Abraham Lake

Where the North Saskatchewan River slows and spreads wide against the Rocky Mountains, Abraham Lake emerges—a striking reservoir shaped by both human hands and the relentless forces of nature. Created by the damming of the river in the early 1970s, the lake rests on the traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda people, a landscape rich in both history & cultural significance.

Unlike the river’s swift currents, Abraham Lake invites a different kind of exploration. In summer, the surrounding trails and towering cliffs offer opportunities for hiking, scrambling, and climbing, while the lake itself draws anglers and paddlers. In winter, it transforms: methane bubbles trapped in crystal-clear ice create a phenomenon famous with photographers and adventurers alike. Wild skating, ice biking, and ice fishing are popular, but conditions can change quickly—caution and preparation are essential.

Running parallel to the David Thompson Highway for 32 kilometres, Abraham Lake provides access to the Cline River Corridor and a selection of accommodations and outfitters along its shores. It is a place where water, rock, and sky meet—a bold counterpoint to the currents of the North Saskatchewan, offering a different, yet equally unforgettable, encounter with the Bighorn Backcountry.

Abraham Lake is named for Silas Abraham (c. 1870 – 1964), of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, he was a farmer & hunter who once lived on the Kootenay Plains.