Now that the snow has fallen, and things are warming up to a reasonable winter temperature (aka not -45 Celsius) the conditions are perfect for exploring Alberta's David Thompson Country. The foothills and Rocky Mountains are easily accessible...
Now that the snow has fallen, and things are warming up to a reasonable winter temperature (aka not -45 Celsius) the conditions are perfect for exploring Alberta's David Thompson Country. The foothills and Rocky Mountains are easily accessible from both Calgary and Edmonton making it a great day trip or weekend getaway destination. This area is less developed than neighbouring Banff and Jasper National Parks, so it also gets less visitors. This is a good thing if you want to explore somewhere that is spectacularly gorgeous and avoid the crowds. A few highlights at visiting the Town of Rocky Mountain House, the Hamlet of Nordegg, Crimson Lake and seeing the frozen bubbles at Abraham Lake. If you are luck, you might even spot some of the area's wild horses.
Our first stop when exploring David Thompson Country is at our favourite coffee shop in Rocky Mountain House, Copper Creek Café & Coffee. Since Rocky Mountain House is 2-hours from either Calgary or Edmonton, Copper Creek Cafe is the perfect...
Our first stop when exploring David Thompson Country is at our favourite coffee shop in Rocky Mountain House, Copper Creek Café & Coffee. Since Rocky Mountain House is 2-hours from either Calgary or Edmonton, Copper Creek Cafe is the perfect place to start a day of adventures. In the winter one of their gourmet coffees is the perfect start to the day. They also serve drip coffee, tea and hot chocolate so there is something to suite all adventure seeker tastes.
Copper Creek Café & Coffee in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta serves breakfast items, sandwiches, soup, chili, and has daily specials. This is a great spot to pick up items for a picnic lunch when exploring David Thompson Country.
Copper Creek Cafe & Coffee also has a cute home decor section to browse. Make yourself comfortable in this cozy corner while you sip n' shop in Rocky Mountain House Alberta Canada.
Mountain House Bakery & Cake Art is next door to Copper Creek Cafe & Coffee. This makes Main Street in Rocky Mountain House the perfect place to pick up items for a picnic, a coffee to warm you up, and a treat for dessert.
Mountain House Bakery & Cake has an entire wall of freshly baked bread that greets visitors as they enter. I love the smell of freshly baked bread. Even thought it is a small bakery and store, I always feel like I could spend hours here.
Some of the best donuts in Alberta can be found at Mountain House Bakery & Cake Art in Rocky Mountain House. These are light and fluffy. The flavours are delicious too and have exactly the right amount of sweetness. The donuts make for the...
Some of the best donuts in Alberta can be found at Mountain House Bakery & Cake Art in Rocky Mountain House. These are light and fluffy. The flavours are delicious too and have exactly the right amount of sweetness. The donuts make for the perfect post-adventure treat. Just be sure to pick up a few extra for the drive home.
Crimson Lake Provincial Park is 15 minutes outside of Rocky Mountain House Alberta. This is a nice park to explore year-round. During the winter Crimson Lake is a popular spot for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while others enjoy...
Crimson Lake Provincial Park is 15 minutes outside of Rocky Mountain House Alberta. This is a nice park to explore year-round. During the winter Crimson Lake is a popular spot for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while others enjoy the day-use area and ice fishing. We chose to hike the Amerada Trail which is a 10km loop around the Crimson Lake and Beaver Pond.
Since the trail around Crimson Lake is 10km long there are plenty of benches to stop and rest at. Several rest areas have nice lake views. The trail took us about 2.5 hours to complete. We did feel tired by the end of it so were happy that we...
Since the trail around Crimson Lake is 10km long there are plenty of benches to stop and rest at. Several rest areas have nice lake views. The trail took us about 2.5 hours to complete. We did feel tired by the end of it so were happy that we picked up some donuts from Mountain House Bakery & Cake Art earlier in the day.
The most famous destination in David Thompson Country is Abraham Lake. It is 129km (75 minutes) west of Rocky Mountain House on Highway 11. The lake is world renowned for its turquoise blue waters during the summer and for its frozen bubbles...
The most famous destination in David Thompson Country is Abraham Lake. It is 129km (75 minutes) west of Rocky Mountain House on Highway 11. The lake is world renowned for its turquoise blue waters during the summer and for its frozen bubbles during the winter. Although you can see the bubbles at other times, they are best viewed late January until early February.
It is fun walking on water during the winter at Abraham Lake. The scenery is spectacular. Even better, the ice and water below it is typically very clear. You can see all the way to the bottom in some places. As the wind sweeps away the snow, it...
It is fun walking on water during the winter at Abraham Lake. The scenery is spectacular. Even better, the ice and water below it is typically very clear. You can see all the way to the bottom in some places. As the wind sweeps away the snow, it also polishes the ice making it very slippery. Be sure to wear some sort of traction device or ice picks to help you keep your grip. Alternatively, people enjoy wild skating on Abraham Lake too.
The bubbles are a natural phenomenon. They are created when methane is released by decomposing organic matter. As the bubbles rise to the surface in the winter, they become trapped in the ice creating this really cool effect.
The bubbles at Abraham Lake are a must-see attraction when visiting Alberta, Canada during the winter months. The surrounding area is incredibly beautiful. Wandering around the lake looking for bubbles makes for a fun afternoon adventure.
David Thompson Country has several frozen waterfalls to discover. No winter adventure to the area is really complete without finding a frozen waterfall or two. When we went on our Abraham Lake bubble adventure, we stopped at Crescent Falls on the...
David Thompson Country has several frozen waterfalls to discover. No winter adventure to the area is really complete without finding a frozen waterfall or two. When we went on our Abraham Lake bubble adventure, we stopped at Crescent Falls on the way back to the Village of Nordegg. It was a beautiful and easily accessible fall to visit however it is closed in 2024 for upgrades.
If you are lucky, you may even spot some the Nordegg wild horses. There are 1,400 wild horses that call the eastern edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountains their home.
Nestled in the pristine wilderness of the foothills on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Nordegg is a quaint little community filled with outdoor adventure seekers. 90km west of Rocky Mountain House, Nordegg is an ideal place to...
Nestled in the pristine wilderness of the foothills on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Nordegg is a quaint little community filled with outdoor adventure seekers. 90km west of Rocky Mountain House, Nordegg is an ideal place to stop after a frozen bubble adventure at Abraham Lake. History buffs will enjoy learning about Nordegg's coal mining history with a visit to the Nordegg Heritage Centre and Brazeau Collieries.
We stopped by the Nordegg Canteen after our Abraham Lake bubble adventure. This is a popular spot and since we arrived late in the day many menu items were already sold out. We ordered a delicious sandwich to share while we warmed up inside this...
We stopped by the Nordegg Canteen after our Abraham Lake bubble adventure. This is a popular spot and since we arrived late in the day many menu items were already sold out. We ordered a delicious sandwich to share while we warmed up inside this cozy eatery.