Provincial Park - Alberta · 2016-03-16 · BC AB Gregg 2.5 km Lake 0.5 km 0.5 km Kettle Trail 3.5...
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Contact Switzer Park Campground Reservations Web: reserve.albertaparks.ca Toll Free: 1–877–537–2757 Gregg Lake Campground Booth Phone: 780–865–5152 Park Information Hinton Office: 780–865–8395 Visitor Centre: 780–865–5600 ext. 1 Alberta Parks 3rd Floor, Government Centre 131 Civic Centre Road Hinton, AB, T7V 2E6 General Alberta Parks Information Web: albertaparks.ca Toll Free: 1–866–427–3582 Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) Phone: 911 Conservation Officer on Duty Phone: (780) 865–6972 Visitor Programs Switzer Park is the perfect location for environmental education. School groups can select from a dozen curriculum based programs offered throughout the school season. On weekends throughout the summer, join our park interpreters and take part in guided hikes, amphitheatre presentations and a variety of family adventures and interpretive programs. You can also sign out one of our six “family adventure backpacks” from the Visitor Centre to help you discover the park’s natural wonders on your own. Wildlife Viewing It’s just a short walk from the parking lot on the Cache Lake road to a viewing blind hidden in a meadow, where deer, coyotes, birds and many small mammals frequent at dawn and dusk. Along Jarvis Creek is another location where Recreation The five lakes in the park are ideal for fishing, paddling and other water sports. Water skiing and tubing are permitted on Jarvis Lake, where a sandy beach with a playground, picnic area, and a boat launch are found at the day use area. Gregg Lake also has day use area with a playground and boat launch (boating speed restrictions apply). Another favourite swimming hole is located at Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Here you will find a small beach, picnic tables with fire pits, a day use shelter, and hiking trails including the popular 1 km Kelley’s Bathtub Loop that begins from the deck of the Visitor Centre. Switzer Park has a variety of easy to moderate hiking and mountain biking trails for the whole family. Winter visitors can enjoy over 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails throughout the park at the Hinton Nordic Centre, Joachim Valley, Gregg Lake Trail and Jarvis Lake Trails. Canoeing/Kayaking Jarvis Creek connects all five lakes and offers a unique paddling adventure. Birds, beavers, otters William A. Switzer Provincial Park is located 20 km northwest of Hinton on Highway 40 in the foothills of Alberta’s Northern Rockies. The 63 square km park has magnificent views of the mountains. Switzer Park has five campgrounds spread out through the valley along a chain of five lakes connected by a navigable creek and surrounded by forests of pine, spruce and aspen. It is home to an abundance of wildlife including grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, foxes, moose, beavers and loon. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities to connect with nature. Favourite activities include: canoeing Jarvis Creek, relaxing at the beach, water skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, snow shoeing and cross- country skiing. Visitor Centre Come and take in the gorgeous view from the Visitor Centre deck at Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Step inside and explore the nature and wildlife exhibits, and browse the gift shop for a souvenir. Park staff can provide you with maps, brochures and information on provincial parks in Alberta’s Northern Rockies region, as well as answer your questions on local flora and fauna. many visitors spot moose, otters, beavers, eagles, owls, hawks and more. The Friendly Vista Trail provides access to Jarvis Creek and offers good opportunities to discover some of the 120 or more bird species that frequent Switzer Park. Sign out a wildlife viewing pack from the Visitor Centre, equipped with field guides and binoculars. Athabasca Lookout Viewpoint At 1585 metres, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views of Joachim Valley and Rocky Mountain front ranges. Bring binoculars and watch for hawks and eagles soaring high above the valley below. Athabasca Lookout is ablaze with wildflowers in the month of July. The 1 km uphill hike to the viewpoint starts from the luge parking lot, at the end of the Hinton Nordic Centre Road, and takes approximately 20 minutes one way. The viewpoint connects with a beautiful ridge-walk trail, providing 4 km of unforgettable mountain scenery. Don’t forget to bring your camera! and moose can often be seen while you paddle through the lakes and wetlands. A self-guided canoe route begins where Highway 40 crosses Jarvis Creek near the turnout to Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Signs along the way will guide you to the take out point at Graveyard Lake or you can return to your starting point by paddling back upstream. The route will take approximately one hour on a one way trip, or longer if you take your time and explore the lakes along the way. Be prepared to get your feet wet while making small portages over beaver dams. It’s all part of the adventure! Fishing Switzer Park was historically known as “Fish Lakes”. All five lakes are home to native whitefish and northern pike. The trout pond next to the Cache Lake Road is stocked with rainbow trout, and Jarvis Creek is stocked with brown trout. Remember to abide by fishing regulations. Happy fishing! William A. Switzer Provincial Park Park Guide Printed March 2016 ISBN: 978-0-7785-9586-1 Athabasca River 16 734 16 40 40 40 93 William A. Switzer Provincial Park To Edmonton To Grande Prairie To Calgary To Nordegg Edson Hinton Jasper Grand Cache AB BC Gregg Lake 2.5 km 0.5 km 0.5 km Kettle Trail 3.5 km Loop To Grande Cache To Hinton A Antler Grove Sites 1–11 B Bear Paw Sites 12–25 C Cougars Crest Sites 26–39 G Grizzly Sites 100–126 F Fox Den Sites 71–99 L Lakeside Sites 127–164 E Elk Ridge Sites 54–70 D Deer Trail Sites 40–53 Jarvis Creek Canoe Route 40 N 0 100m Amphitheatre Boat Launch Bicycle Trail Camping Area Canoe Launch Information Hiking Trail Fish Cleaning Garbage Fishing Drinking Water Dump Station Firewood ($) Parking Picnic Shelter Playground Washrooms Viewing Area Shower Campground Booth Telephone Swimming Sleeping Shelter Interpretive Trail Water Hookup Gate 15/30 Amp Power # Climbing Gregg Lake Campground
Transcript of Provincial Park - Alberta · 2016-03-16 · BC AB Gregg 2.5 km Lake 0.5 km 0.5 km Kettle Trail 3.5...
