially developed springs, these hot springs are the property of the village of Nakusp. There are two outdoor pools: a hot pool at 38-41C and a warm pool at 36-38C.  I’ve never visited this hot spring, but I hear it’s one of the least crowded developed hot springs in BC since it’s not near a major centre. 

How to Get to Nakusp Hot Springs: Nakusp is located on the eastern shore of Arrow Lake along Highway 23. From Nakusp, take Highway 23 north, then turn right onto Hot Springs Road. The springs are 12km up this road. The drive from town takes about 15 minutes. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $14; Seniors, Students, and Kids: $13, Kids 5 and under: free

Where to Stay: You can camp right at the springs, or stay in one of their rustic chalets. There are also hotels and motels in the town of Nakusp.

Ainsworth Hot Springs

If you’re visiting Nelson, you HAVE to visit nearby Ainsworth Hot Springs. I went for a soak in the springs right after a 3-day backpacking trip in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. So relaxing!

It is one of the most unique hot springs I’ve been to. It’s a commercial hot springs with an outdoor pool for soaking, but the interesting part is the caves!

Okay, so they aren’t true caves, but they are really cool. Early settlers dug tunnels into the rock to try to improve the flow of the springs. The tunnels form an “H” shape with two entrances. Inside the water is hotter than anywhere else at the springs and its REALLY steamy. In a few places, hot water cascades down the walls in mini-waterfalls. There are a couple of carved niches where you can sit and enjoy the sauna-like atmosphere. However, it’s way too hot for me to stay long.

The outdoor pool is 36-38C and the waters in the cave are 40-43C. There is also a cold water plunge pool if you need to cool off. They have a spa as well as a restaurant that serves food sourced from local ingredients and indigenous inspired dishes.

The springs are run by the local Ktunaxa First Nation. They have used the springs for cultural and spiritual purposes since time immemorial. The Ktunaxa name for the hot springs is Nupika wu’u which means “Spirit Waters”.

How to Get to Ainsworth Hot Springs: Ainsworth Hot Springs is located on Highway 31 along the shores of Kootenay Lake. From Nelson, take Highway 3A east, then Highway 31 north. The drive takes about 45 minutes. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $18, Seniors: $17, Teens: $15, Kids: $12, Babies 2 and under: Free. Note: You must make advance reservations to use the pools.

Where to Stay: You can book rooms on-site at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort. Otherwise, there are lots of hotels in Nelson.

Lussier Hot Springs

Lussier Hot Springs is a natural hot spring in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park near Canal Flats in BC’s East Kootenays. It has beautiful rock-lined pools right next to Lussier Creek. I visited as part of a road trip through the Kootenays and it was one of the highlights of my trip.

The upper pool is the hottest at about 43C. There are also a couple of lower pools that are a bit cooler. When there is less flow in the creek, there are pools right next to the creek too.

To reach the pools you need to walk down a short, but steep trail from the parking lot. There are outhouses at the parking lot but no facilities down at the pools. There is no change house so change in the outhouse or get ready in your car.

How to Get to Lussier Hot Springs: The hot springs are on a gravel road accessed from Highway 93. From Canal Flats, head south on Highway 93 for 5km to the Whiteswan Lake Forest Service Road. It’s a gravel road but unless it is icy or snowy, it should be fine for all vehicles. Follow this road for 17.5km to the hot springs just inside the entrance to Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. The drive from the highway takes about 20 minutes. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Free

Where to Stay: There are several campgrounds in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. There aren’t a lot of hotels in nearby Canal Flats, but there are some cute Airbnbs in the area.

Fairmont Hot Springs

Fairmont Hot Springs is a resort-style hot springs on Highway 93 in the East Kootenays. I haven’t visited these hot springs yet, but I’m sure I’ll visit on my next trip through the area. 

The resort has a hot pool for soaking (39C), a family-friendly swimming pool (32C) and a dive pool (30C) with two diving boards. There’s a spa and several restaurants. If you want to get fancy, you can also book a Miami-style poolside cabana for the day.

If you want to skip the commercialized springs and dip into history, you can take a short hike to the Indian Baths. This 100-year-old stone structure houses small bathtubs fed by the hot springs. It’s also totally free. Find the trailhead in the parking lot.

How to Get to Fairmont Hot Springs: The hot springs are in the village of Fairmont Hot Springs on Highway 93 in the East Kootenays. It’s 23km south of Invermere and 25km north of Canal Flats. From the highway, head east on Fairmont Resort Road for 1.5km to reach the parking lot. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: $17 for adults, $15 for kids and seniors. Kids 5 and under are free.

Where to Stay: Stay on-site at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. They have an RV park and campground too.

Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs is located in a tight canyon next to Highway 93 at the southern end of Kootenay National Park. There has been a hot spring resort here for over 100 years. The current stone buildings date to the 1950s but underwent a huge renovation in 2023 and 2024.

There are two pools. The hot pool is about 39C. There is a unique island in the middle where the hot water bubbles out. The swimming pool is 27-29C and includes a diving board and slide. The water is the most radioactive in Canada since it contains radium. But the radioactivity is still very, very weak so it won’t harm people. (Don’t worry!)

Getting to Radium Hot Springs: The springs are on Highway 93 just 3 kilometres east of the junction with Highway 95. The village of Radium Hot Springs is right at the junction, but the springs themselves are not. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $17.50, Seniors and kids: $15.25, Babies under 3: free

Where to Stay: There are lots of hotels in the nearby village of Radium Hot Springs. Kootenay National Park’s Red Streak Campground is also nearby.

Hot Springs in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Canada’s Rocky Mountain National Parks like Banff and Jasper are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. They also have hot springs.

Banff Upper Hot Springs

There Upper Hot Springs in Banff are the most famous hot springs in Alberta.

I first visited these hot springs during a September road trip over ten years. It started to snow so instead of hanging around the chilly campground, we went for an evening soak in the hot springs instead. Magical! Since then I’ve visited a few more times including a visit in November when it snowed again!

It’s a commercialized pool, but the stone buildings are quite beautiful since they were built in the 1930s. If you want to really get into the vintage vibe, you can rent a heritage swimsuit. The 39C outdoor pool has great views of the surrounding mountains. I loved it in the snow! There’s a cafe too.

How to get to Banff Upper Hot Springs: From downtown Banff take Banff Avenue over the Bow River Bridge. Turn left on Spray Avenue, then take the next right onto Mountain Avenue. Stay on Mountain Avenue until it ends at the Upper Hot Springs. You can also take the Roam bus route 1 since parking is limited. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $17.50, Seniors and kids: $15.25, Babies under 3: free

Where to Stay: There are lots of hotels in Banff. The nearest hotel is the Rimrock Resort Hotel which is a 2-minute walk away. My sister used to work there and it’s gorgeous. There are also several national park campgrounds nearby. To save money, consider staying in Canmore, which is a short drive away.

READ NEXT: 9 Beautiful Reasons to Visit Banff in the Fall and Best Things to Do in Banff in the Spring

Miette Hot Springs

Miette Hot Springs is off Highway 16 east of the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park. Besides Banff, it’s one of the only Alberta hot springs. I visited these springs on a chilly fall trip to Jasper. It was a great way to warm up on a cold day.

The spring is one of the hottest springs in the Rockies. It’s 54C at the source, but they cool it down to between 37C and 40C in the pools. There are two warm pools, plus two cold pools. 

The pools and buildings were built in the 1980s and aren’t as picturesque as the other national park hot springs. But the mountain scenery makes up for it. There’s also a cafe if you get hungry.

How to get to Miette Hot Springs: From the town of Jasper, head east on Highway 16 for 43km. Turn right onto Miette Road and drive 16.5km to its end at the hot springs. The drive takes about an hour. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: Adults: $17.50, Seniors and kids: $15.25, Babies under 3: free

Where to Stay: There are lots of hotels in Jasper as well as National Park campgrounds. The closest accommodation to the hot springs are the Pocahontas Cabins and the National Park’s Pocahontas Campground is the closest to the hot springs.

Hot Springs in Northern BC

Northern BC sees a fraction of the tourist traffic that the rest of the province. Which means that you can visit some spectacular hot springs without worrying about crowds.

G̱andll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hot Spring Island)

G̱andll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hot Spring Island) is a small island in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in BC’s Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). The Haida name for the springs is Gandll K’in Gwaay,yaay, which means “hot water island”.

Historically, there were numerous springs on the southwestern end of the island. But after an earthquake in 2012, the hot springs stopped flowing. Scientists still aren’t sure why. But slowly, the hot water has been returning to the area. In 2017 three new pools were built. There are changerooms and outhouses too.

I visited these springs as part of a four-day tour around Gwaii Hanaas National Park. The water in some of the pools is really hot! But the views are incredible.

How to Get to Hot Spring Island: The only way to get there is by boat, but there are lots of tour operators who will take you. You can also rent kayaks and go on your own if you get a permit from Parks Canada. Most boat trips leave from Moresby Camp on nearby Moresby Island.

Cost: Free, but you do need to pay National Park admission fees

Where to Stay: The closest hotels are in the village of Daajing Giis (Queen Charlotte). You can also camp at Moresby Camp.

Higu Isgwit (Nass Valley) Hot Springs

These hot springs are located in Nisga’a First Nation territory near Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park. Since they are located in the Nass River Valley, they are also known as Nass Valley Hot Springs. In the Nisga’a language, they are called Hlgu Isgwit Hot Springs. This is a culturally and spiritually important site for the Nisga’a so be respectful if you visit. 

It’s a short 5-minute hike on a boardwalk across a marshy area to reach the springs. There’s a large pool with wooden decking and recently the area has been improved by adding a couple of wooden sided tubs. The springs are about 55C, which is too hot for most. Thankfully, there are pipes with cold water you can add to adjust the temperature. There’s an outhouse in the parking lot and a small change house next to the springs.

