Mount Assiniboine Park
Park overview
Mount Assiniboine Park is a magnificent place of shimmering lakes, glistening glaciers, sky-scraping peaks, and sun-dappled alpine meadows. World-renowned Mount Assiniboine, at an elevation of 3,618m, is situated along the continental divide near the southeast corner of the park, and has defined mountain splendour in the Canadian Rockies for over 100 years.
No roads penetrate this unspoiled wilderness, with trails providing the only land access. Camping, hiking, mountain climbing, and viewing spectacular mountain scenery are the main activities here, as well as fishing, horseback riding, and ski touring. Magog Lake and Og Lake, the park’s core areas, are extremely popular camping destinations.
Mount Assiniboine Park is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This short video provides some history of Mount Assiniboine Lodge, including a description of the restoration project.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access year-round
Current status:Open to public access
- Facility type
- Backcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Walk-in sites: 40
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Reservable dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Winter note
- Backcountry fees are collected year-round at Lake Magog and Og Lake campgrounds. There are no registration or camping fees for camping in any other campground in the park (including Porcupine).
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Number of campsites
- Cabins: 5
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
- Reservation note
- Facility type
- Backcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Walk-in sites: 10
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Reservable dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Winter note
- Backcountry fees are collected year-round at Lake Magog and Og Lake campgrounds. There are no registration or camping fees for camping in any other campground in the park (including Porcupine).
- Facility type
- Group camping
- Number of campsites
- Groupsites: 1
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
- Reservation note
- Facility type
- Backcountry camping
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
- Reservation note
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
- Reservation note
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Dates are not yet available
Safety info
Mount Assiniboine Park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made before your visit. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer.
Safety tips
- Wear strong, waterproof, lug-soled boots, and carry a daypack with rain gear, spare warm clothing, and food.
- For overnight trips, a sleeping bag, ground pad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag, and lightweight stove are essential.
- Only experienced climbers, properly roped and practiced in crevasse rescue, should venture onto the snowfields and glaciers.
- If you are planning a winter ski trip, familiarize yourself with avalanche safety standards. On your visit, always ski with a partner.
Special notes
Fires are prohibited within the core area of Mount Assiniboine Park.
- For information on booking a camping reservation visit the Mount Assiniboine reservations page. For information on specific campgrounds, download the campground, huts, and shelters information sheet [PDF].
- For information on hiking trails, download the trail conditions report [PDF]. Trail reports are updated regularly in June and August as the snow melts. The most recent report is from August 14, 2022.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total groupsites: 1
- Total wilderness sites: 75
Campsite reservations
Due to increasing demand, reservations are required for all overnight stays at Magog Lake and Og Lake campgrounds.
Additional campsites are available throughout the park. These offer a mix of reservable and first come, first served camping.
For detailed information on reserving a BC Parks campsite, see the Mount Assiniboine reservations page. To book a site, use the BC Parks reservation service.
Groupsites and picnic shelter reservations
Group campsites and picnic sites can be reserved through the Assiniboine Lodge. These are not BC Parks sites and cannot be booked through our reservation service. To book one of these sites, visit the Assiniboine Lodge website.
Naiset Cabins and Hind Hut reservations
The Naiset Cabins and Hind Hut can be reserved through the Assiniboine Lodge. These are not BC Parks sites and cannot be booked through our reservation service. To make a reservation, visit the Assiniboine Lodge website.
Reservations for the Naiset Cabins are recommended in the summer and are mandatory in the winter. If you wish to use these huts on a first come, first served basis, bring a tent in case they are full.
For more information, see cabins and huts, below.
Banff National Park backcountry permits
Banff National Park offers several campgrounds and a primitive sleeping shelter along Bryant Creek for backcountry visitors on their way to Mount Assiniboine via the Bryant Creek, Brewster Creek, or Sunshine Meadows-Citadel Pass trails.
To stay in the Bryant Creek Shelter or camp in Banff National Park, you must get a backcountry permit and any other necessary permits before starting your trip. You can reserve a backcountry permit by calling Banff National Park at 403-762-1556. Trail reports and detailed backcountry trip planning information are available on the Banff National Park website.
There are approximately 75 backcountry campsites in Mount Assiniboine Park. Campsites are available at Magog Lake and Og Lake in the core area of the park, Porcupine Camp near Citadel Pass, and Mitchell Meadows and Rock Lake near Ferro Pass.
