Flood recovery is ongoing in Kananaskis. Some trails, day use areas and backcountry campgrounds are impacted. Check Advisories before you travel. 

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Alberta Parks

William A. Switzer Provincial Park

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Get Here

  • William A Switzer Provincial Park is located about 30 km northwest of Hinton on Forestry Trunk Road/Highway 40 and 90 km east from the Jasper townsite. The park is a 30 minute drive from the town of Hinton or 1 hour from Jasper.

At the Park

  • Switzer Park is a lovely, uncrowded alternative to the Rocky Mountain national parks. Switzer encompasses more than 63 square km and is relatively undisturbed. Pine, spruce and aspen forests surround the park's chain of five small lakes. Many animals live in the park including grizzly and black bears, wolves, lynx, cougar, moose, elk, deer and beavers, as well as 122 bird species.
  • 35 kilometres of groomed trail for skate and classic skiing await at the Hinton Nordic Centre, located in the park.  There are also 26 km of other groomed cross-country ski trails in Switzer Park.
  • You’ll also find a biathlon range, toboggan hill, a warm up cabin and a rustic day lodge at the  Hinton Nordic Centre to make your ski complete. 

Play

  • Switzer Park has your winter recreation ready! Ice skate or go ice fishing on any of the park’s beautiful lakes.
  • For a different way to get out in nature, snowshoe (on the trails that are not track-set for skiing). 
  • Don’t miss the Winter Magic Festival, the celebration of the season. This festival brings together art, food, recreation, and family fun events for more than a week each February. Events are brought to you by community groups, the Town of Hinton and Switzer Park. 

Stay

  • Switzer Park has two campgrounds available for Rocky Mountain winter camping - Gregg Lake and Jarvis Lake.
  • Alternatively, the nearby town of Hinton has various hotel and dining options to make your winter getaway a breeze.
  • For a unique experience, ski into William A. Switzer Provincial Park from the Black Cat Guest Ranch.  The 13-km Joachim Valley Trail connects the Guest Ranch to the park so you can get a challenging day of skiing in before curling up by the fire.

Tips

  • To maintain the trails and facilities of the Hinton Nordic Centre, fees are in place for cross-country skiing and biathlon.
  • Check the ski conditions report provide by Hinton Nordic Skiers, which operates the Nordic Centre.
  • Switzer Park trail report provides condition information on other ski trails in the park.


Did You Know...

More frequent visitors to Alberta Parks tend to be in better physical health than non-visitors. They also feel more of the well-being benefits associated with visiting protected areas. Read more about Healthy Outside-Healthy Inside.