Visiting these Nisga’s Nation-run springs was one of the highlights of my two-day visit to the Nass Valley. We also hiked to a volcano, walked through lava, visited a great Indigenous museum, and lots more.

How to Get to Higu Isgwit Hot Springs: From Terrace, BC, drive north on the Nisga’a Highway for 96km. Turn left on Nass Road and follow it for 19km. Look for the signed parking area. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for children. You need to reserve a one-hour spot in advance by calling 250-633-3000.

Where to Stay: The closest major centre is the town of Terrace, which has lots of hotels. You can also camp in the provincial park or stay at a bed and breakfast in the nearby village of New Aiyansh or in Nisga’a-run B&Bs in the Nass Valley.

Liard River Hot Springs

Without a doubt, Liard River Hot Springs is the best hot springs I’ve ever visited. That includes visits to hot springs in Canada as well as ones in Iceland and Nepal. This beautiful hot spring is on the Alaska Highway in Northern BC. It’s actually closer to the Yukon border than to any town in British Columbia.

The hot springs are in a natural setting, but the provincial park has improved the pools to add a gravel bottom and some wooden decking. A small waterfall separates the upper pool from the lower pool, which is much more rustic and still has natural earthen sides. The upper pool is hotter, about 52C at the source, and the lower pool is cooler at about 42C. There is a change house next to the pools and composting toilets nearby.

To reach the pools you’ll walk for about 600m on boardwalk across a marsh. Keep an eye out for moose along the way. We spotted one every time we walked to the pools. The park is also an important habitat for bison and you may see them on the highway nearby or even in the campground.

How to Get to Liard River Hot Springs: From Fort Nelson, BC drive 305km north on Highway 97 (the Alaska Highway). The drive takes about 4 hours. From Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, drive 208km south on Highway 97. It’s a 3-hour drive. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for children

Where to Stay: Stay at the provincial park campground since it’s closest to the pools. Plus access to the hot springs is included in your camping fees. If you prefer a hotel, there’s a lodge on the other side of the highway.

Hot Springs in the Yukon

There is only one hot spring in the Yukon: Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs.

Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs

This hot spring used to be called Takini Hot Springs, which I visited on a trip to the Yukon back in 2015. The pool and facilities have been completely rebuilt and in 2022 they reopened as Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs.

The new facility is an upgrade over the old concrete pool. I haven’t visited yet but looks really beautiful. There are three pools with a Japanese design that integrates rocks into the pool for lounging and reclining. The largest pool even has a waterfall. The water temperature ranges from 42 to 36C. 

There are also indoor relaxation rooms with heated tile loungers, cold plunges, showers, saunas, and steam rooms.

How to get to Eclipse Hot Springs: From Whitehorse, drive Highway 1 west to the junction with Highway 2. Follow Highway 2 north for 6km. Turn left onto Takhini Hot Springs road and follow it for 9km to the springs. The entire trip takes about 30 minutes. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Cost: $60

Where to Stay: There’s a large campground and a hotel on-site, which is really convenient. Or you can book a hotel in Whitehorse.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it: 19 of the best hot springs in Canada. So far, I’ve visited ten of them.

My favourite commercial hot spring is Ainsworth Hot Springs. Liard River Hot Springs is my favourite natural hot springs. When it comes to free hot springs, for me, it’s a bit of a tie between Lussier and Halfway River Hot Springs. And G̱andll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hot Spring Island) in Haida Gwaii is special since its so remote.

What’s your favourite? Tell me in the comments.

More Adventures in Canada:

• Best Small Towns in Canada for Outdoor Adventures
• 40 Cheap and Free Things To Do in Whistler
• 15 Things to do in Revelstoke in the Summer
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler
• 37 Things to do in Whistler in Winter
• The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Vancouver Island
• Chasing Waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park
• 20+ Beautiful Weekend Getaways from Vancouver
• How to Take an Epic Canadian National Parks Road Trip
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• Cozy Cabins near Vancouver Perfect for a Weekend Getaway

The post How to Visit the Best Hot Springs in Canada appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Unlike the popular Overland Track, Walls of Jerusalem is a lot more wild with less facilities. However, it definitely isn’t short on beauty.

It’s located in Tasmania’s central highlands and boasts some spectacular views, rocky peaks, and kilometres of well-laid-out trail. I spent three days in the area, which was enough to see all the major sights, but I could have spent weeks more exploring off-trail.

If you’re looking to explore Tasmania’s wilderness on a multi-day bushwalk, a trip to the Walls of Jerusalem is a great option.

In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to visit this gorgeous destination including:

• Walls of Jerusalem basics including best time to go, weather, and fees
• Maps of Walls of Jerusalem showing all the trails and campgrounds
• How to get to to the car park from Devonport, Launceston, and Hobart
• Walls of Jerusalem walk notes including track descriptions, distances, elevation gain, difficulty, and time for each section
• Info on camping including facilities
• Day walks in the park (the best way to get good views)

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park Basics

Overview: Walls of Jerusalem National Park is located in Tasmania’s central highlands near Cradle Mountain National Park. It’s a hike-in only wilderness park made of up rocky peaks and tiny crystal blue lakes.

While you can do a day walk into the area, most hikers opt to camp for a night or two. That way they will have enough time to tackle some of the nearby peaks. I made a short video that gives you a great overview.

What’s With the Name? The park takes its name from two prominent cliff bands that early Europeans thought looked like the walls of Jerusalem. In later years, subsequent bushwalkers including local legend Reg Hall gave other geographic features in the area Biblical names.

Distance: At least 20km return. More if you add on peaks.

Elevation Gain: At least 700m. More if you add on peaks.

Difficulty: If you stick to the main Walls of Jerusalem track, the hike is of moderate difficulty. If you venture off onto any of the other unmarked tracks or off-trail areas, the difficulty jumps up to challenging.

Time: 1-4 days

Best Time To Go: Tasmania’s highlands are usually snow-free between November and March. However, the best weather is in December, January, and February.

Weather: Walls of Jerusalem National Park is high up in Tasmania’s central highlands. It can be cold, wet, and windy up there at any time of year. We experienced 1C temperatures at night and 50km/h winds in early January! Check out my list of the best weather apps for hikers to get the best forecast.

Cost: You must have a Tasmania National Parks pass to enter the park, but there are no other fees. You can buy one online, at visitor centres, or at Service Tasmania. Daily passes are expensive – the best deal is the two month holiday pass.

Registration: You must register your walk on the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services website.

What to Bring: Everything you need to be self-sufficient. Use my simple backpacking checklist to get your gear prepped for the hike.

Rules: This is a fuel stove only zone so campfires are prohibited. No dogs or drones.

Animals: Possums and other wildlife are bold in this park. Keep your food inside a sealed dry bag to minimize smells. We also hung our food between two trees on a thin cord to keep possums from getting at it.

Plants: The region is also home to some unique plants including a pencil pine forest near Dixon’s Kingdom. In late December and early January the scoparia bushes bloom. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the flowers. Keep an eye out for the remarkable cushion plants in the central walls and near Dixon’s Kingdom. These bright green oddities can grow up to 3m across and look like giant pin cushions. Be careful not to step on them though, as they are very fragile.

Further Resources: The best guide book to the area is Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair, and Walls of Jerusalem National Parks by John Chapman, Monica Chapman, and John Siseman. You can find it at bookshops in Tasmania.

Walls of Jerusalem Maps

If you want a paper map, you can pick one up from Service Tasmania – look for TASMAP 1:25,000 Walls of Jerusalem National Park Map.

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a bunch of trail maps using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the gpx file.

Getting to Walls of Jerusalem National Park

There is no public transport to Walls of Jerusalem National Park so you will need to drive yourself or hire a shuttle.

Cradle Mountain Coaches offers shuttles from Hobart, Devonport, and Launceston. I used them to get to the Overland Track and they were easy to deal with.

On this trip, we drove ourselves to the Walls of Jerusalem trailhead. It’s a long drive, but it’s easy. It’s entirely on sealed (paved) roads except for the last few kilometres. However, even the gravel portions are fine for all cars.

There is no mobile phone reception on the last portion of the drive, so make sure you bring a map or a copy of the driving directions below so you don’t get lost.

Driving from Devonport

It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to the car park from Devonport.

Take Highway B19 north from Devonport. In Spreyton, turn right onto the B14 and follow it to Sheffield. From Sheffield, turn right onto the C136 to Gowrie Park. Continue on the C136 past Mount Roland, then turn left onto the C138. Turn right onto the C171, which becomes gravel part way along. 

Continue south to Lake Rowallan, then along the lakeshore to the bridge over the Fish River. Immediately after the bridge, turn left and follow the road uphill for 1km to the car park. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Driving from Launceston

It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive from Launceston to the car park.

Follow Highway 1 west to Deloraine. From there continue on the B12 west through Mole Creek. Turn left onto the C138, then left again onto the C171, which turns to gravel part way along.

Continue south to Lake Rowallan, then along the lakeshore to the bridge over the Fish River. Immediately after the bridge, turn left and follow the road uphill for 1km to the car park. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Driving from Hobart

Head north on Highway 1 to Deloraine. Then follow the directions from Launceston above. Here are Google Maps driving directions. It takes about 3 hours and 34 minutes to get to the car park from Hobart.

Walls of Jerusalem Walk Notes

Most people will walk into Walls of Jerusalem from the main car park and camp at either Wild Dog Creek or Dixon’s Kingdom on their first night. Below I’ve got kilometre-by-kilometre walk notes for that section of the park. Scroll down for info on the Walls of Jerusalem/Lake Adelaide Circuit as well as day walks from Dixon’s Kingdom.

