Explore Alberta’s Heartland & Lakeside Beauty

Circle Tour: Nisku to Slave Lake – Heartland Towns & Lakeside Beauty

This circle tour takes you from Nisku, just outside Edmonton, to the shores of Slave Lake — one of Alberta’s largest and most beautiful lakes. Along the way, you’ll pass through prairie towns, farming heartlands, and communities rich in culture and history. It’s a route that blends small-town charm with lakeside adventure, making it ideal for road trippers, families, and weekend explorers.

🌊 Lakeside Adventure at Slave Lake

Your northern anchor point, Slave Lake, is a hub for water recreation and outdoor adventure. Spend time at Devonshire Beach, hike through Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, or stop at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation to learn about the region’s incredible wildlife.

In nearby Smith, the Athabasca River meets the Lesser Slave River — a picturesque spot with deep historical roots as a fur trade and transportation hub.

🪶 History & Cultural Heritage

This loop takes you past communities shaped by agriculture, Indigenous heritage, and Alberta’s growth. Towns like Athabasca and Fort Saskatchewan connect you to river trade history and early settlement stories.

Stop in Legal to admire its collection of French murals, or explore Morinville and Bon Accord, towns with strong cultural pride and vibrant community events.

🏘️ Small Town Life & Roadside Charm

From Westlock’s Pioneer Museum to Barrhead’s blue-collar grit, this drive offers endless photo-worthy main streets and prairie vistas. Don’t miss:

• Egremont’s heritage sites

• Colinton’s historic touches

• Namao’s community roots

Along the way, towns like Jarvie, Busby, and Pibroch offer friendly cafés, quiet roadside stops, and reminders of Alberta’s rural heartbeat.

🚗 Hidden Stops Worth the Turnoff

• Onoway: A gateway town with access to lakes and backroads.

• Riviere Qui Barre: A quiet hamlet with a photogenic church and surrounding farmland.

• Carvel Corner & Dapp Corner: Classic prairie crossroads where the past still lingers.

📸 Pro Tip

Plan to arrive in Slave Lake by late afternoon — sunsets over Devonshire Beach are some of the best in northern Alberta, especially in summer.

Maps: NW R1 & NW R2

Towns: Nisku, Slave Lake, Smith, Barrhead, Westlock, Devon, Onoway, Riviere Qui Barre, Jarvie, Dapp Corner, Pibroch, Busby, Carvel Corner, Alcomdale, Beaumont, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Morinville, Legal, Bon Accord, Egremont, Namao, Clyde, Colinton, Perryvale, Rochester, Thorhild, Athabasca, Redwater, Gibbons

Discover Alberta’s Borderlands & Prairie Life

Circle Tour: Lloydminster to Two Hills | NE Alberta Road Trip

This circle tour connects Lloydminster, Alberta’s famous border city, with Two Hills, a prairie town known for its Ukrainian roots and rider-friendly reputation. Along the way, you’ll weave through farmland, river valleys, and small towns rich with history, culture, and prairie hospitality.

🌾 Prairie Landscapes & Open Roads

Stretching between Vermilion and Two Hills, this route is a classic prairie drive — open skies, rolling farmland, and fields that change with the seasons. Summer brings sunflowers and golden wheat, while autumn paints the land in rich amber and rust.

Stop in Vermilion for its provincial park and a walk through the historic downtown, where murals and cafés line the streets.

🪶 Historic Crossroads & Cultural Roots

Communities like Elk Point, Marwayne, and Myrnam carry deep ties to Alberta’s settler and Indigenous history. In Heinsburg, visit the restored train station and take in the North Saskatchewan River valley. Lea Park is another gem, with its scenic river crossing and local rodeo grounds.

Don’t miss Elk Point’s giant oil derrick — a photo stop celebrating Alberta’s energy roots.

🏘️ Small Town Spirit & Local Stories

From Musidora’s iconic giant pysanka to Smoky Lake’s pumpkin fair, small towns on this route brim with character. Derwent, Islay, and Beauvallo offer quiet main streets with heritage churches, grain elevators, and old signage perfect for photographers.

🌟 Did You Know? Two Hills earned the very first-ever title of Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community — a point of pride for locals and a warm welcome for motorcyclists.

🚗 Roadside Stops & Border City Buzz

Start or end your loop in Lloydminster, the only Canadian city that straddles a provincial border. Snap a photo at the iconic border markers before exploring the local museums, breweries, and eateries.

Along the way, look for grain elevators, roadside shrines, and historic churches that capture the unique blend of cultures in Alberta’s northeast.

📸 Pro Tip:

Plan a fall road trip — Smoky Lake’s Pumpkin Festival and the autumn colours in Vermilion Provincial Park make this one of the most scenic times to travel the loop.

Maps:NE R7 & NE R8

Towns: Lloydminster, Two Hills, Vermilion, Elk Point, Marwayne, Myrnam, Heinsburg, Lea Park, Beauvallo, Derwent, Islay, Musidora, Morecambe, Ashmont, Kitscoty, Lamont, Smoky Lake, Waskatenau, Alcurve

Discover Alberta’s Lakelands & Living History

Circle Tour: Cold Lake to Two Hills – Lakelands, Heritage & Prairie Charm

This circle tour links Cold Lake’s sparkling waters to Two Hills’ Ukrainian heritage, taking you through Métis settlements, prairie farmland, and historic trading posts along the way. It’s a route where history, culture, and natural beauty all come together — perfect for road trippers looking to slow down and explore.

🌊 Lakelands & Outdoor Adventure

At the northern end of your loop, Cold Lake is the star — crystal waters, sandy beaches, and trails that stretch for miles. A hotspot for boating, paddling, and fishing, it’s also one of Alberta’s most scenic lakes for photography.

