Hinton

Hinton is a small town in the Athabasca River valley, 80km (50 miles) along the main Yellowhead Highway from Jasper National Park. For those driving through there are a good range of services on the highway itself, a fast-food, a few motels, tourism information and a park. A couple of blocks back from the highway is the town proper - with some shopping and cafes.
Hinton sells itself as a gateway town to the Rockies, and also for it's beaver boardwalk and surrounding parkland. If you're driving through, a coffee stop in the town, and a stretch along the boardwalk is a good opportunity for a driving break.

History

While a native smallpox camp occupied a site along Hardisty Creek in 1870, the hamlet itself was established in 1911 and named for William P. Hinton, vice president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The Hinton coal mine opened in 1931; a pulp mill opened in 1955.
Grand Trunk's ill-fated expansion westward bankrupted the line as the more valuable southern route through Calgary (along what is now Trans-Canada Highway 1) had already been claimed by rival Canadian Pacific Railway and a short-lived third national railway (Canadian Northern Railway) covered much of the same territory. Canadian National has operated the line since 1923. At 8:40 AM on February 8, 1986 a CN freight train passed multiple red (stop) signals and jumped a switch to enter the mainline, colliding with a passenger train near Hinton and killing twenty-three; a historic plaque marks the crash site (near Carldale Road east of Hinton).
Hinton, mile 978 west of Winnipeg, remains as a flag stop on Via Rail's Canadian train. The town is one of two staging areas for expeditions in the Willmore Wilderness Park (the other being Grande Cache) and is home to the Wild Mountain Music Fest, a weekend long show hosted by the Entrance Ranch.

By car

The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) runs through town. Highway 40 (north-south) runs west of Hinton.

By bus

By rail

• Via RailVIA Canadian (three times weekly, Vancouver to Toronto) will make a flag stop on 48 hours notice.

By bus

• Hinton TransitOne local route with hourly service will likely be of little use to visitors, no Sunday or holiday service, reduced service during summer and Spring Break.

By air

• Air Jasper

  address: Jasper-Hinton Airport
  Charter flights and freight service, custom sightseeing tours of Maligne Lake, Columbia Icefields, Mt. Robson, Amethyst Lake, Jasper National Park, Banff National Park or Glacier National Park.

• Highland Helocopters

  phone: +1 780-865-7081
  address: Jasper-Hinton Airport

• Peregrine Helicopters

  phone: +1 780-865-3353
  address: Jasper-Hinton Airport
  Charter helicopter serving forestry and wildlife management teams. Helicopter tours include sightseeing and heli-hiking.

• Alberta Forest Service Museum

  phone: +1 780-865-8200
  address: 1176 Switzer Dr
  History of Alberta’s forestry industry. Open year-round.

• Hinton Historical Interpretive CentreGrand Trunk Pacific train station, the oldest surviving building in Hinton, was in service from 1911 until the 1980s. Relocated 2003 (it's now across the Yellowhead Highway from the current Via Rail shelter) and (as of 2014) under renovation for future use as a museum. A memorial for the 1986 Hinton train collision is also planned.

• Beaver BoardwalkWalk around the lake with lots of evidence of beaver dams and lodges. Early morning or evening you may even see one. The timber boardwalk connects to waterside gravel paths around the area. Easy to spend an hour or two here.

• Inroads Mountain SportsOutdoor activities for all levels, complete beginner to experienced outdoorsperson. Canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, adventure races.

• Yellowhead Raceway

  address: Highway 40 South
  Car racing, stock races, demolition derbies begin in May and run all summer long.

Tours

• Wolflandtours

  phone: +1 780-817-2562
  Outdoor Adventures, Guided hiking and backpacking 2 hours to several days, canoe tours 1-5 days and heli-hiking on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains on the border of Jasper National Park. Experienced wilderness guides speak English, German and French.

• R.D. Zuger Outfitting & Trailrides

  phone: +1 780-865-4711
  Hunting trips and trail rides in the Canadian Rockies (Hinton/Jasper area). Experienced guide/outfitter (Ralph) is born and raised in the local area and is able to offer locations based on the rider's/hunter's needs. Individuals and groups welcome. English and German spoken.

