HI-Castle Mountain Hostel

Coming by bike, I really appreciated how nicely tucked away the Castle Mountain wilderness hostel is. I was glad to find showers and all the amenities I could want, and Shauna was an excellent host. Staying here was great, especially for the price.

The communal space was lovely, and the hostel was very clean, with a nice natural setting. The beds, though, were hard as rocks, and the thin pillows felt used. The washrooms also seemed very small for the number of people staying there. The schedule felt rushed too, with check-in at 5pm and checkout at 10am, especially since guests have to make and strip their own beds. Even hotels that clean the whole room and kitchen manage better. The host was unfriendly. It seemed like he was having a hard time staying pleasant at the end of summer, and he was grumpy with each guest checking in. The front desk is right across from the women’s room, with the door open, and next to the communal area, so it felt like we were being watched.

I slept well in the dorm because quiet hours were taken seriously, and the other guests respected them too. The men’s and women’s dorms are separate, with 12 beds in each. There are only two bathrooms and two toilets, but I could use them whenever I needed and never found them crowded. The kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms were sparkling clean. There were plenty of utensils for cooking and lots of food storage in the fridge and cabinets. I’ve stayed in hostels around the world, usually in private rooms, and this was one of the few times I chose a dorm to save money. It was one of my best hostel stays.

It felt both cozy and quaint and completely surrounded by untamed wilderness, a rare combination. The place was peaceful, wild, and memorable. Everyone on staff was so kind and welcoming that we felt at home, and the whole hostel was kept in impeccable order, with cleanliness and hygiene clearly given a lot of care.