Your trip to Canmore is likely to be filled with plenty of outdoor activities. You can explore the varied landscape along hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails, take an adrenaline-pumping mountain bike ride through the rough terrain, or ski down the snow-covered slopes. Or, for something more leisurely during your Canmore holiday, stroll through lush valleys and alpine meadows, discover waterfalls and glacier-fed lakes, and admire the views from atop jagged peaks.

If you’re eager to explore the Rockies, book a Canadian Rockies Experience, which includes private sightseeing, guided hiking, snowshoeing and ice walks. Or explore deep, dark caves with a four-hour adventure tour. Alternatively, you can slow things right down with a visit to the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, where you can walk along the 1998 Winter Olympics trail. Or, even better, why not try some local flavours at the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Taproom? You’re to be impressed by this state-of-the-art craft brewery and their tasty brews.

No holiday to Canmore would be complete without taking daytrip to Banff National Park. Home to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, this place is a must-do. Banff has dozens of walking trails, plus other activities like canoeing, kayaking and bear-watching. It’s an incredibly popular place to visit and can get very busy in summer – so you’ll be glad that Canmore offers a welcome retreat from the crowds when you return at the end of the day.

Closer to home, there’s the hike to Grassi Lakes. Winding for just under four kilometres, the trail leads you to an impossibly clear lake, whose bright emerald waters look Photoshopped. Or you could go for a stroll along Policeman’s Creek, which follows the river. You might even see spring waters bubbling to the surface from underground. 

If you love the great outdoors, you’ll love Canmore holidays. The Bow River flows right past the town. It’s pretty fast-flowing and very cold but, if you’re a strong swimmer, you could try canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle-boarding.

Prefer to stay on dry land? Keen golfers will be in their element, as Canmore is lucky enough to have three golf courses, each with fantastic scenery. It’s rumoured that the thinner mountain air makes your drive go further – but you might find that you’ll be distracted by the amazing mountain views.  

Or you could explore on two wheels when you cycle along the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, which runs from Canmore to Banff. With a one-way distance of 26 kilometres, this route is sure to get your heart-pumping. But you can look forward to stunning vistas along the way. If you’re tuckered out by the end, you could always grab a bite to eat in Banff and then catch the bus back.

You can visit Canmore anytime, so the best time to go really depends on what you want to do. Some activities are only available in certain seasons, so you’ll need to consider which activities you want to enjoy during your trip.

If you’re planning to spend your time hiking and biking in the great outdoors, it’s best to plan your Canmore holiday between late June and mid-September. This is usually the busiest time, but that’s because temperatures average 23°C. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to avoid the crowds, consider travelling in May or late-September, when you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

You can visit Canmore in winter, but you’ll need to pack your thermals. Between November and March, temperatures rarely rise above freezing – but the thick snows are ideal for skiing, ice-climbing and other winter sports.