Scenic Views · Fishing · Camping & Hiking · Alberta
A foothills river in west-central Alberta, with a day-use beach under sandstone cliffs at McLeod River Recreation Area near Hinton. Good for paddling and trout fishing, with a bait ban and catch-and-release rules.
The McLeod River runs out of the foothills east of Jasper National Park and winds northeast through spruce forest towards Whitecourt. At McLeod River Provincial Recreation Area, south of Hinton, the day-use area sits beside the river with sandstone cliffs behind it, and visitors mention a small beach where the current slows down. It makes an easy stop on the way to or from Jasper.
People come to fish, kayak and canoe, and to camp beside the water with family and friends. The recreation area has two camping loops with shaded, unserviced sites, a day-use area with fire pits and picnic tables, riverside walking trails and an interpretive trail through the forest. One reviewer points out gold-panning spots, fossil beds and petrified wood along the banks.
Alberta Parks lists rainbow trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish and bull trout in this stretch. Alberta's sportfishing regulations set a bait ban on the McLeod, close it over winter, and require you to release all bull trout and rainbow trout, so check the current regulations before you go.
Reviews are short and don't give much detail on access points, so decide ahead which campground or day-use area you're heading to. Bring your own drinking water, since the park recommends it. River levels rise after rain and during spring runoff, which matters if you're paddling.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 95 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
