Content updated Aug 2024
Abraham Lake, Alberta
Fun Facts about Abraham Lake!
It was artificially created because of the Bighorn Hydro Plant!
In the late 1960's, the former "Calgary Power Company" (now know as "TransAlta") saw potential for harnessing the flow of the North Saskatchewan River for hydroelectricity. Their idea became a reality in 1972 when the Bighorn Hydro Plant was completed and is still one of the largest producers of hydroelectricity in Alberta.
Although the planning of the Bighorn Dam had good intentions to produce power for many surrounding households; a proper environmental evaluation was never completed before the start of construction. This lack of planning resulted in the flooding of the surrounding plains causing a detrimental effect to the wildlife and people living in area. Many of the Nakoda-Stoney First Nations people suffered devastation because the water ended up flooding their cabins, grave & ceremonial sites as well as their pastures when construction started in the late 1960's. For us, that is troubling to think about and our hearts go out to all the people, animals, and vegetation who suffered from the lack of proper planning.
For anyone who may be wondering, the Bighorn Dam produces over 400 million kilowatts of clean hydroelectricity per year. Since the average Canadian home produces 11,000 kilowatts of power per year, this dam alone has the ability to power over 36,000 households annually.
Named after a Nakota-Stoney First Nations local!
During the final stages of the Bighorn Dam construction in February of 1972, the Government of Alberta held a contest to name this newly developed man-made lake.
Students from all over Alberta submitted their ideas and had to be based off the historical significance, geography, prominent people, and topography of the area.
The Government finally came to a decision and decided the lake was to be named after Silas Abraham who was a local Nakoda-Stony First Nations man. Originally from Morley, Alberta, he was a resident of the area who used these foothills of the Rocky Mountains for hunting, farming and guiding newly arriving pioneers around the area in the early 1900's.
Not only did the Government of Alberta name the lake after Silas, they also decided to name a stunning 2820 meter (9250-foot) mountain after him as well which is located on the west side of the lake.
Abraham Mountain is absolutely magnificent in our eyes and a sight to see anytime of the year!
Photo: Silas Abraham (c.1870-1964) - Glenbow Archives NA-7-177
The "Bighorn Dam Incident"
August 24th,1969 was a day that changed five Albertan men's lives forever after witnessing one of the most significant "Sasquatch" sightings recorded in Albertan history.
As the story goes; two men by the names of Harley Peterson & Guy L'Heureux were working on installing a foundation for a pump during the construction of the Bighorn Dam. As they were working, they looked up and noticed a large apparition on the ridge above them causing the men to stop dead in their tracks. This apparition was reported to be a very large, dark, upright creature standing there looking down watching Harley & Guy work.
It was reported that the creature stood there for 30 minutes watching Harley & Guy before it decided to sit down on the ridge. By that time, three other men came over (who were also working at the site) to get a closer look at what Harley & Guy were seeing. Dale Boddy, Stan Peterson & Floyd Engen confirmed the creature was indeed real and watched in awe for roughly 10 mins before the creature stood back up. The enormous creature just stood there for another 15 minutes watching the five startled men before it walked off and disappeared into the tree line on the ridge.
Two out of the five men decided to hike up to where this creature was to see if there were any footprints or if it had left any other evidence behind for documentation purposes. As the other three men watched their two fellow co-workers search along the ridge, a realization came over them that sent chills down their spine. After comparing the height of the two men up on the ridge to the trees behind them, they realized that the creature they all saw was without a doubt between 12 to 15 feet tall.
To this day, the "Bighorn Dam Incident" is one of the largest Sasquatch sightings ever reported in North America and many other sightings have taken place around the area over the past 40 years. These sightings included footprints ranging from 15-18 inches long, physical appearances of a tall upright creature watching locals on their homesteads and findings of fur samples around the area.
A frozen bubble phenomenon happens every winter!
Every winter, Abraham Lake produces a beautiful natural phenomenon worth seeing! It is recommended to visit the area from late January to early February for those who are looking to take in the best views of these frozen bubbles.
Wondering how this phenomenon occurs? As the water starts to freeze; decaying plants, animals and trees on the lake bed release methane gas bubbles that are attempting to make their way to the surface. The gas bubbles journey is cut short due to the top layer of ice that has formed from the freezing temperatures. The methane bubbles then end up becoming trapped and suspended under the ice eventually forming this magnificent sight as the water freezes lower and lower during the frigid Alberta winters.
Why is Abraham Lake such an optimal spot to view these frozen methane gas bubbles? This is thanks to the high winds blowing that sweep the majority of the snow off the frozen surface. Even though Abraham Lake is an artificially man-made lake, it still produces very clear blue water mimicking a natural mountain lake and makes it a perfect location to show off this phenomenon.
