Hostels in Jasper National Park, Canada

Jasper is easy to access by road and rail and offers plenty of activities and nightlife, although it is a calmer place than Banff. There is outstanding nature all around. This is also a good location for people on working holiday visas who are staying at Jasper National Park hostels to look for work.

There are two kinds of hostels in Jasper National Park, and it is important to point out the difference between town hostels and wilderness hostels. Town hostels are regular, mainstream hostels with the usual amenities -- there is an option for these in Jasper National Park.

The wilderness hostels in Jasper National Park are much more like a very comfortable cabin or small group of cabins. You should approach them with a different mentality -- they can be very isolated and totally off the grid. You need to be comfortable with outhouse toilets, not having electricity or running water, and strictly following bear-proofing regulations like not leaving any food or other attractants in vehicles. If you do not have a vehicle, this is the time to rent one to further explorations, you need to make sure you know how you are getting to and from the wilderness hostels. In return for such minor hardships you get nature on your doorstep, a convenient place to break up the journey along the Icefields Parkway, and a true experience of immersion in the midst of one of the world's great protected areas.

There are many options you have while staying in hostels in Jasper National Park. Try to do your research before you arrive, otherwise it is very easy to miss particular places you would have wanted to see or things you would have tried. Parks Canada is a good starting point for information. Please do not try to rush through -- you will regret it later if you do!