Abraham Lake Bubbles: Best Time to Visit & Safety Tips

Q: What Lake is the Frozen Bubbles in Alberta?

The lake of frozen bubbles in Alberta is Abraham Lake . Also known as Bubble Lake. Each year the trapped methane gases create bubbles under the ice.

Q: When Can You See the Bubbles at Abraham Lake?

You can see the Bubbles at Abraham Lake from early January to early March . But the best viewing time is early January to late February when the lake isn’t covered in snow.

Ice bubbles at Abraham Lake are one of the coolest things to see during winter in Alberta.

Each year from January to March, thousands come to skate on and admire the frozen bubbles trapped beneath the ice. It’s a perfect way to escape the city for a bit and enjoy nature’s art.

The odd yet beautiful formations have to be seen to be appreciated and were one of my favourite places I visited on my winter trip to the Rockies.

Let’s get right into what you need to know about the Abraham Lake Bubbles including the best times to see the frozen bubbles in Abraham Lake, how to get there, and safety tips.

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Bird's eye view of a woman's black snow boots standing on top of the frozen Abraham Lake bubbles underneath, located in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta

Why Does Abraham Lake Have Ice Bubbles?

Abraham Lake has ice bubbles as a result of decaying plants on the lake bed.

During the warmer months, the water levels rise and drop and the plants at the bottom of the lake release methane gas.

As winter approaches and the lake starts to freeze, these methane bubbles get trapped within the ice. Creating a captivating phenomenon that is as beautiful as it is unique.

And gave it its nickname Bubble Lake.

This special feature of Abraham Lake has made it a popular destination for both photographers and tourists.

Woman wearing a white beanie, black puffy jacket, black snow pants, and black boots on top of the frozen Abraham Lake ice bubbles, where there is a layer of snow at a distance. She is facing away from the camera, looking at the snowcapped Canadian Rocky Mountains on a cloudy day.

Best Time to Visit Abraham Lake Bubbles

The best time to visit the Abraham Lake Bubbles is from early January to late February.

This is when the lake is most frozen and the frozen methane bubbles are most clearly visible beneath the ice.

After mid-February, the lake is often covered by snow, which is what I found on my visit in early March. But the lake is still frozen in early March.

When snow covers the frozen lake, you can’t see the bubbles as easily. And safety is a concern, as snow may cover weaker ice. Please be cautious when visiting after fresh snow.

Exact timing can vary from year to year, depending on the weather conditions, so please check the ice conditions before you visit Bubble Lake to make sure the lake is frozen.

Best Time of Day to See the Ice Bubbles

The best time of day to see the ice bubbles is sunrise or sunset. You’ll be able to see cotton candy skies light up the bubbles and surrounding mountains.

If visiting for sunrise, arrive at least 30 minutes early to set up your camera gear.

Only visit at sunset or sunrise if you are okay with driving back to your accommodations in the dark.

Other times of the day still offer great photos. I visited mid-afternoon and have good lighting.

Bird's eye view of the frozen Abraham Lake, which is clear enough to see ice bubbles underneath. There are some patches of snow on top of the lake.

5 Best Viewpoints for Frozen Bubbles

There are a few viewpoints around the lake to see the Abraham Lake ice bubbles, including:

Belly of Abraham
Allstones Cove
Preacher’s Point
Cline Landing
Windy Point

But not all of them are for walking on the ice.

Woman wearing a white beanie and black puffy jacket, sitting on top of the Belly of Abraham, the most popular place to see the Abraham Lake ice bubbles in Alberta during the winter. There are some patches of snow around the woman, with a sheet of snow covering the lake further at a distance. She is looking at the snowcapped Canadian Rocky Mountains on a fairly cloudy day with some sun peeking through.

1. Belly of Abraham

Belly of Abraham is near the middle of Bubble Lake and the most popular place to see those big, beautiful ice bubbles Lake Abraham is known for.

