Nestled in the Athabasca River Valley, Hinton is a small town on the edge of Jasper National Park. It’s home to a railway-inspired museum and beaver-filled dam and is near Willmore Wilderness Park’s remote landscapes.

Things to do

Spend a day exploring Jasper National Park, which encompasses immense glaciers, sparkling lakes and soaring peaks. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Icefields Parkway to see the massive Columbia Icefield or go hiking through the rugged mountains and subalpine forest to spot moose and bighorn sheep.

Hike along the Indian Trail in adjacent Willmore Wilderness Park to soak up the Rocky Mountain views from Hay Summit. Go horse-back riding along the gushing Sulphur River and the spectacular Forget-Me-Not Pass or try your luck fishing for bull trout in the Jackpine River.

If you’re interested in the local history, visit the Northern Rockies Museum of Culture and Heritage, which occupies an early-20th-century Grand Trunk Pacific Railway station. Learn about the people and industries that have shaped the region and browse its hands-on exhibits and interactive displays.

Stroll along the Beaver Boardwalk, a 1.5-kilometre-long trail through wetlands and forest along an active beaver dam. In addition to beaver spotting from its elevated observation tower, the boardwalk is renowned for its sightings of red-winged blackbirds and rufous hummingbirds and boasts views of the Rocky Mountains.

Getting around

Hinton is just under four hours’ drive south of Grande Prairie Airport, while the nearby Jasper Hinton Airport operates scenic flights to Jasper National Park and the Columbia Icefields. Buses and trains connect to destinations across British Columbia, with buses also travelling throughout Hinton.