Reservations are required year-round for overnight stays at Magog Lake and Og Lake campgrounds. Reservations must be made through our online reservation service. For more information on booking a campsite, see the Mount Assiniboine reservations page
Core area camping
Magog Lake
The largest and most popular camping area in the park is located on a bench above the west side of Magog Lake. This campground has 40 tent pads, a semi-enclosed cooking shelter, an open-air cooking area, several food storage lockers, two grey-water pits, three water taps, and four pit toilets.
Og Lake
There is a campground located at the north end of Og Lake, approximately five kilometres from Magog Lake. This campground is equipped with 10 tent pads, an outhouse, and a central cooking area with food storage lockers and a grey-water pit. Water is available from Og Lake.
Fees
- $10 per person per night (16 years old and up)
- $5 per child per night (six to 15 years old)
- Children under six camp for free
For more information on core-area camping, see the Mount Assiniboine reservations page.
Non-core areas
Several non-core areas in Mount Assiniboine Park also offer campsites that can be booked in advance. These areas cannot be reserved through the BC Parks reservation service. Reservations must be made through Assiniboine Lodge.
Other non-core areas offer year-round camping on a first come, first served basis, with no reservations or fees required. For detailed information on camping areas in Mount Assiniboine Park, download the campground and cabins information sheet [PDF].
For more information on non-core-area camping, see the Mount Assiniboine reservations page.
There are a number of rustic cabins located in the more outlying areas of Mount Assiniboine Park. For detailed information on specific cabins, download the campgrounds, huts, and shelters information sheet [PDF].
First come, first served cabins
Rustic public cabins are located at the Surprise Creek-Simpson River confluence, Police Meadows, and along the Mitchell River approximately six kilometres upstream from the park boundary. As use of these cabins is entirely on a first come, fist served basis, bringing a tent is recommended, in case the cabins are occupied when you arrive.
No camping fees or transaction fees are charged to stay in first come, first served cabins.
Reservable cabins
The Naiset Cabins and R.C. Hind Hut located in the core area of Mount Assiniboine are open to the public and can be reserved through Assiniboine Lodge. Reservations cannot be made through the BC Parks reservation service.
These cabins are often available for use on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to stay at these huts on a first come, first served basis, we recommend bringing a tent, in case they are full.
Reservations for the Naiset Cabins are recommended in the summer and mandatory in the winter.
Fees
| Cabin user fee per person | $20 per night |
|---|---|
| Cabin user fee per family | $50 per night |
| Transaction fee (non-refundable) | $5 per night (maximum $15 per reservation) |
There is a group campsite at O’Brien Meadows that can accommodate 15 to 25 people. It has food storage lockers and there is a creek nearby for water. Open fires are prohibited. This groupsite cannot be booked through the BC Parks reservation service. All reservations must be made through Assiniboine Lodge.
A minimum of 15 people are required to book this groupsite.
Facilities
This park only has pit toilets located at each designated campground. There are no flush toilets.
Activities
Hiking is a popular pastime in Mount Assiniboine Park. To learn more about specific opportunities, visit the Mount Assiniboine Park: Hiking page.
To get up-to-date information on the condition of specific trails, check the park advisories. You can also download the trail conditions report [PDF]. This document is updated regularly between June and August as the snow melts. The most recent report is from August 14, 2022.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
Angling in the glacial lakes and waterways of Mount Assiniboine Park is unpredictable. Rock Isle, Larix, and Grizzly Lakes are closed to angling. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Wildlife viewing is available at this park.
Pets must be leashed at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for pets due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
If you are planning to go horseback riding in the park, we recommend reading the Mount Assiniboine Park horse use policy and information [PDF] and downloading the horse use map [PDF].
Horseback riders are required to carry a letter of permission. Please use our letter of permission for horse use form to get your letter no less than seven days before entering the park.
For more specific information on riding horses in the park, contact the BC Parks Kootenay office at 250-489-8540.
There is no horse access to Assiniboine Lodge, the Naiset Cabins, Wonder Pass, or Citadel Pass.
Mount Assiniboine is a world-class mountaineering destination, and several neighbouring peaks, faces, and ridges are also worthwhile challenges.
Climbing tips
- Only experienced mountaineers, properly roped and equipped, should attempt mountain climbing or venturing onto glaciers and snowfields.
- Always consult with Assiniboine Lodge staff before attempting a climb.
- The basic structure of the mountains is decaying limestone, resulting in frequent rockfall. The frequency of rockfall is intensified by climbers. If more than one party is climbing a peak, they should schedule themselves to be close together. Parties one or two hours apart are exposed to increased danger. Always wear a safety helmet when climbing.
