Canmore and Kananaskis
Town Of Canmore / Kananaskis Country (Alberta Parks) · Canmore, Alberta
Canmore is a mountain town in the Bow Valley of Alberta, about 25 minutes by road from Banff and outside the national park, under the jagged line of the Three Sisters. It is a base for hiking, climbing, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, with lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds than Banff. Kananaskis Country, run by Alberta Parks, lies to the south and east and includes Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Spray Lakes, Barrier Lake and Highwood Pass, the highest paved pass in Canada, which is closed in winter. Easy outings include the Grassi Lakes trail with its turquoise water, and the Canmore Nordic Centre, a 1988 Olympic site. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for vehicles in Kananaskis - confirm the current rule - while the Parks Canada pass is for Banff. Grizzly bears are present and trails close seasonally. Calgary is about an hour away. Check for flood recovery work on some routes.
Canmore Visitor Centre, Main Street, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1P3, Canada
Canmore is open all year, and its shops, trails and Nordic Centre are used in every season, with a quieter spring and autumn. Kananaskis Country trails and day-use areas are open most of the year, but facilities, campgrounds and some roads follow seasonal schedules, and Highwood Pass is closed in winter - confirm the dates, which change with snow. Trail closures for wildlife, flood recovery or maintenance are common, especially in bear season, so check the Alberta Parks notices before you go. Daylight, not clock hours, limits hiking: start early, and plan your return before dusk. Visitor centre hours vary by season, so confirm before you rely on staff advice.
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