Page 39 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Smoky Lake County
Location: Northeast Alberta about 70 miles
(120 km) northeast of Edmonton, on Hwy 28.
Population: 3900. The County encompasses
the Town of Smoky Lake (population: 1000),
villages of Waskatenau and Vilna, and two Métis
settlements of Buffalo Lake and Kikino. Visitor
Information: Tourist Information Centre in
Smoky Lake historic CNR station; Phone: (780)
656-3674; Website: www.smokylakeregion.ca
Hinton
Location: On Yellowhead Highway 16; 170 miles
west of Edmonton. Population: 9640. Visitor
Information Centre: 309 Gregg Avenue; Phone:
(877) 446-8666; Website: www.hinton.ca.

Situated in the middle of a four season recreational
paradise located on the eastern edge of Jasper
National Park, Hinton is a service and supply Maligne Lake
center for the mountain resorts, offering an array of photo by:
amenities and services as well as recreational and Travel Alberta
cultural opportunities. Walking the 3 km long Beaver
Boardwalk to catch a beaver working on a lodge at
dusk during the summer or skiing at the Athabasca Jasper National Park Trail” 33; 200 km (120 miles) northwest
Nordic Centre in winter are popular activities. Location: Townsite on Yellowhead Hwy 16, 45 of Edmonton, 80 km (50 miles) north of
The Hinton Bike Park offers mountain bikers of all miles south of Hinton; Park north of Banff on Whitecourt. Population: 1858. Visitor
skill levels an opportunity to improve their skills in Hwy 93. Visitor information: Tourism Jasper, Information: Swan Hills Tourist Booth.
this free 37-acre community park. The scenic fairways PO Box 568, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0; Website:
of Hinton’s spectacular 18-hole golf course meander Greenview MD
over rolling hills and through tall spruce trees. www.jasper.travel
Location: Lower northern Alberta along western
Established in 1907, Jasper National Park is a UN border with BC, roughly between Grande Cache and
JCT. YELLOWHEAD HWY 16 & HWY 40 HIN- World Heritage Site encompassing nearly 20,000 Grande Prairie, encompassing parts of Highways 40
TON TO GRANDE CACHE - GRANDE PRAIRIE square kilometers and ranking as the world’s second and 43. Towns include Grande Cache, Valleyview
largest Dark Sky Preserve. Aside from stunning and Fox Creek. District Population: 5200. Visitor
Grande Cache mountain scenery and endless recreational pursuits, Information: tourist information centres in Valleyview
Jasper offers a variety of tourist attractions including
and Grande Cache; Website: mdgreenview.ab.ca.
Location: On Bighorn Highway 40; 89 miles the Jasper Tramway, where tramcars take visitors to
north of Hinton, 130 miles northwest of Jas- an elevation of 7500 feet. The Municipal District of Greenview is known for
per National Park; 114 miles south of Grande the exceptional beauty of its vast area of pristine lands,
Prairie. Population: 4300. Visitor Information:
Grande Cache Tourism & Interpretive Centre, IN EDMONTON JCT. YELLOWHEAD HWY offering up every conceivable outdoor recreational
9701-100 Street (Hwy 40) PO Box 300, Grande 16 & HWY 2 NORTH TO HIGH PRAIRIE pursuit. Greenview maintains Provincial Recreation
Cache, AB T0E 0Y0; Phone: (780) 827-3300; HWY 2 NORTH Areas at Kakwa River, Southview and Swan Lake,
Toll Free: (888) 827-3790; Email: tourism@ while golf courses can be found in Grande Cache,
grandecache.ca; Website: www.grandecache.ca; Grovedale, DeBolt, Fox Creek and Valleyview.
open daily with historical exhibits, gift shop, art Big Lakes County
gallery, theatre, interpretive and picnic park. Location: About three hours northwest of Valleyview
Edmonton between Hwy 43 and 33, from
Grande Cache is a modern, fully serviced southeast of Swan Hills to northwest of High Location: Junction of Highways 34 and
community located near the western border of Alberta Prairie; includes the west half of Lesser 43; approximately 67 miles east of Grande
on the shortest and most scenic route between the Slave Lake. County Population: 5900. Visitor Prairie; 180 miles northwest of Edmonton.
USA and Alaska, offering access to the remote and Information: Tourist booths High Prairie and Population: 2500. Visitor Information: Town
unspoiled Provincial Parks systems of Willmore Swan Hills; Website: www.mdbiglakes.ca of Valleyview, PO Box 270, Valleyview,
and Kakwa River. Superb recreational opportunities Alberta T0C 1ZO; Phone: (780) 524-3924;
abound in this area of sparkling lakes, rushing rivers, Tourist Information Centre and Rest Stop, 1
green valleys and windswept peaks, including touring WEST OF EDMONTON JCT. mile south of Valleyview on Hwy 43; Phone:
by helicopter and horseback, whitewater rafting, YELLOWHEAD HWY 16 & HWY 43 (780) 524-4129.
hiking, rock climbing, fishing and golfing. TO GRANDE PRAIRIE
Over the August long weekend each year extreme Valleyview is a thriving community located in an
athletes push themselves to the limits of their area noted for some of the most scenic and diverse
endurance against the breathtaking background of Lac Ste. Anne County
the Rocky Mountains during the “Canadian Death Location: 75 km northwest of Edmonton, tra- forested land in Alberta. Originally known as Red
Willow Creek, Valleyview is known as the “Portal
Race.” First held in 2000, nearly 1500 elite racers versed by Hwy 43, off Yellowhead Hwy 16. Pop-
now compete in one of the world’s toughest adventure ulation: 10,000. Visitor Information: Toll Free: to the Peace.” Founded in 1929, this interesting
races. The 75-mile course begins and ends on a 4200- (866) 880-LSAC (5722); Website: www.lsac.ca. community depended first on agriculture to sustain
foot plateau, passes over three mountain summits and its economy, adding oil and gas production in the
includes 17,000 feet of elevation change and a major Whitecourt 1950s.
river crossing at the spectacular Hell’s Gate canyon Young’s Point Provincial Park and Williamson
at the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur Rivers. Location: Junction of Highways 43 and 32; Provincial Park are situated on the shores of Sturgeon
The accompanying “Death Fest” offers a festival full 110 miles northwest of Edmonton. Population: Lake, which is located west of Valleyview. Both
of fun and entertainment for the whole family with a 9200. Visitor Information: Tourist Information parks provide day use facilities including picnic
carnival and concert. Booth in the Forest Interpretive Centre, 3002 areas, excellent swimming beaches, playgrounds,
33rd Street; Phone (800) 313-7383 or (780) boat launching and comfort stations as well as
778-3433. overnight camping.
JCT. YELLOWHEAD HWY 16 WEST TO
BC BORDER & ICEFIELDS PARKWAY 93 Swan Hills Valleyview goes all out for its Canada Day
FROM JASPER TO LAKE LOUISE celebrations at the beginning of July and hosts the
Location: Junction Highways 32 and “Grizzly Valleyview Fair and Rodeo every August.
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