Local Attractions
Dining & Refreshments
Miners’ Café: Known for generous homemade deep-dish pies (strawberry rhubarb, bumbleberry, apple, cream & pecan). Also serves breakfast and lunch with specialty coffees, sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, and baked goods. Open daily, with a patio that has mountain views. 2.4 km - 4 min drive
Nordegg Lodge – Pick & Shovel Restaurant: Casual spot for burgers, pizza, wings, salads, and pub fare, plus a cozy bar with fireside seating. 2.6 km - 4 min drive
Nordegg Canteen: Small kitchen offering take-out and simple breakfast/lunch meals. 2.8 km - 5 min drive
Golden Peaks Restaurant: Upscale dining with chef-crafted meals and stunning mountain views. 45.2 km - 29 min drive
Gas Stations
Nordegg Shell / Fas Gas General Store: The main gas station in town with regular, premium, diesel fuel plus snacks and convenience items. 2.7 km - 4 min drive
Big Horn Gas & Store: Another convenient spot just outside town for fuel and basics. 19.2 km - 13 min drive
The Bear Essentials Store (Fish Lake Campground): About 6 km west of town, this is your go-to for camping and fishing gear, live bait (worms, minnows, salmon eggs), tackle, groceries, and snacks. 7.5 km - 8 min drive
Fishing & Bait
Fish Lake (Provincial Recreation Area): Small shop sells live bait and tackle. A popular swimming and fishing spot in the summer. 5.6 km - 5 min drive
Nordegg Adventures / Nature’s Getaway Mountain Resort: They offer guided ice fishing and summer fishing trips for lake trout, cutthroat, bull trout, and whitefish. 900 m - 2 min drive - 12 min walk
Don’t forget: You’ll need your Alberta Wildlife ID (WiN) card and a fishing license for both open water and ice fishing.
Local Liquor Stores
Nordegg Liquor Store: Located at 615 Coal Miners Crescent, a smaller store but well-rated. 2.5 km - 4 min
Walking Eagle Liquor Store (Rocky Mountain House) – open late (~11 pm). 90.3 km - 56 min
Pharmacy (Rocky Mountain House, ~45 km)
Rocky Mountain IDA Pharmacy: Prescription services, over-the-counter meds, vaccinations. 90.2 km - 57 min
Shoppers Drug Mart (Gateway Crossing): Full pharmacy and health products; open late. 89.7 km - 56 min
Value Drug Mart: Standard business hours at two locations. 90 km - 56 min
Activities by Season
Season | Activities |
Winter (Dec–Apr) | Ice fishing (Fish Lake), snowshoeing, hiking to frozen waterfalls, ice climbing (Cline River), viewing Abraham Lake ice bubbles |
Spring (May–June) | Hiking Coliseum Mountain, tours of Brazeau Collieries Mine / Nordegg Discovery Centre, family hike at Whitegoat Falls |
Summer (Jun–Sept) | Guided hikes (Coliseum, Whitegoat Falls, Siffleur Falls, Coral Creek Canyon, Ram Falls), Abraham Lake activities, golf at Nordegg Historic Golf Course |
Fall (Mid Sept–Oct) | Leaf-peeping hikes (Coliseum, Ram Lookout, Ram Falls, Brazeau Canyon), guided autumn tours around Abraham Lake |
Equipment Rentals
Nature’s Getaway:
Mountain bikes, e-bikes, cross-country skis, snowshoes, ice skates, and ice cleats available to rent by the hour or day. Guided tours too. 900 m - 2 min drive - 12 min walk
Nordegg Adventures:
Rent kayaks, canoes, camping gear. Pickup at Nordegg Canteen daily after 9 am; return by 5 pm on last day. nordeggadventures.ca 1.9 km - 4 min drive - 26 min walk
HeLa Ventures:
Paddling gear rentals including canoes, paddles, SUPs, and life jackets. Shuttle service on North Saskatchewan River. 65.8 km - 40 min drive
Canada Outdoor Adventures:
One of Alberta’s largest outfitters, offering e-bikes, canoes, kayaks, and more for over 20 years. canadaoutdooradventures.com 1.2 km - 2 min drive - 17 min walk
Bigfoot Backcountry Rentals:
Off-road vehicles like ATVs and side-by-sides, with delivery and guided tours available. 111 km - 1 h 10 min drive
Hiking Trails
Local Hiking Tips
Coliseum Mountain Trail is a classic, about 15 km round trip, moderate difficulty, usually doable in under 5 hours. A few options. 1 km - 2 min drive - 16 min walk
Nordegg East Bush Falls Loop (~4.4 km): Small waterfall, forested terrain. 4.2 km - 8 min drive - 57 min walk
