KNOW BEFORE
YOU GO

Hinton is perfectly located on the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16) in the Athabasca River Valley. The Town of Hinton is 15 minutes east of the Jasper National Park gates and 300 km west of Edmonton.
Road conditions in the area can rapidly change due to our proximity to the Mountains. It’s always a good idea to check an updated road report before heading on your journey. Alberta 511 is a great resource on any advisories, news and road closures that may be relevant to your trip.
Hinton is about 80 km east of the Jasper town site and 15 minutes east of the National Park gate. This means that your drive to Jasper from Hinton will likely be around an hour. You’ll need to have a park pass to get through the gates into Jasper National Park.

Experience the four seasons in Hinton, where outdoor adventures can be found all year round. Summers offer a mix of hot, dry days and mild, wet weather, perfect for hiking and water sports. Pack for all conditions, especially for high-elevation trips, where snow can linger year-round. From late October to April, lower elevations are blanketed in snow, inviting you to explore a range of winter activities.
There is plenty of wildlife out here, which means you need to be cautious. The region is home to many animals including Bears (Grizzly and Black), Cougars, Lynx, Deer, Elk, Moose, Beavers, Bighorn Sheep, Birds, and many other species. Give them space.
In case of an emergency it’s always best to dial 911.

With a scenic and enjoyable <1 hour drive between Hinton & Jasper you could definitely enjoy activities between both locations in one day.
A nice option could be to stay in Hinton, hit the trails around Switzer Provincial Park followed by the scenic drive to Jasper for lunch, on your return, you could enjoy activities around the Miette Hot Springs and end your day at Folding Mountain Brewery.
You really can’t miss out on visiting the Beaver Boardwalk! It’s truly spectacular, and only minutes away from Green Square.

The Beaver Boardwalk is located at 408 Collinge Rd, Hinton, AB. The easiest way to reach it from HWY 16 is to turn onto Mountain Street off the highway and follow the road up the hill. Take the 2nd right turn onto Collinge Road until you see signage and parking for the Boardwalk.
The Hinton Valley can be easy to miss when driving into town from Hwy16. When driving in from east of Hinton, you’ll take a right turn at Drinnan Way, which is one of the first opportunities to turn after the Welcome to Hinton sign.

You can also get to the valley by taking Switzer drive! (Because the valley is in the east side of town, that’s what direction you’ll want to head!).

STORIES FROM HINTON NORTHERN ROCKIES