Travel to the “Matterhorn of Canada” and visit the magical Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will blow you away with stunning jagged peaks sit above vibrant alpine lakes and rolling meadows. Get into the backcountry and escape the crowds in this gem of a park!
One of the only ways to see this park is to hike into it. 🥾 So, plan a multiple night backpacking trip into this gorgeous rugged destination. Although Mount Assiniboine is the most famous peak in this park, there are so many beautiful spots to explore.
I had been wanting to go to Mount Assiniboine for a while and then we lucked out and scored last minute permits! So, we head out on a weekend trip to this spectacular destination. We fell in love 💖 with the landscape and we definitely want to return as soon as we can.
When I first started planning our trip to the park, I got extremely confused. 🤔 But, after lots of research I finally figured out exactly what we needed. I’ve tried to make your trip as simple as possible by putting everything in one blog post! You’ll find backpacking routes, instructions on getting reservations, and tips for your trip!
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Planning Your Trip to Mount Assiniboine
How to Get to Mount Assiniboine
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is in the Canadian Rockies between Kananskis and Banff. There are only two ways to get into the park itself: hike in or helicopter 🚁. You can read more about the backpacking and helicopter options further in this post.
The easiest way to get to Mount Assiniboine is to fly into Calgary and drive to the Canmore area. ✈️
Canmore is about an hour from Calgary and it’s the jumping off point to access Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. You can either access Mount Assiniboine from the Mount Shark Trailhead in the Spray Lakes area or Sunshine Village near Banff.
How to Book a Helicopter
Helicopters run from Canmore to Assiniboine Lodge and from Mount Shark Helipad to Assiniboine Lodge and back. Flights are short, but incredibly scenic as they soar over the gorgeous mountain landscape. It’s a great way to see the park from a different vantage point.
Flights run on Wednesdays and Sundays in Winter and Wednesday, Friday, Sunday in Summer! Flights are $215 from Mt Shark & $245 from Canmore. Each person is allowed 40 pounds of luggage. 🚁
You can book your flights on their website as long as you have a campground, hut, or lodge reservation. Some walk ups are usually available, so you can also check while you are in the park. We hiked in and then chose to fly out to save our legs and it was the perfect experience!
Note: Mt Shark helipad is 1 mile from the Mt Shark trailhead!
Packing Guidelines for the Helicopter
If you are taking a helicopter, then you are limited to 40 pounds. However, they don’t usually weigh things at the helipad, so you should have a little leeway. Dylan and I brought two 65 Liter bags and they were both easily allowed on.
When you pack for your flight, just make sure that you have everything in your bag with nothing hanging off. Plus, put the bear spray and fuel in one bag and tell the workers which bag it’s in. They will mark it with extra caution tape.
Best Time to Visit Mount Assiniboine
Mt Assiniboine is a gorgeous provincial park that is open year round. However, it will be snow covered for most of the year. So the best time to hike into the park is from June to late September.
In the summer, the skies are usually sunny and wildflowers 🌸 begin to cover the mountainsides. But the bugs are also out and about, so bring plenty of bug protection and head nets. Also, wildfires are an increasing concern these days with skies being hazy sometimes during summer.
I had 40 bug bites after getting off the trail in July! 🦟
While in the Fall, you can expect to see gorgeous colors and a few larches. But, nighttime temperatures drop into the 30s. 🥶 So, definitely pack layers for your trip!
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 If you plan on leaving from the Mount Shark Trailhead, there is a $15 CAD fee per vehicle per day for a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. If you plan on being there for a while, you can get an annual pass for $90 CAD.
☀️ Weather changes very quickly in the mountains. Make sure to check the weather before you go and if there are storms in the forecast, prepare accordingly.
⛺️ There are three campgrounds (Porcupine, Og Lake, Lake Magog) in the park that you must reserve ahead of time! You must pack in and pack out everything that you bring!
🐻 Mount Assiniboine is bear country and grizzlies frequent the area. Pack bear spray and try to hike in groups of four during the months of August & September. Bears are more active and aggressive then.
🦮 Pets are not allowed in this park.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Where to Stay in Mount Assiniboine
Most people going to Mount Assiniboine will stay overnight. Unless you want to hike or run 16 miles in and out in one day. So, there are a few options of where you could stay on your visit. You could camp at one of the three campgrounds, sleep in a Naiset hut, or stay at Assiniboine Lodge. You can read more about the options below!
Mount Assiniboine Campgrounds
You can choose between three different campgrounds in Mount Assiniboine: Porcupine, Magog Lake, and Og Lake. Many people stay a night or two at one and then a couple at another. All three campgrounds have food lockers and tent pads. ⛺️
Alternatively, you can also stay in Banff if you come from the Mount Shark trailhead. Again, you’ll want to make a reservation. There are a few campgrounds including McBrides Camp and Marvel Lake.
There is also a group campground at O’Brien Meadows, but you can only book it for groups of over 15 people.
