We still feel like we've gone camping and my son refers to the hostels as "camping cabins" which is a fairly accurate description given the rustic nature of many wilderness hostels and their location set back in the woods away from the highway.
One wilderness hostel that I've always enjoyed as an adult is the HI Castle Mountain Hostel. I rented the entire hostel last winter for a girls' trip with 28 ladies and we had a fabulous weekend skiing, eating, and hanging out in the comfortable hostel. It got me thinking that it would be a great location for a family trip too despite the lack of private rooms that some hostels have.
The HI Castle Mountain Hostel is located at the junction of the TransCanada Highway (between the towns of Banff and Lake Louise) and Highway 93 which goes into Kootenay National Park. It sleeps 28 people in two dorm rooms that are set up with bunk beds.
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| Skiing on the Castle Mountain Ski Trails |
One wilderness hostel that I've always enjoyed as an adult is the HI Castle Mountain Hostel. I rented the entire hostel last winter for a girls' trip with 28 ladies and we had a fabulous weekend skiing, eating, and hanging out in the comfortable hostel. It got me thinking that it would be a great location for a family trip too despite the lack of private rooms that some hostels have.
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| Castle Mountain Girls' Trip 2015 |
The HI Castle Mountain with Kids
The HI Castle Mountain Hostel is located at the junction of the TransCanada Highway (between the towns of Banff and Lake Louise) and Highway 93 which goes into Kootenay National Park. It sleeps 28 people in two dorm rooms that are set up with bunk beds.
The rooms are split into male and female dorms which I appreciated staying here as a family. While I have a boy, I know many families with girls and I would feel uncomfortable having a female child sharing a room with a bunch of strange men.
Families who don't want to share the dorm rooms with strangers can always rent out the whole hostel for an affordable group weekend. Five families would be able to share the space nicely and there is plenty of living space to never feel crowded. Note that families with children under the age of 6 will have to book the full hostel because kids must be 6+ years old to share a dorm room.
Apart from the dorms, the hostel features a large fireside room with plenty of space to sit, play games, drink a cup of tea, and chat with fellow guests. There is also a spacious kitchen, fully stocked with all dishes and cooking supplies, with two long tables for eating at.
Overall, the HI Castle Mountain Hostel is a very comfortable place to spend the night with indoor plumbing (something rare in a wilderness hostel,) electricity, and showers. There is even cell coverage at the hostel! Linen, blankets, and towels are included with your booking so you don't have to pack a lot for your stay.
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| The fireside room is stocked with fun games at the HI Castle Mountain Hostel |
Families who don't want to share the dorm rooms with strangers can always rent out the whole hostel for an affordable group weekend. Five families would be able to share the space nicely and there is plenty of living space to never feel crowded. Note that families with children under the age of 6 will have to book the full hostel because kids must be 6+ years old to share a dorm room.
Apart from the dorms, the hostel features a large fireside room with plenty of space to sit, play games, drink a cup of tea, and chat with fellow guests. There is also a spacious kitchen, fully stocked with all dishes and cooking supplies, with two long tables for eating at.
Overall, the HI Castle Mountain Hostel is a very comfortable place to spend the night with indoor plumbing (something rare in a wilderness hostel,) electricity, and showers. There is even cell coverage at the hostel! Linen, blankets, and towels are included with your booking so you don't have to pack a lot for your stay.
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| Playing in the fireside room at the HI Castle Mountain Hostel |
Top 5 Things to Do While at the HI Castle Mountain Hostel
1. Hike Johnston Canyon
Disclaimer for 2021 - the highway is closed to Johnston Canyon this winter.Located a short 10 minute drive away, this is the top hike in the Castle Mountain area. This is a premier winter hike in Banff National Park and visitors can hike to two large waterfalls, crawl through a cave to view the first set of falls, and hike down into the canyon to discover other hidden waterfalls and ice caves.
For more information on this hike, please read my previous story: Ice Caves and Frozen Waterfalls in Banff National Park.
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| Johnston Canyon on our previous visit before Christmas |
2. Ski the Castle Mountain Cross Country Ski Trails
I had never skied in the Castle Mountain area of Banff until our recent trip last December and wow, have I been missing out!! We drove towards Lake Louise on Hwy 1A and parked near the Protection Mountain Campground.
It is very easy to ski from the Castle Mountain Lookout Parking lot to the Protection Mountain Campground and back. Alternately, start at Baker Creek Resort and ski one way to Castle Mountain Lookout.
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| Skiing from Protection Mountain to Castle Mountain Lookout, Banff |
The section of trail between the Castle Mountain Lookout parking lot and Castle Junction (where the hostel is) is much more difficult with some intermediate hills. It's also less scenic. It is however fun to set up a shuttle and to ski one way from Baker Creek to Castle Junction.
