Location, Location, Location

Canmore is nestled in the spectacular Bow Valley, by the shores of the Bow River in sunny Alberta, Canada. Towering over this mountain community are the magnificent buttresses of the Rundle Mountain Range, Mount Lady MacDonald, Ha Ling Peak and Three Sisters mountain peaks. We're flanked by two of Alberta's most well-protected and well-known wilderness areas: Banff National Park to the west and Kananaskis Country to the south and east. We're the Candian Rockies' best kept secret with all of your vacation needs at your fingertips.

This vibrant mountain village is just five minutes outside the Banff National Park gates, through which close to 5 million tourists pass every year, and 20 minutes from the town of Banff. There are four entrances to Canmore off the four-lane TransCanada Highway just before the gates, so we're always easy to access. Many visitors to Banff are now making Canmore a destination, sidetracked by Canmore's conveniences, and pleasantly surprised by its low key character & immense charm. The streets are packed with homegrown bakeries, restaurants, bookshops, galleries and sporting shops, along with a new Wellness Center exploring alternative forms of healing. Music, arts and sporting events throughout the year attract visitors adding a wonderful cultural variety. And at a one hour drive on the well-maintained TransCanada highway from Calgary, the economic centre of Alberta, Canmore is convenient, too. The Calgary International Airport puts Canmore within hours of anywhere in North America.

 
Driving Distance from Canmore KM Miles Time Required
Calgary (city centre) 104 65 1 hour, 8 minutes
Calgary International Airport 117 73 1 hour, 15 minutes
Banff ( Town ) 22 14 20 minutes
Lake Louise, Alberta 77 48 1 hour
Edmonton, Alberta 417 259 4 hours, 14 minutes
Vancouver, British Columbia 870 541 10 hours,19 minutes
United States Border (Coutts AB) 428 266 4 hours, 28 minutes

 

Things to Do

For most people, it's Canmore's endless recreation opportunities that make the difference. There's something for every member of the family, and it's easy to understand why Canmore attracts people from all over the world.

We have top-class sports facilities such as The Canmore Recreation Centre with 2 hockey rinks, 25-metre salt water swimming pool, weight room and a gymnastics centre. Next door is the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, with four sheets of ice and an 18-hole golf course. In the winter, over 70 km of trails are groomed for classic and skate-style cross-country skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre. There is also a biathlon range, a lit trail for night skiing, and a training centre for the Canadian National Ski Team. In summer, the ski trails are used for mountain biking and hiking. Also in the area are tennis courts, horseback riding stables, white water and float river rafting facilities (Class 1-1V+), heli-sightseeing, playgrounds, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a skateboard park, rock or ice climbing, cave tours, several private health clubs & spas, yoga studios, karate & tai chi studios, a running track, picnic areas, fishing spots, dog-sledding facilities, sleigh rides, hot springs open all year, and several incredible world class golf courses. Quarry Lake is nearby & popular with the locals for swimming in the summer. The hockey scenes for the film Mystery Alaska were shot on the lake. Other films that have shot in the area include The Edge, Open Range, Snow Dogs, Shanghai Noon, Legends of the Fall, Brokeback Mountain and The Assasination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Hiking paths throughout the town, and neighboring mountains offer varying degrees of difficulty and breathtaking views.

Culture

Theatre productions, music concerts, art galleries, historical displays, the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre, craft shows and unique cultural festivals are also part of Canmore's multifaceted community. ArtSPEAK, Festival of the Eagles, Canmore Heritage Day Folk Festival, various dinner theatre productions, Winter Carnival, Children's Festival, Art in the Park, The Trappers' Ball and The Canmore Highland Games are just a few of Canmore's exciting cultural events. The Banff Centre for the Performing Arts is also only 20 mins away offering a variety of world class entertainment throughout the year. If sports are not for you, there is plenty to keep you busy.

Golf

Silvertip Golf Course - a 5 min drive

Stewart Creek Golf Course - a 10 min drive

Canmore Golf Course - a 7 min drive

Banff Springs Golf Course - 20 min drive

Kananaskis (2 courses) - a 40 min drive

 

Downhill Skiing

Sunshine Village - 30 min drive

Mt Norquay - 20 min drive

Nakiska (Site of the alpine events for the 88 Olympics) - 40 min drive

Lake Louise - (Most scenic resort in N. America -Ski Magazine 2004 reader's survey) - 1 hr drive

 

Cross Country Skiing/Mountain Biking

Canmore Nordic Center (Site of Nordic events for the 1988 Olympics) - 10 min drive

Mount Shark Cross Country - 30 min drive

Ribbon Creek Cross Country - 40 Min drive (Kananskis)

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