Car Park to Trappers Hut

Distance: 2.5km

Elevation Gain: 380m

Time: 1-1.5 hours

Difficulty: Challenging

The first section of the track to Walls of Jerusalem is the hardest part of the hike. It gains 380m in just 2.5km. The steep hill, combined with a heavy backpack, can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, it’s over quickly. Pack lots of water as this section is usually dry.

There’s an info kiosk at the car park with a map. It also houses the walkers’ logbook. Make sure you sign-in at the start of your hike and sign-out at the end. There’s also a toilet here. It’s the last one until Wild Dog Creek, so be sure to use it. If you drove yourself to the trailhead, make sure to leave your national parks pass on the dashboard of your car.

The start of the walk to Walls of Jerusalem actually begins with a boot cleaning station. There are brushes to scrub your boots, plus a cool pump-operated disinfectant station. Tasmania’s wilderness is under threat from invasive diseases and plants, so cleaning your boots is super important.

After the boot cleaning station, the trail starts to climb uphill. In the first kilometre you’ll pass by an old info kiosk that used to hold the walkers’ logbook before the new car park kiosk was built.

You’ll also formally enter Walls of Jerusalem National Park. The park boundary is marked with a big blue sign. There are a few small streams in this section that may be running in spring and early summer but expect them to be fully dry by late summer.

The next 1.5km of the trail is fairly unremarkable. The path continues to climb through the forest, although there are a few flatter sections where you can catch your breath a bit. The final bit up to Trappers Hut is quite steep.

Pause for a snack at Trappers Hut. Be sure to go inside to read the info panels about this historic building. While it used to be a cozy home for fur trappers, the hut is now a historic structure so you aren’t allowed to sleep in it. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to either as it’s full of holes!

Trapper’s Hut to Wild Dog Creek

Distance: 4.5km

Elevation Gain: 110m

Time: 1.5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Unfortunately, the climbing isn’t over after Trapper’s Hut. A few minutes past the hut, you’ll arrive at a junction. The track to the right leads to Lake Adelaide while the main Walls of Jerusalem path heads left. Turn left and continue uphill. About 1km and 100m of elevation gain after leaving the hut, the grade eases up.

From here, the track undulates up and down over a rocky plateau. The track underfoot is rarely smooth with lots of rocks and roots, so watch your step. You’ll pass lots of small tarns sprinkled throughout.

These are known as Solomon’s Jewels. About 2.5km from Trapper’s Hut the track dips down next to the largest lake. It’s a great spot for a break if you need one.

After leaving the lakeshore, the track continues along the plateau. Just past the 4km mark, you’ll catch sight of the Wild Dog Creek campsite across the valley and King David’s Peak up ahead. Descend a small hill into the flat-bottomed creek valley. The campsite is just uphill to the right of the track. The campsites are arranged along three side trails. The toilet is on the highest trail if you need to use it.

Wild Dog Creek to Dixon’s Kingdom

Distance: 4km

Elevation Gain: 140m

Time: 1.25 hours

Difficulty: Easy

From Wild Dog Creek, continue up the hill for another half kilometre and 50 m higher to a pass known as Herod’s Gate. This is where you will enter the Walls of Jerusalem proper and start to enjoy the most spectacular scenery in the park.

The sheer walls of King David’s Peak rise up to your right and the valley stretches out in front of you. The walk through the valley is mostly on smooth boardwalk that makes for fast and easy travel.

Past Herod’s Gate the track curves around the walls, passing above Lake Salome. Next, it traverses across the valley towards a stand of trees. Just past the trees, a boardwalk path goes left. It’s a short 100m walk to the Pool of Bethesda, a beautiful little tarn that makes a great snack spot.

Back on the main track, the boardwalk swings to the right and begins a gentle climb up to another pass. This one is called Damascus Gate. There are great views from here. At the top of the pass, you’ll reach a 4-way junction.

Your path to Dixon’s Kingdom goes straight. The track to the left leads to the summit of the Temple while the one to the right goes to Solomon’s Throne and King David Peak.

Descend from Damascus Gate on a boardwalk and stone path that is usually as smooth as a sidewalk. The route curls around the side of the Temple and descends 70m into the forest to reach the hut and camping area at Dixon’s Kingdom.

Walls of Jerusalem Circuit/Lake Adelaide Route

Distance: 11.2 km

Elevation Gain: 215 m

Time: 4 to 5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

The route from the Walls of Jerusalem car park to Dixon’s Kingdom is definitely the most popular way to hike in Tasmania’s Walls of Jerusalem National Park. However, making a circuit via Lake Adelaide is also a good option.

This route used to be unmaintained and require some off-trail travel, but in 2022, Tasmania Parks and Wilderness improved it and installed a permanent campground at Lake Adelaide. I haven’t hiked this route since I visited before the upgrades.

To complete the loop, follow the usual route from the car park to Dixon’s Kingdom, described above. Then, head south to Lake Ball. Pass the historic Lake Ball hut on the shores of the lake, and continue west to Lake Adelaide and the nearby Lake Adelaide campground.

From there, the trail heads north through a grassy valley before rejoining the main trail just south of Trapper’s Hut.

Camping in Walls of Jerusalem National Park

There are three established camping areas in Walls of Jerusalem National Park with toilets: Wild Dog Creek, Dixon’s Kingdom, and Lake Adelaide. Wilderness camping outside of designated sites is now officially discouraged to protect the fragile environment.

Please remember to register with Parks and pay National Parks fees if you camp in the park.

Wild Dog Creek Camping Area

This campsite is located 7 km from the carpark on a hillside above Wild Dog Creek.

The Parks and Wildlife Service have done a lot of work to this site: there is a toilet and 19 raised tent platforms (some of which are large enough for two tents). There are more platforms on the third level of the site, but they are reserved for commercial guided groups.

There are water taps throughout the campground, piped in from Wild Dog Creek. The water is untreated, so filter or purify it before drinking.

Wild Dog Creek is a logical base camp for groups that find the ascent into the park exhausting. It’s an easy walk to Herod’s Gate, the core Walls area, and Damascus Gate. However, it’s a longer hike to Mount Jerusalem from here.

On my hike, we found Wild Dog Creek to be too short of a walk from the car park so we kept going to Dixon’s Kingdom.

Dixon’s Kingdom Camping Area

Dixon’s Kingdom is the name for a historic hut set in a grassy valley 10km from the car park. It used to be the summer home of the Dixon family in the 30s and 40s when they grazed cattle here. These days the hut is in pretty rough shape and should only be used in an emergency. Be sure to go inside the hut to check out the info board about the area’s history.

In the last few years Parks has created a new tenting area to the southwest of the hut. On my visit, we camped at the old camping area which was northeast of the hut, so that’s what’s in the photo below. But now you must camp at the new camping area.

the new camping area has room for 16 tents on raised platforms. It also has a toilet. There are two rain water tanks or you can get water from Dixon’s Creek. However, all water is untreated, so filter or purify it before use.

Lake Adelaide Camping Area

I haven’t visited this camp site, but I’ve heard that Tasmania Parks has recently turned what was an informal camping area into a designated campground.

It has a toilet but no raised tent platforms. Instead, there space on the grass to pitch your tent. There is a rain water tank as well, but of course filter or purify the water before drinking. This is a good campground to use if you are doing the Circuit, but it’s not convenient for any of the day walks.

Day Walks in Walls of Jerusalem National Park

While you can walk into the Walls of Jerusalem in one long day, most hikers plan to stay overnight to tackle one of the excellent day walks in the area. There are four peaks to climb. Here’s everything you need to know about each one.

Solomon’s Throne

Starts from: Damascus Gate

Distance: 1km return

Elevation Gain: 120m

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 40 minutes return

This short but spectacular hike gets you to some of the best views in Walls of Jerusalem. It’s a steep climb, but the Parks Service has done an amazing job of arranging the jumble of rocks into stairs that are straightforward to ascend.

From the saddle at Damascus Gate head southwest towards the steep rock face of Solomon’s Throne. The first few meters are on boardwalk before the track changes to stone stairs to ascend a scree slope.

The track turns left to traverse under the rock face before ascending a steep and rocky cleft on more stone stairs. You’ll pop out of the shaded gully onto the summit plateau which is startlingly flat after the steep ascend you just made.

Follow markers northwest for a few minutes to reach the summit at 1446m and its incredible viewpoint.

King Davids Peak

Starts from: Damascus Gate

Distance: 4km return

Elevation Gain: 160m

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Time: 2.5 hours return

King Davids Peak is the most prominent mountain in the core Walls of Jerusalem area. Its pointed peak is the first thing you see from Wild Dog Creek.

The sheer walls of this peak and the ridge it shares with Solomon’s Throne are the defining features of the area. So of course, lots of hikers want to climb it. I didn’t have time on my trip, but it looks worthwhile.

To hike to King David’s Peak, follow the directions to Solomon’s Throne, above. (There used to be other trails to reach the peak, but they have all been closed for ecological reasons.)

From Solomon’s Throne continue along the ridge crest. There’s no formally marked trail so you will need to find your own route through the boulders and scrub. However, other walks told us that there is a faint trail to follow most of the way to the summit.

The Temple

Starts from: Damascus Gate

Distance: 1km return

Elevation Gain: 110m

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 40 minutes return

From Damascus Gate, the Temple looks like an indistinct pile of rocks. Compared to the rock walls of Solomon’s Throne is pretty unimpressive. In fact, I was so unimpressed I almost didn’t climb it. But OMG I’m so glad I did.

It turns out that the whole point of climbing the Temple is the amazing view you get from the top. It’s by far the best place in Walls of Jerusalem to get a photo of the actual walls! You can see all the eastern wall from Solomon’s Throne all the way to King David’s Peak.

