Nordegg is located on Highway 11, about 200 km (124 mi.) west of Red Deer and 100 km (62 mi.) east of the Saskatchewan Crossing near the Columbia Ice Fields. Nordegg is about a 3 hour drive from Calgary.

In the 1900s, Nordegg was a coal mining town named after Martin Nordegg. His fortunes ended at the time of WWI but the town maintained its original Germanic name. In 1955 coal mining ended.

The town is now a recreation area due to being so close to Ram Falls Provincial Park, the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve the Coliseum and Shunda (Baldy) Mountains.  These features allow for hiking at all skill levels, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, swimming and canoeing and horseback riding.

Nordegg accommodations include hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds.