Coal Mine Tours - to Cardinal River Coals and Obed Mountain Coal mines run through the months of July and August.  Call the Tourist Information Center (780) 865-2777 for reservation.  Just 40 km south of Hinton, viewpoints of Cardinal River Coals give you spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Saw Mill or Pulp Mill Tours - Weldwood of Canada Limited, Hinton Division, and the Hi-Atha Sawmill offer tours that provide you insight into technology and planning in the forest industry.  The site of both operations is an impressive 1,032.75 aces and it's guaranteed you won't miss seeing it!  865-2251

Foothills Model Forest Tours - part of the Canadian Model Forest Network and is comprised of 2.75 million hectares of boreal/montane/subalpine forest. Tours are available at no cost of this massive research project, which looks at the "ecological, economic and social values of the forest."

Athabasca Nordic Centre - Cross Country Skiing enthusiasts can visit the world class Athabasca Nordic Centre for some great cross-country skiing, the centre is also home to a natural luge track. Follow highway 16 to highway 40 north and continue approximately 22 km to the turn off. (When you leave Highway 40 north the road is gravel and not recommended for those towing or driving large Recreation Vehicles.)

Visit the Coal Branch - Take a historic and scenic drive through the Coal Branch. This historic tour will take you along the route of operating coal mines and historic locations such as Cadomin, Mercoal and Robb just to name a few. A Commemorative Tour Map is available at the West Yellowhead Travel Alberta Centre, to reach the Coal Branch follow highway 16 west of Hinton Highway 40 south. While visiting the Cadomin are you can visit the Cadomin Caves (May 1-August 31), it is strongly suggested that first time visitors to the caves take a guided tour, guide brochures are available at the West Yellowhead Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centre in Hinton (Please note a portion of this scenic drive is a gravel road please use caution.)

The Cardinal Divide Viewpoint - less than one hour south of Cadomin. Breathtaking view, elevation 6500 ft., marking the division between the Athabasca River system (which flows to the Arctic) and the North Saskatchewan River system (which flows across the prairies to Hudson Bay).

Forestry Museum - Hinton¡¯s Environmental Training Centre is the home of the Alberta Forestry Museum. The historic Moberly Cabin has been transformed into a museum of artefacts and stories of early forestry, you can see how rangers predicted and monitored forest fires in the early days. After visiting the museum return the main building and peruse the taxidermists¡¯ display in the upper level of the centre. This is a self-guided tour and can be taken Monday through Friday. Call (780) 865-8211 for more information.

Natural Resource Interpretive Park - Visitors to Hinton can take in the Natural Resource Interpretive Park located along highway 16 near Parks West Mall the park illustrates Hinton industry and provides an explanation of forestry, mining and the railroad. Included in the park is an interpretive trail. You can also visit Hinton¡¯s many multi purpose trails, the Millennium Park located at Civic Centre Road is the crossroads of the trail system in Hinton and has interpretive signs and maps.

Switzer Provincial Park - Switzer Provincial Park is 25 km north of Hinton on highway 40, and is a must see for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife watchers alike. The park has camping, fishing, canoeing, water skiing, hiking and biking during the summer months if winter activities interest you try out the cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, skating or snowshoeing.  You can take part in the interpretive programs that take place in the park during the summer, canoes and boats are available for rent. For camping and boat rental information call (780) 865-5152, for park information call (780) 865-5600.

Emerson Lakes - The bluish-green Emerson Lakes have a 9 site campground with picnic tables, firepits, firewood supply, dry pit toilets, and a water pump. Since gasoline powered motors are not permitted on the lakes, this is a great spot to enjoy the peace and quiet of the wilderness.

Wild Sculpture Trail - You don't need to travel to Alberta's Badlands in order to see hoodoos, those intriguing sandstone towers tortuously carved by wind and water. Less than an hour's drive from either Hinton or Edson.

There are three lakes along the trail, Beaver Lake, Little Sundance Lake, and Sundance Lake with campsites at each one. The Wild Sculpture Trail provides an opportunity to see some truly remarkable rock features and beautiful glacial lakes. Further information about the trails is available from the Tourist Information Centre in Hinton.

The Bighorn Trail - This 20 km. trail starts approximately 7 km. south of Hinton on the Robb Road.  The trail can be travelled in one day by the energetic, or two by the more relaxed.  Two primitive campsites along it have been developed. Available for hikers or horse-back riders, the trail climbs 550 metres to the Bighorn Ridge. From here, the view is spectacular and worth every effort to see. All the land to the North, south and West lies at your feet for photography and contemplation as you rest on a sunny slope.

Ogre Canyon - One local attraction that is less publicly recognized is Ogre Canyon. Tucked into a small sliver of land between the first range of the Rockies and Brule Lake, it is an area full of heritage and beauty.

The area at the base of the cliffs abounds with sinkholes, places where underground streams dried up or changed their courses, letting the land descend like an elevator, taking its vegetation along. In some holes trees grow tall and proud, but barely reach above the surrounding ground level.

The shore of Brule Lake is studded with sand towers, carved by the relentless wind from Yellowhead Pass.

The CNR railway tunnel into Jasper Park marks an end to exploring at this level, but between the canyon and the tunnel, a route to another level is found. The old pack-horse trail used in the early days of Rocky Mountain exploration rises through several switchbacks to a height of over 900 metres. The breathless hiker finds himself on a ridge of land that descends southwards to cliffs over the Athabasca River and swoops up to the north into the soaring summit of the Bedson Ridge.

Although the Ogre Canyon area is popular with campers, hikers, and Blue Lake Centre climbing students, bear in mind that this is not a publicly maintained site, so please take extra care if you decide to use it.  Extra precautions should also be taken when using fires as the entire Solomon Mountain Valley lies downwind.


Brule Lake - Sand Dunes - Grand Trunk Station House -  This tour is for hikers, 4x4's, dirt bikes, and all-terrain vehicles only. By 4x4 you can arrive at the focal point of this tour within 20 minutes. The trail is readily discernable, and offers a spectacular view along the way.

Brule Lake lies at the base of the Rockies; the beach is similar in nature to desert sand dunes. It is great fun on a bike or other all-terrain vehicles. This site was once the location of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad Station.

Over the years the sand has partially covered the old station as well as the remaining tracks. However, the remains are still visible and across from the station are a few of the power poles that once brought power to the station. The Brule Lake area can provide a whole day of fun while being nestled in a beautiful area against the Rocky Mountains.