To get to the top, follow the track northeast from the saddle at Damascus Gate. At times it looks like a master stonemason has been at work here, painstakingly moving the rocks into place to create a beautiful staircase through the scree and rubble.

The track winds its way up to the summit. Along the way, you’ll crest a false summit. The photos of the central walls area are actually better from here. But continue onward for five more minutes to tag the peak, just to say you did.

Mount Jerusalem

Starts from: Dixon’s Kingdom

Distance: 5 km return

Elevation Gain: 200 m

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 1.5 hours return

The hike to Mount Jerusalem is longer and has more elevation gain than others in the park, but it’s actually quite easy thanks to the moderate grade of the climb. From the top you get a unique view to the southeast  of Tasmania’s Central Plateau spotted with what looks like a million tiny lakes. It’s a great contrast to the towering peaks of Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

From Dixon’s Kingdom, follow the track as it heads north and slightly uphill to a saddle called Jaffa Gate. From there, the track begins to climb up onto a ridge and passes several small tarns. After a short descent, the trail climbs a bit more steeply onto the shoulder of the peak.

Follow the track up the long summit ridge before finally reaching a cairn at the peak. Be sure to explore the summit area as there are great vantage points in all directions.

Final Thoughts

So there’s everything you need to plan your trip to Walls of Jerusalem, Tasmania. I really enjoyed my trip to this area. I had thought it would be a bit like the Cradle Mountain National Park since they are geographically close to each other.

But I was pleasantly surprised to find that Walls of Jerusalem has a beauty of its own thanks to the towering rock walls. And for me, the wilderness feel of the area was awesome compared to the slightly more luxurious experience you get with the huts on the Overland Track. Honestly, I’m glad I have now done both. Just don’t ask me to pick a favourite!!

Do you have questions about hiking in Walls of Jerusalem National Park? Ask me in the comments as I’m always happy to help.

MORE TASMANIA POSTS:

• The Ultimate Guide to the Overland Track in Tasmania
• Best Places to See Wildlife in Tasmania
• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Maria Island, Tasmania
• 22 Things to Do on the Tasman Peninsula Near Port Arthur
• How to Spend the Weekend in Hobart, Tasmania: 2-day Itinerary
• 40+ Things to do in Devonport and Tasmania’s North West
• The Ultimate Guide to the Tarkine Drive in Tasmania, Australia
• The Best Things to Do on Bruny Island, Tasmania
• The Best Things to do in Strahan and Tasmania’s West Coast

The post Hiking in Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Tasmania appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

On my first trip to Yoho, we drove up the narrow and winding Yoho Valley Road into the mountains. I was shocked when Takakkaw Falls came into sight – I couldn’t believe how tall it was. On later trips, I discovered more waterfalls, incredible blue glacial lakes, towering peaks, clean campgrounds, and well-signed hiking trails.

I keep coming back to Yoho over and over because it has so much to offer. I think I’ve been to Yoho four times in the past five years. Yes, it’s an easy pit stop on the drive to Banff. But I think Yoho really deserves more of your time.

I’ve put together a complete guide to things to do in Yoho National Park. It includes:

• Yoho National Park Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Plus Parks Pass info, cell service, and more.
• Map of Yoho National Park that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Yoho: Waterfalls, glacier lakes, viewpoints, hiking trails, fossils, history, and more.
• Where to stay in Yoho from basic campsites to luxury hotels and everything in between.

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Yoho National Park Basics

Location

Yoho National Park is located in the Canadian Rockies. The park is about 1 hour west of the town of Banff, Alberta and 45 minutes east of the town of Golden, BC. The small town of Field is located inside the park. The park borders Banff National Park to the north and east and Kootenay National Park to the south.

How to Get to Yoho National Park

The closest airport to Yoho National Park is Calgary International Airport, which is a 2.5-hour drive away. It is possible to take a shuttle bus to the nearby town of Banff, about 1 hour away. However, there is no public transportation to the park – you will need to drive yourself or book a tour.

Getting Around in Yoho National Park

Unlike nearby Banff National Park, there is no public transportation in Yoho. The park is spread out along 60 kilometres of Highway 1 and several side roads. You will need to have your own car or join a tour group.

It’s easy to join a day tour leaving from Banff that hits Yoho’s highlights. This top-rated 8-hour tour visits Emerald Lake and Natural Bridge in Yoho along with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff. If you want to focus on Yoho, this popular Yoho National Park tour visits Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint.

The easiest place to rent a car is in Calgary, but you can also rent a car in Banff. I use DiscoverCars to book rental cars since it lets you compare prices across rental companies.

Keep in mind that Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls (the most popular parts of the park) will be very busy in July and August. It can be impossible to find parking if you arrive in the middle of the day. Plan to arrive in the morning or early evening.

Yoho National Park Passes

You must purchase a Parks Canada pass to stop anywhere in Yoho National Park. Buy them at the Yoho Visitor Centre in Field, either at the desk or from the machine in the parking lot. You can also buy a Parks Canada Pass at the entrance gates to Banff National Park – the same pass is valid for Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks.

Parks passes cost $11/day for adults or $9.50 for seniors. Kids are free. The best deal is the family/group pass for $22/day which covers up to seven people travelling in the same vehicle.

If you plan to visit other Canadian National Parks in the same year or your trip is longer than one week, it’s worth buying a Parks Canada Discovery Pass which is valid at all National Parks for a full year. They cost $75.25/adult, $64.50/senior, or $151.25 for a group of up to 7 people in the same vehicle.

You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park.

Cell Service in Yoho National Park

Most of the park doesn’t have cell service. There is reliable cell service in the town of Field and for a few kilometres of highway on either side. But otherwise, expect to be out of service. Download offline maps ahead of time.

How Long to Spend in Yoho National Park

If you don’t plan to do any hiking, it’s possible to see the park highlights like Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls in . You can visit Yoho as a day trip from Banff, and that’s a popular way to do it.

However, I think that Yoho has a lot to offer on its own and is worth a bit more time. I recommend spending at least two or three days in Yoho so you can explore at a slower pace and go on some hikes.

Best Time to Go to Yoho National Park

Since it is high in the mountains, Yoho National Park gets a lot of snow. The best time to visit the park is between July and mid-September. At that time of year, the park will be snow-free and all trails will be open. However, it’s worth checking trail conditions on the Yoho National Park page before you go.

Yoho National Park Weather

Yoho National Park has fickle mountain weather. In July and August, the average high temperature is 22°C and the average low is 5°C. Expect rain and clouds at any time – pack a rain jacket just in case. Use my picks for the Best Weather Apps for Hiking to see the forecast for your trip.

Groceries and Supplies in Yoho National Park

The town of Field is located inside the park. It has a gas station, two restaurants, and several guesthouses. However, it does not have a grocery store. The closest grocery stores are in Lake Louise, (25 minutes east), Banff (1 hour east), and Golden (45 minutes west).

Wildlife in Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park is in bear country (both black bears and grizzly bears). Carry bear spray, hike in a group, and make noise, especially in brushy areas. Keep your dog on a leash. Read my bear safety tips for hikers for more info.

You can also spot many other animals in the park including elk, moose, deer, mountain goats, big horn sheep, porcupines, pikas, and marmots. You will probably also see both Columbian and golden-mantled ground squirrels. Both species love to hang out at viewpoints begging for food from tourists. But please don’t give in – it’s terrible for their health and makes them aggressive.

Yoho National Park Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Yoho National Park for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post. Keep in mind that there is no cell service in most of the park so you will need to download offline maps before you go.

If you’re looking for a paper map, I recommend the Lake Louise and Yoho Map by Gem Trek Maps. It’s a waterproof map that shows all of the park trails, roads, and points of interest.

Things to Do in Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park Visitor Centre

The best place to start your trip is the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre. It is located at the entrance to the town of Field just off Highway 1. You can take a few minutes to explore the exhibits, and then ask staff questions to help plan your stay.

The Visitor Centre is also home to the Friends of Yoho National Park gift shop. This is by far the best official gift shop at any of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. They have a good selection of t-shirts, hats, stickers, and other souvenirs. They also have an incredible book section with hiking books, nature field guides, history books, biographies, and more. I buy one almost every time I visit.

It’s also quite practical to visit the Visitor Centre. It has flush toilets and reliable cell phone service. You can also buy your park admission pass here, either at the desk when the centre is open or at the vending machine outside at any time.

Emerald Lake

With an amphitheatre of mountains and turquoise blue waters, Emerald Lake is so beautiful that it rivals the scenery at Lake Louise. Emerald Lake is the most popular attraction in Yoho National Park, so you will still find full parking lots and lots of people. But it attracts a fraction of the tourists that Lake Louise does, so it feels a bit more serene.

The only way to get to Emerald Lake is to drive the nine-kilometre-long Emerald Lake Road, which leaves Highway 1 3 km west of Field. The road ends at a medium-sized parking area, which fills up by mid-morning. Plan to arrive early or come late in the day.

Once you arrive, wander down to the lakeshore to enjoy the scenery and take some photos. The area around the Emerald Lake Lodge has the best views.

You can also rent a canoe at the boathouse to paddle around the lake. While canoe rental prices are cheaper than at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, it’s still really expensive. As of 2024, it is $100 per hour! You aren’t allowed to bring your own canoe, kayak, SUP, etc. to Emerald Lake because of the risk of whirling disease.

If you are up for a hike, you can follow the 5.2-km-long Emerald Lake Trail around the lake. The western half is easy and flat, but the eastern and southern sections are rooty and muddy. Allow about 2 hours for the full loop. There are also several challenging hiking trails leading up into the mountains around the lake.

If you’re hungry, you can eat at one of the restaurants at the Emerald Lake Lodge. Cilantro on the Lake is the most informal, but it’s still on the pricey side.