The clusters of frozen methane bubbles here are the best quality. This is where I stopped to see the ice bubbles and they were so cool!

Be cautious as you walk down to the lake. It’s easy to slide on the sheet of ice that connects to the lake.

It has a newer parking lot and washrooms available.

You can also skate on the lake here. But know that lake skating is not as smooth as skating on an ice rink. Nature is bumpy.

Woman wearing black earmuffs, black puffy jacket, black pants, and black boots walking on the snow to see the ice bubbles Abraham Lake has each winter. The trail is full of snow, with pine trees on all sides close to her and further along the distance. Lake Abraham is at a distance behind the trees. Above the lake are the snowcapped Canadian Rockies and clouds covering the sky.

2. Allstones Cove

Allstones Cove is the closest bubble viewpoint to Nordegg.

Featuring a trail that leads down to the lake, Allstones is the best spot to see the ice bubbles without walking on the lake.

3. Preacher’s Point

Preacher’s Point can be found at the south end of the lake.

It’ll be the first spot you see if you are driving from the Saskatchewan River Crossing (coming from Jasper or Banff).

Parking is right beside Abraham Lake, so you can easily get to and see the frozen bubbles.

The shallow water makes for some cool ice bubbles next to the rocks and grass.

The ice here is weaker, so you shouldn’t walk on it unless you keep very close to shore.

This is a viewing area only.

4. Cline Landing

Further east from Preacher’s Point, right before you reach Rockis Heli, you’ll reach Cline Landing.

The wind isn’t strong enough to clear the snow here, so visit earlier in the winter to see ice bubbles.

Otherwise, later in winter, this area is often covered in snow so it doesn’t offer a consistent view of the bubbles.

5. Windy Cove

If you want the best views of Mount Mitchener, head to Windy Cove.

While it also offers views of the bubbles, you shouldn’t go on the ice here. It’s too close to the dam, and the water levels vary too much under the ice.

A snowy and cloudy day on the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, featuring a woman wearing a white beanie, black jacket, black pants, and black boots, walking towards the Belly of Abraham, which is a prime spot to see the Abraham Lake frozen bubbles during the winter

Seeing the Abraham Lake Frozen Bubbles

After driving in from Edmonton, I had the first peek of Abraham Lake from Allstones.

At first, I was worried the lake wasn’t frozen, but the further we drove, the lake was more and more frozen. We arrived at the Belly of Abraham, and it was beautiful!

I was going to skate, but after seeing the slanted hill to get down to the ice and how snow-covered the lake was, I decided not to.

I carefully walked down onto the ice, keeping close to the shore and only to areas with other people.

It was cold and snowy, and I had so much fun! After seeing the frozen air bubbles in Abraham Lake I could see why they call it Bubble Lake.

It was so cool! People came and went, but I kept admiring the bubble formations.

After 1.5 hours of playing on the ice, I continued onto Jasper town before it got dark.

Tip: If bringing a tripod, bring a backpack or something to use as a weight for the legs. It was super windy during my visit and my tripod was blowing around on the ice. The bag helped keep it from falling over.

Woman wearing a maroon sweater sitting on the passenger window ledge of her white jeep parked on a road, waving with one arm stretched. She is looking and waving at the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Below the mountains lies Abraham Lake, which is known for its ice bubbles surfacing below the lake during the winter. It's a cloudy day, but the sun is peeking through on the top right of the photo.

How to Get to Abraham Lake

To get to Abraham Lake you need to rent a car in Edmonton or Calgary or book a tour. There is no public transit from town to reach the lake.

