HI Castle Mountain Wilderness Hostel

Great stay ; sparkling clean kitchen , bedroom and bath. One of the best hostel experiences - I’ve stayed in many hostels around the world but always in private rooms in the hostel. This was one of the very few hostels where I was in a dorm to save $$$ , and it didn’t disappoint - strict quiet hours were followed and people in the dorm were also civic to respect the quiet times, as a result of which I could sleep very well through the night. Kitchen has plenty of utensils and it was fantastic to cook , lots of storage room for food in the fridge and the cabinets. The male and the female dorms were separate. Each dorm had 12 beds. Only 2 baths and two toilets - but I could always use it when I needed & it was never crowded.

Absolutely incredible place. The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming; everyone made us feel right at home. The entire hostel is impeccably maintained, with perfect order, cleanliness, and attention to hygiene. It strikes a rare balance between feeling quaint and cozy while being surrounded by raw, untamed wilderness. A truly unique experience; peaceful, wild, and unforgettable.

We have stayed in many hostels in Canada and across the world. This one located 20 kms out of lake Louise, is a sensibly cheaper alternative to 500 a night option in town. Shona was engaging, knowledgeable and very direct in advice as to what best to do in the area. You are signing up to single sex dorms, in a bush land environment, there was a bear wandering trough the car park, and it was pretty quiet, Only downside was that the water system had malfunctioned which meant limited cold showers- amazing what can be done with a bucket of warm water.

The worst accommodation experience in my 65 years and on 6 continents! I was aggressively accosted by the full time custodian. I was forced outside on a cold winter night and told I could not stay there despite my having a reservation. Absolutely no reason for this bizarre unacceptable conduct. Just as concerning was HI Canadas’ managers lack of response to my detailed and eye witness supported complaint. Canada’s National Parks deserve better than HI Canada.

One of the best hostels I stayed at in the Rockies. The atmosphere is very cozy, there are all the conveniences like hot showers, electricity, wifi, etc. The host is very friendly too and ready to give advice about the hikes around. I came here to do the Castle Mountain hike, which is the perfect location as you don't even have to take the car to start it. Although compared to Hi Banff or Lac Louise which are more "industrial" hostels, I would have loved to stay longer in this one!

Fantastic hostel located in a forest. Close to the main lakes and hiking areas in Banff. The hostel felt cosy with the fire place, the guests were pleasant and the host, Shawna, truly went above and beyond to make the experience personable and fun. I'd definitely recommend this place!

2 separate dorms for male/ female same as bathrooms. Place seems clean. Love the location how close it is to all the attractions. If you’ll be out all day and all you need is a place to shower and sleep and maybe make your meals this is the place . You just have to share some space and be respectful to all the guest . I would stay here again . They do have WiFi .

Don’t expect much. The place feels dirty and overall doesn’t feel worth it even for the small amount of money paid. I would never stay here again or tell someone to stay here. You would be better off staying in Calgary and driving into the National Park because you would still get more sleep. Or try camping, at least then you would have a cooler story. The manager was rude and unhelpful when trying to understand where everything was. The guests were more helpful making up slightly for the disrespect from the property manager.

A beautiful cabin in the woods, we enjoy staying here during the winter, very easy access to all 3 ski resorts, and nice and quiet compared to Banff, and very affordable compared to Lake Louise. We've rented the entire space a few times for our outdoor group and it's a steal in price and you get all of the amenities to your group.