ContactSwitzer Park Campground ReservationsWeb: reserve.albertaparks.caToll Free: 1–877–537–2757Gregg Lake Campground BoothPhone: 780–865–5152Park InformationHinton Office: 780–865–8395Visitor Centre: 780–865–5600 ext. 1Alberta Parks3rd Floor, Government Centre131 Civic Centre RoadHinton, AB, T7V 2E6General Alberta Parks InformationWeb: albertaparks.caToll Free: 1–866–427–3582Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)Phone: 911Conservation Officer on DutyPhone: (780) 865–6972
Visitor ProgramsSwitzer Park is the perfect location for environmental education. School groups can select from a dozen curriculum based programs offered throughout the school season. On weekends throughout the summer, join our park interpreters and take part in guided hikes, amphitheatre presentations and a variety of family adventures and interpretive programs. You can also sign out one of our six “family adventure backpacks” from the Visitor Centre to help you discover the park’s natural wonders on your own.
Wildlife ViewingIt’s just a short walk from the parking lot on the Cache Lake road to a viewing blind hidden in a meadow, where deer, coyotes, birds and many small mammals frequent at dawn and dusk. Along Jarvis Creek is another location where
RecreationThe five lakes in the park are ideal for fishing, paddling and other water sports. Water skiing and tubing are permitted on Jarvis Lake, where a sandy beach with a playground, picnic area, and a boat launch are found at the day use area. Gregg Lake also has day use area with a playground and boat launch (boating speed restrictions apply). Another favourite swimming hole is located at Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Here you will find a small beach, picnic tables with fire pits, a day use shelter, and hiking trails including the popular 1 km Kelley’s Bathtub Loop that begins from the deck of the Visitor Centre. Switzer Park has a variety of easy to moderate hiking and mountain biking trails for the whole family. Winter visitors can enjoy over 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails throughout the park at the Hinton Nordic Centre, Joachim Valley, Gregg Lake Trail and Jarvis Lake Trails.
Canoeing/KayakingJarvis Creek connects all five lakes and offers a unique paddling adventure. Birds, beavers, otters
William A. Switzer Provincial Park is located 20 km northwest of Hinton on Highway 40 in the foothills of Alberta’s Northern Rockies. The 63 square km park has magnificent views of the mountains. Switzer Park has five campgrounds spread out through the valley along a chain of five lakes connected by a navigable creek and surrounded by forests of pine, spruce and aspen. It is home to an abundance of wildlife including grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, foxes, moose, beavers and loon. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities to connect with nature. Favourite activities include: canoeing Jarvis Creek, relaxing at the beach, water skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.
Visitor CentreCome and take in the gorgeous view from the Visitor Centre deck at Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Step inside and explore the nature and wildlife exhibits, and browse the gift shop for a souvenir. Park staff can provide you with maps, brochures and information on provincial parks in Alberta’s Northern Rockies region, as well as answer your questions on local flora and fauna.
many visitors spot moose, otters, beavers, eagles, owls, hawks and more. The Friendly Vista Trail provides access to Jarvis Creek and offers good opportunities to discover some of the 120 or more bird species that frequent Switzer Park. Sign out a wildlife viewing pack from the Visitor Centre, equipped with field guides and binoculars.
