Birch Cove, Alberta is the perfect two-night weekend getaway. Bonus for us: it’s only an hour’s drive from home.
We are guilty of thinking too big when it comes to vacations. We want to fly across the world. Visit exotic destinations. Disconnect in a far-off land. But none of this is necessary. You can have a fantastic vacation while staying local.
Our focus for the next few years is to incorporate more local weekend trips. Birch Cove served as the perfect starting point.
This weekend contrasts nicely with the trip we took in February of the same year, to the Dominican Republic. Read all about those adventures here: Travel Stories from the Dominican: A Married Couple’s Memoirs.
Local Summer Village
Birch Cove, Alberta is about 100 km northwest of Edmonton. There are a couple of different routes you can take. We took the lesser traveled route via Highway 2 to 37 to 33. I recommend it over Highway 16 if you can.
Incorporated in 1989, it’s known as a summer village destination on the west shore of Lac la Nonne. In more recent years it has become popular with tourists all year round. We visited in the winter and can confirm its value transcends into other seasons.
This truly is a village. Statistics from 2021 indicate there are only 61 dwellings with less than half of those occupied full-time. It was quiet when we visited in March 2024 but not lifeless. We saw residents tending to their yards, taking their dogs for walks, and ice fishing.
The biggest draw is Lac la Nonne. This large and deep lake is controlled by a dam and drains into the Pembina River. Most of the shoreline is privately owned. There is a community family area, playground, cook shelter, and pier for Birch Cove residents.
Year-round Appeal
Despite being known as a Summer Village, there are ample things to do at all times during the year.
When we return in the summer, we plan on taking full advantage of everything this area has to offer. This includes fishing, hiking, and boating of all varieties. Sailboats, canoes, paddle boats, kayaks and more! (I don’t know if there’s more, but that sounded good). If none of this floats your boat, there’s a golf course nearby.
In the winter, the area draws visitors for ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. Year-round birding is popular with the chance to spot American white pelicans, bald eagles, great horned owls, song sparrows, and blue herons. You may also see small mammals including minks and muskrats.
Know Before You Go
The closest town is Barrhead, about 20 km north where you will find all amenities. We visited Barrhead briefly and found everything we were looking for.
Lac la Nonne comes with a few advisory warnings, to take note of particularly if you’re visiting in the summer. It contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, contributing to excess blue-green algae blooms. When you see the algae, it’s important to avoid all contact with the water. This includes swimming, wading in, and drinking. It’s also important to limit your consumption of fish harvested from the lake in case of built-up toxins in their liver.
Weekend Recap
Okay, now that we have all the practical information out of the way, it’s time to tell you about our winter weekend getaway in Birch Cove, Alberta.
It was a cold, dark, stormy night when we arrived. Just kidding. It was gorgeous. The sun was shining, the snow had melted, the skies were clear, and the weather was warm. We drove from Edmonton to St. Albert first before heading onwards to Birch Cove. Avoiding the major highways served as a beautiful drive.
Quintessential Canadiana Airbnb
We stayed in an Airbnb with the title “Peaceful Paradise Barn at The Lake”. It couldn’t have been more accurate. The hosts call it a “private & unique vintage-Canadiana cottage core home”. Again, couldn’t be more accurate.
It’s a barn conversion with quaint and quirky details and fully stocked and comfortable amenities. There’s an outdoor space with lounge chairs, a BBQ, and a fire pit. And a wood-fired cedar barrel sauna as an optional extra.
We had so much fun just exploring the contents of the barn. We flipped through a Guinness Book of World Records from the 1970s while listening to The Beatles on vinyl and enjoying freshly baked homemade bread.
The hosts themselves are multifaceted and talented. They are musicians, artists, and writers. Their CDs, books, and artworks are scattered throughout just waiting to be enjoyed. You can find their music on Instagram @wiesingermusic.
They also promote other local artists, creators, and retailers. There’s a little market-style back wall selling various goods and providing information about the sellers and products.
There are endless amounts of things to keep you entertained. From puzzles and board games to Xbox and DVDs from the 2000’s and earlier. We were delighted to watch three movies from the early 2000’s. It may be the first time on vacation we watched a kid’s animated movie at 2 pm on a Saturday.
For more on why we like to book with Airbnb check out The Best Websites to Book Travel.
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Our Saturday evening was spent relaxing in the on-site sauna. Placed right in the middle of the property, it’s a DIY experience that involves lighting the fire, getting things nice and toasty, and enjoying your time in the steam. With it being winter, we bundled up in robes and winter boots before trudging through the snow from the barn to the sauna, quite the experience.
Overall it was a lovely local experience. We can’t wait to go back during the summer months.
