Easy Difficulty 
Distance (return)
0.6 km/0.3 mi
Approx. time
5-10mins
Elevation gain
Minimal
More details
Steepest grade: approx. 10%
High-clearance 4×4 advised to access trailhead? No
Best seasons: Spring, summer, fall
Closest public bathroom Visitor Info Centre
Cell service? Yes
Gear? Good shoes in case trail is mucky
Trail Description:
A very accessible and short trail, George Hicks Park trail weaves its way through a marsh adjacent to the salmon viewing area on Swift Creek. If you want to get off the highway and experience nature, this is easily accessible to stretch your legs. View tadpoles, dragonflies, muskrats, frogs, and an assortment of marsh creatures. Right next to this trail is the salmon spawning viewing area at Swift Creek. View Chinook salmon during the last leg of their spawning journey from mid-August to mid-September.
Best Parts: The wildlife viewing can be great, especially for small animals and insects in springtime – birds, ducks, tadpoles, frogs, muskrats, dragonflies to name just a few.
Worst Parts: If the weather has been wet recently, some parts of the trail may be mucky. Due to the proximity to the highway, you can hear traffic. Sometimes garbage collects in the area due to highway traffic. Mosquitoes are usually present.
How to access/where to park
Google Map Directions
From the Valemount Visitor Centre, head downhill towards the creek (towards the salmon viewing signs) about 250 m. Park at the parking lot next to the creek and the highway overpass. Northern trailhead starts at the parking lot. Southern trailhead starts just downhill from the Visitor Centre (look for trailhead sign).
Trailhead coordinates: Plug these into a GPS or Google Maps search bar
52.833585°, -119.281875° (Near creek)
52.831917°, -119.281149° (Near visitor centre)
GPS Tracks (Right click, Save link as)
Download Trail GPX file
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