The Best Things to do in July and August

July and August are when the valley is fully awake. The high trails have shed the last of their snow, the larch needles are deep green, the rivers are running, and the patios are open from lunch to last light. With daylight stretching well into the evening, there’s room to fit two adventures into a single day and still make your dinner reservation. This is the season the whole year builds toward, when Canmore and Kananaskis are at their liveliest and the events calendar is at its absolute fullest. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a few weeks, summer in the mountains has a way of rearranging your priorities for the better. Here’s how to make the most of it.

You’ve seen the postcards. These are the experiences that don’t make it onto them.

Solve a Mystery Outdoors with Cluesolvers

Cluesolvers Adventures turns Canmore into a giant outdoor puzzle. Think escape room, except the room is the town and the mountains are your backdrop. It’s a great option for families, groups, or anyone who wants an adventure that works the brain as much as the legs.

Meet the Wolfdogs

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary gives rescued wolfdogs a permanent home, and gives you the chance to meet them up close on an interactive tour. You’ll leave knowing a lot more about these remarkable animals, and about why they belong in a sanctuary rather than a backyard.

Browse Canadian Craft at PROJECT A

PROJECT A is a fine-craft shop showcasing the work of makers from across Canada, and entirely worth a slow browse. It’s the kind of downtown stop where you walk in for a look and walk out with something you didn’t know you needed.

Train Like a Canadian Hockey Player

Ever wondered what it takes? Pinnacle Hockey’s Canadian Hockey Player Experience lets visitors step into our national obsession, no matter where you’re from or how well you skate. Hands-on, memorable, and a whole lot of fun.

Woof and Hoof at Boundary Ranch

Two Kananaskis icons, one unforgettable day. Boundary Ranch’s Woof and Hoof Adventure packs five hours with an Adventure Dog Cart Tour led by a pack of huskies, a 1.5 hour Valley Vista horseback ride with views of Mount Kidd, a stop at the buffalo paddock, and a BBQ burger lunch to finish. It runs June through October, and reservations are required, so book ahead.

Climb a Cliff Face on a Via Ferrata

Want big-mountain exposure without years of climbing experience? A via ferrata lets you ascend steep rock using fixed rungs, ladders, and safety cables. PeakSTRATAGEM’s guided via ferrata in nearby Exshaw puts you on the wall for roughly two hours, with beginner and advanced routes and panoramic views from the summit.

Afternoon Tea at Mount Engadine Lodge

Tucked deep in Kananaskis, Mount Engadine Lodge serves its Afternoon Tea and Charcuterie daily from 2 to 5 pm, in the restaurant or out on the patio overlooking a moose meadow. It’s one of the most relaxing ways to spend a mountain afternoon without breaking a sweat.

Surf a River (Yes, Really)

The Rockies have a surf scene. The Mountain Wave on the Kananaskis River is the most accessible place to surf in the area, and Bow Valley SUP and Surf rents boards and wetsuits from their Canmore shop. Find everything you need to get started here.

Catch Sunrise at Grassi Lakes

The turquoise pools of Grassi Lakes are at their calmest, quietest best at first light, when the morning belongs to you. Canadian Rockies Experience’s private Grassi Lakes Sunrise Hike takes the guesswork out of an early start, with pickup from your Canmore accommodation, an accredited guide, and hot drinks and a picnic breakfast on the trail. The hike itself is 4 km with 125 m of elevation gain, suitable for most active guests and kids eight and up.

Heads up: Grassi Lakes is in Kananaskis Country, so you’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.

See the Land Through Indigenous Eyes

Buffalo Stone Woman’s Indige-Scape Tours offer guided experiences rooted in Indigenous knowledge of this land. Walking these trails with an Indigenous guide changes how you see them, and that perspective stays with you long after you’ve gone home.

Escape the Heat: Go Underground or Into a Canyon

When the valley hits the high twenties, locals head where it’s cool. Canmore Cave Tours takes you into Rat’s Nest Cave beneath Grotto Mountain, where the temperature stays refreshingly steady year-round. Prefer your adventure with water? Bow Valley Canyon Tours and Banff Canyoning’s Canmore trips will have you rappelling, sliding, and splashing your way down mountain canyons.

Take in Live Theatre and Local Art

The mountains have always drawn artists, and Canmore is where a lot of them stayed. Catch live performance and the work of Jason Carter at the Carter-Ryan Gallery and Live Art Venue or check what’s on stage at artsPlace.

Long summer days mean you don’t have to choose. Hike in the morning, paddle in the afternoon. Bike before breakfast, golf before sunset. Here are the classics, with our full guides for each.

