HI Mount Edith Cavell

Overview

About HI Mount Edith Cavell

A classic wilderness basecamp tucked beneath the north face of Mount Edith Cavell, this HI hostel trades hotel comforts for front‑row alpine drama. If you’re here to hike, photograph, or just stare at a glacier over morning coffee, you’re in the right spot.

Why stop

Killer location near Cavell Meadows, Angel Glacier and Tonquin routes
Communal kitchen and wood‑stove cabins for a true wilderness vibe

Heads up

No running water or electricity; outhouse toilets only
Seasonal road closures and no trailers/large RVs on Cavell Road

From the door you’re minutes from big‑ticket scenery: Angel Glacier tumbling off cliffs, Cavell Meadows blooming mid‑summer, and the calm mirror of Cavell Lake. It’s also a launchpad for serious days into the Tonquin Valley—many hikers overnight here to beat the day‑use crowds up the road.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhat makes it special

Map

Where it is

Loading the Jasper map

Full map

LodgingHI Mount Edith Cavell52.70374, -118.06007

Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Local know-how

Tips for visiting HI Mount Edith Cavell

Bring all your own food and drinking water; there’s no store or restaurant nearby.
Check Mount Edith Cavell Road status and seasonal closures before you go.
Arrive early in July–August to avoid parking crunches at nearby day‑use areas.
Pack warm layers and a headlamp—cabins use wood stoves and there’s no electricity.
Avoid trailers and large RVs; the access road restricts oversized vehicles.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to go

Mount Edith Cavell Road is narrow and winding with restrictions on trailers and large RVs. The area experiences seasonal closures (typically November 1–May 15 for caribou conservation), and the hostel operates on a short summer window. Always check current road and closure notices before committing.

Facilities and what to expect

Think rustic, not resort: no running water, no electricity, and clean pit toilets. The communal kitchen is well set up with propane stoves and a fridge, and the heated sleeping cabins (wood stoves) are simple and cozy. There’s guest parking, but no store or restaurant—bring everything you need.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to HI Mount Edith Cavell, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this place

Mount Edith Cavell: Glaciers and Alpine Trails

Listen

“You're now heading for the Mount Edith Cavell area, one of the most dramatic mountain scenes in Jasper. The main attraction is the stunning north face of the mountain, with Angel Glacier hanging right in the middle.”

Plays as you drive up to HI Mount Edith Cavell in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More about HI Mount Edith Cavell

Trails, scenery, and wildlifeKeep an eye out for pikas and marmots among the rocks, varied alpine birdlife, and the broader…

Keep an eye out for pikas and marmots among the rocks, varied alpine birdlife, and the broader area’s occasional elk or bear. Give wildlife space and never feed them.

Cavell Meadows: sweeping alpine views and summer wildflowers.
Path of the Glacier: close‑up look at the glacier‑sculpted basin.
Tonquin Valley: longer, remote trips start from this corridor.

Is it for you?If you want mountain immersion and don’t mind roughing it, it’s a gem.

If you want mountain immersion and don’t mind roughing it, it’s a gem. If showers, outlets, and on‑site dining are non‑negotiable, look elsewhere and visit the day‑use area instead.

Best time to visitLate June through September for open roads, meadows in bloom, and clear glacier views.

Late June through September for open roads, meadows in bloom, and clear glacier views. Arrive early on summer weekends to beat trailhead congestion and to nab mellow morning light on the face of Edith Cavell; late afternoon brings warm side‑light and calmer winds around the lake. Weekdays are quieter.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.