Visitor Programs - AlbertaWo Switzer Brochure.pdf · land, explore our hiking trails and mountain...
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Athabasca Lookout Viewpoint At 1585 meters, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the Solomon Valley. Bring your binoculars and watch for hawks and eagles soaring along the foothills and mountain ranges. The lookout is ablaze with wildflowers in the month of July. Parking is available at the luge parking lot. The hike to the viewpoint takes approximately 30 minutes. The fire lookout is staffed and is not accessible to the public. Recreation The five lakes in the park are ideal for fishing and canoeing. Water skiing is permitted on Jarvis Lake and a sandy beach with a boat launch and playground is found in the Jarvis Lake Day Use area. If you prefer recreation on land, explore our hiking trails and mountain biking trails. Winter visitors can enjoy over 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails. skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Visitor Centre Explore the exhibits and gift shop in the visitor centre at Kelley’s Bathtub day use area. Park staff can provide you with maps and brochures of the area, as well as answer your questions on local wildlife and visitor attractions in the Northern Rockies. You can also pick up one of six family adventure packs to help you discover the park’s natural wonders on your own. PARK GUIDE William A. Switzer Provincial Park William A. Switzer Provincial Park is located 25 km northwest of Hinton on Highway 40 in the foothills of Alberta’s Northern Rockies. The 63 square kilometer park has magnificent views of the mountains, a chain of five lakes and abundant wildlife including grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, moose, elk, beavers and loons. The park provides year-round opportunities to recreate and connect with nature. Some favourite activities are: canoeing Jarvis Creek, swimming at the beach, water Contact Gregg Lake Campground Reservations Web: reserve.albertaparks.ca Toll Free: 1–877–537–2757 Phone: 780–865–5152 Park Information and Group Camping Phone: 780–865–8395 Visitor Centre: 780–865–5600 Alberta Parks 3rd Floor, Government Centre 131 Civic Centre Road Hinton, AB, T7V 2E6 General Alberta Parks Information Web: albertaparks.ca Toll Free: 1–866–427–3582 Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) Phone: 911 ISBN: 9780–7785–9342–3 Printed May 2011 Visitor Programs Switzer Park is the perfect location for environmental education and interpretation. Take part in guided hikes, amphitheater presentations and family adventures. School groups can select from a dozen different curriculum based programs offered throughout the school season. Wildlife Viewing Blind It’s just a short hike from the parking lot on the Cache Lake Road to the viewing blind hidden in a meadow. Deer, elk, birds, coyotes and many small mammals frequent this area at dawn and dusk. You can even borrow a wildlife viewing pack from the visitor centre with field guides and binoculars. Fishing Switzer Park was historically known as “Fish Lakes”. All five lakes are home to native whitefish and northern pike. The trout pond next to the Cache Lake Road is stocked with rainbow trout, and Jarvis Creek is stocked with brown trout. Remember to abide by fishing regulations. Happy fishing! Canoeing Jarvis Creek connects all 5 lakes and offers a unique canoeing adventure. Birds, beavers, moose and other wildlife can often be seen while you quietly paddle through the lakes and wetlands. Be prepared to get your feet wet while making small portages over beaver dams. It’s all part of the adventure! A self-guided canoe route begins where Highway 40 crosses Jarvis Creek near the visitor centre. Signs along the way will guide you to the take-out point at Graveyard Lake Campground. The route will take approximately one hour on a one way trip—longer if you like to explore. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at Blue Lake Centre in the park. 16 734 16 40 40 40 93 William A. Switzer Provincial Park To Edmonton To Grande Prairie To Calgary Edson Hinton Jasper Grand Cache AB BC Gregg Lake 2.5 km Kettle Trail 3.5 km Loop To Grande Cache To Hinton A Antler Grove B Bear Paw C Cougars Crest G Grizzly F Fox Den L Lakeside E Elk Ridge D Deer Trail 40 N 0 100m Gregg Lake Overview Map Parking 15/30 Amp Power Amphitheatre Picnic Shelter Playground Boat Launch Information Bicycle Trail Washrooms Viewing Area Shower Registration Telephone Swimming Sleeping Shelter Camping Area Garbage Fishing Hiking Trail Cross-Country Skiing Drinking Water Dump Station Interpretive Trail Boat Rental
Transcript of Visitor Programs - AlbertaWo Switzer Brochure.pdf · land, explore our hiking trails and mountain...
Athabasca Lookout Viewpoint
At 1585 meters, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the Solomon Valley. Bring your binoculars and watch for hawks and eagles soaring along the foothills and mountain ranges. The lookout is ablaze with wildflowers in the month of July. Parking is available at the luge parking lot. The hike to the viewpoint takes approximately 30 minutes. The fire lookout is staffed and is not accessible to the public.