Hiking

From family-friendly interpretive trails to all-day ridge walks, the trail network here is the reason a lot of us moved to the valley. Our Complete Guide to Hiking in Canmore and Kananaskis covers where to go, how to prepare, and how to hike responsibly in bear country.

Climbing

Canmore sits at the heart of some of Canada’s best climbing, and you don’t need years of experience to try it. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offers guided rock climbing for everyone from first-timers to seasoned climbers looking to push their grade. Prefer to start indoors, or need a rainy day option? The Canmore Climbing Gym and the climbing wall at Elevation Place have you covered right in town.

Camping

Whether you’re after a full-service campground or something more remote, Kananaskis has a site with your name on it. Read our guide to Camping in Canmore and Kananaskis and book early. July and August sites go fast.

Paddling

Glacier-fed lakes and lazy river floats are a peak-season rite of passage. Load up a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard for an afternoon on the water, or join Canmore Canoe for a guided voyageur canoe tour. Find your launch point in 8 Stunning Places to Paddle in Canmore and Kananaskis.

Rafting

Summer is rafting season on the Bow and Kananaskis rivers, with trips ranging from gentle scenic floats to splashy whitewater. Canmore Raft Tours runs float trips on the Bow right from town, while Canadian Rockies Rafting and Chinook Rafting offer whitewater adventures for a range of ages and comfort levels. No experience needed, just a willingness to get a little wet.

Fishing

The rivers and lakes here hold wild trout, and a quiet morning on the water is its own kind of mountain adventure. Canmore Fishing Adventures and Wapiti Sports & Outfitters both run guided fishing trips, handling the gear, the licences, and the local knowledge so you can focus on the cast. Whether you’re a first-timer or a lifelong angler, the guides know where the fish are.

Biking

From mountain bike trails to paved valley pathways and everything in between, there’s a ride here for every skill level. For a ride that feeds you along the way, Canmore Guided eBike Tours pairs easy pedalling with local stops around town. Not sure where to start? Our guide to Everything You Need to Know About Biking in Canmore and Kananaskis will point your front wheel in the right direction.

Golf

Few places let you line up a putt with the Rockies watching, whether that’s the Three Sisters above Canmore or Mount Kidd over the fairways in Kananaskis. Find your course in Enjoy the Best Golf Courses in Canmore and Kananaskis.

Horseback Riding

There’s no better way to see this country than from the saddle. Boundary Ranch runs daily guided trail rides through Kananaskis, from the one-hour Buffalo Loop to the two-hour Ridge Ride with views of Mount Kidd. Closer to the Bow Valley, Rafter Six Ranch Resort offers its own ranch riding experience. Either way, you’ll come back understanding why mountain culture and horse culture have always gone together here.

Canmore’s downtown is a destination in its own right, an easy, walkable few blocks where mountain culture, local business, and good food all sit side by side, with amazing mountain views around every corner. From May to October, Main Street closes to vehicles entirely, and the whole stretch takes on an easy, open-air buzz, with room to wander, linger on a patio, and soak up the energy of the street. Whether it’s where you wind down after a day on the trails or the main event itself, downtown delivers.

Shopping

Between adventures, downtown Canmore is where the valley slows down. The whole stretch is yours to explore on foot, drifting between local makers, gear shops, galleries, and treats. Browse our favourite shops in Canmore and Kananaskis, and if you’re here on a Thursday, the Canmore Mountain Market brings local food, art, and craft together in one spot downtown.

Patio Season

When you’re ready to sit down, the patios are the natural next move. There’s something about eating outdoors with the peaks rising around you that makes the food taste better, and in July and August the patios are open from lunch right through to the long summer evenings. We’ve rounded up the Restaurants in Canmore with the Best Patio Views, where the mountains do half the work of the ambiance. Travelling with your four-legged hiking partner? They’ve earned a spot too. Here are the best Dog-Friendly Patios in Canmore.

Our calendar fills up fast in July and August. Here’s what’s on the radar this summer. For full details and everything we couldn’t fit here, check the events calendar.