Directions from Edmonton (3.5 hours):

Take the AB-2 S out of Edmonton
Follow it to the AB-12 W in Lacombe County
Take AB-12 W to Hwy 22
From Hwy 22, turn left onto Highway 11 E towards Nordegg
Lake Abraham will be on your left after 1 hour 18 mins (129 km)

Directions from Calgary (3.25 hours) & Banff (2 hours):

Take the Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1 W) out of Calgary
Highway 1 runs through Banff
Take AB-1 W to AB-93 N
Exit AB-93 N onto Highway 11 E
Lake Abraham will be on your right after 49 km

Directions from Jasper (2.5 hours):

Take AB-93 S out of Jasper
Exit AB-93 S onto Highway 11 W
Lake Abraham will be on your right after 49 km

Lake Abraham Ice Bubbles Viewpoint

18032 David Thompson Highway #17562, Clearwater County, AB T0M 2H0

Woman smiling at the camera, wearing a white beanie, black jacket, black snow pants, and black snow boots. She is lying down on top of Abraham Lake, which is frozen over and has ice bubbles underneath. There are patches of snow surrounding the woman. At a distance, the lake is covered in a sheet of snow. Behind her and the lake are the snowcapped Canadian Rocky Mountains on a partly cloudy day with the sun peeking through.

Top Abraham Lake Ice Bubble Tours

Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles Helicopter Tour – an adventurous helicopter tour over the Rockies, with snowshoeing in the mountains and walking on the ice bubbles of Abraham Lake

Icefields Parkway & Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles from Banff – an 8-hour tour from Banff along the scenic Icefields Parkway to explore Abraham Lake, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake

Abraham Lake Bubbles Map

What to Wear to Bubble Lake

You need to wear warm clothes when preparing to visit Abraham Lake during winter. The wind from the lake is no joke! It was so cold!

Plan to wear:

thermals or base layer
warm clothing
winter coat or parka
winter boots
hat or earmuff
scarf
gloves/mittens

Also, wearing sunglasses will help shield your eyes from the sun’s glare reflecting off the snow.

Birds eye view of the frozen bubbles of Abraham Lake in Alberta, with ice bubbles dotted all over underneath the lake's surface.

Safety Tips for Visiting Abraham Lake in Winter

Check the ice conditions before you visit Bubble Lake.
Keep close to the shore. The lake will not freeze over everywhere – the safest and thickest parts will be closest to the shoreline.
Wear ice cleats to prevent falls and if you don’t have any, take tiny shuffle-like steps and move slowly as the ice can be very slippery.
Bring a power bank to keep your phone charged. While cell service doesn’t always reach the lake, it’s important to keep your phone ready for when you need it. My phone died from the cold, so the power bank helped recharge it.
Don’t wander away to find your photo spot. Wherever groups of people are will be the safest on the lake.

Where to Stay Near Abraham Lake

With its remote location, you might want to stay overnight to catch the sunset or sunrise. These are the closest accommodations to the lake:

Aurum Lodge – a rustic eco-lodge overlooking the Rockies (4 mins from Abraham Lake Ice Bubble viewpoint)

HI Nordegg Shunda Creek – a rustic hostel (30 mins from Abraham Lake)

I was going to stay near Abraham Lake, but my flight got delayed so I continued onwards to Jasper after my visit.

Bubble Lake FAQs

What Lake is the Frozen Bubbles in Alberta?

The lake of frozen bubbles in Alberta is Abraham Lake. Also known as Bubble Lake. Each year the trapped methane gases create bubbles under the ice.

When Can You See the Bubbles at Abraham Lake?

You can see the Bubbles at Abraham Lake from early January to early March. But the best viewing time is early January to late February when the lake isn’t covered in snow.

Final Thoughts on Abraham Lake in Winter

The Abraham Lake bubbles are a cool phenomenon that happens every winter.

The best times to see the bubbles are during sunrise or sunset, with viewpoints like Preacher’s Point and Belly of Abraham offering diverse perspectives.

Always check the ice conditions before you go. Or go with a tour.

The frozen bubbles at Abraham Lake create a unique winter spectacle and make a worthwhile detour on any winter vacation to Jasper or Banff.

Abraham Lake Bubbles: Best Time to Visit & Safety Tips

Why Does Abraham Lake Have Ice Bubbles?