Natural Bridge

If you’re driving the Emerald Lake Road, don’t miss stopping at Natural Bridge on your way to or from the lake. The Kicking Horse River has eroded the rocks and rushing waters go through a natural stone bridge. From the small parking lot, you can follow paths to several viewpoints on both sides of the river.

This is one of my favourite spots in Yoho since it is such a cool feature. The river is constantly carving out a canyon. Originally, the river would have run over rocks to create a waterfall. But instead, it wore a hole through the rocks, creating a fissure that the water flows through.

Takakkaw Falls

Besides Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls is probably the second-most visited spot in Yoho National Park. At 373 metres, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada. (However, it is shorter than Della Falls on Vancouver Island.)

The easy walk to the falls is about 0.7 km each way. You’ll get great views of the falls along the trail as you get closer and closer. You may want to bring a rain jacket because the spray from the falls creates mist in the air that gets wetter and wetter the closer you get to the base of the falls.

The falls are at their fullest in June during the snowmelt, but they are still spectacular later in the summer and early fall.

The parking lot for Takakkaw Falls is located at the end of Yoho Valley Road, which is 13 km long. The road is closed due to avalanche danger between early October and mid-June. The road has several sharp switchbacks. Trailers are not allowed and vehicles over 7 metres (23 feet) may have to back up and do a multi-point turn to get around the corners.

The parking lot fills up by mid-morning. Go early or late in the day for the best chance of getting a parking spot.

Lake O’Hara

Lake O’Hara is a special place. It’s a glacier lake surrounded by towering mountains and garlanded with some of the best hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies. I’ve been there twice and I think it should be on every hiker’s bucket list… but there’s a catch.

The only way to get to the lake is via an 11-km-long gated road. You can book tickets on a shuttle bus that goes to the lake a few times a day, but it’s so popular that there is an annual lottery for tickets. You can also walk up the road to the lake, but that takes a few hours and gives you less time to hike at the lake.

Psst: If you didn’t get a ticket, I recommend signing up for Schnerp or Campnab. They will send you a text if a cancellation opens up so you can book it right away. My guide to Campnab and Schnerp has all the details.

Once you arrive at the lake, there are lots of gorgeous hiking options. The most popular choice is the Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit. This challenging loop links together paths along ledges high above the lake for some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see.

Other beautiful hikes include Opabin Prospect, Lake Oesa, and Lake McArthur as well as the easy trail along the perimeter of Lake O’Hara.

If you want to extend your visit, you can book a room at the luxury Lake O’Hara Lodge, a bunk at the rustic Elizabeth Parker Hut, or a campsite at the Lake O’Hara campground. However, all three options are very hard to book.

Visiting Lake O’Hara can be a bit complicated, so I’ve got a complete Lake O’Hara guide to explain it all. I also run the Lake O’Hara Facebook group, which is a great place to check trail conditions and read reports from other visitors.

Burgess Shale Fossils

Even if you aren’t into fossils, you’ll find the Burgess Shale fascinating. The mountains of Yoho National Park have a unique layer of shale rocks that holds fossils from 508 million years ago. It’s one of the oldest fossil beds in the world to preserve the soft bodies of organisms, not just their bones and teeth.

The fossilized creatures look fantastical – they have tons of legs, antennae, and strangely shaped bodies. And since they are so well preserved, you can see their eyes, brains, guts, and more.

There are several ways to see the Burgess Shale fossils in Yoho National Park. The easiest one is to visit the Burgess Shale exhibit at the Yoho Visitor Centre.

It’s also possible to see the fossils in situ in the mountains, however, the fossil sites are closed to the public so the only way to visit is on a guided hike. The hikes are run by Parks Canada and the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation and you must reserve in advance. Reservations open in late January each year, but they don’t sell out right away.

There are three different guided hikes to choose from: a shorter one rated moderate and two longer ones rated difficult. I did the most difficult one to Walcott Quarry a few years ago. It was a tough hike but parts of it had great views. Visiting the fossil quarry was really cool and we got to see lots of interesting fossils. Our guide also spent lots of time explaining the geology of the fossil beds and the local mountains.

Town of Field

The tiny town of Field is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Banff. While the town used to have a larger population, today it’s home to less than 200 people. The town was built to serve the railroad and several mines which have long since closed.

It’s worth stopping in Field to wander around and look at some of the historic buildings. If you want the inside scoop, I really recommend the historic walking tours of town. Volunteers from the Friends of Yoho National Park lead the tours every Tuesday and Thursday night during the summer. Tours are free, but donations to Friends of Yoho are appreciated.

I was lucky enough to have Michale Lang, the former curator of the Whyte Museum in Banff as my guide. She told us lots of great stories about the history of Field. Instead of just a repetition of dates and events, she told us stories about the town’s residents through time.

Field is also a great place to stop for food. The town has two restaurants. The Siding Cafe is an informal lunch spot serving sandwiches and coffee. Unfortunately, they don’t have much indoor seating, so on rainy days you might have to get takeout. The other option is Truffle Pigs Bistro, which is a bit more high-end but gets great reviews. It doesn’t take reservations, so unfortunately, I wasn’t able to eat there. Next time!

Spiral Tunnels

I’m not into trains, but I still found the engineering behind the Spiral Tunnels really interesting. Building a railway across Canada was a condition of BC joining Canada. However, getting through the Rocky Mountains was really challenging for trains due to the steep terrain.

The first tracks through Kicking Horse Pass in Yoho National Park were so steep that the first train to try it in 1884 derailed, killing three people. Instead, the railway engineers used a Swiss solution – they drilled two spiral-shaped tunnels, one into the rocks of Mount Ogden and another into Cathedral Mountain.

There are two places to see the Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park. The easiest one is the Upper Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint on Highway 1. If you time it right, you can see both the front and back ends of a train as it goes through the tunnel. It also has lots of info boards.

You can also see the tunnels from the Lower Spiral Tunnel viewpoint in the first few minutes of the drive up the Yoho Valley Road.

It can be hard to picture how the spiral tunnels work. Thankfully, there are scale models of the tunnels at the Upper Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint and at the Yoho Visitor Centre. The one at the Visitor Centre has model trains that run!

Iceline Trail

If you’re a hiker, you can’t miss the Iceline Trail. It’s the most spectacular trail in Yoho National Park. The path climbs steeply through the forest on switchbacks with views of Takakkaw Falls across the valley. Then it emerges from the trees and the views begin.

The hike starts at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot on Yoho Valley Road. You’ll walk through rocks and past turquoise ponds as glaciers hang from the slopes above and you gaze at the peaks across the Yoho Valley. There are lots of great viewpoints to stop and take photos.

There are several ways to hike the Iceline. Most people do it as a loop via the Little Yoho Valley (20.8 km) or via Celeste Lake (17.5 km). You can also do it as an out-and-back hike to the trail’s high point (15 km). All options have 700 to 800 m of elevation gain. Expect the hike to take all day.

Another option is to include the Iceline Trail in a longer backpacking trip. That way you only can take your time and enjoy the Iceline since you’ll only have to hike 11.4 km from Takakkaw Falls to your campsite in the Little Yoho Valley.

I hiked the Iceline as part of the Yoho Valley Loop, a spectacular backpacking trip that also includes the other highlights in this part of the park like Laughing Falls, Twin Falls, and the Whaleback Trail. (More about those below.)

Laughing Falls

If you want an easy day hike in the Yoho Valley, head to 30-metre-high Laughing Falls. The 7.8-kilometre round-trip is fairly flat – it gains just 125 metres. The trail follows the Yoho River and passes two other waterfalls along the way. Allow two to three hours for the hike.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls is another great hike in the Yoho Valley. The two ribbons of the falls plunge 120 metres down the cliffs. If you are exploring around the base, put on your rain jacket – there is a lot of spray!

It’s also worth visiting the Twin Falls Chalet nearby. There is a great view of the falls from the front porch. This historic building dates back to 1923 and used to serve tea and meals to hikers. It’s been closed since 2019, but it may reopen since the Alpine Club of Canada now has a license to run it.

To get to Twin Falls, you continue along the Yoho Valley Trail from Laughing Falls. It’s a 16.4 km round-trip hike to the falls from Takakkaw Falls parking lot with 300 m of elevation gain. Allow 4 to 6 hours.

Whaleback Trail

While it doesn’t get as much buzz as other hikes in the Yoho Valley, the Whaleback Trail takes in some incredible scenery. The trail climbs steeply high above the valley floor over the shoulder of Whaleback Mountain. Next, it descends past the top of Twin Falls before plunging down to the bottom of the falls on a set of steep switchbacks.

You can hike the Whaleback Trail as a 21.3 km loop from the Takakkaw Falls parking lot. This route includes 520 m of elevation gain and takes about 7 hours. You can also visit the Whaleback Trail as part of a backpacking trip in the Yoho Valley.

Sherbrooke Lake

The moderate hike to Sherbrooke Lake is a good option if you have more time in the park and want to explore outside the Yoho Valley and Emerald Lake areas. The 6.2 km round trip hike gains just 165 m and ends at a beautiful turquoise glacier lake with Mount Ogden towering overhead.

The hike takes about 2 hours, but I recommend combining it with Paget Lookout (below) since they share the same trailhead. The two trails split apart at a fork about 1.5 km from the parking lot. If you combine both Sherbrooke Lake and Paget Lookout, the total distance is 11 km with 695 m of elevation gain. The combined hike takes 3.5 to 5 hours.

Paget Lookout and Paget Peak

Paget Lookout is an old fire lookout with an incredible view of the mountains in the Kicking Horse Valley and the Great Divide. For decades, a fire watcher would live here each summer, trying to spot forest fires. These days the lookout is preserved as a historical structure.

