The Lowdown
Nestled into the Canadian Rockies and located on the edge of Banff National Park, Canmore is a picture-perfect mountain town. Amateur and professional athletes and outdoor enthusiasts flock to Canmore to hone their skills and experience the wonders. Whether you’re into hiking, climbing, skiing, fishing, mountain biking, or sight-seeing, Canmore has something for you.
Where to Stay
Canmore is a very beautiful, but also expensive town. Hotel rooms are often very pricey, especially in July and August.
Depending on the time of year, you can find reasonably priced rooms at Basecamp Resorts. Basecamp offers suites that are great for sharing with a group, or you can rent out a reasonably-priced micro-suite for up to two people.
VRBO also has some very reasonably priced condos, some under $100 per night which is very inexpensive for this area.
Credit: @Basecamp Resorts
Credit: @Basecamp Resorts
Where to Work
Fusebox Coworking Studio is a stylish coworking space that provides offices, desks and meeting spaces for individuals, entrepreneurs and small businesses. While discounts are given for 10 or more visits, you can also just drop by for the day. There are great views of the mountains from almost everywhere in the space. It’s conveniently located directly across the street from Basecamp Resorts.
There is also a French bakery in the same building, so good food isn’t hard to find while you’re crushing out work.
Credit: @Fusebox Coworking Studio
Credit: @Fusebox Coworking Studio
Where to Eat
Canmore has lots of variety in restaurants- there’s something to satisfy any craving after a day on the slopes or the trails.
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company has a wood-fired oven which they use to prepare decadent pizzas with local ingredients.
Wild Orchid has amazing sushi and tapas. They also have a great deck with stunning views of the valley and mountains.
Crazyweed serves a variety of dishes and specials containing local flavours, and they offer many wine options.
If you’re looking for beer, look no further than Grizzly Paw, Canmore’s local brewery that also makes its own sodapop.
Make sure to stop in at either of Canmore’s two JK Bakery and Cafe locations to grab a sandwich before heading out on your adventure. They’re made to order on house-baked bread.
Credit: @Crazyweed Kitchen
Credit: @Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.
Where to Play
Canmore has something for every outdoor enthusiast in any season. If you’re looking for a challenging hike near town, try out Ha Ling or East End of Rundle. If you need more of a casual stroll through pictuesque surroundings, try Grotto Canyon or Grassi Lakes. There are literally hundreds of hikes and trails within a short drive in any direction.
You can fly or spoon fish in many places around town, including downtown Canmore on the Bow River- grab your license and gear at Wapiti Sports. They also offer year-round, guided fishing trips on several lakes and rivers in the area.
Rent a paddleboard in downtown Canmore and head to the Canmore reservoir (across from the Canmore Nordic Centre).
For more information, visit the Canmore Kananaskis website or Banff National Park’s website.
Credit: @Mathieu Le Lay
Credit: @Basecamp Resorts
What You’ll Need
Canmore is a walkable town, but you’ll probably want a car to get to ski hills and hiking trails. Parking is free in Canmore and Banff (20 minute drive from Canmore).
Canmore lies just outside the Banff National Park border, so if you’re heading inside the park for activities, you’ll also need to buy a pass.
How to Get There
Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC)- from the airport, it’s about an hour and a half drive to Canmore. You can either rent a car at the airport, or you can grab a seat on the Banff Airporter, which makes several daily trips to and from Canmore. Car rentals are also available in Canmore if you choose to ride the shuttle.
Ready to Go?
1. Find a room at Basecamp or VRBO.
2. Check Check Skyscanner for the best prices on flights and car rentals.
3. Grab Lonely Planet’s book, Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Park and start planning your trip!
6. If you’re travelling from outside Canada, grab some travel insurance below:
7. Pack your bags!