The Rampart Creek Hostel is 90 km north of Lake Louise on highway 93 in Banff National Park. The closest major Canadian city is Calgary, 3 hours south and east. Vancouver is almost 11 hours south and west.
Banff National Park is in a series of nationally protected areas in the Canadian Rockies, straddling the Alberta/B.C. border on the Alberta side of the Continental Divide. To stop in a Canadian National Park as well as travel on highway 93 a valid park pass is required. The cost for a pass is $10.00 CDN and can be purchased at toll booths upon entering the park or on highway 93.
The hostel is 10 km away from Saskatchewan Crossing where travelers can purchase gas and some groceries in the spring, summer and part of fall but these facilities close through late fall and winter. Travelers should come prepared with food, especially if traveling in the colder months and ensure that vehicles are fueled adequately as the nearest gas station is in Lake Louise, 90 km south.
The cost to spend a night at the Rampart Creek Hostel is $27 CDN, or $23 with a member card that can be purchased at any Hostelling International location or online. Each cabin has two rooms with three sets of bunk beds that sleep six people per room. Clean linens and pillow cases are provided, and travelers are asked not to bring their own sleeping bags or pillows in order to “keep the bed bugs out”. The rooms are well kept, very tidy, and travelers are asked to sweep the floor before the 11am checkout.
The common area consists of a kitchen with a gas stove and a long table that sits over 20 people. There is also a lounge that has couches, a coffee table and board games. Roughly 300 feet away from the common area are two trails: one leads to a sauna, the other to the creek. The sauna is open all night and many travelers enjoy contrasting between the cold glacier runoff in the creek and the heated environment in the sauna.
A Natural Experience of the Canadian Rockies
What is striking about the Rampart Creek Hostel is its devotion to a pure experience of the Canadian Rockies. The emphasis is on the surroundings. Travelers are provided only with what they need. There are no showers, and washing up is done using water from the creek. The hostel does not provide soap, shampoo or towels; travelers supply these for themselves and cooking and cleaning is done individually as there is no service or wait staff.
The only running water faucet is in the kitchen, and is for cooking and drinking. As a further complement to just how organic the experience is, the water is purified on site by being treated with ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms. The common areas have white LED lights powered by solar panels that again accentuate the sincerity of the outdoor experience. There is no indoor plumbing.
Call Ahead and Check for Availability at the Rampart Creek Hostel
Rampart Creek Hostel is open for most of the year but does shut down for a month between October and November. The hostel operates on a first come first serve basis, but reservations can also be made no less than 48 hours in advance by calling 1-866-762-4122. Travelers are advised to call ahead to ensure that accommodations are available, and once secured, it is time to experience the natural wonder of the Canadian Rockies.
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Nathan Seaward - Nathan Seaward, is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys fitness, music and mysticism. As a professional dj with over 5 years experience, he ...
