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CNoR ENTRANCE Railway Station ~1917

CNoR Station Building - Main House 2008

Click on Campfire for historic Canadian Northern Railway's ENTRANCE Station Restoration Project

Our Location

Location, location location!! Old Entrance, Alberta is located within Yellowhead County along the north bank of the beautiful Athabasca River, 14 km north-west of Hinton, Alberta, Canada and 30 km from the east gate of Jasper National Park.

Brief History: During construction of the two transcontinental railroads Roy Woodley came west working with the Canadian Northern Railway track survey crew. In 1913, Roy settled beside the railway line at a spot that he called Entrance along the Athabasca River. Roy had been employed as a store clerk for seven years in Ontario prior to coming west in 1911. During the years 1914 to 1927 that the railway line was in operation Roy Woodley held the government contract for the "Entrance" post office, located in his general store building. Woodley's also owned a restaurant beside their store that at one time displayed a sign "Meals & Beds" - the first B&B at this location. Early plans indicate that this railway station, the last station prior to entering Jasper Forest Park and the Rockies, was to be called HEDA however by 1914 the locale had come to be known as Entrance and the station bore the name of "ENTRANCE". Woodleys sold their business in 1925 and the store and Entrance post office were relocated one mile east to the other side of the river near the the DYKE station on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line, then operating as Canadian National Railways. With the relocation of the post office in 1927, DYKE station was renamed ENTRANCE and the original community of Entrance on the north side of the river was referred to as "Old Entrance". The Forest Service retained their ranger station on the adjacent land and several people had residences on the Woodley land. Outfitter & guide Harry Ennis operated at this location for twenty years, living in the railway station building and renting the Woodley land. Billy Magee bought the railway station and the Woodley property in 1954. Billy, a self-employed guide, saddle maker, horse breeder, trapper and landlord, operated the Old Entrance property until his passing in 1986.

Today with the railway gone historic Old Entrance is a beautiful riverfront site for Old Entrance B 'n B Cabins, a quiety country vacation destination. The historic 1914 CNoR train station building is now used as our B & B main house, a 1923 log schoolhouse and Shand-Harvey's 1921 trapper's cabin remain. Our 60 acre property and surrounding crown lands provide excellent bird watching, hiking, mountain biking and horse riding trails. Often deer can be spotted grazing the hillside and coyotes can be heard yelping across the river. Usually clear night skies provide spectacular star gazing.
Local fishing: Athabasca River hosts numerous types of fish, including northern pike, mountain white fish, bull trout, native rainbow trout, arctic grayling, brown trout, and more! Athabasca River is a fast, broad-shouldered glacial river that for most of the summer is at high water and is either milky or muddy. This river beginning at Columbia Ice Fields flows northeast and eventually empties into Lake Athabasca. When it flows clear in early spring and late summer or fall it does hold a few huge bull trout (catch and release) and northern pike. During summer for rainbows, brookies or whitefish you're better off trying smaller streams or lakes. Oil and logging roads provide easy access to tributaries of Berland and McLeod rivers such as Wildhay, Little Berland, Gregg, Embarras, Erith, Sundance and many others. Popular fishing lakes within easy driving distance of Old Entrance are Kinky, Wildhorse, Mary Gregg, Jarvis, Blue, Graveyard, Cache, Gregg, No Name, Petite and Dunn.
Last Update July 18, 2009