Athabasca Lookout Viewpoint At 1585 metres, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views of Joachim Valley and Rocky Mountain front ranges. Bring binoculars and watch for hawks and eagles soaring high above the valley below. Athabasca Lookout is ablaze with wildflowers in the month of July. The 1 km uphill hike to the viewpoint starts from the luge parking lot, at the end of the Hinton Nordic Centre Road, and takes approximately 20 minutes one way. The viewpoint connects with a beautiful ridge-walk trail, providing 4 km of unforgettable mountain scenery. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
and moose can often be seen while you paddle through the lakes and wetlands. A self-guided canoe route begins where Highway 40 crosses Jarvis Creek near the turnout to Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Signs along the way will guide you to the take out point at Graveyard Lake or you can return to your starting point by paddling back upstream. The route will take approximately one hour on a one way trip, or longer if you take your time and explore the lakes along the way. Be prepared to get your feet wet while making small portages over beaver dams. It’s all part of the adventure!
FishingSwitzer Park was historically known as “Fish Lakes”. All five lakes are home to native whitefish and northern pike. The trout pond next to the Cache Lake Road is stocked with rainbow trout, and Jarvis Creek is stocked with brown trout. Remember to abide by fishing regulations. Happy fishing!
William A. SwitzerProvincial Park
Park Guide
Printed March 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7785-9586-1
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William A. SwitzerProvincial Park To
Edmonton
ToGrandePrairie
To Calgary
To Nordegg
Edson
Hinton
Jasper
GrandCache
AB
BC
GreggLake2.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
Kettle Trail3.5 km Loop
To GrandeCache
To Hinton
AAntler GroveSites 1–11
BBearPawSites 12–25
CCougarsCrestSites 26–39
GGrizzlySites 100–126
FFox DenSites 71–99
LLakesideSites 127–164
EElk RidgeSites 54–70
DDeer TrailSites 40–53
Jarvis CreekCanoe Route
40
N
0 100m
Amphitheatre
BoatLaunch
Bicycle Trail
CampingAreaCanoe Launch
Information
Hiking Trail
Fish Cleaning
Garbage
Fishing
DrinkingWaterDump Station
Firewood ($)
Parking
PicnicShelterPlayground
Washrooms
Viewing Area
Shower
CampgroundBooth
Telephone
Swimming
Sleeping Shelter
InterpretiveTrail
Water Hookup
Gate 15/30 AmpPower
#
Climbing
Gregg Lake Campground
CampingThe campgrounds in Switzer Park offer a wide range of experiences. Sites located along Jarvis Creek are rustic and secluded, while Gregg Lake Campground offers power hookups, showers, a dumping station and an amphitheatre. Whatever your preferred style of accommodation, you’ll find it here.
Gregg Lake163 sites (83 with power, 11 with power and water, 69 basic sites). There is a campground booth, playgrounds, amphitheatre, interpretive programming, flush toilets, potable water taps in the upper loops, a shower facility, dumping station and a boat launch. Reservations are accepted up to 90 days in advance or register on-site during booth office hours. Lakeside loop is open for winter camping by self registration.
Cache14 rustic treed camping sites with tent pads, pump water (not drinkable), camp shelter, vault toilets, and playground. Available by self registration.
Halfway & Graveyard12 rustic campsites located in a meadow near lakes and Jarvis Creek with a fish cleaning station and vault toilet. Please note: no potable water at these sites. Available by self registration.
Jarvis Lake24 basic sites located on popular Jarvis Lake with a small beach, playground, vault toilets, dock and hand launch. Reservations are recommended and accepted up to 90 days in advance.
JarvisLake
JarvisLakeTrail
0.5 km 0.5 km
1.5 km
Friendly VistasTrail2.5 km
Kelley’sBathtub
Trail1 km
Jarvis CreekCanoe Route
Kelley’s BathtubVisitor Centre &Day Use Area
40
40
N
0 100m
Lakeside Campground
To GrandeCache
To H
wy
16 a
nd H
into
n
Athabasca LookoutAccess Trail (1.0 km)
AthabascaLookout Trail
(3.0 km)
Hinton Nordic Centre (35 km of trails)
Gregg Lake Day Use
Beaver Ranch Group Camp
Cache CampgroundTroutPond
Wildlife Viewing Blind Halfway Campground
GraveyardLake
Rai
lway
CacheLake
GreggLake
BlueLake
JarvisLake
Graveyard Campground
Jarvis Creek Canoe TakeoutBlue Lake Trail (3 km)
Blue Lake Centre
Kelley’s BathtubVisitor Centre & Day Use Area
Friendly Vista Trail (2.5 km)
Jarvis Creek Canoe Trailhead
Jarvis Lake Day UseJarvis Lake Campground
Pine Bay Group Camp(By Reservation Only)
Beaver RanchTrail (1.5 km)
Fish Lakes Trail(3.5 km)
Kettle Trail (3.5 km)
Gregg Lake Trail (3.5 km)
Gregg LakeCampground
Jarvis LakeTrails (13.5 km) 2.7 km
3.3 km
2.5 km
2.0 km
0.9 km
2.0 km
Joachim ValleyTrail (13 km)
To Black Cat Ranch
40
40
N
0 500m
William A. Switzer Park
Kelly’s Bathtub
Amphitheatre
BoatLaunch
Bicycle Trail
Birdwatching
Parking
PicnicShelter
Playground
WaterHand Pump
Viewing Area
Shower
Registration
Telephone
Swimming
Lodging
Viewpoint
Washrooms
InterpretiveTrail
CampingArea
VisitorCentre
Cross-CountrySkiing
Canoe Launch
Firewood ($)
Fishing
Garbage
Hiking Trail
Dump Station
GroupCamping
Bouldering
Gate
DrinkingWater
HikingGregg Lake Trail 3.5 km loopHike or bike this hilly 2.5 km trail through mixed forest from the Gregg Lake Day Use Area to the upper campground and amphitheatre area, and return on the 1 km trail connecting F-loop to the lake shore.
