10 minute read
Snap a photo or two of your adventure
How to use your passport:
1. Grab your gear and hit the road! 2. Explore YC's amazing locations listed in the
Advertisement
Summer Explorer Passport. 3. Snap a photo or two of your adventure. 4. Tag or mention @yellowheadcounty and @yellowheadcountyrec when you share your
YC photos on Facebook and Instagram.
Remember to name each location!
5. And use hashtags #exploreyellowhead #YHCsummer2020 and #LeaveItPristine
You’ll receive one entry into the draw for each photo submitted, so submit your photos often! You can also enter by emailing your entries to hello@yellowheadcounty.ab.ca
Winners of the summer prize pack will be announced on Facebook and Instagram.
Solomon Creek Boat Launch 6 Brule Bike Park 6 Solomon Hill Lookout 6 Switzer Park Visitor Centre & Kelley's Bathtub 6 Beaver Board Walk 7 Whitehorse Wildland Trail 7 Jasper-Hinton Airport 7 Cadomin 7 Heritage Site #1 - Empyrean Cemetery 10 Heritage Site #2- All Saints Anglican Church 10 Heritage Site #3- Mercoal Mine Landscape 10 Pump & Play (Peers, Wildwood & Evansburg) 11 Disk Golf Courses (Cadomin, Jerry V. & Bear Lake)11 Wild Sculpture Trail (Hoodoos) 11 Willmore Park & Bike Park 12 Millers Lake (Trail Loop & West Playground Trail Head) 12 YoHo Museum 12 Rosevear Ferry Park 12 Tipple Park & Museum 13 Chip Lake Park 13 Pembina River Park 13
Visit Yellowhead County's website and facebook pages to see a full list of all the amazing places to visit in Yellowhead County! You can also see our extensive interactive online Google map of our Yellowhead County Heritage Sites that has over 70 unique historical locations.
west region Rockies & Foothills
From west of Edson to the border of the Jasper Park down to the
Northern Rockies foothills in the beautiful and historic Coal
Branch area. Explore Whitehorse Wildland Park and the
Cardinal Divide and then venture up to Willmore Wilderness
Park and the Big Berland River area.
Solomon Creek Boat Launch – The new Solomon Creek Trailhead Staging Area near Brule is a great place to start a 2-4 hour river adventure to Hinton on the Athabasca River (the longest river in Yellowhead County and 14th longest in Canada). Be sure to have arrangements to be picked up after your trip or look at taking a guided river rafting tour who offer a range of tour types. Brule Bike Park Located within the County’s most western Hamlet, snuggled into the Alberta Rocky Northern Mountains, the Brule Community Park has a brand new playground and the newly created Brule Bike Park – one of the many great places to ride your bike in Yellowhead County. The small but extremely fun bike park boasts a dirt pump track, dirt trails and wooden-built features.
Solomon Hill Lookout - The lookout is located just off the Brule road
SUMMER EXPLORER PASSPORT CONTEST
overlooking the Athabasca River. The interpretive signs showcase many of the historical landmarks and locations in the area. There is information on early explorers to the area, historically relevant sites, and geographic landmarks such as the nearby sand dunes and waterfalls. Switzer Park Visitor Centre - William A. Switzer Provincial Park is located 20 km northwest of Hinton on Highway 40 in the foothills of Alberta’s North-
ern Rockies. Come and take in the gorgeous view from the Visitor Centre deck at Kelley’s Bathtub Day Use Area. Beaver Boardwalk – The world’s longest freshwater boardwalk is located in Hinton and is a great family outing that features more than three kilometres of boardwalk, seating areas, and interpretive signs. Visiting in the warm weather months, early morning or evening is the best time to see the beavers hard at work. Numer
ous species of birds, butterflies, as well as deer frequent the boardwalk area and surrounding trail systems. Whitehorse Creek – There are a number of trails (and a campsite and equistrian staging area) at Whitehorse Creek Recreation Area south of Cadomin. Hiking trails range from moderate and short to long and difficult. Jasper-Hinton Airport – Located just minutes off Highway 16 west of Hinton. A small but scenic airport where you can do helicopter tours of the Northern Alberta Rockies. Cadomin – Cadomin is a destination area for outdoor tourism. Located near Cadomin are the historical remains of the mines, Mountain Park Cemetery, the McLeod River, and scenic viewpoints, trails, and camping. *Currently, there is food, lodging and propane in Cadomin, but no gas station. Make sure to gas up in Hinton or Edson.
© Clearwater County 2013
Welcome TO OUR BACKYARD!
visit history Historic Sites
Yellowhead County has a long and significant history, starting from the first nations who helped some of the early European explorers navigate the area and cross the Rockies, to the proliferation of rail travel, coal mining, farming, forestry and more.
Mercoal Mine Landscape - Mercoal (a portmanteau of McLeod River Hard Coal Company) started in 1920 to supply coal to the railroad. The community grew through the 1940s and included such amenities as a hotel, hospital, garage and dance hall. At the towns peak the population swelled to over one-thousand. By 1955, other mines along the Coal Branch had closed, leaving Mercoal as “Capital of the Coal Branch”. This was short lived however as the mine in Mercoal closed in 1959. Concrete remains and coal slack are all that remains of the mine buildings. PT 24-48-22-W5 All Saints Anglican Church - This church was built in 1926 by local volunteers in the early 20th Century Gothic Revival style typical in rural Alberta. It maintains almost all of its original construction, excepting the point arch window that was once stained glass. Use of the church was discontinued in 1965, but the local community society is looking to conserve and preserve this historic resource for future generations. Located at 55502 Range Road 122
Empyrean Cemetery - Wildwood (formerly Junkins) was established in 1908 as one of the few communities in Alberta to be settled by an African population. The Empyrean Cemetery predates the community, beginning in 1900 making it one of the oldest cemeteries in Yellowhead County. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the burial records for the cemetery in 1957 and use of the cemetery ceased. Located at NE corner of NW 16-54-9-W5.
summer sports Recreation fun for everyone!
