Canmore, Alberta, is nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, located right outside Banff National Park and just an hour’s drive from the city limits of Calgary. While Banff is renowned worldwide for its beautiful scenery, Canmore, being only twenty minutes away, is arguably just as stunning! What’s more, Canmore typically attracts fewer crowds than Banff, making it a top contender for your bucket list. As an incredible summer destination, we will delve into the best activities to do in Canmore, ensuring you have an unforgettable trip to the Rocky Mountains!
Is Canmore, Alberta worth visiting?
Absolutely! Canmore is indeed a stunning mountain town located in western Alberta. If you’re a fan of mountains, outdoor activities, and beautiful scenery, Canmore is an absolute must-visit! The mountain skyline in Canmore is truly breathtaking, featuring renowned peaks like the iconic Three Sisters, named after three sisters in a local Indigenous legend, with their towering peaks overlooking the town. Another highlight is Ha Ling Peak, offering a mesmerizing 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. Canmore is a fantastic destination year-round, catering to a wide range of activities depending on your preferences. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, running, enjoying lake activities during the summer, or indulging in skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing during the winter, Canmore has something wonderful to offer for every season
What is the best month to visit Canmore?
As mentioned, Canmore is amazing all year round, depending on the types of activities you’d like to do. However, our personal favorite is Canmore in the summer, and we’re excited to share the best activities to enjoy during this season. Like many places in Canada, June to August offers the lovely weather in the Rocky Mountains. However, it’s worth noting that Canadians are never surprised to see snow in June or July! When traveling to Canmore, it’s best to expect anything when it comes to weather. Nonetheless, you’ll likely encounter hot, sunny days during this time, which makes it incredibly enjoyable to partake in all your favorite outdoor activities!
How to get to Canmore
If you are trying to get to Canmore from an international destination, you will want to book a flight to fly into the Calgary International Airport. Next, there are a couple options to get to Canmore via the one-hour drive on Hwy 1 out west:
Rent a car: Renting a car is your best option because you will have a set of wheels to explore the surrounding area of Canmore and Banff with the luxury of going where you want, when you want! Additionally, you can have the freedom of stopping at the many viewpoints on your way to the Rocky Mountains.
Shuttle: There is a shuttle that picks you up directly from the Calgary International Airport and drops you off directly in Canmore. Vivo Green Shuttles are $55 for a ride from Calgary to the Rocky Mountains.
Pop-a-ride: This ride-sharing app is similar to Uber and has multiple rides a day from Calgary to Canmore. Download the app, create your profile and request a ride for your desired day. You can snag a ride directly from the airport or other areas of Calgary for as low as $22 per one way! We love a good deal!
The BEST activities to do in Canmore this summer
Now that we have got the logistics out of the way, let us get into our favorite activities to do in Canmore in the summer!
Coffee at Eclipse
Before starting any activity, don’t forget to get your morning fuel with a deadly cup of coffee. The best coffee in Canmore is hands down the local roasting company, Eclipse. There are three locations directly in town, one on 8th street (main street) and two on railway ave. Eclipse roasts their coffee directly in town and seriously has the best tasting cup of joe! Hot tip: if you are working remotely while visiting Canmore, be sure to check out the 1516 Railway Ave Eclipse location that has a lovely work environment and tables are always available!
Walk along the river
Before diving into any of the intense activities in Canmore, we would recommend you take a stroll along the river with your Eclipse coffee to get situated and take in the amazing sights! While walking along the river, you will definitely want to seek out the iconic Canmore Engine Bridge. This bridge was built by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1890 to support the transportation of coal from the mines in Canmore to other areas within the region. This famous bridge was recently used in the filming of the HBO series “The Last of Us” and is very popular for wedding, instagram and scenic photos. Follow the Spur Line Trail via Google maps and check out this amazing structure!
Breakfast sandwich at Rocky Mountain Bagel
Canmore is filled with numerous outdoor activities so it is crucial to fuel up with a great breakfast to kick-start your day! Rocky Mountain Bagel is the go-to breakfast spot in Canmore to get an amazing breakfast sandwich to get you going. They offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, as well as the option to take away their freshly made bagels so you can enjoy them for days to come. Rocky Mountain Bagel conveniently has two locations in town for easy access, depending on where you are staying. Hot Tip: Rocky Mountain Bagel gets very busy and you could be standing in line for 20-30 minutes. So as recommended for everything on weekends during the summer months, get there early!
