Neil Colgan Hut

Mountaineering Hut in the Valley of the 10 Peaks

The Neil Colgan Hut is the highest permanent, habitable structure in Canada (edging out the Abbot Pass Hut by about 30 metres). Located in a col between Mts. Little and Bowlen, the Neil Colgan Hut serves as the base for excellent alpine mountaineering objectives in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

The peaks of the Valley of the Ten Peaks are all over 10,000 feet, and the hut, at 9,700 feet is an ideal base for bagging these summits. It is standard to climb a number of peaks in a day, and it is not uncommon to stop back at the hut for lunch on the porch, or another cup of coffee between summits.

The routes accessible from the hut range from moderate scrambles up Mts. Little and Bowlen, just outside the hut, to the north face ice routes on Mts. Fay and Quadra. The many other peaks have difficulties somewhere in between.

The Colgan Hut is equipped with propane stoves and lanterns and is well-stocked with cooking supplies and foamies for 18 people. It is well-insulated and warms up nicely when the stoves and lanterns are on and a few bodies are inside.

At A Glance

Location
General: In the Valley of the 10 Peaks, Banff National Park
Map and Grid Reference: 82N/8 (Lake Louise); Grid Reference 568830
Hut Elevation: 2,955 m (9,700 ft)
GPS: NAD83 11U 556706 5682945
Lat / Long: 51°17' 42" / -116°11' 12"
Rates
Open: Summer only
Rates: $30 members, $40 others
Access
Quick Description: Rock climbing and glacier approach from Moraine Lake or long glacier approach from Prospectors Valley.
Approach Description: Printable PDF
How To Book Check Availability

Hut Bookings Summer 2020

Note that all ACC hut bookings for summer 2020 will be processed under a temporary system due to COVID-19.
Please see our Booking Huts page  for our temporary policies and rates for summer 2020.
Please do not call our office to make hut bookings at this time.

Hut Bookings

  • Reservations arerequired at all ACC huts.
  • ACC membership is not required to book huts. ACC members can book 12 months in advance. Non-members can book 30 days in advance
  • Call 403-678-3200 ext 0 to make a booking. We are open 8:30 am to 8:30 pm daily.
  • Please read our cancellation policies and consider cancellation and/or appropriate emergency medical insurance for your trip (link below).
Read Cancellation Policies
Get Travel/Cancellation Insurance

Rates

Per Night Adult Member $30
Per Night Adult Non-Member $40
Per Night Child Member $15
Per Night Child Non-Member $20
      

About rates

Facilities

18
Mattress pads provided, bring your own sleeping bag
Propane stovetops (propane supplied)
The highest outhouse in Canada
Propane lighting – propane is supplied
Unheated
Snow melt

Recreational Opportunities

Summer
  • Mountaineering

Access

Perren Route: Trails along the north shore of Moraine Lake are followed by a stream crossing, scrambling, technical rock climbing and glacier travel. 5-7 hours.

Schiesser Ledges Route: Moraine Lake trails are followed by scrambling up ledges and glacier travel to the hut. Route finding can be difficult. 5-7 hours.

Prospectors Valley approach: From the Marble Canyon parking lot on Highway 93 the route follows Tokkum Creek to the site of the old Fay Hut. Trails, moraine and glacier are followed to the hut in 7-10 hours.

Printable detailed approach description

References and Links

The Hut Experience

Staying in a backcountry hut is a shared, rustic experience. Sleeping, kitchen and living areas are communal, and foam mattresses, cooking and eating utensils are provided. Guests are 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.