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20 Things to Do on a Summer or Fall Getaway to Yellowhead County

Published by To Do Canada On August 16, 2022

Plan a getaway to Yellowhead County before winter arrives.

Yellowhead County located in central west Alberta borders Jasper National Park on the west, and Pembina River on the east, with several other lakes and rivers in between the mountains and prairies. The Athabasca River flows to the north of Yellowhead County and is considered one of the best fishing rivers in North America – but besides the Athabasca, you have many other fishing spots to check out.

Many of the fishing spots reveal even more outdoor fun and are near swimming areas, boat launches, hand launches, campgrounds, and cabins. The amount of adventure is endless, and if you’re new to the area and have adventures in the foothills, you can hire experienced guides for a variety of tours through Yellowhead County.

Outdoor Recreation in Yellowhead County

1. Hiking the Wild Sculptures Trail

 

Sundance Provincial Park can be enjoyed through camping, boating on Emerson Lakes, and offers excellent fishing spots. And whether you visit for the day, or for a camping getaway, one of your must-sees in the park are the hoodoos on the Wild Sculptures Trail. The beautiful hiking area follows Sundance Creek and brings you to views of hillside hoodoos, small and serene lakes, wildlife, and wildflowers. Details

When: camping and day use areas open May-October 31

Where: Trailhead located west of the campground on Emerson Creek Road

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2. River Fishing

As the Rocky Mountain rivers flow from Jasper and into Yellowhead County, they become slower, calmer, and quieter. But they are all still abundant in fish. The following areas are all great places to start with your fishing rod and/or boat and give you a choice between four different rivers.

3. Explore the Brule Sand Dunes by OHV

Brule Lake is within the foothills east of Jasper with surprising scenery to view and hike around: the sand dunes! Although surprising and considered a hidden gem, the dunes are easy to access from Trans Canada. If you do wish to stay in the area, you can camp at Wildhorse LakeProvincial Recreation Area, and off-load at the Brule staging area. From here, it is an intense ride to the dunes, so it is better suited to experienced OHV riders. Details

When: summer and early fall

Where: Brule Dunes Staging Area

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4. Hike & Picnic at Whitehorse Creek Falls

A hike to the 16m-high Whitehorse Creek Falls will take up your day and will be worth the 20km+ hike. You’ll hike 12km out, and 12km back, through meadows, forests, and beside small creek beds, until reaching the pretty waterfall. Details

Where: trailhead at Whitehorse CreekProvincial Recreation Area

How much: free

5. Family Walk at Beaver Boardwalk Pond

Hinton is home to the beginning of several beautiful hiking trails, but just south of town is one built for strollers and wheelchairs, too. The Beaver Boardwalk offers about 3km of trail around Maxwell Lake where you are likely to spot busy beavers hard at work. Details

Where: end of Sutherland Ave., Hinton

6. Mountain Biking in Hinton

Yellowhead County has several places for epic mountain biking including the Brule Dunes area, the Wildhorse LakeProvincial Recreation Area, McLeod RiverProvincial Recreation Area, and William A. Switzer Provincial Park. And for one of the area’s biggest mountain bike trail systems, head south of Hinton to the Bike Park, where you’ll get a variety of terrain and difficulty levels from which to choose. Details

Where: Hinton Bike Park – 281 Robb Road, Hinton

7. Backcountry Camping in the Whitehorse Wildland

You only need to hike a little way into the Whitehorse Wildland to find ultimate quiet, low and bright green valleys, small Rockies, and a large variety of flowers and wildlife. The area is incredibly peaceful for campers with five backcountry sites available: follow the Whitehorse Creek Trail to find the sites. Details

When: year-round

Where: access via Whitehorse CreekProvincial Recreation Area, south of Cadomin on the Gravel Flats Road

How much: free

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8. Peaceful Lake Paddling

Whether you canoe, kayak, SUP, or row, there are several serene and beautiful locations to launch your boat within Yellowhead County. The lakes are all in the foothills, with thick forests around them which allow for great views of wildlife. The stillness and calm of some of the lakes help make these areas great for fishing, too.

When: spring-fall

Where:

9. Wildlife Viewing & Photography

For short trails and great chances at spotting several species of birds, you can follow the Beaver Boardwalk Trail in south Hinton and spot up to 100 species. William A. Switzer Provincial Park is home to several species of birds as well, and the trails/meadows here may reveal much larger wildlife like coyotes, deer, moose, owls, hawks, or eagles. The highways in the Coal Valley, south of Hinton, are home to mountain goats that you might spot from the car.

10. Boating, Water-skiing, or Tubing

While these lakes are all open to powerboating or electric motors, some are better for fishing with their 12km/hour speed limit, like Obed Lake and Gregg Lake. That still leave Fickle, Wildhorse, Wolf Lake West, and four more lakes at William A. Switzer Provincial Park for faster rides, or the chance to tow skis and tubes.

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11. Unique Swimming Opportunities

We say unique swimming opportunities, but we really mean is some of the most beautiful swimming opportunities in Alberta! You can swim next to the Rockies in Kelley’s Bathtub or on a calmer stretch of the Athabasca River off the Emerson Lakes campground. Fickle Lake, south of Trans Canada, is located in a thicker forest, which surrounds the sandy beach.

