Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park

The 1988 Winter Olympics venue, now a year-round trail network for skiing, biking, and running

The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics and remains the best trail network in the area, with over 65 kilometres of groomed routes that serve different users in different seasons. In winter it operates as a cross-country skiing facility with track-set grooming and lit evening sections; in summer the same trails become mountain biking and trail running routes, with bike rentals available at the day lodge.

The terrain is varied enough for beginners and experienced riders alike — gentle meadow loops connect to steep technical sections with valley views. The disc golf course uses the summer trail network and is one of the best-designed in the country. The day lodge has a cafe, equipment rental, and an observation deck with views of the Three Sisters peaks. The park is a 10-minute drive or 20-minute ride from Canmore town centre.

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A story
When Canmore hosted the Nordic events for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, the world saw the Bow Valley's winter scenery for the first time on a global broadcast. The games transformed the town: land prices jumped, the coal mine closed the same year, and Canmore began its transformation from a working-class resource town into the outdoor recreation destination it is today.

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