Fishing at Old Entrance July 2003

Bull Trout October 2004, catch & release

Athabasca River Valley

Hike or take a guided horseback trail ride along the Athabasca River and enjoy the flowers, wildlife and spectacular views of Alberta Rockies, Roche Miette and other peaks. Take a day hike or ride over the historic Mountain Trail to Jarvis Lake or to the top of Solomon Mountain.
Enjoy bird watching, wildlife viewing, star gazing and an evening barbeque or singsong around an outside firepit. Other local attractions include wilderness pack trips, jet boat, ATV and helicopter tours, river rafting, canoeing, golfing, swimming, hang-gliding, caving, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and more.
Trail riding horses are available for hire at Old Entrance and we also have overnight holding corrals for guests' horses. Dogs are welcome, but are not permitted free-run inside of the cabins and must be kept under strict control at all times when outside. To maintain the tranquillity of our river valley, ATVs (all terrain vehicles) are not allowed to be off-loaded or operated on our property. However, surrounding crown (public) lands provide endless trails and old roads for ATV operation with few restictions. One very popular area is Brule Lake sand dunes.
The beauty and peacefulness of this site are not our only assets, it is a prime location that is still the "Entrance" to many famous local sites and to a wide variety of year round activities. Your stay at Old Entrance Bed 'n Breakfast can be as slow or fast paced as you wish.
William A. Switzer Provincial Park is just ten minutes north where lakes await you for fishing, boating and swimming. The Athabasca Nordic Centre provides world class cross-country skiing. Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park is little more than a half hour drive.

Cow Elk above Old Entrance July 2008

Surprised Elk Calf along trail ride July 2007

During the years that the railway operated through this tiny frontier community it was the gateway to the vast, largely uninhabited country to the north; the Grande Cache, Smoky River and Willmore Wilderness areas. Local big game guides and outfitters were renowned and the general store and Entrance post office were the trade centre for fur trappers throughout this vast wilderness region. Willmore Wilderness Preservation & Historical Foundation is a registered charitable organization dedicated to the preservation of history and the restoration of historical pack-trails within this wilderness park.

- People & Peaks of Willmore Wilderness Park -
Trails and tales of outfitters Carl Luger, Art Allen, Tom Vinson, Felix Plante, Joachims, Finlays, Groats, Moberlys, Leonard Jeck, Tom McCready, Curly Phillips, Hargreaves & others

Author: Susan Feddema-Leonard
Hard Cover Books for Sale $60 - e-mail inquiry to: oldentrance@yahoo.com

Old Entrance Trailrides
Guided scenic horseback trail rides departing from Old Entrance along the Athabasca River.

For horse photos and rates. Ride historic trails viewing the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Enjoy wildflowers, birds and occassional big game sightings.
Phone: Mary Luger (780) 865 - 4760
oldentrance@yahoo.com

Ken Megill - Big Game Hunting Outfitter & Guide
APOS, Alberta Professional Class S Outfitter-Guide offering non-resident White Tail Deer hunting in the forested foothills area north of Hinton, Alberta.

Deer are hunted mainly by spot and stalk or from heated ground blinds positioned for the best opportunities. Hunters stay in the comfort of fully-serviced cabins at Old Entrance or spike camp for an outdoor adventure in the west country.
Phone: (780) 865 - 4760 for referral

Rocky Mountain Fishing Adventures

Guided fishing trips including transportation from Old Entrance for a full day of fishing.

Guide prepares your catch at lunch over open fire, tantalizing your taste buds.

All fishing gear, foul weather clothing and
coastgard approved PFD provided.

Guaranteed fish. "No Splash = No Cash"
www.catchfish.ca Rocky Mountain Fishing Aventures

Mountain Day Ride & Wilderness Pack Trips

Horseback riding, full day trips, hayrides, wagon rides and sleigh
rides near Jasper Park east gate. Open year round.

Folding Mountain Day Ride

Explore pristine Willmore Wilderness Park, Alberta's largest protected
wilderness area outside of the national parks with 700 km of trails for
hiking and horseback riding. Spectacular glacier covered peaks, meadows,
rolling foothills and wild rivers. Enjoy the comforts of horse travel and wood heated outfitter's tents.

Larry Delorme, outfitter and guide, resident hunters and non-resident
hunts by APOS lease permit. Fully-outfitted horse camps and hunter drop camps.

Cell Phone:(780) 865-9223
www.trailrides.ca

Old Entrance Historic Site Interpretive Tours

Click on School House for historic photos and information on Old Entrance

Phone (780) 865 - 4760

Hinton Nordic Ski Centre

Hinton Nordic Centre (Athabasca Lookout) offers approximately 50 km of world class cross-country ski trails, biathlon gun range, luge run and telemark hill.

Located within William A. Switzer Provincial Park, 20 km north of Hinton. From Yellowhead Highway #16, drive 14 km north on Highway #40 North and turn at the Athabasca Lookout Tower Road, (9 km north of Old Entrance).