Where:

Attractions & Guided Exploring

1. Pembina River Tubing

Yellowhead County’s eastern boundary is marked by the Pembina River, a smaller but beautiful channel which is perfect for a lazy float. You’ll need to either reserve parking with Pembina River Tubing, and a spot on their shuttle; or reserve parking with the operator and park a second car at Pembina River Provincial Park Day Use Area. No matter what, you need to exit the river at this point. The float is about 2.5 hours through a steep river valley, under large bridges, and in a shallower river. Details

When: Summer

Where: Pembina RiverProvincial Park Day Use Area, Entwistle

How much: $24-$33

2. Alternative Adventures Zipline

Book one of three different zipline experiences with Alternative Adventures in Hinton. These zipline flights send you soaring through the foothills along 350m of track. Try the introductory Superhero Flight before attempting Tandem, or their unique Base Jump experience (you get more slack on your zipline and will soar a bit faster!) Details

When: July-September 5

By reservation after September long weekend

Where: 50122 HWY 16 W

How much: $79-$145

3. Guided Trail Rides

You can centre an entire vacation or getaway around the trail ride outfitters in Yellowhead County, with many of them providing accommodations with their trips. However, you can make it part of a larger vacation, and book your family a day-ride or hour-long trail ride. Choose between short rides, long rides, cabin or tepee stays, or an adventurous pack trip through the foothills and mountains.

How much: $135-$200 per night

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4. See it all by Air with Remote Helicopters LTD.

Remote Helicopters offer tours around three different Alberta locations including the Rockies, Edmonton, and the impressively large Lesser Slave Lake. If you want to see Yellowhead County from up above in all its beauty, select their Jasper/Hinton Tours. Get sights and photos of the Athabasca River, the foothills as they turn into mountains, and hundreds of square km of forests. Details

When: July-November

Where: #5 27018 SH 633, Sturgeon County

How much: $199-$649

Food, Arts, & Culture

1. Farmers’ Markets

If you’re travelling Trans Canada for a camping vacation, or to sightsee throughout Yellowhead County, you can stock up on local foods and treats at two farmers’ markets. The Hinton Farmers’ Market is held on Thursdays while the Edson Farmers’ Market is every Friday. Get your fill of ready-to-eat snacks and sweets or take local produce and meats to-go.

2. Museums around Yellowhead County

You have the option between three major museums to visit in Yellowhead County in order to escape into the past and learn a bit about northern foothills history. Learn about the coal industry’s importance to the area, the fur trade, the area’s natural history, and the CN railway.

3. Find the Ice Cream Shops

August in this part of Alberta can reach sweltering temperatures, and September can remain quite warm; so, as you tour the area, keep an eye out for these local ice cream shops ready to help you and your family cool off:

4. Take a Heritage Tour

Coal Valley is at the heart of Yellowhead County, an area still home to coal mines. However, about 100 years ago, the coal industry was much busier in these areas of Alberta, and there are signs of those days all around Cadomin, the Gravel Flats Road, and Highway 40. You could consider Highway 40 the scenic route to or out of Jasper, as it meets back up with the Trans Canada Highway, and offers several places to stop and explore. Along the way, you can:

  • watch for mountain goats between Hinton and Luscar
  • explore Mountain Park Cemetery at the top of Gravel Flats Road, see the entrance to the old mine, and the former site of Cadomin (ghost town)
  • and picnic at Watson CreekProvincial Recreation Area or WealdProvincial Recreation Area

Details

5. Saskatoon Ridge U-pick

Head out for a day on the farm with your family while the Saskatoon berries are still there! Saskatoon Ridge U-pick are open for the season and allow you to walk their scenic fields of berries while you pick as many as you’d like to pay for or can carry! Details

Where: 55102, Range Rd 83, Yellowhead County

Camping in Yellowhead County

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Obed Lake Provincial Park/ Credit: Abdul Taiyeb Doctor/Flickr

In addition to all the provincial parks and cabins mentioned above, there are plenty of other camping options like:

1. Cougar Creek Cabins & Campground

Choose your type of stay with Cougar Creek Cabins: in their sheltered RV sites, secluded tent sites, or full-service cabins. Onsite, you and your family have access to a playground, wi-fi, quad/dirt bike trails, firewood, and your own firepit. Details

Where: 11km East of Hinton at 24027A Highway 16 (the Yellowhead); between Pedley Road and Carldale Road

How much: $25-$219 per night

2. Jasper East Cabins

The Jasper East Cabins are a short drive from the National Park Gates, as well as William A. Switzer Provincial Park, and give you a variety of accommodations from which to choose studio cabins, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom cabins. Onsite amenities include two restaurants. Details

Where: 49321 Hwy 16, Jasper East

3. Outback Camping & Cabins

Have your pick of a few ways to stay with Outback Camping & Cabins, south of Edson, and enjoy several activities without even leaving the park! You can stay in cabins, the motel, the campground, or deluxe cabins, and spend your days at the swimming hole in the water or fishing, with the kids at the playground, or exploring the nearby trails. Details

When: year-round

Where: 52313 Highway 47, Yellowhead County

How much: $35-$120 per night

4. Yellowhead County Municipal Campgrounds

Choose between six different campgrounds around Yellowhead County, all with their own features and attractions. Shininglake, Beta Lake, or Bear Lake Campgrounds are great for a beach or boating getaway, while Long Lake and Jerry Vanderwall Memorial Park are quieter spots perfect for fishing. Details

How much: $20 per night for all campgrounds

 

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