I was given the privilege of participating in a three day camping adventure at Mosquito Creek this week. The trip was done with my outdoor education class, so we were all able to learn new things together. Mosquito Creek is located 29 km north of Lake Louise, and is about 2 hours away from Calgary. There are no stores, strip malls, or restaurants there, so you are able to take full advantage of the outdoors and experience nature to its fullest.
In terms of shelter, the Mosquito Creek hostel isn’t as bad as I had anticipated. There are three individual cabins located at the site, each with several beds. For the most part, the beds are quite clean, and the hostel manager does a good job of cleaning up after tourists. They heat up quickly, so you can warm up after a long snowshoe or ski. There is a fully loaded kitchen at the site too, equipped with all the utensils you need. Food is not provided, so you will have to bring your own. There is a common room attached to the kitchen, with cushioned seats and a fireplace. In addition to this, there is a sauna located about 30 seconds away from the main cabin (the common room and kitchen). From personal experience, the sauna is the best way to end the day, especially during the winter season. The outhouses are conveniently located close to the site but unfortunately, the smell isn’t very welcoming.
There are several activities you can indulge in during both the daytime and nighttime at the site. In the day, you can go out for a snowshoe with a great view of the mountains and trees. The fresh, crisp winter air and sound of the water moving gently down the stream makes the experience even more enjoyable. There is a cross country trail that is connected to the main site, but it can be quite challenging if you are a beginner. Although it may be tough in the beginning, the view at the end can be very rewarding. The nighttime walks are quite special as well. You can get a clear view of the stars shining in the night sky, and the moon turning the mountains into a purplish blue colour. If you plan on going, remember to bring a camera so you can capture these precious moments!
I personally enjoyed this experience because of the activities we could indulge in, the breathtaking scenario, the clean and fully equipped hostel, and the peace and tranquility. The best part was definitely the peace and quiet at the site. Since there are no commercial buildings close to the site, there wont be any distractions! It can be a great time for you to escape reality, and appreciate what mother nature has to offer. So whether you’re an outdoorsman or not, I highly recommend you visit Mosquito Creek and have a stay!