The number of methane gas bubbles has risen year after year and is considered an environmental concern. The rise in global temperatures and climate change is causing the permafrost to melt releasing more and more methane into our atmosphere from natural decomposition. This results in causing additional harm to the environment by creating unplanned greenhouse gasses on top of what we are already producing as a society.
Let us hope that we, as society as a whole, are able to come up with a solution to global warming/climate change for future generations and survival as a species.
**Please Note**
The ice thickness can vary at different locations around the lake and we always recommend checking the ice conditions before venturing out on the lake and/or hiring a local guide while visiting. Guides will have studied the ice and will know where it is safe to view the frozen gas bubbles. Always better to be safe than sorry in our eyes.
A picture of the frozen methane bubbles in Abraham Lake in early January
Substantial amounts of methane bubbles frozen in the ice at Abraham Lake
Photography
The landscape around Abraham Lake is absolutely stunning which brings in photographers from all over North America to capture the essence of its beauty.
Although the lake is mainly recognized during the winter months due to the frozen bubble phenomenon, we can assure everyone this lake is worth visiting anytime of the year.
Some of our favorite things to photograph include (but are not limited to)....
- Abraham Mountain (9646ft located on the north west side of the lake)
- Frozen methane gas bubbles trapped under the ice (winter months)
- Bighorn Sheep
- Elk
- Bears
- Mount Michener (8350ft located on the east side of the lake)
- Many different species of birds
- Wild horses around Nordegg
- Landscape of the area
- Bighorn Hydro Plant
The other great thing about the area is that people will not need to climb up a mountain to take in the beauty of the valley. We have seen many photographers pulled over on the side of the road to capture different landscapes and local wildlife around the area.
We were also lucky enough to witness photoshoots for wedding and engagement pictures during the winter months out on the lake. There was something about Mount Michener as a backdrop highlighting this magical moment as the wedding dress danced in the brisk winter wind. Although we did not take any pictures of the newly wed couple out of respect for their privacy, it was something we will never forget.
Fun fact - The "Bighorn Hydro Plant" was named due to the abundance of bighorn sheep in the area.
**Please Note**
We always recommend to drive with caution around the lake because sheep tend to come down to lick the salt off the roads and the last thing we would want is for someone to have an accident because of this.
Buck Elk
Wild Horses
Bighorn Sheep
Hiking and/or snowshoeing!
The hiking around Abraham Lake is amazing in the summer months that provides some of the best views in the Rockies.
We also wanted to provide snowshoe routes because many people visit the area in the winter months to view the beautiful bubble phenomenon and we usually plan winter day trips to the area for this exact reason!
Here are some options to help guide everyone towards an adventure they will never forget!
Hiking Trail Options:
(Recommended in the late spring, summer and early fall)
Allstones Lake Trail (out & back) - 10.0km in length with 843m of elevation gain and is considered to be "hard/black" in difficulty.
This trail is not for the faint of heart because there is significant elevation gain up to the view point and fairly steep on the way down. The hike could take anywhere from 4 - 5 hrs depending on whether people are looking to grind it out or "stop to smell the roses" and take in the views on the way up. At the top of the trail people will be able to take in the views of Abraham Lake, the surrounding forests and Allstone Lake.
Vision Quest Ridge Scramble (out & back) - 6.4km in length with 856m of elevation gain and is considered to be "hard/black" in difficulty.
The name alone says something remarkable about this trail because it is quite a steep and difficult initial hike. There will be some scrambling along the ridge and is recommended to wear actual hiking boots with ankle support and to bring hiking poles to help with the decent. After reaching the top, the view provides an almost mystical view overlooking the valley and Abraham Lake. For any hikers who are just getting into the sport, we highly recommend tackling this hike with someone who is experienced in order to learn the art of scrambling. We promise scrambling is something worth leaning and well worth the effort.
Hoodoo Creek (out & back) - 5.1km in length with 589m of elevation gain and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
This is a really neat and challenging route because people must follow the creek up to view the hoodoos. There are also caves along the way as well and are always fun to check out and cool off in during the hot summer months. It is recommended to hike this trail during the summer because of the flow of the creek so people can stay dry on the way up.
**Please note** The rocks can get slippery when wet so we strongly encourage people to have proper footwear, waterproof hiking boots and/or shoes.
Mount Stelfox Via Ferrata AKA... "The Fox" (loop)- 2.6km in length with 306m of elevation gain and is considered to be "hard/black" in difficulty.
We couldn't leave this trail off of our recommendations because it is the first "Via Ferrata" built in the Alberta Rockies! How meant is that? The hike is amazing and people are able to walk to the the base of the "Via Ferrata" for those looking for a bit easier of a hike. We also recommend hiring a guide for those looking to complete the entire loop for safety purposes. This is a great option for those who are looking to get into rock climbing and not be too overwhelmed.
