It continues along the south of Gull Lake and the summer village of Gull Lake, before intersecting Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway).

It passes through Erskine before it enters Stettler and intersects Highway 56.

East of Stettler, it passes Botha, Gadsby, and Halkirk before turning southeast.

It shares a 18 km (11 mi) concurrency with Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail) between Consort and Monitor before continuing past Kirriemuir and Altario, finally reaching the Saskatchewan border near Compeer where it continues as Saskatchewan Highway 51.

[2] In 2012, Alberta Transportation commenced construction of a realignment of Highway 12 between Bentley and Gull Lake, approximately one-half kilometre (1⁄4 mi) south of the original alignment, bypassing the two communities as well as Aspen Beach Provincial Park.