Porcupine
Porcupine campground is a smaller campground at the base of Citadel Pass. There are only 10 tent pads there, but it’s still a wonderful place to stay. It is also a good spot to stop on your way to the central part of the park if you are starting from the Sunshine Village area.
Lake Magog
Lake Magog is the most central of the campgrounds, because it’s just half a mile from Assiniboine Lodge. It is also the largest with 40 tent pads. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a stunning place to stay with the gorgeous lake below the tall peak of Mount Assiniboine.
However, from the campground you cannot actually see the lake. It’s just a few minute walk to get down to the shores. It’s also centrally located to many of the hikes in the area, so it’s a great choice!
Og Lake
Og Lake is another popular campground to stay in the park. It has 10 tent pads as well as a cooking shelter. It’s only a few miles from the more central areas of Lake Magog and Assiniboine Lodge. Some people even say they like the views better from this campground than Lake Magog.
Getting a Campground Reservation in Mount Assiniboine
There are three campgrounds in Mount Assiniboine and all three require reservations during peak times of year. Lake Magog and Og Lake require reservations year round, while Porcupine requires them from June 21st to September 30. 📆
In order to make a reservation you will need to make an account on the BC Parks website.
Then, reservations are released four months in advance at 7 am Pacific time. ⏰ Each tent pad holds up to 4 people and you can reserve 3 tent pads at a time. Camping costs $10 per adult per night and $5 per child per night.
So, if you want to make a reservation for July 6th for 3 nights, then you will be able to do that on March 6th at 7 am pacific time.
If you don’t get permits, try to look for last minute campgrounds. People tend to cancel or change their plans as the dates get closer! We got our permits just two weeks before.
Naiset Huts
One of the coolest experiences in Mt Assiniboine is to stay at one of the Naiset huts that are in the park. The Naiset Huts were built in the early 1920s for individuals going on tours. These huts are dorm style huts, with a separate communal cooking shelter. They are centrally located right above Lake Magog and 500 feet from Assiniboine Lodge.
There is also the Hind Hut on Mt Assiniboine for climbers! It’s located part way up Mt Assiniboine.
The Naiset Huts and Hind Hut sell out every single night of the summer. They have to be booked by phone at 403-678-2883 and usually go on sale in mid-January. So, stay updated on the website to get your chance to book one!
Assiniboine Lodge
Assiniboine Lodge was the very first backcountry lodge in all of North America! So, staying here is an absolutely incredible experience. Individuals that stay here hike and ski trails that have been traveled on since the lodge was built.
People who want to stay in the lodge must stay for a minimum of 3 nights in winter and 2 in summer.
Assiniboine Lodge is a wonderful setting to stay as it sits just below the austere mountain above the stunning Lake Magog. 🤩 They also offer communal tea time that they invite Lake Magog and Og Campers to as well.
Again, the lodge completely sells out every year. You can make a reservation by calling 403-678-2883 📞 or email at [email protected]. They accept reservations for winter starting the April before and they accept summer reservations the August before.
Packing Guide for Your Trip
It’s always important to prepare extensively when you plan on going into the backcountry. 🎒 You will need a bear cannister or bear bag for your trip into the park, because it’s grizzly country. I try to pack all my gear in advance, so that I know I have everything I need.
Always pack plenty of layers for hiking into the mountains.
Other things I recommend bringing are things that will help get rid of bugs like a Thermacell or bug net. Mount Assiniboine was one of the buggiest places that I have ever been and we wished we had these things!
Don’t forget to print your permits! 🖨
Mount Assiniboine Hiking & Backpacking Routes
If you plan on backpacking or hiking into Mt Assiniboine. There are multiple routes that you can take. We chose to hike from Mount Shark to McBrides Camp on our first night and then continue to Lake Magog via Wonder Pass. It was such a beautiful hike.
You will actually hike through Banff National Park to get to Mount Assiniboine. Plus, if you come from Mt Shark, you will also enter the Kananaskis area. So, it takes extra coordination. Below, you can read through the various routes to plan the ultimate trip into the park!
Note: If you plan on hiking from Mount Shark, then you will need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. Make sure to get one ahead of time.
Mount Shark via Wonder Pass
This would be my recommended route and it’s the one that my husband and I did. Many people take the helicopter in and hike this out, but I honestly liked doing it the other way around. Wonder Pass is known as the most scenic way into Mount Assiniboine.
The first half of the trail is relatively flat and walks through the woods, but once you pass the Banff campgrounds you’ll be in for a treat! The trail opens up to the brilliant Marvel Lake 😍 and you follow this lake for a few miles as you climb up.
The climb to Wonder Pass can be steep, but if you take your time you’ll make it!
Finally, you’ll climb up into Wonder Pass and you’ll have incredible rugged mountains all around you. It’s a good place to stop and take a bunch of photos. Then, you’ll descend down into the scenic meadows of Assiniboine.