Day lodge to accommodate large groups.

Off-season, mountain bikers and hikers have use of these trails. Athabasca Lookout Fire Tower is a popular view point for seasonal tourists, offering spectacular views of Solomon Valley. There are hang glider facilities at this tower location.
www.www.hintonnordic.ca

Mountain Biking
Old logging roads, siesmic cutlines and trails provide endless
routes for biking along eastern slopes of the Rockies.
Hinton Mountain Bike Association has designed the first set
of mountain bike trail maps and trail markers.
e-mail: info@bikehinton.com
HMBA Trail Maps and Brochures
The Beaver Boardwalk
1.5 km wooden pathway winding through wetlands and a
functioning beaver pond within the Town of Hinton, Alberta.
Featuring seating areas, an outdoor classroom, interpretive signs and
an observation tower.

Click on photo for additional information.
The Beaver Boardwalk is home to a wide variety of animals,
birds and aquatic plants.

Near-by Restaurants in Hinton, Alberta
Olympia Restaurant & Taverna is our favorite dining
establishment in Hinton. Serving full classic Greek meals.
Open daily. Lounge menu. Reservations generally
unnecessary. Phone: (780) 865 - 7700, 129 Jasper Street

Full list of Hinton's restaurants, 10 minutes from Old Entrance.

Downhill skiing & snowboarding

Marmot Basin ski area, located in Jasper National
Park provides some of the best skiing and snowboarding
in the Canadian Rockies.

Marmot Basin is a one hour drive from Old Entrance.

www.skimarmot.com

Canoe Rentals
Blue Lake Centre in near-by William A Switzer Provincial Park offers
canoe rentals . 12 canoes available. Advance booking recommended.

$35 for 3 hours or $45 for 8 hours
Phone: 780-865-4789 or 780-470-4070 (cell)
www.bluelakealberta.ca

Miette Hot Springs
Hottest mineral springs in the Rockies. Flowing from the mountain
at 54?C, the water is cooled to a comfortable temperature of 40?C
as it enters the pools. A 35 minute drive from
Old Entrance with a nice restaurant for evening meals.

Open May to mid-October
Phone: 780-866-3939
Miette Hot Springs

Dog Sledding & Skijoring
Drive your own team of six Alaskan Huskies in the
foothills of the Rockies.
It's an adventure you'll never forget.
$45/ea for 1 hr based on 4 participants
$65/ea for 3 hrs based on 3 participants
Experience skijoring with the assistance of a
CANSI Level 1 cross-country ski instructor turned dog musher.
$35/ea - 1.5 hrs with 2 participants only.
Nordic West Ventures Inc. Phone: (780) 865-7864
Adventure Tours

Guided hiking, canoeing, trekking tours in western Canada.
Combination of sightseeing and activities in and around
the Rocky Mountain national parks.

Mountain Rivers Canoe Adventure: Five days of fun, thrills
and action on this downriver trip in open Canadian canoes.
Learn to "read" the water and practise minimum impact
wilderness camping. A day of training on quiet water
prepares you for the run down the mighty Athabasca River. A
truly Canadian adventure for beginners and experienced canoeists.
www.timberwolftours.com

Wildlife Viewing & Big Game Hunting
Mountain Spirit Outfitters offer half day and full day summer sightseeing and wildlife viewing hiking tours along the beautiful slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
West central Alberta is renowned for the quality of mule and white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear and wolf. Small, personalized eight and ten day one on one hunts guided by Chris Franke. Winter trapline tours in Alberta foothills forests.
www.mountainspiritoutfitters.com

Guided Hiking & Canoeing
Trek our endless trails. Local favorites include Ogre Canyon, Solomon Mountain, Folding Mountain and the historic Big Horn Trail. Enjoy spectacular mountain scenery, wildflowers, birds and wildlife locally and in nearby Jasper National Park.

Local hiking, canoeing and heli-hiking adventure tours. Nicole Naef - Zimmermann and Mike Naef.
www.wolflandtours.com

Brule Lake

Cathedral Mountain - Willmore Wilderness

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