After spending two nights in Calgary, we headed to Canmore.
Canmore is 103 km away from Calgary, it lies in the heart of Bow River Valley in the Kananaskis Country, on the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. Its proximity to the park makes it the perfect place for tourists traversing the region to stay here.
A fleeting pic en route to Canmore...
The town is as beautiful but not as expensive as Banff, plus if you're travelling with your family and are looking for spacious accommodations, then Canmore is your best bet.
Stunning mountain scenery visible from our backyard!
Canmore is very popular amongst sporting enthusiasts, if you're an avid outdoor sports lover, then this city is the answer to all your sporting desires.
It's famous for ice climbing and its many walking and biking trails plus the famous Rat's Cave Tours. Also, skiing enthusiasts flock to Canmore since the town has the distinction of having one of the longest ski seasons in the world.
There are many spectacular trails, the most popular being the Policeman's Creek Boardwalk. This is an easy trail and you'll love the views you get from it as you stroll along. The walking trail has the famous Big Head Sculpture and goes past Downtown.
We had gone there for a morning walk sans our phones which is a rare thing for tourists like us to do, but Big Head Sculpture warrants a mention and a picture, I had to take this from a public portal...
Another stunning trail in the region is the Grassi Lakes Trail. This trail lies in the Kananaskis Country and is about 4 km long. Its gentle incline has made it a popular choice for families.
It should take about 2 hours to do a round trip that will take you to the beautiful twin turquoise lakes, Upper and Lower Grassi Lakes.
When we visited in June 2024, this trail was intermittently closed for maintenance purposes.
Please check the official website of Alberta Parks https://albertaparks.ca/ for more updates on this trail in case you wish to explore it.
Day One
Lake Louise
Fairview Lookout trail
Lake Louise is one of the top attractions in Banff and if the day you plan to visit it is bright and sunny, don't miss the opportunity. We did exactly that and visited the lake en route to Canmore.
I have written about our day trip to Lake Louise in a separate blog. Please follow the link to read more...
Day Two
Explored the beautiful city of Canmore
Engine Bridge
Biking trails
Our day started with walking around town looking for the iconic Three Sisters, we finally spotted them while walking towards the Downtown.
The trail to this trio of peaks is challenging and takes about 3 and a half hours to complete. Considering we had just a day in Canmore, had to contend with clicking pictures of this beauty only.
We decided to hire bikes and see as much of the town as possible, starting with Downtown Canmore. I have never seen such a picturesque downtown. There are rows of shops and galleries that you can explore at leisure with the beautiful Rockies peering from the sides.
Since Grassi Lakes Trail was closed down, we set out on the picturesque Bow River Trail, a 6.9 km long loop with the level of difficulty stated as easy. The trail goes over the historic Engine Bridge, another popular attraction in Canmore.
View of the Bow River from Engine Bridge
The famous Engine Bridge
Stunning views of the Canadian Rockies in the backdrop of the Engine Bridge
Biking around Canmore's many picturesque locales....
Canmore is a gem, largely overshadowed by its illustrious neighbour Banff. Plan to spend some extra time here and you will get to see the raw side of nature without the spoils of excessive tourism.
If you happen to visit Canmore, do share your experiences with me. I'd love to hear from you!
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