Recreation
The five lakes in the park are ideal for fishing and canoeing. Water skiing is permitted on Jarvis Lake and a sandy beach with a boat launch and playground is found in the Jarvis Lake Day Use area. If you prefer recreation on land, explore our hiking trails and mountain biking trails. Winter visitors can enjoy over 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails.
skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.
Visitor CentreExplore the exhibits and gift shop in the visitor centre at Kelley’s Bathtub day use area. Park staff can provide you with maps and brochures of the area, as well as answer your questions on local wildlife and visitor attractions in the Northern Rockies. You can also pick up one of six family adventure packs to help you discover the park’s natural wonders on your own.
park guide
William A. SwitzerProvincial Park
William A. Switzer Provincial Park is located 25 km northwest of Hinton on Highway 40 in the foothills of Alberta’s Northern Rockies. The 63 square kilometer park has magnificent views of the mountains, a chain of five lakes and abundant wildlife including grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, moose, elk, beavers and loons. The park provides year-round opportunities to recreate and connect with nature. Some favourite activities are: canoeing Jarvis Creek, swimming at the beach, water
ContactGregg Lake Campground ReservationsWeb: reserve.albertaparks.caToll Free: 1–877–537–2757Phone: 780–865–5152
Park Information and Group CampingPhone: 780–865–8395Visitor Centre: 780–865–5600
Alberta Parks3rd Floor, Government Centre131 Civic Centre RoadHinton, AB, T7V 2E6
General Alberta Parks InformationWeb: albertaparks.caToll Free: 1–866–427–3582
Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)Phone: 911
ISBN: 9780–7785–9342–3
Printed May 2011
Visitor ProgramsSwitzer Park is the perfect location for environmental education and interpretation. Take part in guided hikes, amphitheater presentations and family adventures. School groups can select from a dozen different curriculum based programs offered throughout the school season.
Wildlife Viewing Blind
It’s just a short hike from the parking lot on the Cache Lake Road to the viewing blind hidden in a meadow. Deer, elk, birds, coyotes and many small mammals frequent this area at dawn and dusk. You can even borrow a wildlife viewing pack from the visitor centre with field guides and binoculars.
Fishing
Switzer Park was historically known as “Fish Lakes”. All five lakes are home to native whitefish and northern pike. The trout pond next to the Cache Lake Road is stocked with rainbow trout, and Jarvis Creek is stocked with brown trout. Remember to abide by fishing regulations. Happy fishing!
Canoeing
Jarvis Creek connects all 5 lakes and offers a unique canoeing adventure. Birds, beavers, moose and other wildlife can often be seen while you quietly paddle through the lakes and wetlands. Be prepared to get your feet wet while making small portages over beaver dams. It’s all part of the adventure! A self-guided canoe route begins where Highway 40 crosses Jarvis Creek near the visitor centre. Signs along the way will guide you to the take-out point at Graveyard Lake Campground. The route will take approximately one hour on a one way trip—longer if you like to explore. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at Blue Lake Centre in the park.
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40
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William A. SwitzerProvincial Park
ToEdmonton
ToGrandePrairie
To Calgary
Edson
Hinton
Jasper
GrandCache
AB
BC
GreggLake2.5 km
Kettle Trail3.5 km Loop
To GrandeCache
To Hinton
AAntler Grove
BBearPaw
CCougarsCrest
GGrizzly
FFox Den
LLakeside
EElk Ridge
DDeerTrail
40
N
0 100m
Gregg Lake Overview Map
Parking
15/30 AmpPower
Amphitheatre
PicnicShelter
Playground
BoatLaunch
Information
Bicycle Trail
Washrooms
Viewing Area
Shower
Registration
Telephone
Swimming
Sleeping Shelter
CampingArea
Garbage
Fishing
Hiking Trail
Cross-CountrySkiing
DrinkingWater
Dump Station
InterpretiveTrail
Boat Rental
Lakeside Campground
To GrandeCache
To H
into
n &
Hw
y 16
Athabasca Lookoutand Viewpoint
Athabasca Lookout Nordic Centre(35 km of trails)
Group Use Area By Reservation Only
Gregg Lake Day Use
Beaver Ranch Group Camp
Cache CampgroundTroutPond
Wildlife Viewing Blind Halfway Campground
GraveyardLake
Rai
lway
CacheLake
GreggLake
BlueLake
JarvisLake
Graveyard Campground
Blue Lake Trail (3 km)
Blue Lake Centre
Kelley’s BathtubVisitor Centre & Day Use Area
Friendly Vista Trail (2.5 km)
Jarvis Creek Canoe Trailhead
Jarvis Lake Day UseJarvis Lake Campground
Pine Bay Group Camp(By Reservation Only)
Beaver RanchTrail (1.5 km)
Fish Lakes Trail(3.5 km)
Kettle Trail (3.5 km)
Gregg Lake Trail
Gregg LakeCampground
Jarvis LakeTrail (13.5 km)
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William A. Switzer Park Map CampingThe campgrounds in Switzer Park offer a wide range of experiences. Sites located along Jarvis Creek are rustic and secluded, while Gregg Lake Campground offers power hookups, showers, a dumping station and an amphitheatre. Whatever your preferred style of accommodation, you’ll find it here.