Kettle Trail3.5 km interpretive loopWalk on an esker, view a kettle lake and see the evidence of thousands of years of geological activity. The trailhead is located behind the Gregg Lake shower building.
Fish Lakes Trail3.5 km connector trailFor a taste of backcountry hiking, the Fish Lakes Trail connects Blue Lake trails to the Kettle trail. The trail follows ridges through rolling hills and thick spruce forests with viewpoints along the way.
Beaver Ranch Trail 1.5 km interpretive loopIn the late 1940s some short-lived beaver ranching was attempted along Jarvis Creek. Remnants of this ill-fated project can still be seen today. After you cross the creek, hike along Graveyard Lake to a viewpoint that showcases the surrounding wetlands. The trailhead is at Halfway Campground.
Kelley’s Bathtub Trail 1 km interpretive loopTake an easy stroll around the “bathtub” to see stunning Rocky Mountain views across Jarvis Lake and catch a glimpse of birds and
other wildlife. Trailhead begins at the Visitor Centre deck.
Friendly Vistas Trail 2.5 km loopThis wheelchair accessible trail meanders along the eastern shoreline of Jarvis Lake through mixed forests and the scenic Jarvis Creek wetlands. There are excellent birding and wildlife viewing opportunities as well as viewpoints with rest areas along the way.
Jarvis Lake Trails2.5 km–11.5 km loopsHike or bike through rolling hills, along meandering streams, meadows, aspen and spruce groves. In the winter, these trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. Trails start from the green gate in the parking lot at Kelley’s Bathtub, opposite the Visitor Centre. There are 13.5 km of trails, including Meadow Run, Sunburst, Rolling and Jarvis Lake. Stop by the Visitor Centre for a map or review and snap a photo of the Jarvis Trail information sign at the trailhead.
Blue Lake Trail 3 km loop Explore the eskers, kettles and Jarvis Creek wetlands between Blue Lake and Cache Lake.
Athabasca Lookout Trail 1 km access trail, 3 km to Joachim ValleyThe Athabasca Lookout Trail is regarded as one of the most picturesque viewpoints in the region. From the parking lot at the far end of Hinton Nordic Centre road, hike 1 km uphill to be rewarded with the stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and surroudning foothills. Continue along the ridge-trail for 3 km where giant sandstone boulders and cliffs dot the landscape creating a climbing playground. The trail descends steeply into Joachim Valley. Continue
along the Joachim Valley Trail for another 2.5 km to connect to Jarvis Campground.
Joachim Valley Trail 13 km to Black Cat RanchThe Joachim Valley Trail winds 13 km through the meadows and forests to the Black Cat Ranch. The gentle trail offers lovely views of the mountains and foothills, and is a popular destination for cross-country skiing.
Hinton Nordic Centre Trails 35 km of trailsIn winter, the Hinton Nordic Centre has groomed trails for cross-country skiing, a luge track, warm up shelters, telemark hill and biathlon range. The numerous trails in forested, hilly terrain are suitable for hiking and biking in summer.
Group CampingSelect a group campsite for your next family gathering or event with friends. Please note, group camping is available by reservation only.
Pine BayEnjoy a lovely secluded lakefront area with a cook shelter, 2 group campfire pits, private beach and dock. There are 10 walk-in tenting sites along the lake and in the woods, and space for approximately 4 to 8 RV’s depending on size. Reserve online at reserve.albertaparks.ca or call 1–877–537–2757.
Beaver RanchReserve a spacious group campsite located near Jarvis Creek. The site accommodates up to 20 units and has a cook shelter, pull-in sites, and a group campfire pit. Reserve online at reserve.albertaparks.ca or call 1–877–537–2757.
Blue Lake CentreBlue Lake Centre has a variety of accommodations, including group camping, cabin and lodge facilities. For information visit the website at bluelakealberta.ca.
