Calgary 
Jasper National Park may be the major attraction west of Hinton. But within the area, and before any National Park border, are immense wilderness areas open for spring, summer, and fall fun.
©Alberta Parks
The area’s William A. Switzer Provincial Park is a popular destination for almost any recreational activity. But given the park’s popularity, the shorelines and waters are often busy, with camping reservations filling up quickly.
Luckily, there is a hidden gem of a Provincial Park right in the area between Hinton and Jasper. Rock Lake Provincial Park, west of Hinton and Switzer, is only a short distance from the main Highway 40, but offers the sense of escape into the remote wilderness. Not only that, but Rock Lake Provincial Park is also a true staging area for some of Alberta’s most pristine yet accessible wilderness areas!
As a three-season park, Rock Lake offers reasons to visit for spring, summer, and fall. As with Jasper National Park, Rock Lake Provincial Park is an excellent place for stargazing, birding, and wildlife viewing throughout any open season. But beyond those, there are several activities to keep campers and day use visitors busy at Rock Lake.
Hiking & Cycling around Rock Lake
Between Rock Lake Provincial Park, Willmore Wilderness Park, and the Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park, this part of Alberta’s Rockies and foothills has numerous trails to explore for hikers and cyclists/mountain bikers.
- Begin with the simpler trails that wind throughout Rock Lake PP like the Willmore Viewpoint (0.5km) or the George Kelley Trail (3km) which also leads to a stunning viewpoint. Additionally, the Sulphur Springs trail leads from the campground to the south shores of the lake.
- The trails of Willmore and Solomon Creek Wildland extend west into the Rockies for dozens of kilometres. Any one of these parks’ popular routes are a great way to extend your hiking or mountain biking adventure to whatever distance you desire. These include the Moosehorn Lake Trail on the Solomon Creek side, the Mountain and Mumm Creek trails in Willmore, or the North Boundary trail within the north part of Jasper NP.
Fun on the Water
Rock Lake provides an incredibly scenic backdrop for a raft trip, paddle, or boat ride. Motors are permitted on Rock Lake, but any type of towing is not, like water skiing or tubing. Exploring the shorelines by boat gets you to more remote parts of the lake’s shores and makes for excellent wildlife viewing and birding opportunities. Rock Lake is surrounded by large foothills that slowly become Rocky Mountains as you gaze further west. The water of Rock Lake is crystal clear and makes for a refreshing summer dip.
- Take advantage of one of two boat launch locations at Rock Lake PP: the Windy Bay day use area, or the Moose Landing launch.
- Floating, swimming, and beach fun are permitted on the lake shores near the day use area. However, the water is cold all summer, and the much of the lake is generally rocky on the bottom.
- Rock Lake is a favourite spot among fishers who can take a shot at catches of whitefish or lake trout.
- Commonly spotted wildlife along the remote shores includes bighorn sheep, elk, or grizzly and black bears. Wolves and cougars also call the area home but are more elusive.
Rock Lake’s Front Country Camping & More
The more rustic camping experience at Rock Lake Provincial Park is open to tents, trailers, or RVs. The campground doesn’t have services like electric or water hookups but is within a short enough drive from Hinton to make the town a convenient place for services and amenities. Camping at Rock Lake Provincial Park is open from May to October each year.
- Rock Lake’s campground is nestled among the dense foothill forests that surround the Lake. About half of the sites are a great enough distance from the day use and beach area to make the camping experience quiet and peaceful. A short trail also connects the campground with the day use area. The other half of the campsites are located closer to the lake shores and day use area.
- Walk-in tenting is available for the more adventurous or well-equipped campers. And while the campground has no official services, there are water pumps, firewood, and outhouses throughout the park.
- Equestrian campsites are also available near the park’s entrance. This campground offers hitching posts and rails, and trail access to more horseback riding areas.
- For those who prefer a bit more with their accommodations, the park is also home to the Rock Lake Earth Lodge. The lodge offers lodge room or cabin rentals. More cabin rentals are available outside of the Provincial Park with the Rocky Mountain Escape Log Cabins.
Backcountry Camping near Rock Lake
The wilderness surrounding Rock Lake, Hinton, and Jasper, is still protected land. But these areas, like the Solomon Creek Wildland, or Willmore Wilderness Area, provide much more remote opportunities for recreation, including backcountry camping.
- The Rock Lake-Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park backcountry camping is random with no facilities for campers. Two major trails provide access from the Rock Lake Provincial Park and into the Wildland: Mumm Creek, Mountain, and Jackson Creek Trails.
- The Willmore Wilderness Park, to the west of Rock Lake Provincial Park, offers more established backcountry camping and more expansive areas or options from which to choose for a campsite. Rock Lake’s Willmore Staging Area day use is a perfect place from where to start the backcountry adventure.
Plan Your Trip – Rock Lake Provincial Park
What: Rock Lake Provincial Park, a short drive northwest of Hinton, is a small camping and recreation area that borders three much larger areas: Jasper National Park, Solomon Creek Wildland PP, and the Willmore Wilderness Park.
With this, Rock Lake Provincial Park is a destination, as well as a staging area for wilderness activities in those other three parks. Rock Lake is on the edge of the foothills and Rocky Mountains with both types of landscapes surrounding the waters. On the eastern edge of Rock Lake are large and green foothills, while the snowier and Rockier mountains begin forming on the western edge of Rock Lake. The area offers several activity options for a spring, summer, or fall visit, and offers picnic areas for day use visitors.
Location and how to get there: 7km west of Hinton on Highway AB-16, 40 km northwest on Highway AB-40, and 35km west on access road.
Rock Lake Provincial Park is located 360 km from Edmonton, 320 km from Grande Prairie, 470 km from Red Deer, 550 km from Calgary, and 130 km from Grand Cache.
Best time to go: May to October
How much: day use free; camping $20 per night
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