Huts and cabins

Glacier National Park

Overnight parking at the Illecillewaet Valley and Illecillewaet Campground trailheads

All visitors leaving vehicles at these trailheads when staying at an Alpine Club of Canada hut or in the backcountry require an overnight parking permit for their vehicle, available free of charge.

There are four Alpine Club of Canada-operated accommodations in Glacier National Park:

Asulkan Cabin
A. O. Wheeler Hut
Sapphire Col Hut
Glacier Circle Cabin

With the exception of A.O. Wheeler Hut, all are in the backcountry, far from roads, and access is challenging. Sapphire Col and Glacier Circle require mountaineering expertise. All require:

A reservation: 403-678-3200 | alpineclubofcanada.ca
A national park pass
An overnight parking permit for all vehicles left at the Illecillewaet Valley or Illecillewaet Campground trailheads (free of charge). Available:
- Summer (July – Sept.) at the Illecillewaet Campground kiosk 08:30 to 18:00 daily.
- Fall – Spring (Oct. – June) at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre.
- By phone at 250-837-7500.
- You will need the group leader’s name, destination, number of people in group, license plate of all vehicles being left at the trailhead and your ACC reservation number.
Backcountry camping permits (wilderness passes) are no longer required for hut stays as of April 1, 2022.

Asulkan Cabin

Asulkan Cabin
© Parks Canada / Laurie Booker

Located 6.5km up the Asulkan Brook, 300 metres beyond the end of the Asulkan Trail at an elevation of 2100 metres. Accommodates up to 12 people. Equipped with propane stove and heater, lights, loft and foam sleeping pads, basic cooking and eating utensils, cleaning supplies, toilet and grey water systems. Reserved through the Alpine Club of Canada.

The route to Asulkan Cabin during the winter crosses numerous avalanche paths. Winter travellers should be equipped with avalanche beacons and be knowledgeable in their use. Winter travellers should check the daily avalanche forecast for Rogers Pass, or by calling (250) 837-MTNS or checking at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre.

A. O. Wheeler Hut

A.O. Wheeler Hut
© Alpine Club of Canada

This cabin is not owned by Parks Canada. Besides handling bookings for the Asulkan Cabin, the Alpine Club of Canada owns and operates the Wheeler Hut. Named for A.O. Wheeler, a founder of the Alpine Club, it is located near the south end of the Illecillewaet Campground just off the Trans-Canada Highway.

"Hut" is an overly modest name for this comfortable and commodious shelter, capable of sleeping 30 persons in its loft. It is well furnished and completely equipped with cooking and eating utensils, foam sleeping pads, Coleman stoves, lanterns and firewood. An Alpine Club of Canada custodian is on hand during the summer. At other times, the hut is locked and access is possible only through advance booking. Contact the Alpine Club of Canada. Bookings can be made 30 days in advance. Fees are payable at the time of booking by VISA or Mastercard. You may also wish to inquire about organized mountaineering expeditions in the park.

Sapphire Col Hut

Located at Sapphire Col between The Dome and Castor Peaks. A basic mountaineering shelter, this metal bivouac shelter sleeps 4 people. Apart from a few utensils and a toilet system, it is unequipped. Water is obtained from a nearby melt pond or by melting snow. Attaining the Sapphire Col Hut requires mountaineering equipment and skills. Reserved through the Alpine Club of Canada.

Glacier Circle Cabin

Glacier Circle Cabin is located in the Dawson Range of the Selkirks, near a small lake in the deep cirque bound by Mt. Macoun, Mt. Fox, Mt Selwyn and Mt. Topham. The cabin is usually accessed via the Illecillewaet Neve (14 km from the Illecillewaet campground). Knowledge of safe glacier travel techniques and whiteout navigation skills are required.

Glacier Circle cabin has a capacity of 8 people. The cabin contains a wood stove, a white gas stove, a lantern, limited cookware and cutlery, but no fuel. Water source nearby. Note: there are no mattresses at the hut. Firewood is not provided.

Reserved through the Alpine Club of Canada.

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