Abraham Lake Ice Safety

Most people appreciate the importance of taking an Avalance Skills Training (AST) course before heading out to snowshoe or ski in terrain where there is a risk of avalanche. We feel that the same approach should be used when travelling on ice.

Understanding the risks and how to mitigate them is the key to having a safe ice bubble adventure. While there isn't a standard course like AST, there are many providers offering training on ice safety for recreationists. These courses range from a few hours to a few days, depending on your needs.

The information we provide here isn't intended to replace hands-on training and experience. It provides local knowledge of the area that you can use to better plan your adventure on Abraham Lake.

In This Guide:

• Shore Hazards
• Changing Water Levels
• Ice Safety
• Weather
• Where to Go
• What to Bring
• Planning Your Trip

Myths and Misconceptions

There are a few things we hear quite often or come across on various blogs mentioning visits to the ice bubbles. We'll cover these in more detail below but here are the ones we get asked about the most.

The first one is that it's always unsafe to go on the ice of Abraham Lake. Like any other activity, there are risks associated with an ice walk but these can be mitigated with some basic precautions. This statement is usually followed by a comment about water level fluctuations or the presence of an air gap between the ice and water. Both of these statements are somewhat true but once again they can be addressed relatively easily, as we'll discuss below.

The second most common one is that Windy Point is the best place to see the ice bubbles. That area has some of the least stable ice on the lake, with conditions changing on a daily basis. It's possible to have a safe ice walk there but it does require more experience and a better understanding of the ice conditions than other locations on the lake we would recommend.

Finally, we often hear the methane bubbles are a hazard. It's usually a variation that they make the ice weak (they might but not enough to be a concern), that they could explode (no they don't) or that they could catch on fire. We've watched enough people try to light them on fire to say that it doesn't usually happen. Yes, there are videos on YouTube of methane bubbles catching on fire. Most of these were shot in Siberia and Alaska on lakes with larger pools of methane under the ice. You might be able to light some of the bubbles that are not yet frozen under the ice but the lake will not catch on fire while you're out for a walk.

Both are easy to prevent or at least reduce the risk of injuries.

First, wear proper ice cleats rather than the ones designed for city sidewalks. We recommend the Kahtoola Micropsikes, the Hillsound Trail Crampon or the Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device.

Second, use a hiking pole or strong stick to help with balance and to check if the ice is solid.

Finally, look around and choose your path accordingly. Walk on rocks or clear ice and whenever possible avoid snow-covered areas where you can't see what's underneath. Avoid going down areas that are too steep to walk down easily, they'll be even harder to get back up.

As the lake level drops it leaves ice on the shore, as we discussed earlier.

We often hear about how this creates a dangerous situation where there is an air gap between the ice and the water, increasing the risk of falling through and making it harder to get out. This happens mostly in areas where the shore is steep. A good place is to see this in action, without going on the ice, is at the Allstones Lake Staging Area. You can see the broken ice blocks on the steep banks and in the days after a large release of water at the dam you can watch the ice collapse.

Another thing to look for is small bays and concave shorelines, like the one in the picture, which create a similar risk and are best to be avoided as well.

This does not happen across the lake. The ice is not strong enough to bridge a gap that large without being supported by the water underneath.

Reduce your risks when you head out on the ice by choosing locations that have a gentle slope like the areas between the Ice Bubbles Parking Lot and Cline Creek and avoid areas with steep banks like the area between Allstones Creek and Windy Point.

Whenever possible, walk on ice instead of snow-covered areas. It's harder to tell the quality of the ice below when it's under the snow.

Some winters we get amazing block features in the ice. These are evidence that the ice broke up and refroze. We also get lines of white ice where water has come to the surface through cracks. Both of these can be safe, but you need to understand why they are there and test the ice. Always use extra caution in areas like this.

Another type of ice you want to approach with caution is pressure ridges. These happen mostly in areas where the lakes narrow, like what we see near Windy Point. You'll often see them there as a raised section of ice with multiple cracks. It's best to avoid these areas.

Finally, another thing to take into consideration is the presence of rivers, creeks and sources. Streams running beneath the ice can erode it from below, leading to variable ice conditions. If you can't avoid those areas, use extra caution and additional testing.

When heading out on the lake, take the same approach as with any outdoor adventure and plan to be outside longer than expected. Even though most lake accesses are close to the road, avoid the classic jeans, hoodie and running shoe combo we see all the time. On our tours, we require winter boots, snow pants, winter jackets, tuques and gloves.

This will not only help you in case conditions change quickly but will make your day more enjoyable. Being outside is not fun when you're not frozen and if you've driven 3 hours to get here, you might as well enjoy it.

On the other end, we can get rain during the winter and warm chinook days. These impact the ice and change conditions quickly. Be ready to adapt.

You can find out more details about weather conditions and forecasts here.

Better Options

These areas are not always safe but the risks are simpler and easier to manage. You can see our full guide for each of these locations here.

Ice Bubbles Parking Lot to Cline (Whitegoat) Creek

There are many access points in that area starting at the new parking lot south of Windy Point, including Hoodoo Creek, Belly of Abraham and Abraham Slabs. Avoid driving down to the lake unless you know you can get back up. We see a lot of people getting stuck and the nearest tow truck is 1.5 hours away.

Cline Landing

Often snow-covered but can be great, especially when the lake first freezes in December. The ice here is usually on the ground or over shallow water by January at this location. There is a road that provides access to the lake but getting back up can be a challenge with icy conditions. A better option is to park at the Pinto Lake Staging Area and walk down to the lake.

Preacher's Point

Great from November to early January. The ice is usually cloudy earlier than the rest of the lake with smaller bubbles unless you go on a longer ice walk toward the lake. Most of this area is the North Saskatchewan River as it enters Abraham Lake. Avoid the river channel unless you have experience checking ice conditions.

Cell service is improving in the area but is still limited. There is some service at the Cline River and further out on the lake at Hoodoo Creek but full service starts at Windy Point as you head toward Nordegg. We carry an InReach or Zoleo and recommend a satellite communicator when exploring the region.

These will help you have a safe adventure. A few more things will help you make it a memorable one.

Bring a thermos of hot chocolate, coffee or soup with you. Something warm as you enjoy the sights on a winter day always feels great.

The ice bubbles make for great pictures but the cold weather will reduce the battery life on your camera and phone. Bring an extra battery or power pack and keep them in a pocket with some hand warmers when you're not using them.

There are days where the ice is snow-covered. Bring a shovel and a broom with you on those days. We find that an avalanche shovel with a flat edge works great and is easy to carry. As for brooms, we've tested a lot of options... What we've found works best on our tours is a deck scrub brush with squeegee. The long handle is great to test the ice conditions as well.

Plan on visiting Nordegg for food, gas and lodging as you explore the region. Nordegg is only 25 minutes away from Windy Point and 40 minutes from Preacher's Point.

In Nordegg you'll find food at the Nordegg Lodge and the Nordegg Canteen during the winter. There are two gas stations (Shell and Fas Gas) with convenience stores.

We recommend that you spend the night in Nordegg to make the most of your visit. Options include Expanse Cottages, the Goldeye Centre, Nature's Getaway, the Shunda Creek Hostel, Aurum Lodge, the Nordegg Lodge and other cabins available through Vrbo or Airbnb.