South of Cold Lake, Whitney Lakes Provincial Park is a quieter gem — campgrounds, walking trails, and birdwatching opportunities tucked into the forest. Perfect for families or anyone looking to recharge by the water.

🪶 Indigenous & Métis Heritage

This route passes through communities rich in Indigenous history and contemporary culture. Stop in Elizabeth Métis Settlement or Frog Lake First Nation, where stories of resilience, culture, and community continue to shape the land.

Along the way, discover unique experiences that celebrate Métis heritage:

• 🛖 Pine Creek Stopping House Cabins — rustic stays that echo the history of early travellers.

• 🌅 Métis Crossing — Alberta’s premier cultural destination for Métis history, storytelling, and hands-on experiences.

• 🚩 Kikino Métis Settlement — home to the world’s largest Red River Cart, a powerful symbol of Métis identity.

• 🌲 Hideaway Adventure Grounds — an Indigenous-owned outdoor experience hub offering camping, workshops, and cultural programming.

Together, these stops highlight how the land

🏘️ Prairie Towns & Local Flavour

From Smoky Lake’s pumpkin fair to Vilna’s historic boomtown main street, the towns along this route are packed with character. Andrew, Hairy Hill, and Myrnam offer friendly cafés, quirky antique shops, and roadside photo ops that make road trips memorable.

Don’t miss Elk Point and Heinsburg — both tied to Alberta’s fur trade history, with parks and historic sites that bring the past to life.

🌟 Did You Know? Vilna was crowned Most Welcoming Community in the Best of Alberta Contest, and Two Hills holds the honour of winning the very first-ever Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community Contest. Road trips here aren’t just scenic — they’re built on genuine prairie hospitality.

🚗 Roadside Stops & Hidden Gems

Keep your eyes peeled for grain elevators, heritage churches, and roadside oddities along the way. Lindbergh and Musidora are small but photogenic, while Bonnyville offers great places to refuel and grab a bite.

This is a drive where unmarked backroads often lead to your best stories.

📸 Pro Tip:

Catch the sunrise over Cold Lake or the evening light at Whitney Lakes Provincial Park — golden hour reflections here are some of the best in Alberta.

Maps: NE R5 & NE R6

Towns: Cold Lake, Two Hills, Bonnyville, Elk Point, Frog Lake, Elizabeth Métis Settlement, Whitney Lakes Provincial Park, Vilna, Smoky Lake, Andrew, Willingdon, Ardmore, Spedden, Ashmont, Heinsburg, Lindbergh, Myrnam, Musidora, Sputinow, Beaverdam, Beaver Crossing, Beavallon, Fort Kent, Hairy Hill

Lakes, Legends & Northern Lights

Two Hills to Anzac Circle Tour | NE Alberta Road Trip

This circle tour winds through rolling farmland, Métis settlements, boreal forests, and peaceful lakes—all the way from Two Hills to Anzac. It’s a route rich in Indigenous culture, natural beauty, and off-the-beaten-path towns where stories are just waiting to be discovered.

From the pumpkin capital of Alberta to lakeside trails in Lac La Biche, and all the quiet corners in between, this is rural Alberta like you’ve never seen it.

🌊 Waterways & Woodlands Worth the Drive

Lakes, forests, and quiet trails.

One of Alberta’s most scenic drives, this route hugs peaceful waters and dense woods. Start your morning at Beaver Lake or Lac La Biche, where you can paddle, picnic, or birdwatch in total tranquility. Further north, Gregoire Lake near Anzac offers sandy beaches and calm evening light—a favorite among photographers and campers alike.  OH and watch for moose and eagles along the way. This is wild country, and it's beautiful.

🪶 Indigenous Culture & Northern Roots

History lives in the land.

In Lac La Biche, visit the Lac La Biche Mission Historic Site to learn about early Catholic missions and the Métis communities that helped shape northern Alberta.

Further down the road, Anzac sits on Treaty 8 territory and holds deep cultural roots tied to both Cree and Dene peoples.

Stop in Conklin or Hylo for a quiet break—these remote hamlets sit between water and woodland, still tied to traditional land use and stories that go back generations.

🏘️ Prairie Towns with Big Character

Grain elevators, roadside cafés, and tiny treasures.

Your trip begins or ends in Two Hills, where Ukrainian heritage is everywhere—from onion-domed churches to local museums.

Smoky Lake brings color with its annual pumpkin fair, and Vilna offers Alberta’s oldest pool hall and a photogenic boomtown main street.  

You’ll pass through Andrew, Egremont, Spedden, and Waskatenau—each with their own flavor. Look for old signage, faded elevators, and cafés where time seems to slow down.

☕ Where to Stop, Refuel & Recharge

Eat, sip, and stretch.

• Grab lunch in Boyle or Lac La Biche, both with solid local diners.

• Try a baked treat from a Smoky Lake café or grab ice cream in Vilna.

• Fuel up in Grassland, Wandering River, and Fort McMurray—your major service hubs on the northern loop.

📸 Pro Tip:

Plan your timing around golden hour—Gregoire Lake and Beaver Lake both offer unreal reflections and skies that seem to stretch forever.

Maps: NE R3 & NE R4

Towns: Two Hills, Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Vilna, Spedden, Ashmont, Foisy, Brosseau, Duvernay, Beaver Lake, Lac La Biche, Hylo, Conklin, Anzac, Fort McMurray, Wandering River, Atmore, Grassland, Boyle, Thorhild, Newbrook, Egremont, Radway, Andrew, Warspite, Willingdon