Asulkan Cabin

Asulkan Cabin

The Asulkan Cabin is well situated for skiing in the Asulkan Valley. The Seven Steps of Paradise, Asulkan Pass, Sapphire Col and the Dome Glacier can be reached as day trips from the hut.

The hut is a beautiful panabode style building which sleeps 10. Cooking stove (no oven), lighting and heat are supplied by propane. The hut is stocked with cooking and eating utensils and sleeping pads.

Hut Facilities

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

An overnight parking permit is required (free of charge) when accessing the Asulkan Cabin from the Illecillewaet Valley or Illecillewaet Campground trailheads.

Asulkan Cabin Features

Open All Year

Features

Hiking, scrambling and mountaineering

The hut is accessed via a summer trail with extensive forest, meadows and moraines. The rugged terrain in Glacier National Park creates the opportunity for many challenging trips. The mountains are steep, the valleys are narrow and many of the trails involve high elevation gain to reach stunning ridges and peaks. The Asulkan Cabin is an excellent destination in itself, as well as an excellent place to spend a night to reach further hiking trails nearby and to discover classics further along in the Park. Trips across the glacier up to Asulkan Pass or Youngs Peak are great objectives from the hut, as well as Castor Peak and Sapphire Col.

Trail Access

The approach follows approximately the same route in summer and winter. The Asulkan Valley Trail leads from the Illecillewaet Campground, steepening in the later sections to reach the crest of the moraine below the hut. From the end of the Illecillewaet Campground, follow the trail marked “Asulkan Valley Trail”. The first section is fairly easygoing as you hike alongside the Asulkan Creek on a good trail. After about 4 km the trail begins to steepen as you climb up to gain the crest of the moraine. From here (the end of the trail) it is another 300 meters up to the hut.

Please note that Parks Canada removes bridges over stream crossings on this trail each year on October 1st and replaces them each year near the middle of June (dependent upon conditions). Access to the Asulkan Cabin will require a stream crossing during this period. Please check the Glacier National Park Trail Conditions Report for up to date info on the trail and the state of the bridges.

Rates

Member Rates

  • Standard $50
  • Peak Season $60

    June 15 - October 15

Non Member Rates

  • Standard $60
  • Peak Season $70

    June 15 - October 15

Features

Cozy ski hut with powder and views

The Rogers Pass area offers some of the best powder skiing in the country, with its legendary deep snow and long ski descents . There are a great number of opportunities for every type of ski outing; steep ascents such as the popular Youngs Peak, tours through glades and alpine bowls throughout the Illecillewaet and Asulkan Valleys, and glacier traverses across the icefields. The trip up to the hut itself, as well as many of the ski touring destinations, are within avalanche terrain and skiers are urged to be prepared with the proper equipment and knowledge for avalanche safety. You can find these amazing ski tours described in Chic Scott’s book ‘Summits & Icefields, Columbia Mountains’.

Trail Access

From the plowed parking lot just off the highway (same parking lot as for Wheeler Hut), climb up the steep slope through the trees for approximately 50 meters to reach an old railway road. Turn left onto the road and follow it for barely a kilometer until the trail splits off from the railway road into a large open area on the right. The trail snakes up the obvious path through the trees until it pops out into the Asulkan Valley. The route along the valley floor is quite straightforward as it follows alongside the Asulkan Creek, however it does cross underneath a few significant avalanche slopes that are quite hazardous; good avalanche safety skills are necessary. When the valley begins to open up, make your way by choosing the safest slopes and head up to the right into a treed area . Make the steep climb up through the trees which will lead you to the final open slopes just below the hut. For a more detailed description of this route, refer to Chic Scott’s guide Summits & Icefields, Columbia Mountains Alpine Ski Tours.
Winter users must verify whether planned routes require a Winter Permit.

Rates

Member Rates

  • Standard $50
  • Peak Season $60

    December 1 - April 30

Non Member Rates

  • Standard $60
  • Peak Season $70

    December 1 - April 30

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Additional ski week availability on a per bed basis at Bill Putnam (Fairy Meadow) and Kokanee Glacier Cabin just released for the 24/25 season!

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