Parks, Trails and Lakes

Located on the east side of Gull Lake, Anderson Park is a unique recreation area that includes a playground with swings and slide, a junior palaeontology dig site, musical play instruments, basketball court, beach volleyball, walking trails, a 9 hole disc golf course, gazebo and pollinator gardens. The property is 26 acres and was donated by Mr. Jack Anderson to the county for the space to be used for recreational and natural amenities.

Disc Golf Score Card

Anderson Park Map

Burns Nature Park, is a 20-acre nature sanctuary located on the east side of Sylvan Lake, at the very west end of Aspelund Road (Township Road 39-4).

The Burns family realized the immense environmental value of their family property and decided to make it available for public enjoyment while conserving its natural features for the benefit of future generations. The Park is now owned and stewarded by Lacombe County and features hiking trails, a breathtaking view of Sylvan Lake, interpretive signage, and bench areas.

Burns Nature Park Map

A message from the Burns Family:
We acquired 26 acres of land here in 1991 and are excited to donate part of our property to Lacombe County for the establishment of Burns Nature Park, which will be preserved for all time. We had decided a number of years ago that we didn't want to see the trees cleared for development purposes, and agreed that the ideal use of this area would be as a park. We are delighted in knowing that the trees and habitat will continue. 

This space is for everyone who enjoys a "quiet walk in the woods." Our greatest wish is that this will be a place of peace for all who enter. We have tried to preserve all the natural beauty and to allow Mother Nature to do her thing. During your time in the Burns Nature Park, you will also be able to rest on a bench, which overlooks the shore of beautiful Sylvan Lake. The bench is dedicated to our son, Jeff, who passed away from cancer a couple of years ago.

The majority of the walking trails initially followed animal trails through the trees, and will take you past all kinds of interesting trees and bushes; flora and fauna. Many animals pass through this area, and the space for animals is so limited that it will be great to know this area will be here for them. We have an app on our phones that listens for birds. It has shown up to 21 different types of birds recorded on their property in the space of a couple of hours.

Thanks for coming to see what nature has provided us. Please enjoy our Burns Nature Park!

The Kuhnen Natural Area, found along the north bank of the Red Deer River, features 65 acres of forested land offers lookout points onto the river valley and a trail that leads down to the water.

This is the second piece of land that the Kuhnen family has generously donated to the County. Like Kuhnen Park (located north of Blackfalds), the family has donated the land to provide an area for public enjoyment and to conserve the area's natural beauty.

The Kuhnen Natural Area is located south of Alix and is accessed off of Range Road 23-0, south of Highway 11.  

Kuhnen Natural Area Location Map

Kuhnen Park Trail Map

Kuhnen Park is ideally located adjacent to the Trans Canada on the east and Lacombe Lake to the north, it boasts 6.3 km of nature trails that wind their way through the forest. The property was donated to Lacombe County in 2014 by Frank and Rosalie Kuhnen.

The intent of the donation was to ensure that this beautiful land would be kept as a natural area for public enjoyment today and in the future.

Kuhnen Park is located north of Blackfalds on Hwy 2A (follow the signs to the park).

 Kuhnen Park Location Map

 Kuhnen Park Trail Map

In the centre of the Hamlet is a multi-use recreation facility that offers skateboarding, basketball, outdoor skating and a recently upgraded playground. In the south, you will find the Mirror campground as well as ball diamonds and a dog park.

 Mirror Recreation Map

The land for the Mary & Cliff Soper Natural Area was donated by the Sopers in early 2017. Cliff, a Lacombe County Councillor from 2001 – 2013, was passionate about the environment and about creating natural spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. The gifted land is approximately 25 acres, and is located east of Blackfalds. It will remain in its natural state and it will be open to the public for passive recreational purposes.

Lacombe County has constructed a parking area for the Mary & Cliff Soper Natural Area leading to trails for everyone to enjoy. Dogs are required to be on a leash at this location.

Mary & Cliff Soper Natural Area Map

The Hamlet of Joffre Outdoor Rink is a joint effort between Lacombe County and NOVA Chemicals this amenity provides outdoor skating in the winter as well as basketball in the summer.

Joffre Rink

Ray's Pond is stocked yearly by the Alberta Conservation Association with trout and features a day use area with parking, bathroom, picnic tables, park benches, dock and boardwalk.

Ray's Pond Map

Located on the west side of Gull Lake the Sandy Point Beach includes a large public beach complete with washroom and shower facilities as well as a public boat launch, sand volleyball courts, and a playground. 

Please Note: A paid parking program is in place for visitors of Sandy Point Beach and Boat Launch users.

Sandy Point Beach Map

A partnership between Lacombe County and the Summer Village of Sunbreaker Cove with the intention of improving access on Sylvan Lake with this boat launch and day use area upgraded to accommodate more and varied users.

Please Note: A paid parking program is in place for Sunbreaker Cove Boat Launch users

Sunbreaker Cove Boat Launch map

The Tees pond is a stream fed, stocked trout pond, which includes a day use area with parking, a bathroom, picnic tables and park benches. It is stocked yearly by the Alberta Conservation Association with trout

Tees Trout Pond Map

Lacombe County's contribution to the TransCanada Trail's vast trail network comes in two parts.

• The first section stretches 8 km between the City of Lacombe and the Town of Blackfalds winding its way through farmland, around Lacombe Lake and past Kuhnen Park.
• The second section is 2 km from the Town of Blackfalds south to the Blindman River where a pedestrian bridge and the Blindman River Day Use Area has been constructed to link with Red Deer County.

The TransCanada Trail is a non-profit, registered charity. Its mission is to promote and assist in the development and use of the Trail in every province and territory.

Today, over 18,000 kilometres of Trail have been developed. Once fully connected, the Trail will stretch nearly 24,000 kilometres from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans, linking Canadians in close to 1,000 communities.

Lacombe County's TransCanada Trail sections Map