• Old Entrance Trailrides

  phone: +1 780-865-4760
  address: Old Entrance, Highway 40 North.
  Guided trail rides for up to 4 riders along the scenic Athabasca River valley and eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Events

• Mary Reimer Memorial Rodeo

  address: Mary Reimer Park in the Valley
  One weekend, free camping, Family Fun Night with open air family dance on Friday, rodeo events on Saturday and Sunday.

• Wild Mountain Music Festival

  address: Entrance Ranch
  Three day music festival with an eclectic range of performers from the local music scene and across Canada.

• Gus' Pizza Place

  phone: +1 780-865-4232
  address: 346 Hardisty Ave

• Joey's Only

  phone: +1 780-865-5043
  address: 343 Gregg Avenue
  Seafood.

• Fortune House Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +1 780-865-2999
  address: 150 Athabasca Avenue
  Chinese and Western Food. Located in the Valley beside the Roxy Theatre.

• L & W Pizza & Spaghetti House

  phone: +1 780-865-4892
  address: 414 Carmichael Lane

• The Old Grind

  phone: +1 780-865-1934
  address: 175 Pembina Avenue
  Counter service for breakfast and lunch. Great range of espresso drinks, and a choice of six brews.

• Royal Garden Restaurant

  phone: +1 780-865-1111
  address: 296 Smith St
  Chinese and western cuisine, all-u-can eat luncheon smorgasbord.

• Tokyo Sushi

  phone: +1 780-865-2120
  address: 571 Gregg Ave

• Stone Peak Restaurant

  address: 27010 Hwy 16 W, Jasper East
  Warm, log décor, gourmet cuisine, seasonal specialties, plus mains like salmon with brandy cream and lobster; Oka cheese and sun-dried tomato stuffed chicken; AAA Angus steak; and bison tenderloin with Cabernet sauce, truffles and foie gras. Breakfast, lunch (Jul-Sep) and dinner.

• Ranchers Sports Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 780-865-9785
  address: 438 Smith Street

• Timberland Hotel

  phone: +1 780-865-2231
  address: 114 Park St
  Hotel, bar and liquor store.

• Athabasca Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 780-865-2241
  address: 124 Athabasca Avenue
  Hotel with Cheers Lounge bar.

• Crestwood Hotel

  phone: +1 780-865-4001
  address: 678 Carmichael Lane
  Hotel with For Pete's Steak and Grill restaurant serving New York steak, steak Neptune and chicken cordon Swiss. Restaurant open 6AM to 11PM daily, lounge until midnight Monday-Saturday.

• Holiday Inn Hinton

  phone: +1 780-865-3321
  address: 393 Gregg Avenue

• Lakeview Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 780-865-2575
  address: 500 Smith St
  Hotel with Final Shot Sports Bar.

• McCracken Country Inn

  phone: +1 780-865-5662
  address: 146 Brookhart St

Brûlé

Brûlé is 16km (10 miles) northwest of Hinton on Highway 40.

• Brûlé Sand DunesRecreation area with network of trails that are popular among ATVers, equestrians, hikers and bikers. Watch out for old telegraph poles and the Grand Trunk Pacific Station, which is said to be buried in the sands.

• Ogre CanyonCanyon with towering cliffs, meandering streams and sunken sinkholes. Ogre Canyon Falls.

• William A. Switzer Provincial Park

  phone: +1 780-865-5600
  address: Hwy 40, north of Brûlé
  In Alberta's upper foothills region, camping, orienteering, camping, fly fishing, kayaking, swimming and wall climbing. Cadomin Caves, a multi-chamber cave system 2,791 m (9,150 ft) in length, allows exploration and caving with permission from the Alberta Speleological Society, but the cave remains wild and proper equipment and experience is necessary. The caves are a bat habitat and are thus closed from September to April.

• West Range Cabins

  phone: +1 780-865-4777
  address: Township Road 502
  Backcountry equestrian camp with private sleeping cabins, shower house, hot and cold running water and solar lights. Ride the high country for 2-6 days as part of an all-inclusive guided horseback vacation to Jasper and Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Parks. Cabin-tent combo rides to the Moosehorn Valley available for up to 8 days in length.

• Blue Diamond Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1 780-865-4895
  address: 4701 Mountain Road