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The Alpine Club of Canada

Castle Mountain Hut

Castle Mountain Hut

The ACC operates the largest network of backcountry huts in North America. Castle Mountain Hut boasts one of the most exhilarating views in the Rockies and is the perfect base for climbing classic 5.6 traditional routes such as Brewer’s Buttress, Bass Buttress, and Eisenhower Tower on Castle Mountain. See all of our huts here.

At A Glance

Trail distance: 5 km  
Elevation Gain: 915m
Trailhead: Castle Lookout, Banff National Park  
Family Friendly: No
Activities: Rock climbing, Mountaineering
Technical Considerations: Technical Climbing

Perched on Goat Plateau, halfway up Castle Mountain in Banff National Park, this small shelter serves primarly as an overnight base for rock climbers aspiring to climb many of the traditional routes on the upper cliffs. Staying overnight at the hut cuts 3 to 4 hours off the approach hike for the upper cliff climbs. It’s also one of the most dramatically placed huts, with stunning views up and down the Bow Valley. The approach involves scrambling and a short pitch of technical climbing. A rope is recommended for this section. This facility has minimal supplies and users must be prepared to be fully self-sufficient.

Capacity: 6
Hut Location: 51.3006, -115.9301
Heat: Unheated
Light: Coleman lanterns – bring white gas
Stove: Propane stove – bring green canister
Oven: No
Mattress: Yes
Open: Summer only

The Hut Experience

Staying in a backcountry hut is a shared, rustic experience. Sleeping, kitchen and living areas are communal. Guests area expected to bring their own sleeping bags, food and personal items.

All of our huts are user-maintained, meaning that the custodial work of keeping the hut clean, chopping firewood and shovelling snow is done by the guests. The ACC provides major service and renovations to all of our huts each year to ensure they are in good repair.

There are no transition days between bookings. Guests are responsible to sanitize before and after use of the huts.

Download our hut cleaning and sanitation guidelines here.

ROCK CLIMBING AND STUNNING VIEWS

On Goat Plateau, half-way up the south face of Castle Mountain, is a small tin shack used by rock climbers. The hut boasts one of the most exhilarating views in the Rockies and is the perfect base for climbing classic 5.6 traditional routes such as Brewer’s Buttress, Bass Buttress, and Eisenhower Tower. There are also many harder traditional routes on the walls both below and above the hut.

The hut is not open in the winter months.

Castle Mountain Hut Fact: The hut can be seen from the Trans-Canada Highway as a small white speck on the sixth buttress from the east.

MEMBER RATES

Pricing is subject to change without notice.

NON-MEMBER RATES

Pricing is subject to change without notice.

Summer (May 1 to October 30)

FACILITIES

Sleeping Capacity: 6

Bedding: Mattress pads provided, bring your own sleeping bag

Cooking: Propane stove, bring your own canister (green). Pots and pans, dishware and cutlery are provided.

Bathroom: Outhouse

Lighting: Coleman lanterns – bring white gas and spare mantels

Heat: Unheated

Water Source: Creek

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Summer

  • Mountaineering
  • Rock climbing

Fire Lookout approach: Four kilometers of national park trail is followed by scrambling and one short section (20m) of technical climbing (low 5th class). A rope is recommended for this section.

Rockbound Lake approach: The Rockbound Lake trail is followed for approximately 5 km. Smaller trails, scrambling and an exposed traverse ledge lead to the easternmost end of Goat Plateau, which is followed to the hut.

Quick Description: National park trails, scrambling and a short section (20m) of technical climbing.
Elevation Gain to Hut: 915 m (3,000 ft)
Approach Time: 3 to 4 hours

Approach Description: Printable PDF

ACC Members may make reservations up to 6 months in advance. To access this benefit, please LOG IN to your membership account and follow the prompts.

If you are not an active member, you may SIGN-UP to join a community of alpine enthusiasts.

Non-Members are welcome to make reservations up to 3 months in advance.

Please call our reservation team at 403-678-3200 ext. 0 if you are looking to make a booking within 1-week of check-in. 

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References And Links