Campgrounds on the way: McBrides Camp (Br14), Marvel Lake (Br13), Big Springs (Br9)
Distance: 16.5 miles
Elevation: 3500 feet of gain
Length: 8-10 hours total
Mount Shark via Assiniboine Pass
If you want to skip the elevation of Wonder Pass, then Assiniboine Pass is a great way to get into the heart of the park. It’s often considered the easiest way to get into the park, but you do miss out on some of the scenic areas.
You’ll walk through the woods to the Bryant Creek area, before taking the Bryant Creek trail from there. Then, the trail does open up a bit as you walk over the Great Divide.
Campgrounds on the way: McBrides Camp (Br14), Marvel Lake (Br13), Big Springs (Br9)
Distance: 15.5 miles
Elevation: 2880 feet of gain
Length: 8-10 hours total
Sunshine Village
Going from Sunshine Village is the longest route into Assiniboine Lodge. You’ll want to take the Gondola up to Sunshine Village. If the gondola is not running, then this adds 4 miles and 1700 feet of elevation, so it gets very tough!
On this route, you will go from Sunshine Meadows to Citadel Pass. From there, you’ll descend into the Valley of the Rocks before making your way to Og Lake. You can choose to stay here a night or continue on to the central area of Assiniboine.
Campgrounds on the Way: Howard Douglas (Su8), Og Lake, Porcupine
Distance: 16.2 miles
Elevation: 3300 feet of gain
Length: 8-10 hours total
How to Make a Campground Reservation in Banff
Honestly, one of the hardest parts of planning this trip for me was trying to figure out how to book a campground in Banff. Well, I finally got it and was able to break up my hike in over two nights by staying at McBrides Camp.
The campsites in Banff are often referred to by letters and a number, for example McBride’s Camp is Br14. So, that’s just good to know to navigate.
In order to make a reservation, you will need to:
- Go to the Banff Camping Reservation Website
- Select “Backcountry Zone” and choose “Banff, Kootenay and Yoho”
- Choose “Bryant Creek Trailhead” as your access point
- Then, use the map & availability to select your campground between McBride’s Camp (Br14), Marvel Lake (Br13) and Big Springs (Br9)
Great Day Hikes in Mount Assiniboine
Backpacking to Mount Assiniboine is one of the best way to experience the hiking trails. But, there are a total of six official hiking trails in the park that often overlap with these routes. You can read about the various trails below and choose to explore these during your trip!
Note: I will report all distances from Assiniboine Lodge to make it comparable. But, distances may be different depending where you start from.
The Niblet & the Nub
If you only have time for one day hike (which we did), then you have to make it this one. The views from the Niblet and the Nub are absolutely outstanding. From the summit, you’ll get panoramas over the tall mountain peaks as well as Cerulean Lake, Sunbeam Lake, and Lake Magog.
Also, we went during golden hour, which was astounding. But, if you want even better lighting I recommend going at sunrise or sunset! 🌅
Distance: 3.2-4 miles
Elevation: 700-1100 feet of gain
Length: 1.5-2.5 hours total
Windy Range
Windy Range is the longest and hardest day hike that you can do in the Mt Assiniboine area. It starts off a little slowly as you make your way through the meadows, but then when you get to the summit, you’ll get 360 degree views over the park. From there, you can see Lake Magog, Og Lake, and two other lakes behind you.
We didn’t have time for this one, so that’s just more reason to return!
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation: 2200 feet of gain
Length: 5-7 hours total
Lake Magog
Lake Magog is one of the central points of the park. It sits directly below Mount Assiniboine Peak and creates a stunning landscape. If you aren’t staying at the lake, make sure to go on a hike here. Spend some time sitting by the shores or even dare to jump into the cool waters!
Distance: 1 mile
Elevation: 100 feet of gain
Length: 30 minutes total
Og Lake
Og Lake is one of the places that you can stay. But, if you don’t get a campground there, then then next best thing to do is go on a day hike there! It’s a relatively flat hike that goes through the meadows until you get to the lake.
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation: 575 feet of gain
Length: 2.5-3.5 hours total
Wonder Peak
Sitting up above Wonder Pass is the imposing Wonder Peak. You’ll climb up until you get views of Wonder Lake and the area below. Just know the path can be hard to find, so make sure to download the AllTrails map before you head up there!
Distance: 6.4 miles
Elevation: 2200 feet of gain
Length: 3.5-5 hours total
Cerulean, Sunbeam & Elizabeth Lakes
Hike to three stunning lakes within the provincial park. If you are starting from Assiniboine Lodge or Lake Magog Campground, then you can connect this hike to the Niblet. All of these lakes are also fantastic places to spend time or go for a swim!
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 400 feet of gain
Length: 3-4 hours total
Final Tips for Visiting Mount Assiniboine
Planning a trip to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park can seem very overwhelming at first. But, once you get all of your reservations in order, you’ll have an amazing time. Just make sure to download maps, pack layers, bug spray, and look up the weather forecast 🌦 before you go! You’ll seriously fall in love with this incredible place!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide!
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Wow, I’ve never heard of this park, but it looks absolutely stunning! Definitely adding this to my list now 🙂
It’s one of my favorite places that I’ve been!