Whether you realize it or not, you have probably seen pictures of Alberta’s Abraham Lake in pictures. Abraham Lake is renowned for having an astounding number of methane ice bubbles trapped in its transparent ice throughout the winter. In David Thompson Country, this artificial lake on the North Saskatchewan River is a well-liked summer and winter destination.
Abraham Lake is a must-visit location on any road trip along the Icefields Parkway or when traveling between Banff and Jasper, even though it’s not in Banff or Jasper National Parks. Here are just a few of the incredible reasons Abraham Lake is worth visiting.
Why Should You Travel to Alberta’s Abraham Lake?
The Ice Bubbles Are in Abraham Lake
All over the world, Abraham Lake can be seen in Instagram pictures. However, it’s more often for its winter phenomenon than for those idyllic summer blues you get in the Canadian Rockies.
There’s a very, very good chance that you will see tons of frozen ice bubbles if you visit between December and March. Though they can be found in many Canadian Rockies lakes, Abraham Lake has the largest concentration of these frozen methane ice bubbles.
Methane that has been trapped when organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, sinks to the lake’s bottom, is what causes the ice bubbles. Methane gas is released during this matter’s breakdown and rises to the top.
The bubbles become trapped and build up on top of one another as the lake starts to freeze. In the winter, this produces interesting ice bubble formations. The methane gas is released into the atmosphere when spring arrives and the ice melts.
Many come from all over the world to see this lake in the winter because of the sight of these frozen ice bubbles. Although I’ve witnessed them at many other frozen lakes, such as Lac Des Arcs and Lake Minnewanka, people are most excited about the “Abraham Lake ice bubbles.”
Preachers Point, a section of the lake, is the best place to see the ice bubbles if you visit here early in the season. One of the greatest spots to take pictures of the ice bubbles is Preacher’s Point, where you can capture amazing shots of the bubbles and the surrounding peaks.
Because of its fame, it frequently draws large crowds. It’s entertaining to see grass in the ice in many of these shallow sections of the area. Because of its shallowness, it’s also a little safer place to skate because you wouldn’t be totally submerged in the event of an accident or fall through the ice.
That being said, the North Saskatchewan River flows near to the coast at this point, which results in extremely thin ice in some places. Walking on ice and wild skating carry a risk by nature; in Alberta, several people lose their lives through the ice each year. For walking or ice skating, there should be at least 15 cm of ice; for a big skating party or hockey game, there should be 20 cm.
At Abraham Lake, Ice Skating is Available
People inquire about skating at Abraham Lake each winter. One of the best things to do in Nordegg is to head to Abraham Lake, a popular place for wild skating in the Rockies.
When the ice is frozen, which is in January or later, is the ideal time to visit. However, always wear personal protective gear, and ensure that the ice is thick enough to skate on.
Nothing compares to the adrenaline of wild ice skating on a million frozen bubbles. But you have to take extra care if you want to skate on Abraham Lake. As Abraham Lake is a reservoir and the water level fluctuates frequently, causing gaps in the ice, it’s not the greatest place in the Rockies to wild ice skate. Since the water is constantly changing, falling in could cause you to go under the ice and become stuck there.
We have only skated on Abraham Lake’s shallow sections at Preachers Point, where a mishap or fall through the ice would leave your foot freezing and drenched. Here, please exercise common sense and determine the thickness of the ice yourself. Take caution when venturing onto the ice, even if “other people are doing it.” To gauge the ice’s thickness, we use an ice screw.
You might not like what makes Abraham Lake so well-liked for winter ice skating, though.
Abraham Lake Experiences Extreme Winds
Although being among Alberta’s windiest locations isn’t particularly pleasant, Abraham Lake’s climate does have certain advantages. The ice bubbles and crazy skating stand out the most.
As you can see, many lakes, including Two Jack Lake and Lake Louise, freeze over the winter and become impassable for skating unless you remove the snow yourself. And after this occurs, you can forget about seeing the ice bubbles.
But Abraham Lake gets a lot of wind, so even in the middle of February, you’ll have ice that isn’t covered in snow. Here, the wind is so strong that Abraham Lake remains clear for the majority of the winter.
