The Buildings: The five Naiset Huts were built by the Alpine Club of Canada founder A.O. Wheeler in 1925. These rustic one-room log huts served as the overnight accommodations for patrons of his Banff-Assiniboine walking tours. Today they are operated by Assiniboine Lodge and provide basic overnight shelter for Park visitors. The Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter provides Naiset Hut users with a comfortable communal cooking and socializing area.
Sleeping Arrangements: Each hut has slightly different dormitory style sleeping configurations. Unless you have booked the entire cabin, expect to get to know your bunk buddies. Foam camping mattress covered in water-resistant material are supplied.
- Arnica Hut: Sleeps 5 people. Double bunk bed (sleeps 4) and single bed (sleeps 1)
- Jonesy Hut: Sleeps 6 people. Double bunk bed (sleeps 4) and single bunk bed (sleeps 2)
- Forget-me-not: Sleeps 6 people. Double bunk bed (sleeps 4) and single bunk bed (sleeps 2)
- Aster Hut: Sleeps 8 people. Two double bunk beds (sleeps 4people/double bunk bed)
- Fleabane Hut: Sleeps 8 people. Two double bunk beds (sleeps 4people/double bunk bed)
*Capacity in the huts is reduced in the winter to allow for additional winter gear.
Cooking: Cooking can be done at the Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter. There is no cooking allowed inside the Naiset Huts. Hut visitors coming outside of the operational season for the Naiset Huts must bring a stove and fuel and cook on the porch of the huts.
Food Storage: Animal proof non-refrigerated metal food storage boxes are located outside on the deck of the Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter. There is one storage box assigned for each hut. Food and garbage must be stored in the storage boxes and not inside the Naiset Huts or Cooking Shelter. In the winter, food that you do not want to freeze outside can be stored inside the Cooking Shelter. The dimensions of each storage locker are: 19 x 22 x 22.5 inches (48 x 56 x 57 cm.).
Lighting: There are no lights in the Naiset huts. Due to fire regulations, candles are not allowed. Bring your headlight.
Heat: There are small wood stoves in each hut. Compressed fire logs can be purchased at Assiniboine Lodge for $8 (includes tax) during the Naiset Huts operational season. The stoves work most efficiently when the fire logs are cut in half. The best way to break them is by banging them on the edge of the porch. Collecting deadfall and twigs is not allowed.
Summer Drinking Water: There is no running water in the Naiset Huts. In the warmer summer months, there is running water inside the Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter. There is an outdoor tap in front of Cooking Shelter. In September, as the temperature becomes colder, the indoor water and outdoor tap may be shut off. Drinking water can be found in the stream between the Naiset Huts and the Park Headquarter cabin. BC Parks recommends boiling or filtering all drinking water.
Winter Drinking Water: There is no running water in the Naiset Huts, the Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter or outdoor taps in the winter. There is a stream 100 meters from the Naiset Huts towards the Park Headquarter cabin. Shoveling snow and breaking the ice with a ski or pole may be required to access the stream. If access to the stream is difficult, snow might have to be melted. BC Parks recommends boiling or filtering all drinking water.
Grey Water: There is no greywater disposal inside the Naiset Huts. There is a grey water sink in the Wonder Lodge Cooking Shelter. In the summer, there is a grey water ground pit in front of Fleabane cabin that can be used for personal washing and teeth brushing.
Human Waste: 3 outhouses. Bring your own toilet paper. No garbage disposal in the outhouses.
Garbage: Burn all paper garbage in the wood stoves and pack out all garbage. Do not leave any unused food behind even if it is non-perishable. It attracts rodents and people do not use it since they don’t know how old it is.