- The Gmoser Highway is the only route that should be used to access the Assiniboine bowl and Hind Hut from Magog Lake. The snow couloir has a waterfall underneath it, creating dangerous conditions. Access from the Assiniboine Creek drainage involves route-finding up a scree gully above Assiniboine Lake, then across morainal terrain and a small-but-crevassed glacier to the Mount Assiniboine-Mount Strom Col.
- A climbing shelter known as the R.C. Hind Hut is located in the Assiniboine Bowl. The hut accommodates 12 and serves as a basecamp for mountain climbers. The Hind Hut is $20 per person per night plus a $5 transaction fee. Climbers must make a reservation for Hind Hut through Assiniboine Lodge.
- A permit is required if you plan to camp overnight in the adjacent national parks. Permits are available from national park staff.
- The rappel stations on the Classic Mount Assiniboine North Ridge Route were upgraded to permanent fixed (two bolt plus chain) anchors by our partners at public safety, Parks Canada (Visitor Safety Program) in July 2015.
Hunting is not allowed in the core area of Mount Assiniboine Park.
Parts of Mount Assiniboine Park outside the core area may be open to hunting (limited-entry hunting for B.C. residents and two guide-outfitter operations for non-residents). For more information, see the fishing and hunting page.
World-class cross-country skiing and ski touring is available at Mount Assiniboine Park. For more information see the Mount Assiniboine Park: Skiing page.
For information on Mount Assiniboine Lodge or Naiset Cabin, see the cabins and huts section.
Maps and location
Mount Assiniboine Park is west of the British Columbia-Alberta border, 48km southwest of Banff. Banff National Park forms the eastern boundary and Kootenay National Park marks the western boundary.
Park and activity maps
Any maps provided on this page are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: February 6, 1922
- Size: 39013 hectares
Nature and culture
Cultural heritage
The area that is now Mount Assiniboine Park was well known to the Indigenous Peoples of the foothill and mountain country. Occasionally interrupted by wars, there was much trading between groups from the different sides of the Rockies. The Peigans, the Assiniboines, the Blackfoot, and the Kootenai travelled the routes over many mountain passes through the Rockies.
Mount Assiniboine Park lies within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa or Kootenai First Nations.
History
G.M. Dawson, of the Geological Survey of Canada, named Mount Assiniboine in honour of the Assiniboine people when he visited the area during the summer of 1899. Assiniboine means ‘stone boiler’, a name that comes from the practice of putting hot rocks into animal paunches or holes filled with water in order to cook food.
Mt. Assiniboine is the seventh tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies and its massive covers 80 square kilometres. Because of its classic triangular shape and size, it was considered a great prize among early mountaineers. After a number of legendary attempts, Mount Assiniboine was first ascended by James Outram and Swiss guides Christian Hasler and Christian Bohren in the late summer of 1901.
Upon the urging of the Alpine Club of Canada, British Columbia set aside 5,120 hectares of the area on February 6, 1922 as Mount Assiniboine Park, the seventh in a fledgling park system. In 1973, the park area was increased sevenfold to its present size of 39,050 hectares
Conservation
Boreal forests of spruce, mixed with stands of alpine fir and lodgepole pine, cover the lower elevations. In more open areas, scattered patches of false azalea, buffalo berries, twin berries, white rhododendrons, and, occasionally, red elder may be found. Between the elevations of 2,100m and 2,400m, open stands of alpine larch occur alongside alpine fir and Engelmann spruce, with a ground cover of red and white heather and grouse berries. Dense thickets of various species of low-growing willows associated with bog birch can be found along mountain streams and in boggy areas.
Large areas of rocky slopes and ridges are covered by stonecrop, white flowering avens, moss campion, cinquefoil, arctic willows and several species of saxifrage. Alpine meadows blaze with colour thanks to an abundance of western anemones, alpine arnica, columbine, paintbrush, spring beauty, alpine fleabane, mountain daisies, and hundreds of other species of wildflowers during the midsummer blossoming period.
Do not pick wildflowers as flowers contain the seed pods necessary for the proliferation of wildflowers. It is an offence under the Park Act and Regulations to destroy wildflowers.
Wildlife
Wildlife species such as elk, black and grizzly bears, mule deer, moose, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep live in the park. The chattering of Columbian and mantled ground squirrels and chipmunks or the call of the hoary marmot and pika are often heard. Wolverines, badgers, wolves, martens, and coyotes also inhabit the park but are seldom seen.
Ninety-three species of birds have been sighted in the park, with the most common being northern harrier, grey jay, Clark's nutcracker, white-tailed ptarmigan, pine grosbeak, rosy finch, pine siskin, boreal chickadee, chipping sparrow, and white-crowned sparrow.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.