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| The pretty part of the trail from Protection Mountain to Castle Mountain Lookout |
For information on the Castle Mountain Trails, visit the Parks Canada website.
And here is a link to download the trail maps for the ski trails. (There's a winter brochure for both Banff and Lake Louise.)
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| Trail map of the Castle Junction area |
3. Spend the day at Lake Louise
There is no shortage of things to do at Lake Louise, located a short 20 minute drive away. Skate on the lake, ski across the lake, ski the Moraine Lake Road or the Great Divide Trail, Ski the Tramline Trail downhill with a car shuttle (our favourite trail with kids,) go snowshoeing in the area, or spend the day at the Lake Louise ski resort. There is something for everybody here.
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| Skiing on the Tramline Trail at Lake Louise |
For more information on cross country skiing at Lake Louise, check out my previous stories: Family X-Country Skiing at Lake Louise
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| Skiing the Bow River Trail at Lake Louise |
For information on skating and the Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise (complete with ice sculptures and an ice castle,) read my previous story: 20 Years of Ice Magic at Lake Louise
Disclaimer for 2021: The ice castle is up at the lake but there are no ice sculptures this winter.
In the opposite direction from Castle Mountain is the Town of Banff, also located a short 20 minute drive away. The Castle Mountain Hostel is right in the middle of everything! 20 minutes to Banff and 20 minutes to Louise! How could you be more ideally situated?!
Drive to Banff and take a hike to Stewart Canyon at Lake Minnewanka, go skiing on the Cascade Fire Road from Lake Minnewanka, or look for ice to skate on (sometimes wind blows the lake clear in the middle of winter.)
Alternately, there are many other cross country ski trails, skating rinks, hiking trails, and there are two ski resorts for downhill skiing. There is no shortage of activities for every interest.
For more information on Banff in winter, visit the Banff Lake Louise Tourism website.
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| Skating at Lake Louise, Banff National Park |
4. Spend the day in the Banff Townsite
In the opposite direction from Castle Mountain is the Town of Banff, also located a short 20 minute drive away. The Castle Mountain Hostel is right in the middle of everything! 20 minutes to Banff and 20 minutes to Louise! How could you be more ideally situated?!
Drive to Banff and take a hike to Stewart Canyon at Lake Minnewanka, go skiing on the Cascade Fire Road from Lake Minnewanka, or look for ice to skate on (sometimes wind blows the lake clear in the middle of winter.)
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| Hiking the Stewart Canyon Trail at Lake Minnewanka, Banff |
Alternately, there are many other cross country ski trails, skating rinks, hiking trails, and there are two ski resorts for downhill skiing. There is no shortage of activities for every interest.
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| Skiing on the Cascade Fire Road, Banff |
For more information on Banff in winter, visit the Banff Lake Louise Tourism website.
5. Ski or snowshoe to Boom Lake
This is one of my personal favourite things to do from the Castle Mountain Hostel but it's best suited for families with older children. The trail to nearby Boom Lake on Hwy 93 (located just before you cross into Kootenay National Park) is 10 km round trip and it is not track set or groomed for skiing. To ski this trail falls into the realm of ski touring and it's best to stop as soon as you get to the lakeshore. (It's much easier to snowshoe to Boom Lake but it is still 10 km round trip.)
If you want to ski or hike across the lake, do so at your own risk because there are slide paths that touch the lake. In times of high avalanche risk, there have been slides that have reached the ice, cracking the ice! You don't want to be wiped out by an avalanche and then end up in the lake!
Read more here: Family Backcountry Ski Touring in Banff, Boom Lake
Who's booking a weekend at Castle Mountain now? To reserve beds at the HI Castle Mountain Hostel please visit Hostelling International's Website.
Please know that children must be 6 years old to share a dorm room at this hostel.
If you have younger children, consider booking the full hostel with a group of friends. Information on booking a hostel can be found here.
Conclusion
Who's booking a weekend at Castle Mountain now? To reserve beds at the HI Castle Mountain Hostel please visit Hostelling International's Website.
Please know that children must be 6 years old to share a dorm room at this hostel.
If you have younger children, consider booking the full hostel with a group of friends. Information on booking a hostel can be found here.
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| Ice Cave in Johnston Canyon near the Castle Mountain Hostel |
I had no idea about the Castle Mountain ski trails so will try and check out it out this winter. The "great room' at the hostel looks pretty darned nice. A super way to get out in winter with your family. Thanks for linking to me. I love the Boom Lake trail - also nearby Chickadee Valley in BC though it would be harder with kids.
ReplyDeletesledding, skiing and skating!! you're kids certainly seem to be having a ton of fun in the snow
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