Stage 2 of the Mount Assiniboine Traverse covers 21.5 km from Howard Douglas Lake to Lake Magog, with 735 m of ascent and 809 m of descent. The highest point is 2,369 m. Allow about 8 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Main BC Parks campground with 40 tent pads on a bench above the west side of Lake Magog, 1.4 km off the line from the Naiset Huts junction; cook shelters, outhouses, food lockers and water taps (boil). Reservations required, $25 per adult per night; no fires; sites sell out fast on the 3-month rolling window.
Historic 1928 backcountry lodge with rooms and cabins, all meals and guided hikes, 0.3 km before the Naiset Huts; summer season 20 June-1 October 2027, from $539 per person per night, with stays tied to the helicopter days. Summer 2027 is sold out (waitlist from 15 December 2026); campers and hut guests can buy afternoon tea, cake, beer and wine (cash) 4-5 pm on non-flight days.
Five rustic 1925 log huts for 5-8 people each (33 beds) with foam mattresses and wood stoves, at the start of the Wonder Pass trail; cooking is in the shared Wonder Lodge shelter with propane stoves and water. You book a whole hut through Assiniboine Lodge ($150-240 per hut per night plus $20 non-BC fee); summer 2027 bookings open 12 January 2027 and sell out within hours.
BC Parks campground with 10 tent pads on the shore of Og Lake, 15.8 km after Howard Douglas Lake and 5.6 km before the Lake Magog core area, with a classic view of Mount Assiniboine. Reservations required (3-month rolling window); no fires, water from the lake.
BC Parks campground with 10 tent pads below Citadel Pass, 7.6 km after Howard Douglas Lake (13.4 km from Sunshine), with an outhouse, food lockers and creek water. A common first night for hikers who start early; reservations are required, $25 per adult per night plus a $20 per trip non-BC-resident fee.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. Every campground on this route must be booked before you go: Banff backcountry permits on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, and Porcupine, Og Lake and Lake Magog on the BC Parks site. The Naiset Huts and Assiniboine Lodge are booked through the lodge and sell out months ahead.
Emergency: call 911. By satellite phone: Parks Canada 403-762-4506. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.