Discover Lacombe

Lacombe combines outdoor experiences with distinctive cultural attractions: nature trails, lakes, murals and historic buildings offer different ways to spend your time. When choosing your vacation rental, consider whether you’d rather spend your time outdoors by the water and on trails, or focus on the city’s history and cultural life. You can also include both in your vacation plans.

Trails and outdoor activities

Lacombe’s trail network includes nature trails as well as gravel and paved paths. You’ll find a variety of path types to consider when planning your outings. Nature trails run around Elizabeth Lake, and the Cranna Lake Trail has six outdoor fitness stations. If you’d like to combine a walk outdoors with exercise, you can make these stations a destination of their own. No information is provided here about trail lengths, difficulty levels or connections, so plan your route based on the specific trails you intend to use.

Lakes and experiences on the water

Boating and canoeing are among the activities at Lacombe Lake. This is a great option for days when you’d like to spend time on the water. At Len Thompson Fish Pond, there’s an accessible fishing dock, a picnic area and a playground. During a visit to the pond, you can choose between fishing, taking a break in the picnic area and playtime. It’s also home to the world’s largest fishing lure—an unusual feature that makes the pond interesting even for visitors who don’t plan to fish.

Historic downtown and culture

Six downtown buildings are designated Provincial Historic Buildings. Murals depict life in the county between 1890 and 1910. A guided city tour takes you through the murals and historic downtown, offering a way to explore both together. Other attractions worth visiting in Lacombe include the Flatiron Building Museum, the Michener House Museum and the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop.

The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre offers dance, theatre and art classes to the community. It also provides space for performances by local and touring artists and musicians. Since 2018, the Centre has offered arts programs and entertainment for the community. If you’d like to include culture alongside outdoor outings, these offerings are another facet of Lacombe to explore.

Local produce and seasonal market

At the Lacombe Farmers Market, you can shop from local makers, bakers and producers. In summer, the market takes place outdoors on Thursdays at Michener Park; in winter, it is held indoors on Thursdays at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. These different seasonal locations are important to keep in mind when planning a market visit. If local food and products are part of your stay, check which Thursday works for you and plan your day around the market’s location.

Choosing Lacombe as a vacation destination

The road connection is also useful for orientation: Alberta Provincial Highway 12, also known as Highway 12, runs east-west through Lacombe. It stretches from Highway 22 near Rocky Mountain House to the Alberta–Saskatchewan border near Compeer. If you’re planning your trip around road connections, you can take this route into account.

When choosing a vacation rental in Lacombe, the main consideration is which experiences you’d most like to prioritize: trails and fitness stations, activities at the lakes, historic sites, performances or the market.

More destinations

For more ideas, you can also explore the pages for Ponoka, Innisfail, Rimbey, Sylvan Lake, Alix, Blackfalds and Red Deer.

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 8.