words :: Bob Covey
Hostelling (yes, it’s a verb) is a great way to set up basecamp for your next great adventure—be it a backcountry objective, cycling the world-famous Icefields Parkway, or simply getting to know a community without breaking the budget.
Unlike at a hotel or Airbnb, hostellers share communal living spaces—a factor which helps hugely in fostering fast connections. Meeting a diverse fraternity of travellers from across the globe is a big draw for many backpackers—particularly those flying solo. But dorm life isn’t for everybody, and modern hostels have plenty of private room options for more introverted adventurers and families with kids.
I’m squarely in the latter category these days, but I have fond hostelling memories from my 20s and 30s of meeting new friends over impromptu dinners and around the fire pit. Here are five Rocky Mountain hostels you should consider checking out before you check out.
1. HI Mosquito Creek
Hostelling International’s network of wilderness hostels have played a fairly foundational part in my coming-of-age in the Rockies. Located right smack in the middle of Banff National Park, I’m partial to HI Mosquito Creek not just because of the great skiing that can be had close to camp but because of the surprise 30th birthday party 12 or so of us pulled off one year to celebrate a friend. The snowbanks were hip high and the sauna was steaming. Take me back!
2. HI Shunda Creek (Nordegg)
The first time I stayed at Shunda Creek was in 2006. HI was hosting an ice climbing competition and I recall watching eminent alpinist Raf Slawinski performing a figure-four 15 metres off the deck. The next time I visited was 14 years later, and the atmosphere was markedly less extreme. Good thing: my wife, daughter and I were awaiting the arrival of the fourth member of our family. Our son’s final two weeks of his gestation couldn’t have been more peaceful.
Now that he’s old enough to get in a harness, we’ve gotten to know David Thompson Country as a year-round adventure paradise and thanks to the affordable, accessible experience at Shunda, we’ve discovered good crags, fishy creeks and arguably the best pie on the planet at the nearby Miner’s Café in Nordegg.
3. HI Kananaskis
HI Kananaskis is described as “Wilderness Lite” in HI’s hostel literature, which, when you’re travelling with two kids under 10, makes for a soft landing—things can get wild enough after four hours in the minivan, without having to trek to camp. In HI Kananaskis we found a quiet, quaint space maintained equisitely by hostel manager, Nancy.
During the day we zipped around Ribbon Creek on cross-country skis and hit the last day of snowboarding at next-door Nakiska, but for the kids, it was playing board games at the homey hostel that was the biggest hit.
4. Canmore Downtown Hostel
OK so the Canmore Downtown Hostel isn’t exactly a wilderness experience, but what it lacks in star-gazing, it makes up for with modernity, convenience and friendly, hospitable vibes. The prime location—steps away from funky eateries, cafés and the incomparable Elevation Place—is perhaps the hostel’s best asset. That’s saying a lot, because the mountain views from every room and the relaxing lounge feel more botique lodgings than affordable accommodations in one of the Rockies’ most in-demand destinations. Travellers can take advantage of their Two Towns, One Adventure deal by booking a stay at their sister property in Jasper.
5. HI Hilda Creek
HI Hilda Creek is where my wife and I got engaged, so I have a special place in my heart for this rugged Rockies retreat, which HI calls its “Wildest Wilderness” property. Because it only sleeps six, we usually book the whole place, making the experience an intimate outlier from a typical hostel holiday.
We’ve celebrated Canada Day with friends here and skied dry December powder right to the door. In the summer the 500 metre hike from the road isn’t so bad, but once the snow flies it’s a bit of work getting your groceries and gear to the cabin. But if it was easy, it wouldn’t be epic!
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