Awesome Alberta: Abraham Lake is a lovely winter wonderland (PHOTOS)
COVID-19 still presents a real and dangerous threat to public health. While much of Alberta’s outdoors have been reopened to visitors, it is recommended to plan ahead, check local restrictions and current public health measures, and avoid any areas that may be too crowded.
If you think wintertime means staying at home, wrapped up in blankets, nursing a cup of hot cocoa, with Netflix playing in the background, you wouldn’t be completely wrong.
But it doesn’t mean you can’t do other things.
…Like a trip down to Abraham Lake. The human-made lake will be frozen solid, but something magical happens in the winter. Ice bubbles bloom under the ice like flowers, making for a stunning sight.
Make sure that you exercise great caution when you’re walking on the ice as there may be spots that are unstable. To be safe, we recommend admiring the lake from the safety of the shore.
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from Albertaparks.ca and AdventureSmart. Parks Canada visitor guidelines are available here. Always remember to leave no trace, pack out what you pack in, stick to designated trails, and refrain from feeding wildlife — and please note that irresponsibly taken selfies (even if they look great for the ‘gram) can be fatal.
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Where is it?
The lake can be found in Clearwater County. It’s a half-hour drive from Banff National Park.
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How to get there?
This will definitely be a bit of a long car ride as it’ll take you 3.5 hours to drive from Calgary to Abraham Lake. The quickest way to get there is to drive on Deerfoot Trail/AB-2 N from 9 Avenue SW and Memorial Drive. Follow AB-2 N to AB-54 W in Red Deer Country before taking exit 365 from AB-2 N.
After, take AB-781 N to AB-11 W in Benalto before turning left onto AB-11 W.
Calgary to Abraham Lake (Google Maps)
Those driving from Edmonton will simply need to head south towards Red Deer before hopping onto Highway 11 and heading west for a 3.5-hour drive.
What’s there?
One of the most unique things about the lake is that it’s beautiful both in the winter and in the summer. If you come during the colder months, you might be able to catch this rare sight: a million bubbles trapped in the surface.
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This phenomenon is the result of pockets of methane gas that get trapped in the ice and create a stunning vision of ice bubbles scattered across the surface.
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If the cold isn’t your thing, it’s still plenty gorgeous in the summer. Once the ice has melted, it reveals a vast expanse of blue, which will definitely make your mouth drop in awe.
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– With files from Hilary Leung
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