Yellowhead County is working to bring all sorts of recreational activities to hamlets and campgrounds across the county. From pumptracks for your bikes, scooters, and skateboards, to new basketball courts and disk golf courses that are fun for athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Pump & Play (Peers, Wildwood,
and Evansburg) - Along with the several pump tracks located across Yellowhead County, there are now brand new basketball courts at several of these locations too. Grab a photos at one or more of these spots to for an entry . central region
and Bear Lake – When you're out at one of these great recreation locations, make sure to bring some flying disks to play a few rounds of disk golf. Grab a photos at one or more of these spots as an entry.
Lakes, Rivers and Trails
The central area includes numerous campgrounds, a great selection of easily accessible ponds and lakes for fishing and boating, and the McLeod River meanders across the whole region – great for short or longer river trips. There are also several great ATV and mountain biking trails in the area.
Hoodoos - Check out the Wild Sculpture Trail to see these amazing hoodoos in Sundance Provincial Park. Located 63 km north and west of Edson, the Wild Sculpture Trail hosts a multitude of hoodoos formed from several thick layers of rock that, over a period of time were eroded into their current
shape with wind and water. It's a short hike to the hoodoos which then continues on to a long meandering pond that returns you back to the parking lot.
Willmore Park Trails, Camp
ground & Bike Park - Where else can you bike, camp, hike, swim and paddle all in one spot! Willmore Park offers an extensive multiple-use trail system, scenic views, day use, group use, overnight and hike-in camping facilities. Willmore Park is home to Edson Cycling Association, a local grassroots group of bike enthusiasts who are adding some fantastic trails for both biking and hiking and a new bike park. Millers Lake - Located west of Edson, This 88-acre site, is a day-use area with a boat launch that provides good sport fishing opportunities. The lake is stocked annually with rainbow and brown trout and is aerated during the winter through Alberta Conservation Association’s Lake Aeration Program.
YO-HO Museum – This vintage farm and truck and tractor museum located north of Peers has been open seasonally to the public since 1988 for families to come out and explore some of our local history. Check out hundreds of old antique tractors and other types of farm equipment up close and personal. Make sure to give Bill and Isa a call first to make sure they'll be around to let you in. You can reach them at (780) 693-2193. Rosevear Ferry Park - This new park and picnic area is located on the south side of the McLeod River at the previous location of the old Rosevear Ferry crossing. A great spot to put in your raft and head down river after checking out the heritage sign show
ing the history of the Rosevear Ferry.
EAST REGION
Rolling landscapes & the Pembina River Park
Starting from the Pembina River and continuing to the Peers area, this region has acres and acres of rolling farmland and wooded areas that makes for some great scenic locations.
Tipple Park Museum - Just minutes away from the Pembina River Park, the Tipple Park Museum offers historical tours, historical buildings, community events and the Evansburg Farmers’ Market (May to September). After you explore the Museum, head to the park just outside to enjoy the nearby asphalt pump track, playground, walking trails, and outdoor fitness equipment. Chip Lake Park - Right near Wildwood is Chip Lake – one of the largest lakes in west central Alberta. Located north-east of Wildwood on the west side of the lake, Chip Lake Park is a campground and day-use area. Chip Lake is home to over 200 species of birds making this an ideal bird watching location, there is also a boat launch and day use area located at the campground. There is great fishing
for Northern Pike, Ling and Perch.
Pembina River Park - Scenic hiking trails, close river access, and a playground make this a favourite weekend spot. Tubing along the Pembina River is a great way to spend a summer day, but make sure you get off at the Pembina River Park. You can bring your own tubes, but rentals are available from the nearby rental company who also offers parking, key lock, and shuttle services.
YELLOWHEAD COUNTY
FIND IT CLEAN #LEAVE IT PRISTINE
Sasky Da Sasquatch recognizes the recreational opportunities for all visitors to Yellowhead County. Your presence in the headwaEnjoy the forests, foothills, ters of the Athabasca watershed and mountains connected means that your actions may by the rivers, streams and affect water supplies which are important to a large part of Alberta’s population. lakes of Yellowhead County, but please enjoy these beautiful landscapes with respect Sensitive natural landscapes can so that others may experience be easily damaged by overuse, them tomorrow. particularly in wet conditions. For more information on Sasquatch Please be aware of these areas and Partners, visit on Facebook or and use appropriate judgment www.WelcomeToOurBackyard.ca when camping and recreating.
© Clearwater County 2013
☑Control your campfire and make sure it’s out when you leave. ☑ Keep campsites at least 100 metres from oil and gas facilities. ☑ Stay on existing trails with off-road vehicles and share the trails with all users. Horses, hikers, and mountain bikers. ☑ Don’t disturb environmentally sensitive areas such as creeks, wetlands, trees, and shrubs. ☑ Don’t trespass on private land or industrial operations. ☑ Respect wildlife. ☑ Pack out ALL garbage & recyclables.
Visit us on Facebook at: @YellowheadCounty @YellowheadCountyParksAndRec @SaskyDaSasquatch