The hike to the lookout is steep, but only moderately challenging thanks to lots of well-graded switchbacks. It’s 7 km round-trip with 520 m of elevation gain and takes 2.5 to 3 hours.

The official trail ends at the lookout, but you can continue to the summit of Paget Peak via an informal scramble route. The route to the summit is 9.5 km long with 960 m of elevation gain. It takes 4 to 6 hours.

The scramble route is not technical – it is mostly walking on rock slabs and scree. There are a few cairns to mark the route, but for the most part, you will have to find your own way to the top.

Wapta Falls

Wapta Falls on the Kicking Horse River isn’t that tall at only 30 metres high, but it is very wide – it’s over 100 metres from side to side. The falls are on the less visited western side of the park 26 km west of Field, so it can be a bit quieter here.

It’s a 4.6 km round-trip hike to the falls with 30 metres of elevation gain. Plan to spend about 1.5 hours on the hike.

Backcountry Camping

Going backcountry camping is my favourite thing to do in Yoho National Park. The two main places to do it are at Lake O’Hara and in the Yoho Valley. The two experiences are polar opposites.

At Lake O’Hara, you take a shuttle bus into a well-equipped campground with kitchen shelters, running water, a communal fire pit, and a washroom building with pit toilets. From the campground, you can take day hikes around the lake or to spectacular viewpoints. As far as backcountry camping goes, it’s pretty luxurious.

In the Yoho Valley, you can hike into four backcountry campgrounds: Laughing Falls, Twin Falls, Little Yoho Valley, and Twin Falls. The hike to Laughing Falls is fairly easy, but the rest are moderate to difficult. From the campgrounds, you can do spectacular hikes like the Iceline, Whaleback, and Twin Falls.

You can also combine several of the campgrounds to complete the Yoho Valley Loop. I hiked this route on my last trip to Yoho and I was blown away by the views around every corner.

Where to Stay in Yoho National Park

Compared to nearby Banff, there aren’t that many places to stay in Yoho National Park. However, it’s worth spending a night or two in the park so that you don’t have to commute an hour each way from Banff.

Yoho National Park Hotels

Charlie’s Guest House: One of the many guesthouses in the town of Field, Charlie’s has suites with kitchens, gets great reviews, and is half a block from Truffle Pig’s Bistro. Check rates.

Cathedral Mountain Lodge: This luxury lodge on the Kicking Horse River near Field has log cabins with fireplaces. The main lodge building has incredible views and a high-end dining room. Check rates.

Emerald Lake Lodge: A classic Rocky Mountain hotel with huge stone fireplaces and cabin-style buildings. It’s a great place to stay to get Emerald Lake to yourself in the mornings and evenings. Check rates.

Whiskey Jack Hostel: Located near Takakkaw Falls, this basic hostel is a great place to stay if you are on a budget. Unfortunately, it is currently closed for repairs.

Camping in Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park has four campgrounds. Two of them (Kicking Horse and Takakkaw) require reservations. Reservations open in late January and early February and book up fast.

However, cancellations are common so you might be able to get a last-minute site. I recommend using a cancellation app like Campnab or Schnerp to notify you when cancellations come up. I was able to score nights at both Kicking Horse and Takakkaw Falls that way on my recent trip. My guide to camping cancellation apps has more details on how it works.

Reservable Campgrounds

Kicking Horse Campground: This is Yoho’s most popular campground. It has 88 sites and has flush toilets and showers. It has a great location at the start of Yoho Valley Road but it can be a bit noisy from the nearby highway and train. Check availability.

Takakkaw Falls Campground: This is a walk-in campground with 44 small sites, but an incredible location at the base of Takakkaw Falls at the end of Yoho Valley Road. It’s a 5 to 10-minute walk from the parking lot and there are wheelbarrows to help carry your gear. The campground has running water, pit toilets, and animal-proof storage for your food. Check availability.

First-Come, First-Served Campgrounds

Monarch Campground: Since this 35-site campground is first-come, first-served, it’s good for last-minute trips – but you’ll need to arrive early in the day to get a spot. Monarch is next to Kicking Horse Campground on Yoho Valley Road, but it does get a lot of highway noise. It has running water and pit toilets.

Hoodoo Creek Campground: Find this campground in the quiet western part of the park. It’s close to Wapta Falls but about 20 minutes from Field. The 30 sites here are first-come, first-served and have pit toilets. You need to bring your own water.

Final Thoughts

Yoho National Park is a bit under the radar compared to Banff, its more famous next-door neighbour. But I find myself returning to Yoho over and over for the spectacular scenery, interesting history, and less crowded trails.

If you’re planning to visit the Canadian Rockies, you can’t miss Yoho. You might be tempted to do it as a day trip from Banff. But I think you’ll find so many things to do in Yoho National Park that it’s worth spending two or three days here.

If you have questions about visiting Yoho National Park, ask them in the comments and I’ll help you out.

READ NEXT:

• 2024 Lake O’Hara Camping and Hiking Guide (Yoho National Park)
• Backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail
• How to Take an Epic Canadian National Parks Road Trip
• Best Things to Do in Banff in the Spring
• 9 Beautiful Reasons to Visit Banff in the Fall

The post Things to Do in Yoho National Park appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I had been to the valley before to see spectacular Takakkaw Falls, but I wasn’t prepared for how gorgeous the rest of the valley is. The whole valley is rimmed with glacier-capped peaks. The steep terrain means there are lots of waterfalls. And the well-built trails take you to tons of incredible viewpoints.

The Yoho Valley Loop is not an official trail – instead, it is a collection of trails that make a circular route that takes in all of the highlights in the valley. It includes the classic Iceline Trail as well as the Whaleback and Twin Falls.

I’m a hiking guidebook author and have backpacked all over BC and the Canadian Rockies. I hiked this route over three days in late August and was blown away by the beauty – and trust me, I’ve been to some gorgeous places!

My guide to backpacking the Yoho Valley and Iceline Trail includes:

• Quick facts about the Yoho Valley Loop including distance, how long it takes, weather, and more
• A map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable gpx file
• How to get to the Yoho Valley including info about parking and road closures
• Yoho Valley reservations: key dates plus booking tips
• How much does it cost to go backpacking in the Yoho Valley? A detailed budget breakdown
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances, times, and camping info
• Yoho Valley itinerary options from 2 to 4 days
• Yoho Valley hiking tips: advice for bears, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Yoho Valley Loop Quick Facts

Trail Overview: The loop strings together the Iceline, Little Yoho Valley, Whaleback, and Yoho Valley Trails in Yoho National Park to create a route that hits all the highlights in this part of the park. There are five campgrounds and one backcountry hut along the route.

Distance: 29.4 km loop (But there are options to make it longer or shorter)

Elevation Gain: 1,430 m (But there are options with less elevation gain)

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging. Most of the trail is moderate but there are challenging ascents and descents on the Iceline and Whaleback sections.

Duration: 2 to 4 days.

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September when the trail is snow-free.

Yoho Valley Weather: Most of the trail is above 2000m on the Continental Divide and has fickle mountain weather. In July and August, the average high temperature is 22°C and the average low is 5°C. Thunderstorms are common. Use my picks for the Best Weather Apps for Hiking to see the forecast for your trip.

Reservations and Costs: You must make reservations. You must also pay National Park entry fees, backcountry camping fees, and a reservation fee. More details are in the reservations and costs sections below.

What to Bring: This is a remote hiking trip, so you will need to bring typical backpacking gear. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

Wildlife: The trail is in bear country (both black bears and grizzly bears). Carry bear spray, hike in a group, and make noise, especially in brushy areas. Use campground cooking areas and store all your food and toiletries on the food storage poles. Read my bear safety tips for backpackers for more info.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Fires: Not allowed in the backcountry.

Indigenous Context: The Yoho Valley is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Métis. Before Europeans arrived, the nearby Kicking Horse Valley was an important travel and trading corridor. The government forced Indigenous people to leave when Yoho National Park was created in 1886 and prohibited them from accessing their traditional territory to hunt, fish, gather, and conduct cultural practices. Today, the park works with several Indigenous groups to facilitate park access for traditional, ceremonial, and cultural activities including harvesting.

Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Map and Elevation Profile

The trails in the Yoho Valley are well-marked and easy to navigate with signs at all junctions. If you want a paper map, the Lake Louise and Yoho Map from Gem Trek is the best one.

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a trail map using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the gpx file.

How to Get to the Yoho Valley

The Yoho Valley is located in Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The trailhead is at the end of Yoho Valley Road near Takakkaw Falls, which is 13 km from Highway 1 near the small town of Field, BC.

The trailhead is 35 minutes from Lake Louise, Alberta in the east or 1 hour from Golden, BC in the west. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself. It may be possible to get a taxi from Lake Louise, Banff or Golden, but it will be expensive. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

The parking lot has a designated section at the north end for campers. However, it is not big enough so you may have to park in the main parking lot. As well, the parking lots here can get very busy in the middle of the day since it’s where you park to visit Takakkaw Falls. There is additional overflow parking along Yoho Valley Road near the turn-off to the Whiskey Jack Hostel.

If you want to stay overnight nearby before your trip, you can book a walk-in campsite at Takakkaw Falls Campground near the trailhead or a drive-in campsite at Kicking Horse Campground near the start of Yoho Valley Road. I stayed at Takakkaw Falls before my trip and Kicking Horse after (because it has showers!)

The Whiskey Jack Hostel is also next to the trailhead, but it is currently closed for repairs with no announced re-opening date.

You can also stay in a hotel in nearby Field, BC (25 min from the trailhead). Charlie’s Guesthouse gets great reviews. If you want to splurge, Cathedral Mountain Lodge is mountain luxury at its best.

