In this video, I take you on a detailed exploration of Hoodoo Creek Campground, located in Yoho National Park. This campground review focuses on what makes this campground stand out, including its fascinating history, the remnants of its former larger footprint, and the stunning natural surroundings that campers can enjoy during their stay.
Hoodoo Creek Campground holds a unique place among Parks Canada campgrounds in the region. With its open meadow setting, panoramic views of Mt. Hunter, and access to numerous popular hiking trails, it offers a blend of relaxation and adventure that makes it one of the best options for camping in Yoho National Park.
In my video below, I walk through the experience exactly as shown and explained:
The History of Hoodoo Creek Campground
One of the most intriguing aspects of Hoodoo Creek Campground is its rich history. This site has a lot of history behind it, as it used to be quite a bit larger than what exists today. More than twenty years ago, Parks Canada made the decision to abandon a large portion of this campground and only maintain a small section. The old remnants of the other campground section are still very much visible to this day, adding an element of discovery for those who take the time to explore beyond the current camping area.
These trails from the old section lead you all the way to Hoodoo Creek itself. At the creek, you will find a small bridge with a trailhead that leads you straight up the valley into the hoodoos. This connection to the past gives the campground a unique character and offers campers an opportunity to explore both the maintained facilities and the abandoned areas that tell the story of how this site has evolved over the decades.
Campground Details and Facilities
The campground is open from mid-June to early September, making it a seasonal destination perfect for summer camping trips. Hoodoo Creek Campground has thirty sites available for campers. The facilities include an outhouse, fire pits, a cooking shelter, and food lockers to keep your provisions safe from wildlife.
The campsites are unserviced and best suited for tents, though motorhomes and trailers up to fifty feet can be accommodated as well. It’s important to note that water is unavailable at this campground, so visitors need to come prepared with their own water supply or be ready to treat water from natural sources. This lack of serviced amenities keeps the campground in a more natural state and appeals to those looking for a more rustic camping experience.
The Setting and Views
Hoodoo Creek Campground sits on a sunny open meadow, which provides a wonderfully exposed setting with plenty of natural light throughout the day. The campground offers stunning views of Mt. Hunter, creating a dramatic backdrop that enhances the camping experience. The open meadow setting means there’s less dense forest cover than at some other campgrounds, giving the site an airy, spacious feel that many campers appreciate.
The sunny nature of the meadow can be both a blessing and something to consider depending on your preferences. Those who enjoy basking in the sun and having clear views of the surrounding peaks will love this setup, while campers seeking heavy shade may want to plan accordingly.
Access to Hiking Trails
One of the major draws of staying at Hoodoo Creek Campground is the exceptional access to numerous popular hikes nearby. Hikers can enjoy several trail options right from or very near the campground, making it an ideal base camp for those looking to explore the region on foot.
Among the notable trails accessible from the campground is the historic Deer Lodge Warden Cabin, which offers a glimpse into the history of park management in the area. Wapta Falls is another popular destination, featuring impressive waterfalls that are well worth the hike. The Mt. Hunter Fire Lookout provides a more challenging option for those seeking elevation and panoramic views from above.
Perhaps most fittingly, given the campground’s name, is the Hoodoos trail that overlooks the campground itself. This trail takes you up the valley where you can see the distinctive hoodoo rock formations that give the area its name. The combination of easy access to these varied trails makes Hoodoo Creek Campground particularly attractive for active campers who want to maximize their time exploring Yoho National Park.
Exploring the Abandoned Section
During my morning exploration of the campground, one of the highlights was investigating the old remnants of the abandoned portion. The trails that wind through this area are still walkable and lead explorers through what was once a much larger camping facility. You can still see evidence of the old infrastructure, giving you a sense of what the campground looked like in its previous incarnation.
Following these trails takes you all the way to Hoodoo Creek, where the small bridge serves as both a crossing point and a gateway to further adventures. The trailhead at the bridge leads straight up the valley into the hoodoos, offering a direct route to one of the area’s most distinctive geological features. This abandoned section adds an element of exploration and discovery that you don’t find at every campground.
Why Hoodoo Creek Stands Out
What makes Hoodoo Creek Campground the best campground in Yoho National Park comes down to several factors. The combination of its historic character, the accessible hiking trails, the stunning mountain views, and the unique setting in an open meadow creates an experience that’s hard to match elsewhere in the park.
The fact that the campground retains visible connections to its past through the abandoned sections gives it a depth of character that newer or more heavily maintained facilities often lack. The thirty sites provide enough capacity to accommodate a good number of campers without feeling overcrowded, especially spread across the sunny meadow setting.
For those seeking adventure, the immediate access to trails ranging from easy walks to fire lookouts to hoodoo formations means there’s always something new to explore. The campground serves as an excellent base for anyone wanting to experience the best of what Yoho National Park has to offer in terms of natural beauty and outdoor recreation.
Planning Your Visit
Since the campground operates seasonally from mid-June to early September, timing your visit within this window is essential. The summer months offer the best weather and trail conditions for exploring the surrounding area. With water unavailable on-site, proper preparation is crucial. Bringing sufficient water or having the means to purify water from natural sources should be part of your camping checklist.
The campground’s ability to accommodate both tents and larger motorhomes or trailers up to fifty feet means it can work for various camping setups, though the unserviced nature of the sites means you’ll need to be self-sufficient. The inclusion of food lockers is an important safety feature, ensuring that you can properly store food and scented items away from bears and other wildlife that inhabit the area.
The cooking shelter provides a communal space where campers can prepare meals even if weather conditions are less than ideal, and the fire pits allow for the classic camping experience of gathering around the fire in the evening. These basic but essential facilities strike a balance between offering necessary amenities and maintaining the natural, rustic atmosphere that makes camping in the Canadian Rockies so special.
The Broader Context of Camping in the Canadian Rockies
For those following Eric Tremblay Adventures on YouTube, this campground exploration is part of an ongoing series documenting camping and outdoor experiences across the Canadian Rockies since 2020. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Jasper National Park, such as visiting Maligne Lake, Spirit Island, or Athabasca Falls, or searching for hikes in Jasper National Park like Valley of the Five Lakes, Icefields Parkway, or Skyline trail, the content provides endless ideas for trip planning.
Similarly, if you need to know where to stay in Jasper National Park, whether in campgrounds, cabins, or hotels, or if you’re looking for things to do in Banff National Park like Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, or Moraine Lake, the channel offers comprehensive coverage. Searching for hikes in Banff National Park such as Tunnel Mountain, Sentinel Pass, or Bow Glacier Falls, or needing to know where to stay in Banff National Park, the videos provide valuable information.
For those specifically interested in Yoho National Park, beyond Hoodoo Creek Campground, there are many other attractions to discover. Things to do in Yoho National Park include visiting Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls, and Emerald Lake. If you’re searching for hikes in Yoho National Park, options like the Lake O’Hara Alpine circuit, Iceline trail, or Hamilton Lake trail offer spectacular experiences. And when you need to know where to stay in Yoho National Park, whether in campgrounds, cabins, or hotels, the content provides invaluable information for your trip planning in Alberta or British Columbia.
The content offers road trips, travel guides, campground reviews, and itinerary information that can help you make the most of your time in these incredible mountain parks. Hoodoo Creek Campground represents just one of many excellent options for experiencing the natural wonders of the region, but its unique combination of history, accessibility, and natural beauty makes it a standout choice for those visiting Yoho National Park.