Play a round of golf
Canmore has three lovely golf courses in the area that all provide amazing views of the surrounding mountains while you are enjoying a round. Take a look at these beautiful courses and book your round today:
- SilverTip Resort
- Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club
- Canmore Golf and Curling Club – primarily members-based, however, they do offer limited public access to their facilities for golfing and curling. Check out online for more information here.
Go mountain biking in Exshaw
Exshaw is a small hamlet 30 minutes away from Canmore and offers amazing outdoor climbing, hiking and mountain biking. If you are looking for a fun, challenging mountain bike trail, check out Prospector! It is considered an old school mountain bike trail with a tough climb, switchbacks and fun descent. There are some wood features and difficult rock slabs that make this trail so unique. Lastly, it is a beautiful drive on Hwy 1A which follows the river and is very scenic, passing lovely lakes and viewpoints on the journey.
Hike up Grassy Knob to see the Three Sisters
If you are looking for a hike that is short and sweet that will also give you an amazing workout, the Grassy Knob Loop is it! This out and back hike is 11.4 km and 897 m in elevation. It will get your legs firing right from the get go, however, the view of the Three Sisters mountains and surrounding valley at the top is completely worth it!
Hang out at Quarry Lake
To mix in some relaxation, one the best activities to do in Canmore is chilling by Quarry Lake and taking in the breathtaking surrounding views. Pack a picnic and make your way to this park along Spray Lake road that is perfect for wildlife watching and to take the afternoon to soak up the sun. Quarry Lake is a wonderful place for a swim on a warm summer day!
Scramble up East End of Rundle
East End of Rundle (EEOR) is one of the most popular hikes in Canmore known for its beautiful views of the valley and challenging terrain. Although the hike is only 4.8 km in distance, you will actually cover over 832 m in elevation, it’s quite steep! In addition, this hike is ranked difficult due to its loose scree slopes and sections that require scrambling. However, don’t let this scare you off, if you’re an experienced hiker and looking for a challenge with a rewarding view, East End of Rundle is for you!
Have Communitea Cafe for lunch in Canmore
If you’re looking for a healthy but yummy lunch, look no further than Communitea cafe! They have the best bowls, sandwiches and wraps made from the freshest ingredients. We would highly recommend trying the popcorn and macaroons for a treat later!
Go mountain biking at the Nordic Centre
The Canmore Nordic Centre was originally constructed for the Olympics that were held in Calgary during 1988. The facilities were used for cross-country skiing and biathlons and is still considered one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in North America due to its network of trails. In fact, the Canmore Nordic Centre still hosts many major international competitions to this day. In the summer, the Nordic Centre is the perfect place to mountain bike and enjoy scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Check out their trails here.
Go paddle boarding on the reservoir
The Canmore reservoir is nestled away on Spray Lakes Road and the perfect place to go paddle boarding due to its stunning surrounding views. Head up here on a hot summer day and soak up the sun (and have the occasional dip) while paddling along the beautiful teal blue water!
Hike up Ha Ling for sunset
Opposite the East End of Rundle, you will spot the iconic mountain of Ha Ling. The Ha Ling hike is slightly longer at 7.2 km and 748 m of elevation, however, it is a more moderate choice because of its distinctive path. Additionally, the elevation is less noticeable than EEOR due to its switch backs and stairs. Ha Ling is a very well known mountain in the valley and the perfect spot for a sunset hike (don’t forget your head lamp!).
If you are looking for more hiking ideas, check out the best hikes in Invermere, British Columbia!
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co for dinner
After all the adventuring and outdoor activities, it is time to reward yourself with an amazing meal at the Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company for dinner! All of their pizzas are made fresh in-house and cooked in the wood-fire oven (which makes for a cozy atmosphere). Additionally, they have many vegan and gluten-free options!
Adios, Chicos!
These are the best activities to do in Canmore during the summer! Whether you go to Canmore for a day trip or a full week, you will not regret it! Canmore, Alberta is filled with so amazing outdoor activities to do in the summer! Let us know in the comments what your favorite adventure was while exploring Canmore and don’t forget to subscribe for more!
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