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Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Reservations

Backcountry Camping Reservations

While backcountry campgrounds in Yoho National Park aren’t as competitive as some in nearby Banff National Park, advance reservations are required.

Reservations for the entire summer season open in January or February each year. In 2025, reservations open on January 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. You must book on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open as popular dates will sell out in minutes.

You need to book each campsite when you make your reservation. Prepare a couple of different itinerary options and dates. (Use my suggested itineraries below.)

Your booking can include up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one tent per tent pad.

To make a reservation you will need to select the “Backcountry Zone” button and then “Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho” from the drop-down. Your access point is “Takakkaw Falls Trailhead”.

Have the following info ready to go when you make your Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline reservation:

• preferred itinerary with campgrounds and dates as well as backups
• number of tent pads and people you are booking for
• credit card

If you didn’t get a reservation, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up. A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Stanley Mitchell Hut Reservations

Reservations are required to stay in the Stanley Mitchell Hut. (More info on the hut in the trail description below.) You must make reservations on the Alpine Club of Canada website. ACC members can make reservations up to 180 days in advance. Non-members can make reservations up to 90 days in advance.

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Yoho Valley Loop Fees

You must pay a few different fees to hike the Yoho Valley Loop. The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Backcountry camping reservation fee: $11.50 per booking (for up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads)
• Backcountry camping fee: $13.50/person/night
• Yoho/Banff/Kootenay National Parks entry fee: $11/person/day (or $22 per car/day with up to 7 people)
• Stanley Mitchell Hut fee: $60/person/night for ACC members or $70/person/night for non-members

Most people hike the Yoho Valley/Iceline in three days/two nights and stay in backcountry campgrounds. In that case, a solo hiker would pay $71.50. Per-person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the expense of reservation and national park entry fees.

Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Description

Which Direction to Hike?

When I was researching this trip, I debated which direction to hike. Either way, you have some steep climbs and descents. In the end, we decided to start with the Iceline Trail at the south end of the loop and work our way around clockwise. That way you get the hardest climb out of the way first.

You can definitely do the loop counter-clockwise, which means a more gradual ascent on the first day but a brutal knee-mashing descent on the last day. Pick your poison!

Since I went clockwise, that’s the way I will lay out the trail description below.

Takakkaw Falls Trailhead to Yoho Lake Camp Junctions via the Iceline Trail

Distance: 3.3 km

Time: 1 to 2 hours

Elevation Gain: 445 m

Elevation Loss: 0 m

Alternative Route: Add 4.5 km if you head south to Yoho Lake Camp along the Highline Trail

The route starts from the Takakkaw Falls Parking lot. Head south on the wide paved trail along the Yoho River for a few minutes. When you reach the bridge and a view of the falls, don’t cross it towards Takakkaw Falls. Instead, head right on the gravel trail that goes up a small rise.

Follow the trail through the forest and then out into an open area. Cross the Yoho Valley Road about 0.8 km from the start and follow the driveway for the Whiskey Jack Hostel to a sign for the Iceline Trail about 100 m away.

From here, the trail begins to climb steeply through lots of short switchbacks. The path stays in the forest, but there are occasional peek-a-boo views of Takakkaw Falls.

Reach a junction with the spur trail to Hidden Lakes (some unremarkable marshy ponds) about 2 km from the start.

Keep climbing and intersect junctions with the Highline Trail at 2.2 km and 3.3 km. Both branches of this trail lead south to Yoho Lake Camp, an alternative camping location. It’s 2.4 km to the camp via the lower branch and 2.1 km via the upper branch.

Yoho Lake Camp

Yoho Lake is small and is below the treeline in mixed forest and subalpine meadow. It is famous as the location of the first-ever mountaineering camp for the Alpine Club of Canada in 1906, but otherwise, it’s not a major destination. However, it does have a pair of iconic Parks Canada red chairs and a great view of Mount Wapta.

Yoho Lake Camp has cleared dirt tent pads, an outhouse, and a cooking area with picnic tables and food storage poles. Collect water from the lake.

Yoho Lake Camp Junction to Little Yoho Camp via the Iceline Trail

Distance: 8.1 km

Time: 4 to 5 hours

Elevation Gain: 428 m

Elevation Loss: 295 m

Alternative Routes: Skip Little Yoho Valley Camp/Stanley Mitchell Hut via the Celeste Lake Trail. From the top of the Celeste Lake Trail, you can take the Whaleback Trail (11.5 km) or Marpole Lake Trail (8.4 km) to Twin Falls Camp or the Little Yoho Valley Trail to Laughing Falls Camp (6.1 km).

Continuing on from the upper Highline Trail junction you’ll still be climbing, but it’s a bit more gentle. As well, the trees start to melt away and you will start to appreciate the open terrain of the Iceline.

Look across the valley to Takakkaw Falls and the Wapta Icefield. The rocky summits of Michael Peak, The President, and The Vice President loom above you to the west. Below them, pockets of the Emerald Glacier gleam in the sunlight and gush meltwater down the slopes.

The next section of the trail treats you to some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire Yoho Valley. Pass the first of several turquoise blue glacial tarns about 5.3 km from the start. These tarns and their meltwater streams are good places to refill your water bottles. However, be sure to filter or treat your water – you never know if people or animals have pooped upstream. I use a Katadyn BeFree filter.

The streams do not have bridges. Sometimes you may be able to rock hop across, especially later in the summer. But earlier in the year be prepared to ford – bring sandals or Crocs to keep your boots dry.

There are tons of good photo opportunities in this section and it felt like we stopped a thousand times to take pics. One of the best places is a short spur trail to a viewpoint along a glacial mound.

About 6.6 km from the trailhead reach a junction near another lake. Your route along the Iceline continues straight. But if want to head directly to Twin Falls Camp or Laughing Falls, you can take the alternate route to the right on the Celeste Lake Trail.

Continue along the Iceline Trail, climbing gently past two lakes to the Iceline Summit 7.5 km from the start. Follow a short steep side trail to the top of a mound of glacial till for an incredible view of the Yoho Valley.

From here, it’s all (mostly) downhill to camp. Stay on the Iceline Trail as it works its way through more gravel and past a final turquoise lake. Climb a small hill (which will feel tough since you’ll be mentally done with elevation gain), and then follow the trail as it makes a left and descends into the forest.

The trail parallels the gravel slopes for a little bit before diving downhill on a series of steep switchbacks that lessen as you lose elevation. At the bottom, cross the Little Yoho River on a wooden bridge and arrive at the Stanley Mitchell Hut 11.1 km from the trailhead. If you are camping at Little Yoho Camp, turn left at the hut and hike another 0.4 km west up the valley to the campground.

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Stanley Mitchell Hut

The Stanley Mitchell Hut is a rustic self-catering backcountry hut run by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). It has a propane cooking stove and lighting. The hut sleeps 22 people in bunk beds and includes mattresses. There is an outhouse nearby and you can collect water from a creek.

The hut was built in 1940 and is a federal heritage building. It is named after Stanley Mitchell, one of the founding members of the Alpine Club of Canada and its Secretary-Treasurer for several decades.

Little Yoho Camp

Little Yoho Camp sits at the end of the Little Yoho Valley Trail next to the Little Yoho River.

There are two outhouses at the entrance to the campground.

There are no formal tent pads – instead, there are about ten clearings in the forest and meadow. Some of the clearings are a bit rooty or sloped, but a few have good views of the river. I found it a bit frustrating to find a campsite here since it wasn’t clear which campsites were official and which were not. (And the unofficial campsites were eroding the fragile meadows.)

There is a designated cooking area with picnic tables and poles with pulleys for food storage. Collect water from the Little Yoho River.

If you have energy for a day hike, you can follow a faint trail on the other side of the river up to Kiwetinok Pass and Kiwetinok Lake about 2.8 km away. The route is steep and only sporadically marked with cairns.

Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback

Distance: 11.1 km

Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Elevation Gain: 463 m

Elevation Loss: 870 m

Alternative Routes: If you want to skip the Whaleback, follow the Marpole Lake Trail to Twin Falls Camp (7.5 km) or the Little Yoho Valley Trail to Laughing Falls Camp (5.2 km).

From Little Yoho Valley Camp, hike back downstream past the Stanley Mitchell Hut. Continue following the trail as it descends next to the Little Yoho River for the next three kilometres.

Reach a pair of junctions 14.8 km from the trailhead. Go left at the second junction to begin your ascent of the Whaleback. (If you want to skip the Whaleback, continue straight to head to Twin Falls Camp via the Marpole Lake Trail or directly to Laughing Falls.)

The Whaleback Trail has unrelentingly steep switchbacks. The path ascends through sparse forest and scree, so it is open to the sun. After about 30 switchbacks, reach your high point on the shoulder of Whaleback Mountain.

There is a surprisingly large plateau here at the edge of the ridge – be sure to wander around to take in the views south towards the Iceline and north into the heart of the Yoho Valley.

From the high point, the trail descends gradually through open forest and patches of meadow. It’s a sharp contrast to the bare rocks and gravel of the Iceline Trail.

Reach the Whaleback Bridge over Twin Falls Creek about 18.2 km from the trailhead. This bridge is only in place seasonally – check trail conditions online in early and late summer to be sure it is in place. If it is not, the crossing is impassible due to dangerously high water.

The bridge makes a great spot for a break. Follow faint trails along the side of the creek to look down at the top of Twin Falls, but be careful – it’s a very long way down the sheer cliff!

When you are finished at the top of the falls, continue along the trail as it makes a slow rising traverse to avoid some impassable cliffs. About one km after the falls, the trail swings right and starts to steeply switchback down the slope. The terrain is steep and a little bit loose in places – the original trail builders must have been mountain goats to find this route!

The grade starts to ease about halfway down as you hike through thick forest with lots of huckleberry bushes.