**Please note** As we mentioned above, we highly recommend a guide because of how dangerous the climb can be for those who aren't experienced climbers with the proper gear.
Click on the following link to learn about pricing and what entails climbing "The Fox":
"Via Ferrata Canada - Mount Stelfox Guide Information"
Snowshoeing or hiking Trail Options:
(Recommended anytime of the year)
Crescent Falls (out & back) - 0.8km in length with 16m of elevation gain is considered "easy/green" in difficulty.
This one is short and sweet that will provide a great view of the falls in the winter or summer. For those who are looking to hike in the winter, there might be ice climbers to watch climb the frozen falls.
Crescent Falls & Bighorn Canyon (out & back) -- 5.3km in length with 145m of elevation gain and is considered to be "easy/green" in difficulty.
For those who want to view Crescent Falls but also looking for something a little longer; this is a great option because it adds on Bighorn Canyon. Both are great to explore anytime of the year and we feel the waterfalls are absolutely stunning in the summer months. It is recommended to start early around 9:00am to beat the traffic and to get a parking spot.
Whitegoat Falls (out & back) - 3.2km in length with 158m of elevation gain and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
This is a beautiful hike anytime of the year! since this trail is fairly popular, people may not necessarily need snowshoes unless there is a fresh snowfall. We always recommend bringing them just incase or for those who may want to wander off the beaten path during the winter months. Just a heads up that the trail crosses the creek twice to get to the bottom of the falls. Not an issue in the winter and does have a pretty good run off flow when the snow is melting in the early spring.
Tershishner Falls (out & back) - 3.4km in length with 87m of elevation gain and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
Another beautiful hike to conquer anytime of the year! It is recommended to walk up the creek and in the summer there should be small flags to follow. This trail can get busy so we recommend to plan accordingly so people are able to get a great view of the falls for pictures!
Looking for more hiking options?
If the trails we have recommended sparked interest to explore the area even more, look no further!
There are many other trail options that include....
- Overnight hiking roots for backcountry camping on crown land.
- trail options that are on the Mount Michener side that need to be accessed via canoe, kayak or crossing the lake in the frozen winter.
- Off-roading trails around Nordegg
- Additional waterfall hikes
We would obviously love to share all of them but chose to focus on our personal favorites that are challenging and also offer incredible views!
Allstones Lake
Vision Quest Ridge Scramble
Hoodoo Creek
Crescent Falls
Bighorn Canyon
Whitegoat Falls
Visit the Hamlet of Nordegg, Alberta
Although the hamlet of Nordegg only has a population of roughly 100 people we can assure everyone they are some of the friendliest and kindest people we have ever met. The true genuine people of the world who care about their community and the surrounding areas.
We though we would share some of our personal favourite places to visit while in Nordegg because we believe they are worth visiting!
This is where people can find the "Visitor Information Desk" and the "Nordegg Museum Exhibit." There has been a new expansion of the museum exhibit because of the Miner's Café & Both are wheelchair accessible and anyone is need of more in-depth information, please contact the heritage centre at...
P: 403-721-COAL (2625)
E: heritage@clearwatercounty.ca
Fun Fact - The Nordegg Heritage Centre was once the town school!
The reason hamlet of Nordegg came to life! They offer an amazing and affordable tour option for people to view this National Heritage Site.
- 10:00 am - Upper and lower mine tour (approximately 2.5 hours in length)
- 2:00 pm - Upper mine tour only (approximately 1.5 hours in length)
P: 403-721-COAL (2625)
E: heritage@clearwatercounty.ca
The Miner's Café: (link to the menu, address & contact info)
For those who can appreciate true "home cooking" the Miner's Café is a must stop. All of the items are homemade and it might have the best pie we have ever had! One of those situations that made us feel like we were at our Grandma's house as she just pulled a pie out of the windowsill from cooling.
There are also some really incredible baked good options for those who may not be into pie. Items such as home baked oatmeal loaf, gluten free brownies, bread pudding, freshly made cinnamon buns, and the "Eat More Square" which is our personal favorite to take out on the trails for loads of healthy energy.
Not only do they have amazing pie and baked items, they also offer many other delicious menu items! Some of the options include breakfast, sandwiches, soups, beverages, homemade lemonade, drip coffee, home-brewed iced-tea, & salads!
Nothing beats a good soup and sandwich followed by a piece of pie after a long rewarding day in the wilderness!
We want to thank the team at Miner's Café because it has made a positive impact on the community and are so grateful for all their hard work.
History of Nordegg, Alberta
COMING SOON!
Historic pictures of Nordegg, Alberta
Martin (Cohn) Nordegg
Downtown Nordegg circa 1914