Having said that, a strong wind in the winter in Alberta is not warm, so wear appropriate clothing. It is advised to pack a hat, gloves, warm coat, and snow pants (see our comprehensive list of winter essentials here). But be careful—don’t leave your gloves or anything else on the ice—as the wind is so strong that it could quickly carry objects away!
Yes, Abraham Lake experiences summertime wind as well. If you’re going on a lake excursion, make sure you wear a life jacket and keep an eye on the Abraham Lake weather because winds can produce three-foot-tall swells when the lake thaws, which could easily cause problems for a canoe or kayak.
Abraham Lake is Man Made
The fact that Abraham Lake in Alberta is artificial is an intriguing observation. The Bighorn Dam was built in 1972, resulting in the creation of the lake. The lake, which borders the David Thompson Highway, was created on the upper course of the North Saskatchewan River.
Abraham Lake is Huge!
To what exact extent is it huge? Abraham Lake is the largest reservoir in the province and one of the largest lakes in Alberta, with a surface area of 53.7 km2 and a length of 32 km.
Abraham Lake Has A Adorable Baby Blues Sound
Although Abraham Lake is best known to tourists as the renowned winter ice bubble lake, it is equally stunning in the summer. It’s an artificial lake, but it retains the same rich blue hue as the other glacial lakes in the Rockies.
Therefore, you would be mistaken to believe that your lake adventure ends at Peyto Lake and Moraine Lake! To see this color of lake, you will need to travel further.
Massive Peaks Encircle Abraham Lake
Abraham Lake is surrounded by enormous mountains even though it isn’t in a national park—after all, this is the Canadian Rockies!
Abraham Lake is surrounded by Abraham Mountain, Mount Michener, Mount Ernest Ross, and Elliot Peak, all of which are breathtaking to see in the distance. There’s also the well-known summertime hike known as Vision Quest, which is located above Abraham Lake.
Hike Vision Quest
The Vision Quest hike is a major draw for Albertans visiting Abraham Lake during the summer. A well-liked hike in the Canadian Rockies called Vision Quest offers breathtaking views over Abraham.
The Vision Quest hike/scramble requires ascending 6.3 km and 850 meters of elevation gain. However, in contrast to Banff, you can set up camp at the beginning of Vision Quest and around the lake if you so choose.
Just Off the Icefields Parkway is Abraham Lake
This is the ideal time to visit Abraham Lake if you’re traveling through the Rockies and intend to drive the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff or the other way around. Abraham Lake is a brief detour off the Parkway, starting at just 32 km from the Saskatchewan River Crossing along the Parkway.
Preachers Point, located off David Thompson Highway, is a great place to visit along Abraham Lake. Therefore, you can easily take this detour if you only have a few hours to spare on your drive.
Abraham Lake Weather
As previously indicated, it is essential to check the weather in Abraham Lake before traveling there as it frequently has temperatures and weather patterns similar to those of Nordegg.
You can get a sense of the temperature and wind strength from this. It is especially advisable to pack appropriately for visiting Abraham Lake in the winter. It’s among Alberta’s most erratic locations!
Additional Information Before Traveling to Abraham Lake
Abraham Lake is far from anyplace. About 40 kilometers from the lake is the closest town, Nordegg.
There are two service stations, a restaurant, and a few lodging choices in Nordegg.
Your final fuel stop if traveling via the Icefields Parkway is the Saskatchewan River Crossing. The only places to get fuel in the winter are Lake Louise and Jasper. This is closed. Be sure to completely fill up. At Abraham Lake, cellular service is unavailable.
Don’t forget to remove all of your trash. Bring everything in and take it out.
Abraham Lake is a great place to have a guide. particularly during the winter. JP with Pursuit Adventures offers hot chocolate, ice cleats, and information in addition to operating ice bubble tours. In addition, guides are a great resource for identifying Abraham Lake’s best locations for photos.
You can reserve this full-day tour to Abraham Lake if you’re traveling from Banff.
Taking a helicopter tour above Abraham Lake is one of our favorite things to do there. In the winter and summer, Rockies Heli offers fantastic helicopter tours above Abraham Lake and into the surrounding mountains.
Because Abraham Lake is a dam, the water level varies. When people go outside to view the frozen ice bubbles in the winter, this can become dangerous. There is a greater chance of an accident occurring as a result of the increase in visitors. Keep an eye out for the thin ice because it might break. Check out some of our safety advice for ice skating.