Arrive at a junction 20.7 km from the start. Turn right to follow a spur trail to the base of Twin Falls. The twin ribbons of the falls drop 120 metres down the cliffs. The base gets a lot of spray so you might want to put your rain jacket on.

After enjoying the falls, backtrack to the junction and continue to Twin Falls Chalet 100 m away. Built in 1923, this building is a National Historic Site of Canada.

For decades Fran Drummond ran a teahouse and lodge for hikers here. Her last season was in 2019 and the tea house has sat vacant ever since. The Alpine Club of Canada was awarded a licence to run the tea house in 2022, but so far, they haven’t reopened. Even if the teahouse isn’t open, it’s worth a quick visit to see this cool old log building.

From the tea house, continue along the Yoho Valley Trail towards Twin Falls Campground. (Don’t take the Marpole Lake trail over the bridge – it leads back to the Little Yoho Valley.)

The trail descends gradually through the forest, often within earshot of the rushing waters of Twin Falls Creek. Reach the Twin Falls Campground on the banks of the creek 22.5 km from the trailhead.

Twin Falls Camp

Twin Falls Camp is set on a gravel bar on the north side of Twin Falls Creek. The campsites are along a trail in the forest just back from the creek. There are no designated tent pads, but there are about half a dozen distinct clearings in the trees, most of which are quite flat and well-drained.

The outhouse is on the east side of the campground, just past the small bridge.

The cooking area is on the open gravel bar next to the creek. There are picnic tables and a food storage pole with pulleys. Collect water from Twin Falls Creek or from the unnamed creek on the east side of the campsite.

Twin Falls Camp to Laughing Falls Camp

Distance: 2.3 km

Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Elevation Gain: 37 m

Elevation Loss: 91 m

Head east out of the campground, following the trail past the outhouse and up a small hill. Ignore a junction with the Yoho Glacier Trail heading left. The trail swings around to the southeast and heads gradually downhill through subalpine forest. Twin Falls Creek is often nearby.

Cross the creek 24.4 km from the trailhead. A few minutes later, ignore a junction with the Little Yoho Valley coming in from the right. Immediately after that, follow a signed spur trail to the right to the base of Laughing Falls. The waters of the Little Yoho River spill over the 30-metre-tall falls.

Reach the Laughing Falls Camp at 25.1 km, just past the trail to the falls.

Laughing Falls Camp

Laughing Falls Camp is the nicest campground on the Yoho Valley Loop. It has designated dirt tent pads in a small loop where the Little Yoho River meets the Yoho River. Several of the sites are right on the river.

The cooking area is located in an open area with peek-a-boo views of Laughing Falls on one side and the Yoho River on the other. It has picnic tables and food storage poles with pulleys. Collect water from the Little Yoho River.

The outhouse is in a clump of trees near the cooking area.

Laughing Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls Camp

Distance: 3.7 km

Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours

Elevation Gain: 50 m

Elevation Loss: 116 m

Leaving Laughing Falls Camp, cross the bridge over the Little Yoho River. Continue south on the Yoho Valley Trail, which soon swings away from the river. Reach a junction with the side trail to Duchesnay Lake at 25.7 km. The short trail leads to a shallow lake that dries up in late summer.

Continue along the trail through the forest to a 4-way intersection at 27 km. A short trail to the right (west) leads to Point Lace Falls, a small spread-out waterfall.

Another short trail to the left (east) leads to the edge of the Yoho River where you can look across to Angel’s Staircase Falls on the slopes above. It dries up in late summer and there wasn’t much to see on my late August trip.

Back on the main trail, head straight (south) to continue on the Yoho Valley Trail. Past the intersection, the trail widens and begins to look like an old road. It also flattens out as you trudge along beside the Yoho River.

Cross a broad outwash plain littered with rocks and debris at 28.5 km. This area is the result of regular avalanches and floods from the glaciers on the Iceline Trail. At the end of the outwash plain, cross a bridge and arrive at the Takakkaw Falls Campground 28.7 km from the trailhead.

Takakkaw Falls Camp

The Takakkaw Falls Campground is classified as a frontcountry walk-in campground, not a backcountry campground, since it is such a short walk from the trailhead. It’s so short that Parks Canada actually provides wheelbarrows to make it easier to haul your stuff from the parking lot.

It has 35 crushed gravel sites. Most of the sites are fairly small by frontcountry standards and will fit only a 4-person tent. (They are big by bakcountry standards.)

Each site has a picnic table and there is also a covered communal cooking shelter with more picnic tables. You can store your food in bear-proof lockers at the centre of camp. There is also a food storage building with shelves that will fit coolers.

There is a washroom building with pit toilets. The campground also has a sink with potable water.

Takakkaw Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot

Distance: 0.5 km

Time: 5 to 10 minutes

Elevation Gain: 0 m

Elevation Loss: 10 m

The walk from Takakkaw Falls Campground to Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot is an easy stroll on a wide gravel road.

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Yoho Valley Loop Itineraries

A note for all of these itineraries: Since they are loops, you can do any of the itineraries in the reverse direction. However, that usually means a steeper descent (harder on the knees) and a gentler climb. I prefer to save my knees, which is why my itineraries have the climb first.

Classic 3-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This is the itinerary described in this post. It’s the one that I used, and if I did this trip again, this is what I would choose to do because it hits all the highlights in the area.

While the distances on this itinerary are fairly short, the scenery is incredible and we spent a lot of time on the trail taking photos, snacking, and enjoying the views.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback Trail – Distance: 11.1km, Elevation Gain: 463 m, Elevation Loss: 870 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Day 3 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

As an alternative, you could hike to Laughing Falls on Day 2 instead of Twin Falls Camp.

Quick 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary uses the same route as the 3-day itinerary but compresses the last two days into one. This itinerary is good for strong hikers who don’t mind finishing late on day 2.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2: Little Yoho Valley Camp to Takakkaw Falls via the Whaleback – Distance 17.6 km, Elevation Gain: 550 m, Elevation Loss: 1087 m, Time: 6 to 9.5 hours

Leisurely 4-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

If you want to split up the loop further, you can add on a night at Yoho Lake to make a 4-day trip.

Day 1 – Takkakaw Falls to Yoho Lake Camp – Distance: 4.6 km, Elevation Gain: 348 m, Elevation Loss: 52 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Day 2 – Yoho Lake Camp to Little Yoho Valley Camp – 10.3 km, Elevation Gain: 597, Elevation Loss: 340 m; Time: 4 to 6 hours

Day 3 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback Trail – Distance: 11.1km, Elevation Gain: 463 m, Elevation Loss: 870 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Day 4 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

As an alternative, you could hike to Laughing Falls on Day 3 instead of Twin Falls Camp.

Iceline Only 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary gets you the full Iceline experience but skips Twin Falls and the Whaleback.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Takakkaw Falls via the Little Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 9.6 km; Elevation Gain: 58 m, Elevation Loss: 612 m, Time: 3-4 hours

Half Iceline 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary skips Little Yoho Valley, which means you do half of the Iceline and skip the Whaleback. You still get to see most of the incredible scenery of the Iceline and to visit the base of Twin Falls.

Day 1: Takakkaw Falls to Twin Falls Camp via the Iceline and Celeste Lake Trails – Distance 15.1 km, Elevation Gain: 881 m; Elevation Loss: 737 m, Time: 6 to 8 hours

Day 2 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Laughing Falls 3-Day Basecamp Itinerary

If you’re up for some great day hikes but don’t want to carry your gear too far, base camp at Laughing Falls for a few days.

Day 1 – Part 1: Takakkaw Falls to Laughing Falls via the Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 4.2 km, Elevation Gain: 126 m, Elevation Loss: 50 m, Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Day 1 – Part 2: Day hike to the Whaleback and Twin Falls via the Little Yoho Valley, Whaleback, and Yoho Valley Trails – Distance: 11.7 km loop, Elevation Gain: 773 m, Elevation Loss: 773 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Day hike the Iceline via the Celeste Lake and Little Yoho Valley Trails – Distance: 15.5 km, Elevation Gain: 742 m, Elevation Loss: 742 m, Time: 7 to 9 hours

Day 3 – Laughing Falls to Takakkaw Falls via the Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 4.2 km, Elevation Gain: 50 m, Elevation Loss: 126 m; Time: 1 to 1.5 hours.

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Yoho Valley Loop Hiking Tips

Cooking Areas: Each campground has a communal cooking area with a few picnic tables. It was nice to have a place to sit down each evening! But don’t hog the tables – they are for everyone to share.

Food Storage: All campgrounds have a pole with pulleys for food storage. Bring a waterproof bag to store your food in case it rains overnight. I always keep my food in a lightweight dry bag. The pulleys have clips but some are broken – carry a carabiner as a backup.

Mosquitos: Bugs can be bad on the trail in July and early August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black and grizzly bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Check the weather before you go: The high mountains are notorious for fickle weather. Rainstorms can blow in at any time. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for the Yoho Valley like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

Check trail conditions on the Yoho National Park website. This is especially important in early summer or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy. You’ll also want to make sure that the Whaleback Bridge is in place for the season.

Check Yoho Valley Road conditions on the Yoho National Park website. The road is closed due to avalanche hazard from mid-October to mid-June each year.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, I didn’t expect that much from the Yoho Valley – I knew it was going to be pretty because it’s in the Canadian Rockies. But I was blown away by how gorgeous this area is! It’s quickly become one of my favourite backpacking trips in the region (second to the Rockwall Trail I think).

Since the Yoho Valley isn’t as popular as some other Rockies backpacking trips, it also doesn’t feel as busy and is a bit easier to get reservations.

If you have questions about backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop and Iceline Trail, let me know in the comments – I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• 32 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• Things to Do in Yoho National Park
• Rockwall Trail Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

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