Nordegg is a small town in Alberta, Canada that draws plenty of visitors for a very unique reason. While there are a few great things to see in Nordegg in winter, Abraham Lake and it’s frozen methane gas bubbles are what draws most visitors to this small, almost ghost town of western Canada.
While there’s not too much to see within Nordegg in winter. However, the surrounding mountains, rivers, and lakes are well worth the visit to Nordegg – even in the snow-drenched wintery landscape.
There are definitely better spots than others on Abraham Lake to see methane gas bubbles frozen near the glass-like sheet of ice. Some busy, some much quieter, but it’s all a beautiful day trip from Calgary or day trip from Edmonton!
Read on to find the best things to do in Nordegg in winter!
Best places to see methane bubbles on Abraham Lake
Abraham Lake is home to one of the most unique and strangest phenomenons. As the fresh water freezes, it encases methane rising from dead plants on the bottom of the lake. These flammable balls of gas are visible in many places around the lake and with the backdrop of mountains, it’s a great sight to see around Nordegg.
It’s pretty easy to tell where the best viewpoints around Abraham Lake are. Just look out for the cars and people flooding the frozen lake. For exact locations I stopped, check out the map below. Each of these stops had plenty of chances to view the frozen bubbles, and the scenery was slightly different at each.
I’d you’re unlucky and the wind hasn’t had time to clear snow from the clear surface of the lake, taking a snow shovel will be a handy tip. Also, dress appropriately. There is zero protection from the chilly wind as you walk out onto the slippery ice and snow on Abraham Lake.
One last point, you may have to search a little. Although it was obvious as people gathered by areas that were clean and smooth from the constant wind, you may be searching for a little more time than I was. But the frozen methane bubble of Abraham Lake is well worth the effort!
Where is Abraham Lake?
This beautiful and unusual event takes place on Abraham Lake. Beginning 29km West of Nordegg, it runs for over 30km. Abraham Lake is situated on the North Saskatchewan River that flows through the northern city of Edmonton.
If you venture west from Nordegg along the David Thompson highway, Abraham Lake will be unmissable on your left-hand side.
Abraham Lake is an artificial lake, created in 1972 in conjunction with the Bighorn Dam. Covering 53.7 square kilometers (33 square miles), the lake stretches 32km long and 3.3km at its widest point.
Even though Abraham Lake is artificial, it has that glacial blue coloring produced by rock flour. It definitely doesn’t look man-made at all to me, it looks completely natural to me.
How do I visit Abraham Lake?
You can get to Nordegg by day trips from Calgary or Edmonton, being the most common cities. While it’s roughly the same distance to Nordegg from Edmonton and Calgary (3 hours and 300km (186 miles), it’s a much shorter 170km from Red Deer – a smaller town in the middle of Calgary and Edmonton.
While most visitors to are day trippers in their own vehicles, there are tours offered from Calgary that take you the best spots around Abraham Lake. One of the most popular tour guided groups in the area is Pursuit Tours.
Taking in a vista of towering mountains as frozen bubbles lay trapped and waiting for the thaw of spring is a feeling you’ll get nowhere else other than visiting Nordegg in Alberta, Canada.
Hiking to Crescent Falls
Crescent Falls is one of the top spots to see around Nordegg all year round. Originally named Bighorn Falls, after the river the waterfall exists on, Crescent Falls is a beautiful and easily reached thing to see near Nordegg.
With winter in Alberta reaching -20 to -30 Celsius (-4 to -40F) to each and every year, visiting these falls during winter months (Nov-Mar) you will be treated to a frozen display of cascading icicles. Where in summer, this fast flowing falls is also a popular viewpoint.
How do I get to Crescent Falls?
Crescent Falls is easy to get to from Nordegg. Along the David Thompson Highway, you want to head 22km West from Nordegg. It will be a right-hand turn on to a much small road.
From here, drive around 6.5km (4 miles) towards Crescent Falls Campground. You will pass a lookout of the river below that you can almost see from the seat of your car.
Once you reach the car park you want to head down towards the campground signs. You want to be heading downhill, not uphill towards the Ice Climb. It’s around a 5-minute walk down a steep but manageable road.
There are multiple viewpoints of Crescent Falls and these cascading rivers of ice in winter are beautiful. The top viewpoints are easily reached, but when I visited, the further you descend, the trail looked icy and uneven, so decided against an adventure even though there were footprints down at the falls level itself – on top of that, it was very cold!
The water is quite fast flowing here so take care.
History of Nordegg, Alberta
Nordegg is an old mining town, originally laid claim to the coal in the area by Martin Cohn, who later changed his name to Martin Nordegg in 1907.
It didn’t take too long for basic infrastructure to begin, a camp was set up in 1911 and a railway reached the town of Nordegg in 1913 – previously only reachable by horseback.
Due to World War 1, German assets in Canada were halted and being associated with a German company, Martin Nordegg was asked to leave Canada in 1915, and was able to return in 1921.
The Nordegg coal mine was closed in 1955 after producing around 9.6 million tonnes of coal. With the mine running three different coal seams. One of the most notable events in Nordegg history was the explosion in coal seam number 3 on 31st October 1941 that killed 29 people.
As you drive around the quiet (almost lifeless) town of Nordegg in the winter, many old buildings still stand but are seemingly abandoned. An old church and bank make up two if the most notable sights that are shut down, while the old school hall is repurposed as the visitor center and cafe during the non-winter months around Nordegg. This visitor center and cafe of Nordegg are closed during the winter months.
Nordegg is a German word for “North Corner”, and this almost abandoned gem of Canada’s History has created a Provincial Historic Resource in 1992 and a National Historic site of Canada in 2002.
Extra information about Nordegg in winter
Winter in Nordegg itself seems pretty much non-existent. There is a gas station (petrol/service station for my non-North American friends), but almost everything seems closed during the winter. The library, food trucks have their doors shut, the Nordegg Tourist Information center is shut, and doesn’t even have the snow removed from around it. There is a small park with swings, but no paths nor footprints break the fluffy white surface.
While there are still great places to see around Nordegg, a drive through the tiny Albertan town during the winter is enough for me. The real beauty of Alberta lies in the natural beauty around the area of Nordegg.
Map of Nordegg to Abraham Lake and Crescent Falls
Here is a map to help to navigate from Nordegg to Abraham Lake and Crescent Falls.
Have you visited Nordegg or seen Abraham Lake? I’d love to know what you thought! Leave a comment below, along with any questions!
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Further Reading on Travel in Canada
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben from Horizon Unknown
