If you’ve never visited Canmore, you need to add it to your bucket list! Canmore is a quaint mountain town tucked in the gorgeous Canadian Rockies. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to this destination year-round. However, there are a lot of awesome activities for thrill-seekers and leisure lovers alike.
This post gives you the scoop on all the best things to do in Canmore, Alberta, Canada!
13 Best Things to do in Canmore
Canada’s Canmore is a prime destination for vacationers all over the world. It’s about an hour from metropolitan Calgary via the Trans-Canada highway.
You can find 13 of the best things to do in Canmore below.
Explore Rat’s Nest Cave
Rat’s Nest Cave is not for the faint of heart, though first-timers are welcome! You can explore this cave via a 4.5-hour guided tour from Canmore Cave Tours. They’ll take you through over 4km of chambers and passageways, so prepare for a few bumps and scrapes.
If you’re looking for lots of rock-in-hand action, you’ll get it at Rat’s Nest Cave. You’ll have to wiggle your way through tiny spaces (mostly on your stomach!) and can drop 20 meters in the thrilling “Laundry Chute.”
Furthermore, discover dazzling cave formations like flowstone, soda straws, and moon milk! You may even catch a glimpse of adorable woodrats scattering by. But, of course, ancient thousand-year-old artifacts are inside, too!
Many visitors have exclaimed how deafeningly quiet and even a little eerie the experience is. And at some points, you’re entirely in the dark aside from your headlamp.
Also, find a good place to stay near this natural wonder. By looking up Canmore luxury hotels, you’ll find the best place to relax after your adventure. You can choose from a variety of luxury hotels that range in price, too. From cozy ski resorts with hot tubs and fireplaces to contemporary suites with mountain views, there is something for everyone.
Visit the Spray Lakes
A drive through the Spray Lakes is the perfect choice for breathtaking beauty in Canmore. This area contains Instagram-worthy rolling hills and refreshing cold and clear waters.
You can take a scenic drive where the road is snug against the mountains. This makes them that much more impressive! Plenty of stops along the way allow you to stretch out your feet. And you should because moose and meadows beg you to explore!
Here are some stops you won’t want to miss:
- Spray Lakes Reservoir
- Wedge Pond
- Mount Engadine Lodge with Mount Shark
- Lower Kananaskis Lake
You can enjoy a picnic at one of the many stunning viewpoints, hike a trail or go paddling. If visiting during the winter, everyone can try their hand at ice fishing!
Walk the Bow River Loop
If you’re craving more turquoise waters, walk along the Bow River Loop. It’s a 1.3-mile paved multi-use walkway that flows with a river. It’s an easy route that’s great for all ages, with lots of benches for resting.
You can complete the Loop in about 45 minutes. This makes it perfect for busy families looking for one last activity before dinnertime.
But don’t think Bow River Loop is only a paved place to walk. As you walk the riverside trail, mountains surround you, and Moraine Lake is visible. The Loop is also the perfect trail to walk off a midday meal since the trailhead is before you reach downtown.
Have a Blast at the Canmore Winter Carnival
Locals and tourists love the Canmore Winter Carnival, a free 2-week event. It’s held in late February through early March to celebrate the city’s winter lifestyle.
Of course, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor events. Live music, street hockey, art crawls, and adult and kids’ ice carving are only a handful of fun activities you can participate in. And how does a beaver tail-eating competition and awww-worthy pooch parade sound?!
And if you brought Fido, you can enter them in the contest for free!
Your kids can enter the famous Snowy Owl Kid N’ Mutt race. They race on mini sleds pulled by sled dogs. How fun!
After enjoying Canmore’s carnival, why not go on a sidetrip and visit Toronto. You will surely enjoy the city’s various parties, and you don’t have to worry about where you can stay — getting a hotel or even finding lofts in Toronto is easy. Party away!
Hike Ha Ling Peak
Ha Ling Peak is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies. It’s moderately challenging with steep inclines, though nearly every visitor says the views on top are worth it. That being said, this peak is also beginner friendly if you’re learning how to hike or scramble. This is one of the best peaks in North America to learn the ropes.
Be aware that it can get crowded due to its popularity, but don’t let that stop you from taking on Ha Ling Peak. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the stunning views of Spray Valley, Bow Valley, and Goat View Peak as you make your way up the mountain.
It takes about 3-5 hours to hike the entire trail, which is open year-round.
See Grotto Canyon
A short 10 minutes from Canmore, Grotto Canyon is like a regional hidden gem. It’s not as popular of a hiking trail because it’s on the other side of a lake. You can see the Baymag mineral processing plant as you walk the trailhead. To some, this makes the trail not so picturesque. But don’t let that fool you because this easy and short trail gets much more exciting!
You’ll see centuries-old pictographs on the canyon walls walking the twisted trails. Open year-round, the entire family will love exploring Grotto Canyon.