Shunda Lake Loop (~4.6 km): Lakeside views, swimming, fishing 7.6 km - 8 min drive
Easy & Family-Friendly
Whitegoat Falls Trail (~3.5 km): Forest waterfall, great for families 47.5 km - 31 min drive
Allstones Creek Trail (~2.4 km): Creek crossings and canyon views 32.4 km - 21 min drive
Siffleur Falls Trail (~7 km): Boardwalk, suspension bridge, waterfalls 1 km): Very accessible falls viewpoint 64.1 km - 41 min drive
Moderate Trails
Coral Creek Canyon to Cline River Loop (~6.4 km): Limestone canyon and river views 50.6 km - 34 min drive
Hoodoo Creek Trail (~5–6 km): Hoodoo formations and gorge 39.6 km - 25 min drive
Hard & Demanding
Vision Quest Ridge Scramble (~3.2 km): Exposed ridge with panoramic lake views 44.5 km - 29 min drive
Extended/Backcountry
Pinto Lake Recreation Trail (multi-day backpacking) 49.7 km - 32 min
Allstones Lake or Ridge (full day or overnight alpine ridge hike) 31.9 km- 20 min drive
Lakes Near Nordegg
Abraham Lake: Turquoise reservoir, famous for winter ice bubbles and amazing viewpoints. 42.2 km - 27 min drive
Shunda Lake (Fish Lake): Swimming, boating, hiking, camping. 7.6 km - 8 min drive
Goldeye Lake: Kayaking, fishing, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing. 10.4 km - 9 min drive
Allstones Lake: Alpine lake at the top of Allstones Ridge — a strenuous hike to get there. 31.9 km - 20 min drive
Rivers & Creeks
North Saskatchewan River: Main river feeding Abraham Lake, popular for paddling.
Bighorn River: Near Crescent Falls, scenic canyon trails.
Chungo Creek: Known for trout and whitefish fishing.
Nordegg River: Popular fishing spot.
Brazeau River: Flows through Brazeau Canyon Wildland Park, great for fishing and scenery.
Stocked Lakes
- Fairfax Lake (between Nordegg and Edson, on Hwy 40)
Stocked annually with rainbow trout (± 5 000 fish, ~20 cm) in May 2024
Open year‑round with a 5‑trout daily limitPeppers Lake (~84 km south of Nordegg)
Stocked in May 2024: rainbow (~1 400) and brook trout (~3 500)
Daily limit: 5 trout
- Shunda Lake / Fish Lake (6 km west of Nordegg)
Very popular, stocked heavily with rainbow trout (~10 000+ fish) in early May 2024
Daily limit: 5 trout
- Goldeye Lake (just a few km from Shunda Lake)
Stocked May 7, 2024: ~5 000 rainbow trout (~21 cm)
Limits similar: 5 trout, 3 pike, 15 perch
- Allstones Lake (backcountry, across from Abraham Lake)
Stocked with brook trout in Sep 2021 (650 fish). Likely not stocked since, but may still be fished
- Landslide Lake (remote hike, ~250 km SW of Red Deer)
Last stocked in Sep 2021 with 13 000 cutthroat trout
No regular stocking since, but excellent for backcountry cutthroat
When to Go
Most lakes are stocked in late April to late May, so the best time is shortly after—early to mid-June is ideal.
Rivers open in spring (around June) in some zones (ES1 streams closed until June 15), while ES2 (including forestry trunk region) open April 1 to Oct 31
Nordic Ski Trails & Winter Fun
Shunda Meadow Loop (Nordegg Trail Society): 4.3 km, easy groomed ski trail open also to snowshoers (just stay off ski tracks). 4.9 km - 5 min drive
Nordegg Trail Society Winter Trails: Several groomed, non-motorized trails for skiing and snowshoeing. 1.9 km - 4 min drive - 26 min walk
Nature’s Getaway Mountain Resort: Cross-country ski rentals and suggested routes. 900 m - 2 min drive - 12 min walk
Popular Dirt Biking and Quading Near Nordegg
1. Bighorn Backcountry
A vast area encompassing forested trails, open ridges, and river valleys.
Accessible via the Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 734), which is a well-maintained gravel route suitable for various vehicles.
Offers numerous access points for off-road adventures.
2. Brazeau Canyon Wildland Provincial Park
Located approximately 40 km northwest of Nordegg.
Features rugged terrain and scenic views, ideal for experienced riders seeking challenging routes.
3. Crescent Falls Area
Accessible via a 4.5 km gravel road leading north from David Thompson Highway.
While primarily known for its waterfalls, the surrounding area offers potential for off-road exploration.