GREGG LAkE164 sites, 40 with power, showers, campground booth, playgrounds, boat launch, amphitheatre and dumping station. Reservations accepted.
CAChE14 rustic treed camping sites, with pump water, camp shelter and playground. Not reservable.
hALFWAy & GRAVEyARd12 rustic campsites located in a meadow near lakes and Jarvis Creek. Please note: no potable water at these sites. Not reservable.
JARVIS LAkE24 sites located on Jarvis Lake with a small beach, boat launch, playground and dock. Not reservable.
Group CampingSelect a group campsite for your next family gathering or event with friends. Please note, group camping is available by reservation only.
PInE BAyEnjoy a lovely secluded lake-front area with a camp shelter, beach, dock, 10 tent pads and a parking area for RVs.
BEAVER RAnChReserve a spacious group campsite located next to Jarvis Creek. The site accommodates up to 20 units and includes a cook shelter.
AthABASCA LOOkOut nORdIC CEntREThe Nordic Centre is ideal for large gatherings and privacy for your group. Set up your tents in a large open grassy meadow. RVs are permitted in the parking area. A spacious rustic lodge facility is also available.
BLuE LAkE CEntREGroup camping as well as cabin and hotel style accommodations await you at Blue Lake Centre. For information call 780.865.4789 or visit the website at www.bluelakealberta.ca.
JarvisLake
Kelly’s BathtubVisitor Centre &Day Use Area
Jarvis Lake Trail13 km
Friendly VistasTrail2.5 km
Kelley’sBathtub
Trail1 km
40
40
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0 100m
kelly’s Bathtub Map
Parking
Amphitheatre
PicnicShelter
Playground
BoatLaunch
Bicycle Trail
Washrooms
Viewing Area
Shower
Registration
Telephone
Swimming
Sleeping Shelter
CampingArea
Cross-CountrySkiing
Information
Garbage
Fishing
Hiking Trail
Dump Station
InterpretiveTrail
Boat Rental
HikingkEttLE tRAIL3.5 km interpretive loopWalk on an esker, view a kettle lake and see the evidence of thousands of years of geological activity. The trailhead is located behind the Gregg Lake shower building.
GREGG LAkE tRAIL 2.5 kmHike or bike through a mixed forest from the Gregg Lake boat launch to the Fox Den camping loop. Make a full 4km loop by using the lakeside road.
BEAVER RAnCh tRAIL 1.5 km interpretive loopIn the late 1940s some short-lived beaver ranching was attempted along Jarvis Creek. Remnants of this ill-fated project can still be seen today. After you cross the creek, hike along Graveyard Lake to a viewpoint that showcases the surrounding wetlands. The trailhead is at Halfway Campground.
BLuE LAkE tRAIL 3 km loop Explore the eskers, kettles and Jarvis Creek wetlands between Blue Lake and Cache Lake.
JARVIS LAkE tRAIL13 km loopFrom the Kelley’s Bathtub parking area, hike or bike through rolling hills, meadows, meandering creeks and spruce forests. In the winter, this trail is groomed for cross-country skiing.
kELLEy’S BAthtuB tRAIL 1km interpretive loopHike this lovely loop trail around the “bathtub” to see wildlife, waterfowl and a stunning mountain view across Jarvis Lake.
FRIEndLy VIStAS tRAIL 2.5 km loopFriendly Vistas Trail meanders along the east shoreline of Jarvis Lake through mixed forests and the scenic Jarvis Creek wetlands. Viewpoints with rest areas are located along this wheelchair accessible trail.
AthABASCA LOOkOut nORdIC CEntRE tRAILS 35 km network of trailsNumerous trails in forested, hilly terrain are suitable for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. This area also includes a biathlon range and warm up shelters.
FISh LAkES tRAIL3.5 km connector trailFor a taste of backcountry hiking, the Fish Lakes Trail connects Blue Lake to the Trout Pond. The trail follows ridges through rolling hills and thick spruce forests with viewpoints along the way.