Come during the winter, and you can scale Grotto Falls via ice climbing, a superb beginner route.
Admire the Grassi Lakes Trail
Another one of the most popular short easy hikes in Canmore is the Grassi Lakes Trail. This easy 4km trail guides you through a thick forest where you’ll enjoy views of Miners Peak, Ha Ling Peak, and Canmore. You can complete it in 1-2 hours, though the best time to go is on weekdays because it can get crowded.
This trail is in the Wildlife Corridor. This means you’ll likely see wild animals like black bears, grizzlies, great horned owls, and Rocky Mountain sheep on the slopes. Also, be sure to look for the waterfall from the intermediate trail.
But the true attraction is the lake’s unique blue-green color that many hikers say one must see in person.
Visit Downtown Canmore
Downtown has a wide variety of exciting retail shops and exquisite restaurants. Not to mention the best backdrop for when you’re grabbing a bite to eat in Canmore.
Enjoy dining at local favorites. Try Stirling Grill and Lounge, 4296, Graze Food & Drink, and Mountain Juice Cafe. And you must have a delicious slice of carrot cake from 10th Street’s Harvest Cafe.
Or, you could stroll two streets down and get a fantastic look (and a laugh from the kids) at the Big Head on 8th Street. This 9-ton head looks to be sinking into the earth in deep thought. It’s a nod to Canmore’s literal “big head” translation from Scottish Gaelic. Cue the fun photo op!
Stroll Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk
Finish a relaxing day downtown with a stroll along Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk. It’s a 3.9km stroll through lush evergreen forests and past tranquil ponds.
Bird watchers and animal lovers love this boardwalk because there’s a good chance you’ll see songbirds, elk, deer, and ducks. The boardwalk is also leveled and not gravely or rocky. So all ages can enjoy this leisurely walkabout.
You can start the trail at Bow Trail Road, near the Big Head sculpture, and end in the Spring Creek community. You can also reach other parts of town via the Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk because it’s a connector trail. You can veer off onto a more challenging path if you wish.
Visit Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre
If you’re looking for an exciting and educational indoor activity near Canmore, visit the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre. You’ll learn about Canmore’s rich history. From its roots as a way station for indigenous First Nations to coal production for the Canadian Pacific Railway, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of Canmore.
You can visit the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre on 7th Avenue from Thursday through Monday. This is a relatively cheap excursion; the fee is $5 per adult and free for children under 17.
Ski at Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park
The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park has plenty of winter activities to keep you busy. Furthermore, it’s a quick 5-minute road trip from downtown.
Visitors can enjoy everything from recreational ski trails to summertime mountain biking. You can watch world-class ski events, like the Masters World Cup of cross-country skiing. Love winter camping? Stay at the McLean Creek Campground, a 45-minute drive from the Centre.
The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is unique because there’s over 65km of natural and machine-made snow. For example, the 2km early season ski trail Frozen Thunder is made from artificial snow so you can ski the course as early as October. That means more time for you to enjoy cross-country skiing!
You can also hit the day lodge, which has a relaxing cafe to fuel up, washrooms, showers, and a fireplace.
Conquer Three Sisters Pass
Popular amongst rock climbers and hard-core hikers, the Three Sisters Pass is a challenging, almost 5km trail that takes about 3-5 to complete.
You’ll hike through a canyon up a rocky creek bed, and the intensity increases as you go. Bring maps and check offshoot trails before you embark, as the trail signs there are not so clearly marked, which can be confusing even for a seasoned hiker.
You’ll be rewarded with stunning views below the Three Sisters Peak when you get to the top. That goes to say the Three Sisters Pass is not a trail for the kids or your dog, but if you love to scramble, go for it!
Learn Dog Sledding
Lastly, you can learn dog sledding in Kananaskis country! One of the most popular ways to do this is to book a tour with the Howling Dog Tours in the Spray Lake Provincial Park. That’s about a 30-minute drive from Canmore.
The first tour is between December through April. It’s 2 hours and 5km of gorgeous scenic views through the Canadian Rockies. Then, come between January and March for a more comprehensive tour. You’ll learn dog mushing basics, like how to harness and handle the dogs. And you’ll learn how to drive a sled – with a guide, of course! Or, if you prefer, you can relax as a passenger and take in all the scenic beauty of Canmore.
Of course, it depends on the time of your visit and which tour is available. Luckily you get to feed the dogs a biscuit with either one!
Final Thoughts
Canmore is a top destination for outdoorsy tourists worldwide. It’s got the best mountain views, gorgeous turquoise lakes, and trails galore for easy and intermediate hikers. You’ll have a blast, outdoor enthusiast or not!
What activities do you recommend for someone visiting Canmore?
Author Bio
Kris McCormick is a boy mama, wife, and blogger. Since becoming a mom seven years ago, she’s been researching the best advice, resources, and baby gear from small businesses to make pregnancy and child-raising easier for all parents.
