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Best Backcountry Stays in the Canadian Rockies

Group of hikers posing in front of a mountain and lake in the Canadian Rockies.

If there’s one thing we love just as much as uncovering hidden culinary gems, it’s discovering unforgettable places to stay in the Canadian Rockies. Often, the best adventures start at the trailhead but we always look forward to that meal and the gathering at the end of the trail.

Whether you’re crossing glaciers, hiking into alpine valleys, or planning a weekend escape with friends, here are our favourite backcountry stays, from rustic huts to full-service alpine lodges.

Basic Shelter in the Backcountry –  Alpine Club of Canada (ACC)

Simple. Remote. Earned.

ACC huts are beautifully rustic with shared sleeping and basic cooking facilities. Class A huts are heated; Class B are not. These are true alpine stays, many require ski touring or mountaineering experience. Membership in the ACC  has its privileges like booking early. But, even non-members can book into the huts.

  1. Peyto Hut (Banff) – 16 guests | Unheated
    Northernmost stop on the Wapta Icefield Traverse.
  2. Bow Hut (Banff) – 30 guests | Heated
    A classic glacier stops near Bow Lake.
  3. Balfour Hut (Lake Louise) – 16 guests | Unheated
    High-alpine shelter south of Bow Hut.
  4. Scott Duncan Hut (Lake Louise) – 12 guests | Unheated
    The southern end of the Wapta Traverse.
  5. Sydney Vallance Hut (Jasper) – 12 guests | Heated
    A 12 km hike up the Fryatt Valley with serious rewards.

No frills. Just mountains.

Comfortable Lodges with Kitchen Facilities

Still wild, just a little warmer.

These backcountry stays offer roofs, real kitchens, and cozy shelter after a full day on the trail.

All the fees and information you will need for a Banff back country trip can be found here.

  1. Egypt Lake & Bryant Creek (Banff)
    Popular hiking bases near Healy Pass and the Assiniboine corridor.
  2. Shovel Pass Lodge (Jasper)
    Heated cabins along the Skyline Trail at 2,135 m.
  3. Fortress Lake Lodge (Jasper)
    Hike, bike, or fly in, then paddle, fish, and explore.
  4. R.C. Hind Hut (Mount Assiniboine)
    Rustic cabins for small groups.
  5. Naiset Cabins (Mount Assiniboine)
    Cozy alpine basecamp for exploring iconic terrain.

Adventure by day. Warmth at night.

Luxurious Backcountry Lodging

Remote, but refined.

These are the stays where beds are made, meals are not only prepared but scrumptious, and hot showers follow big trail days.

  1. Tonquin Valley Lodge (Jasper)
    Cabin-style comfort 23 kilometers into a gradual alpine trail.
  2. Mount Assiniboine Lodge (B.C.)
    Full-service alpine escape with sauna. Helicopter access from Canmore.
  3. Talus Lodge (B.C.) – a little rustic but with only 12 guests, lots of individual attention. Helicopter from Canmore
  4. Sundance & Halfway Lodge (Banff)
    Hot showers and indoor plumbing 10 kilometers up Healy Creek.
  5. Shadow Lake Lodge (Banff)
    Cozy cabins with meals included.
  6. Skoki Lodge (Lake Louise)
    Historic alpine charm, homemade and very tasty meals and unforgettable ski touring.

Wilderness, without giving up comfort.

From glacier huts to cabin lodges with saunas, the Rockies truly offer something for every kind of adventurer. And just like a great meal, the best stays are the ones you savour long after you’ve left. If we missed your favourite alpine escape, let us know, we’re always hungry for new mountain adventures.

 

Wait! Your idea of camping is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel? 

We’ve got you covered there too. Join us year round for our award-winning Eat the Castle experience with 5 food and beverage pairings inside the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

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