Canmore
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Canmore

Canmore

Rocky Mountain town in the Bow Valley, east of Banff National Park.

Canmore sits in the Bow Valley just east of Banff National Park, surrounded by the same spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery but without the park fees or the tour-bus crowds. What was once a coal mining town reinvented itself after hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics Nordic events, and has since become a year-round outdoor base that many Albertans prefer to Banff itself.

The town is walkable and well-equipped, with good restaurants along Main Street, independent gear shops, and enough coffee roasters to fuel a week of hiking. The trails start at the edge of town — Grassi Lakes, Ha Ling Peak, and the Canmore Nordic Centre trails are all accessible without a car. In winter, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and ice climbing take over.

The Three Sisters peaks dominate the skyline to the south and east, and the Bow River runs through the centre of town. Canmore is quieter and more local-feeling than Banff, with lower hotel prices and a growing arts scene. It is an excellent base for exploring the Canadian Rockies, with Banff, Lake Louise, and Kananaskis Country all within easy driving distance.

Guide

Eating Out

Canmore's restaurant scene has grown considerably since its coal-mining days and now offers solid options across most cuisines. Main Street (8th Street) holds the main concentration of restaurants, cafes, and breweries. The quality-to-price ratio is notably better than Banff, which is one of many reasons locals prefer Canmore as a base.

Guide

Getting There

Canmore is 80 kilometres west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), about an hour's drive in normal traffic. The highway runs directly through the Bow Valley and the scenery improves steadily as you climb toward the mountains.

There is no direct train service to Canmore, but Banff Airporter and other shuttle operators run regular services from Calgary International Airport to both Canmore and Banff. The Roam Transit bus connects Canmore to Banff year-round, making it possible to visit both towns without a car.

Guide

Things to Do

Canmore's main draw is the trails — dozens of them, starting at the edge of town and ranging from easy riverside walks to serious alpine scrambles. Ha Ling Peak and Grassi Lakes are the perennial favourites; the Canmore Nordic Centre has a trail network usable year-round. For time off the trail, the town's Main Street has galleries, gear shops, and cafes worth an afternoon.