An Inside Look at Canmore’s Mountain Culture

If you want to understand Canmore, look beyond the peaks. This town buzzes with quiet rituals: morning trail runs, back-alley art walks, post-hike pints, and a shared sense of stewardship for the land. In this post, you’ll get a closer look at the local mindset. From Canmore’s coal mining past to its outdoorsy present, get a feel for what it’s like to live like a local in our mountain community.

Life in Canmore moves at a different pace. There’s less urgency and more intention. The mountains invite us to slow down, tune in, and find balance – between grit and grace, challenge and humility, and exploration and introspection.

Canmore feels deeply authentic, filled with artists, athletes, families, and curious wanderers who have chosen to root themselves in the Rockies landscape and lifestyle. To live like a local is to explore boldly, tread lightly, and move with appreciation in your heart.

Canmore’s connection to nature is rooted in the surrounding peaks of Kananaskis Country. These mountains shape the way we live, work, and play. Our town wouldn’t be the same without them.

Long before Canmore was known for hiking trails and craft breweries, it was a working coal mining town. From 1883 to 1979, coal mining was the heart of the local economy and the centre of daily life.

While the last mine shut down decades ago, you can still see the town’s quarrying roots in the names of trails, lakes, and streets, the bones of historic buildings, and the character of the community. If you wander through the trails of Canmore, you may even stumble across old mine shafts, remnants of railway cart tracks, and hillsides of broken shale.

Getting around Canmore on foot or bike is deeply embedded into the local lifestyle. Many who live here walk or cycle to get where they’re going as a way to embrace active transportation, travel sustainably, and enjoy the views.

Along main routes in Canmore, sidewalks are often split into two lanes – grey for pedestrians and red for cyclists. It’s a subtle detail, but it helps everyone move safely and efficiently. On shared pathways, pedestrians should keep right and be aware that cyclists may pass on the left. Cyclists should always ring their bell or announce “on your left” before passing. On shared roads, drivers are expected to give cyclists plenty of space, just as cyclists are expected to ride responsibly.

And yes, if you live in the Bow Valley, you’re familiar with that traffic light in Canmore at the intersection of Railway Avenue and Bow Valley Trail. While the wait times may feel long, the intersection is designed to move vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians as efficiently as possible. As a cyclist or pedestrian, make sure you press the correct button to activate your crossing signal. The buttons are labelled and correspond with the white and red coloured sidewalk lanes.

Canmore has its own style. Around here, outdoor gear is everyday wear. It’s normal to see people in hiking boots at the grocery store or bundled in a puffy jacket at a nice restaurant.

The weather can change quickly at any time of year, so locals always bring layers to swap in and out of throughout the day. Proper footwear is a staple – don’t hike in sandals or street sneakers. Read up on what to pack and wear depending on the time of year you visit. Wearing appropriate gear keeps you safe and comfortable, and shows you are embracing the local mindset.

Locals in Canmore are used to sharing space with wildlife. Encounters with elk, deer, and smaller critters are most common in the area, but even bears and coyotes are often spotted in town.

To keep our wildlife wild, locals are proud to coexist with these animals. One way is our bear-proof garbage bins. These are specifically designed to keep animals out of our waste. To use them, pull the handle up, lift the lid, and drop your waste inside. The lids can be heavy, so take your time and be careful of getting your fingers caught in the bins.

It is also important to keep your distance from wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see elk wandering across roads, resting on lawns, or blocking walking trails completely. When this happens, we need to give them plenty of space. Don’t try to sneak past or get up close for a photo – elk may seem calm, but they can be aggressive when provoked, especially during calving or rutting seasons. This applies to all wildlife. Giving wildlife space and respect is a huge part of everyday life here in Canmore.

Spending time outdoors is a big part of why anyone visits or lives in Canmore. Locals care deeply about the spaces we explore. There are a few simple ways visitors can do the same:

• Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps and compostable items
• Stay on marked trails to protect plants and wildlife habitat
• Always carry bear spray to protect yourself from a negative wildlife encounter
• Keep music off the trails so everyone can enjoy the sounds of nature
• Sign the Pledge to the Peaks to show your commitment to responsible travel

At its core, mountain culture is about knowing yourself and respecting your limits. Locals understand the importance of humility, especially when exploring outdoors. That might mean turning around when the weather rolls in, skipping a summit if the trail feels sketchy, redirecting your route if you spot wildlife, or calling it a day when energy and morale are running low.

If you’re exploring unfamiliar terrain or trying something new, booking a local guide is the way to go. It’s a chance to learn, travel safely, and see the mountains through the eyes of someone who truly knows the area. Booking with one of our trusted guides is one of the best ways to experience Canmore.

In Canmore and Kananaskis, our natural ecosystems and stunning landscapes are the heart and soul of our local mountain culture. Before your visit, we encourage you to sign the Pledge to the Peaks, committing to mindful exploration to ensure the safety of all inhabitants of the region and preserve the beauty of our unfiltered wilderness for generations to come.