Camping & Hiking · Fishing · Scenic Views · Alberta
A lakeside provincial park in the foothills near Hinton, AB, with forested campgrounds, mountain views, easy family trails like Kelly's Bathtub and a friendly visitor centre.
William A. Switzer Provincial Park sits in the Rocky Mountain foothills, handy to both Hinton and Jasper. Visitors describe it as quiet and beautiful, with lakes set against the mountains, forested campgrounds and well-kept facilities and roads. Several compare it to a quieter, less crowded Banff or Jasper.
The easy Kelly's Bathtub trail is the most talked-about hike. It's a flat loop of about a kilometre that you can extend around Jarvis Lake, with good views and a small beach below the visitor centre. Other trails range from easy strolls to tougher day hikes, and there are interpretive signs along the way. Summer visitors praise the visitor centre staff, and one ranger gave helpful advice on bear behaviour.
It suits families and dog owners, with a beach, fire pits, picnic tables and a playground. Anglers with boats can go after whitefish and perch, and shore anglers can try the stocked trout pond. The park is used year-round, including for winter sports, and one reviewer found fall colours and quiet campsites in the shoulder season. Sunrise and sunset bring fog on the lakes, which photographers love.
There's a lot of bear activity in the area, so store food carefully and stay alert on the trails. Outside summer the visitor centre closes and some services may not be running, and it gets colder here than further south.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 559 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with William A. Switzer Provincial Park directly.
