Canmore
Around Canmore
Photo: D. Mulligan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Alberta · 15k people
Canmore
Locals say Bow Valley
Alpine air, mountain soul
Glacial Lake TurquoiseForest Green
Welcome to the Bow Valley! Whether you're here for the pow or the summer sun, the mountains are your backyard. Grab a coffee, hit a trail, and soak in the alpine air.
Clubs for Canmore
No clubs for Canmore yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Canmore. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Canmore. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Banff National Park Canada's first national park, iconic mountain scenery.
- Lake Louise Turquoise lake with the Fairmont Chateau.
- Moraine Lake Famous for the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
- Canmore Nordic Centre Built for the 1988 Olympics, now a cross-country ski and mountain bike hub.
- Banff Gondola Takes you to Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views.
- Johnston Canyon Popular hike with waterfalls and catwalks.
- Outdoors Hiking in Banff National Park
- Outdoors Skiing at Sunshine Village or Lake Louise Ski Resort
- With kids Riding the Banff Gondola
- With kids Exploring the Banff Park Museum
- Evenings Après-ski bars
- Evenings Craft brewery taprooms
- Locals love Mountain trails
- Locals love Brewery patios
Through the year
- Canmore Folk Music Festival August Summer music festival in early August.
- Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival November International film and book festival on mountain culture.
- Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival January Ice carving competition on the lake.
- Canmore Winter Carnival February Winter family activities and games.
- Banff Marathon June Scenic marathon through the Bow Valley.
Mountain climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, sunny summers. Best: Summer for hiking, winter for skiing.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Canmore Eagles Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)
Also rooting for Calgary Flames (NHL), Calgary Stampeders (CFL), Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Eat and drink
- Alberta beef Locally raised, often served as steaks or burgers in mountain towns.
- Bison and elk
- Poutine A Canadian classic, often with local cheese curds and gravy.
- Craft beer Several local breweries produce mountain-inspired ales and lagers.
Where people go
- National parks Banff National Park and surrounding protected areas define the region.
- Ski resorts Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Norquay are major draws.
- Hot springs Natural hot springs like the Banff Upper Hot Springs are iconic.
- Alpine lakes Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and many others are famous for their colour.
- Hiking trails Thousands of kilometres of trails for all levels.
- Mountain lodges Chalets and lodges offer rustic accommodation with mountain views.
Heritage and traditions
The Bow Valley is proud of its stunning mountain scenery, world-class outdoor recreation, and a rich heritage of Indigenous culture, mountain exploration, and a vibrant arts community.
This time of year in Canmore
- Larch season September-October Golden larches in the fall attract hikers to scenic trails.
Say it like a local: “the valley” — The Bow Valley region
Festivals
- Canmore Highland Games August A celebration of Scottish heritage with pipe bands, dancing, and athletics.
- Banff Summer Arts Festival July-August A season of performances and exhibitions at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
- Banff Christmas Market November-December A festive market with local crafts, mulled wine, and holiday lights.
- Canmore Uncorked April A wine and food festival featuring local restaurants and wineries.
- Banff Mountain Music Festival September A smaller, intimate music festival in the mountains, focusing on folk and roots.
Landmarks with a story
- Banff Springs Hotel A grand railway hotel opened in 1888, now a National Historic Site.
- Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies A museum and archive dedicated to mountain culture and art.
- Banff Park Museum One of Canada's oldest natural history museums, built in 1903.
- Canmore Engine Bridge A steel bridge built in 1917 for the Canadian Pacific Railway, now a pedestrian crossing.
- North West Mounted Police Barracks An interpretive site in Banff showing early law enforcement in the park.
- Banff Townsite Heritage Buildings Many original buildings along Banff Avenue, including the 1903 post office.
Food traditions
- Tea house tradition Stopping at historic tea houses like the Plain of Six Glaciers for tea and fresh-baked goods after a hike.
- Wild berry picking Gathering huckleberries and blueberries in late summer to make pies and jams.
- Après-ski fondue Sharing a Swiss-style fondue after skiing, a nod to the region's European alpine influence.
- Mountain breakfast A hearty breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and bacon before a day on the trails.
- Trail lunches Packing sandwiches, trail mix, and fruit for a picnic on the trail.
Music and arts
- Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity A world-renowned institution for arts education and performance, hosting musicians, writers, and visual artists.
- Mountain landscape painting A tradition of painting the Rockies, from early artists like Peter Whyte to contemporary painters.
- Mountain film and photography The Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates outdoor adventure filmmaking and photography.
- Folk music scene The Canmore Folk Music Festival is one of Canada's longest-running folk festivals, fostering local and international artists.
A little history
- Pre-contact Indigenous peoples, including the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, and Tsuut'ina, used the Bow Valley for millennia.
- 1883-1885 Hot springs discovered by railway workers, leading to the creation of Banff National Park, Canada's first national park.
- 1888 Banff Springs Hotel opened, making Banff a premier tourist destination.
- 1880s-1979 Coal mining developed in Canmore, with mines operating until 1979.
- 1988 Canmore Nordic Centre hosted cross-country skiing and biathlon events for the Calgary Winter Olympics.
- Game day Après-ski socializing
- Game day Powder days
- Outdoors Snowshoeing to a tea house
- Outdoors Ice climbing on frozen waterfalls
- With kids Visiting the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
- With kids Exploring the Banff Park Museum
People in the Bow Valley speak a relaxed Western Canadian English, with a strong outdoorsy tone. They use mountain-specific terms like 'the Bow' for the Bow River, 'the valley' for the Bow Valley, and 'backcountry' for wilderness. Common phrases include 'grizzly' for grizzly bear, 'powder' for fresh snow, and 'après' for after-ski socializing.
Only here
- Banff is the only municipality located entirely inside a Canadian national park.
- The Banff Springs Hotel is one of the largest hotels in the world and a National Historic Site.
- The Canmore Nordic Centre was purpose-built for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
- The Ice Magic Festival transforms Lake Louise into a fantasy of ice sculptures.
New here? A few tips
- Get a Parks Canada pass for access to Banff National Park and its facilities.
- Dress in layers; mountain weather changes quickly, even in summer.
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it when hiking in the backcountry.
- Embrace the outdoor culture—try hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing to feel like a local.
- Banff is inside a national park, so there are rules about wildlife, pets, and camping.
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Nearby
Every areaBanffAlbertaWhere every peak feels like homeCalgaryAlbertaBig sky, big heart, and a cowboy spirit.OkotoksAlbertaThe heart of the FoothillsOldsAlbertaWhere the prairies meet the Rockies, and neighbours feel like family.High RiverAlbertaWhere the foothills roll and the river flowsStrathmoreAlbertaSmall town, big skies, warm heartsSylvan LakeAlbertaClear water, big skies, and small-town warmth.Red DeerAlbertaWhere the prairies meet the parkland.
Canmore. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.