Single Night - Overnight Adventurous Journeys

Hut Options:

1.  Conrad Kain Hut - Bugaboos (close to Golden B.C.) - I did this hut last year. Lots of people bring kids up there, it is a steep hike, has a ladder to climb at one spot. It is very beautiful granite mountains, unlike what we normally see in Alberta. The hut is very large. Here is the link https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/ACCMember/Huts/Conrad_Kain_Hut.aspx

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2. Elks Lake Cabin- Peter Lougheed: I did this in the winter as a snow shoe and we had the hut entirely to ourselves. This is a very reasonable length, family friendly, only 200 meter elevation gain. In the summer people can drive in from the B.C. side, but from the Alberta side it is a hike. This means it is probably very busy in the summer. Here is the link https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/ACCMember/Huts/Elk_Lakes_Cabin.aspx

3. Stanley Mitchell Hut- Little Yoho Valley, starts at Takakkaw Falls parking lot- This is 520 meter elevation gain, so this one is kind of the middle ground in difficulty of all these huts. It is very beautiful. I have done this in summer and winter, but in winter it is a 2 day ski because they do not clear the road, so I suggest it as a summer hike. Here is the link https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/ACCMember/Huts/Stanley_Mitchell_Hut.aspx

4. Egypt Lake- This is a Banff Park shelter, so you do not need to be an Alpine Club Member to book here but it does not include the propane, dishes and sleeping pads, here are the details https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-backpacking/egypt I recommend doing in the summer. I have done in winter but it can be very difficult to find the way over the pass and to the hut with fresh snow. 

I did it with a first time over night backpacker and she found it tough but doable. I think it is a good entry level back pack, and it is very beautiful in that alpine meadow area, you go up over a pass and the shelter is down on the other side. This is the summer route I have done as listed on the website: Sunshine parking lot to the shelter via Sunshine Village (by hiking up the road, 6.5 km) via Simpson and Healy Passes. Total distance from Sunshine Village: 13 km.

Tent options:

1. Ribbon Lake- This is a suggestion from my Dad. There is definitely an adventurous part that you use a chain to help yourself climb up over some boulders to get up to the lake. I recall this lake having a lot of little flies though and have only done as a long day hike in and out. 

2. Floe Lake: This is in Kootenay National Park- It is part of the Rockwall trail which takes 4-5 days, and I did a couple years ago. However, I think just hiking into floe lake and camping there and then going back out (or you could pop up to numa pass for a view and then hike out) would be a good one night stay. When I was there we swam in the lake, it was mid August. The campground is HUGE there (just dont mistake the helicopter landing pad for a camping spot as we did haha). It is a 10.7 km approach. 

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3. Marvel Lake: you can camp or reserve a spot in the Bryant creek shelter. The shelter is not fancy, it is just a wood burning stove and wood planks you put your own sleeping gear on. It is also a Banff park shelter, so no need to be an alpine club member. Here is the info. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-backpacking/bryant

When you stay at the shelter you still need to do a little walk over to see Marvel Lake. We did this several times as a family and with young kids. I find the hike kind of boring. I have also snow shoed into it in the winter. 

4. Most other backpacking I have done is in Glacier National Park Montana (Cosley Lake is a good one night trip that comes to mind) or Waterton, so if you ever feel to adventure down there, it is very, very beautiful and I can give details upon request :)