Rock Lake (by Hinton) Directions!

[edsonfisherman]

I am looking for directions to the campground that overlooks the lake from Hinton. I will be staying there and trying my luck for lakers and pike with a buddy of mine August 2&3 and some of the 4th. I have never been to this lake before, and want to make sure I don't get lost.

[krusty22.250]

It's been a few years since I've been up there. The signs are on the side of the roads, should be pretty easy to get to the lake. If not try google maps, they are pretty good.

[Mranderson22]

Take highway 40 north of Hinton towards grande cache, about 25 minutes up the road you ll see a sign and you ll turn left. Follow that road for about 35 clicks. If you stick to the main road you ll be fine but go sloow. It's a pretty haggard road but the destination is phenomenal. Ill be heading there in early September! Make sure you let us know how the trip goes, I'd love to hear a report. Good luck!

Ps. Might be a good idea to call ahead and book a site, I'd recommend one in the 50s, they re right along the creek and are only available through reservation

[edsonfisherman]

I made a reservation and got a site close to the lake, should be a great trip, and hopefully some lakers and pike.

[Speckle55]

Quote

How to Get to Rock Lake or Willmore:
Willmore Wilderness Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada



Drive to Hinton [which is on the main highway between Edmonton and Jasper] and then take hwy 40 at the west end of Hinton just out of town to the dirt road going to the Rock Lake trailhead.
•
Travel time from Edmonton to Hinton is about 3 hours on very good highways.

•
Travel time from Hinton to the Willmore Trailhead is about 1.5 hours on paved hwy 40 then on 30 km [20 miles] on a gravel road.


As you leave Hinton on paved hwy 40, you will first cross the Athabasca River Bridge, then later the small Wildhay River Bridge. The left turn onto the gravel road to Rock Lake is about 5 km beyond the Wildhay bridge.

It's about 30 km to Rock Lake and the Trailhead on the gravel road which is not straight as depicted on the maps below.

Within a few km of the start of the gravel road, you will reach a T-intersection. Go left. Shortly afterwards, within a few km, you will reach a choice of straight ahead or a right hand turn. Go right. Don't worry if you miss this. If you go straight, you'll drop down to a dead end campground. The road continues along with some views of the wildhay and with several dirt roads going left. These all lead to casual campsites that you can use without reservations.

As you near Rock Lake, you will see Willmore Wilderness Park signs for right hand forks of the road. These forks will take you to the trailhead which has a parking lot and the usual trailhead map board. If you get to the Rock Lake Campground or Boat Launch, you are quite close, but likely missed the Willmore signs. Just backtrack a mile or so and you'll find them. The trailhead is NOT at the Rock Lake Campground.



David

[edsonfisherman]

Originally Posted by Speckle55

Quote

How to Get to Rock Lake or Willmore:
Willmore Wilderness Park, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada



Drive to Hinton [which is on the main highway between Edmonton and Jasper] and then take hwy 40 at the west end of Hinton just out of town to the dirt road going to the Rock Lake trailhead.
•
Travel time from Edmonton to Hinton is about 3 hours on very good highways.

•
Travel time from Hinton to the Willmore Trailhead is about 1.5 hours on paved hwy 40 then on 30 km [20 miles] on a gravel road.


As you leave Hinton on paved hwy 40, you will first cross the Athabasca River Bridge, then later the small Wildhay River Bridge. The left turn onto the gravel road to Rock Lake is about 5 km beyond the Wildhay bridge.

It's about 30 km to Rock Lake and the Trailhead on the gravel road which is not straight as depicted on the maps below.

Within a few km of the start of the gravel road, you will reach a T-intersection. Go left. Shortly afterwards, within a few km, you will reach a choice of straight ahead or a right hand turn. Go right. Don't worry if you miss this. If you go straight, you'll drop down to a dead end campground. The road continues along with some views of the wildhay and with several dirt roads going left. These all lead to casual campsites that you can use without reservations.

As you near Rock Lake, you will see Willmore Wilderness Park signs for right hand forks of the road. These forks will take you to the trailhead which has a parking lot and the usual trailhead map board. If you get to the Rock Lake Campground or Boat Launch, you are quite close, but likely missed the Willmore signs. Just backtrack a mile or so and you'll find them. The trailhead is NOT at the Rock Lake Campground.



David

Thanx speckle55; very helpful. I am booked at the (Lower Moose Landing Area), will these directions take me in that general area also?

[Ace]

How is the boat launch at Rock Lake? Can you easily unload a boat on a trailer?

I have a 15' zodiac style boat with a 20 hp motor on a trailer, and wondering if it is worth taking.

Thanks
Ace

[fickell]

Originally Posted by Ace

How is the boat launch at Rock Lake? Can you easily unload a boat on a trailer?

I have a 15' zodiac style boat with a 20 hp motor on a trailer, and wondering if it is worth taking.

Thanks
Ace

yes fore sure

[Mranderson22]

Used to be signs stating "electric motors only" but they seem to have disappeared..

[AppleJax]

Originally Posted by Mranderson22

Used to be signs stating "electric motors only" but they seem to have disappeared..

Incorrect. The signs are for the 12km/hr speed limit. Although I wouldn't mind seeing it electric only.

[waterninja]

went there on a grade 12 school camping trip back in the 70s. still remember how beautifull it was. caught some kind of trout in the creek and often wondered if that was my first laker. hope you have good weather and catch some nice fish. look foreward to the pics.

[Mranderson22]

Originally Posted by AppleJax

Incorrect. The signs are for the 12km/hr speed limit. Although I wouldn't mind seeing it electric only.

Not true. I've seen signs stating gas motors were not allowed. As I said, they re no longer there.

[AppleJax]

Originally Posted by Mranderson22

Not true. I've seen signs stating gas motors were not allowed. As I said, they re no longer there.

Proof is in the pudding. Here's the facts. I would love to see it electric only, unfortunately at this moment its not the case. And it never has been electric. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=56234.

[Mranderson22]

I'm not going to argue all weekend about this, maybe it's never been 'officially' declared electric only, all I'm saying is I saw what I saw and as I said before the sign is no longer there. It could have been put up by anyone though. Regardless I've never had a problem either way, its secluded enough that the people out there aren't there to "rip it up". Anyways, back to the original poster, like I said have a great trip and let us know how you do!

[Ace]

Officially, unofficially, blah blah blah.

Here's the federal regulation for Rock Lake:

Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations - SOR/2008-120 (SCHEDULE 7 : WATERS IN WHICH TOWING A PERSON ON ANY SPORTING OR RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, OR ALLOWING A PERSON TO WAKE SURF, IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT DURING THE PERMITTED HOURS)

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r.../SOR-2008-120/

So, it does not even fall into the 12 km/h lake restriction. Just no water skiing allowed.

Not picking fights on what it should or shouldn't be. Just stating what it is.

See ya
Ace

[Speckle55]

here is more info on Rock Lake on boats and what can be used (Power Boating)

also when you get into area of campground just follow signs

I have camped and fished there many times enjoy

edsonfisherman just use the google map and zoom it up you can see campsite just hit Camping Rock Lake blue color on site and map will come up

David
http://www.albertaparks.ca/rock-lake.aspx