HI - Jasper - Maligne Canyon Hostel

HI - Maligne Canyon Hostel does have electricity but no plumbing. The kitchen is small but clean, and outdoor dining is available in the summer, barring the presence of bears in the area. Each cabin is divided into two rooms with several beds per room. There is no shower at this wilderness hostel, but the nearby Jasper hostel will let you shower for free if you are staying here.

Heike, the manager, is super friendly and also passionate about hiking. She is rather familiar with the immediate area and can give you some good tips. The guests up here are equally passionate about hiking -- you may run into some true wacko trail-runners trying to do the Skyline in one day (it's longer than a marathon)!

We hate to say it, but with the guardrails that prohibit good views, Maligne Canyon (pictured) is something of a disappointment. But by all means, don't let that stop you from coming here! Some great hikes lie nearby, namely Bald Hills (also pictured) for an excellent day hike and Skyline, one of the most highly-regarded backpacking trails around. It's also the closest hostel to Miette Hot Springs, and you're likely to spot moose, bighorns, maybe caribou, and even wolves on the way there and back! Paddling or cruising Maligne Lake is also a good option, as it has a more varied and interesting shoreline than other glacial lakes in the Canadian Rockies. This is a good little hostel to stay at, and being the furthest north seems to offer the most promise of wildlife watching.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2006