Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Canmore is a mountain town in the Bow Valley of the Alberta Rockies, about 80 kilometres west of Calgary.
Main Street
Canmore Nordic Centre
Grassi Lakes
Ha Ling Peak
+5 more places
Canmore began as a coal mining town in the 1880s and was named after Malcolm III of Scotland, nicknamed Canmore.
Today it is a place to stretch your legs. Mount Rundle looms over the valley, trails start almost at your door, and Banff is only a short drive away without the crowds of its busier neighbour.
The setting is the main draw. Within minutes of downtown you can be walking beside a glacial river, looking up at limestone peaks or setting out for a mountain lake.
Main Street, also known as 8th Street, is the heart of downtown. It is lined with cafes, galleries, brew pubs and small shops, and the whole centre is easy to cover on foot.
Main Street, also called 8th Street, is the heart of downtown Canmore. Photo: J Yochem, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Canmore Museum looks after the town's history, from the first mines to the Olympic years. It also cares for the old North-West Mounted Police barracks on Main Street, which was restored in 1989.
The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park lies just west of town at the foot of Mount Rundle. It is a legacy of the 1988 Olympics, and in winter it is known for cross-country skiing.
The Canmore Nordic Centre hosted the cross-country events of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Photo: Gord Schindell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
The Grassi Lakes are a pair of small lakes about 1,525 metres above sea level, reached by a short, popular trail from a car park above town. They are named after Lawrence Grassi, an Italian miner who built many local trails.
The Grassi Lakes sit about 1,525 metres above sea level overlooking Canmore. Photo: McKay Savage, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Ha Ling Peak rises directly south of Canmore, just east of the Spray Lakes road. The summit hike is steep and best for fit walkers who have checked the weather and trail conditions.
Ha Ling Peak stands immediately south of Canmore beside the Spray Lakes road. Photo: Khoshhat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Three Sisters, Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister, form the most recognisable skyline above Canmore. The Stoney Nakoda also tell stories about the peaks.
The Three Sisters are known as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister. Photo: Jack Borno, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Spray Lakes Reservoir lies at about 1,720 metres, between the Goat Range and the Three Sisters ridge. The scenic Smith-Dorrien Trail, Highway 742, follows its northern shore.
Spray Lakes Reservoir lies between the Goat Range and the Three Sisters ridge. Photo: Khoshhat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bow Valley Provincial Park was established in 1959 where the Bow and Kananaskis rivers meet. It offers forest walks, meadows and trout fishing in the Bow River.
Bow Valley Provincial Park was established in 1959 at the meeting of the Bow and Kananaskis rivers. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Mboverload~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright…, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Kananaskis Village lies on the west shore of the Kananaskis River at the base of Mount Kidd, within Kananaskis Country. It is a handy base for walks and viewpoints, and some bus trips from Calgary stop here.
Kananaskis Village sits on the west shore of the Kananaskis River at the base of Mount Kidd. Photo: D'Arcy Norman from Calgary, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A short drive away in Banff National Park, the Upper Hot Springs are the highest hot springs in Canada.
Banff Upper Hot Springs is the highest hot spring in Canada. Photo: Milan Suvajac, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alberta is cattle country, so Alberta beef is the classic order, and many Canmore restaurants serve steaks and burgers made from it.
For dessert, look for Saskatoon berry pie. The saskatoon is a western Canadian berry that grows wild across the prairies and foothills, and it makes a sweet, slightly nutty filling.
Main Street is the easiest place to restaurant hop, with brew pubs, bistros and corner cafes close together.
Popular dishes to try in Canmore
Main Street puts you in the middle of the cafes and galleries, so it suits visitors who want to walk everywhere and leave the car parked. It can be lively in the evening, so ask for a quiet room.
Bow Valley Trail is the main road through town and is lined with hotels, lodges and condo style stays. It works well for families and groups who want kitchens and parking, and it is a short drive or bus ride from downtown.
Harvie Heights is a small hamlet just outside the Banff National Park gate, ideal if you prefer chalets and a calmer setting.
Where to stay in Canmore
Summer, from June to September, is the best time for hiking, biking and lake visits, although higher trails can hold snow into early summer.
Winter brings cold, bright days and good conditions for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding.
If you visit in shoulder season, expect some trails and facilities to be closed or limited, so check opening details on official websites before you go.
The Canmore Folk Music Festival takes place over the first weekend of August and fills the town with visitors, so book rooms well in advance if you plan to attend.
Most visitors fly into Calgary International Airport and then drive Highway 1 west for about an hour.
Without a car, the Banff Airporter and Brewster Express run from the airport to Canmore in about an hour and twenty minutes. Rider Express and FlixBus also serve the town along the Trans-Canada Highway.
The town centre is small, and most places are a short walk or bike ride apart. Roam Transit runs buses within Canmore and on to Banff, and local taxis cover the rest.
Walk Main Street, visit the Canmore Museum, then hike to the Grassi Lakes. Finish with Saskatoon berry pie after dinner.
Drive the Smith-Dorrien Trail to Spray Lakes Reservoir and look back at the Three Sisters.
Visit Bow Valley Provincial Park or Kananaskis Village in the morning.
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