July 2026

• Canada Day, July 1. Start with the Rotary Club of Canmore’s pancake breakfast in Centennial Park from 9 to 11 am, then catch the parade through town from noon to 2 pm.
• Coda Club at The Drake Screaming Retriever, July 3 and July 4. Alternative hard rock from Calgary, live from 10 pm both nights.
• Wild Enrichment Saturday: Summer Splash Party, July 4. The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary throws one of its packs a pool party, complete with wolfdog-friendly treats and games. Runs 10 am to 5 pm.
• Orlando Cardoso Trio: Passing By Tour, July 16. Cuban jazz at artsPlace, celebrating the legacy of Cuban pianists. Show starts at 7:30 pm.
• Friday Night Comedy: Conner Christmas with Scottie Grinton, July 17. The Alberta-born comic, named a new face of Canadian comedy by Just For Laughs in 2022, takes the artsPlace stage at 7:30 pm.
• Red Mile High at The Drake Screaming Retriever, July 17. Covers of Blink-182, Green Day, The Tragically Hip and more, starting at 10 pm.
• Rockies 24, July 24 to 26. Twenty-four hour mountain bike racing returns to the Canmore Nordic Centre for its 5th edition, with categories for solo riders, teams of two, teams of four to five, and corporate teams. The course suits all ability levels.
• PanAm Whitewater Championships, July 30 to August 2. The Alberta Whitewater Association welcomes the world to Kananaskis for kayak cross and slalom racing.

August 2026

• Canmore Folk Music Festival, August 1 to 3. Alberta’s longest-running folk music festival fills Centennial Park with more than 30 folk, roots, world, and blues acts across multiple stages, plus a dedicated kids’ activity area.
• Canadian National Whitewater Championships, August 3 to 9. The national title race follows right on the heels of the PanAms, also on the Kananaskis River.
• The Cheezie Musical, running June 25 to August 16. An original new Canadian musical at the Carter-Ryan Theatre, inspired by the underdog story of the Hawkins Cheezie. Evening shows Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm, with 3 pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
• 2026 NADGT Canada Exclusive, August 15. A competitive amateur disc golf tournament on the National Amateur Disc Golf Tour, where non-professional players test their skills in a friendly atmosphere at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

This place gives a lot. Here’s how to give a little back while you’re here:

• Bring a water bottle. The tap water in Canmore is excellent. Skip the bottled stuff.
• Bring a reusable mug. Your morning coffee tastes better without the waste.
• Walk. Over 80 km of multi-use trails connect the town and surrounding recreational areas, so much of Canmore is best explored on foot.
• Rent a bike or e-bike. Cruise the Canmore Riverside Trail to Three Sisters Mountain Village or pedal the Legacy Trail to Banff, with rentals available from local shops around town.
• Take the bus. Roam Transit is free within Canmore, including Route 12 to Grassi Lakes, Quarry Lake, and the Nordic Centre, with affordable regional service to Banff, and shuttles run from Calgary and out to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
• Travel around peak times. Mornings and evenings mean quieter trails, easier parking, and better light.

For all the ways to get here and around without a car, see our guide to travelling sustainably in and around Canmore. For more on treading lightly, visit our Responsible Travel page and take the Pledge to the Peaks.

Getting around. ROAM Transit local routes are completely fare-free. Route 5C covers Cougar Creek and Route 5T covers Three Sisters, both running seven days a week. Route 12 connects downtown to Grassi Lakes, the Nordic Centre, and Quarry Lake, so you can leave the car parked. Route 3 connects Canmore and Banff for those travelling between the two. See schedule here.

Book ahead. Summer is the most popular time of year to visit. Accommodation, campsites, restaurants, and guided experiences book up well in advance, so lock in your plans early.

The Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for all vehicles parked in Kananaskis Country. Available online through Alberta Parks. Buy online here.

Layers still matter. Even in the warmest months, mountain mornings start cool and afternoon thunderstorms can roll through. A light shell and a fleece deserve space in your day pack regardless of the forecast.

Travel around peak times. Mornings and evenings mean quieter trails, easier parking, and the best light of the day. Head out before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for the mountains at their most peaceful.

Be wildlife aware. Carry bear spray on trails, know how to use it, and give all wildlife plenty of space.

Plan ahead with our Trip Planner. New this year, our Trip Planner lets you build a custom itinerary, save the places and events you want to hit, and map it all out before you arrive. Less time figuring out logistics, more time outside.

Is summer a good time to visit Canmore?

It’s the most popular time of year, and for good reason. The trails, lakes, rivers, golf courses, and patios are at their summer best, the days are long, and the events calendar is at its fullest. With early starts and a little planning, peak season delivers the complete Rockies experience.

What is the weather like in Canmore in July and August?

These are the warmest months of the year, with long sunny days at valley level. Mornings are cool, evenings are comfortable, and afternoon thunderstorms can build over the peaks, so keep an eye on the sky and pack a layer.

What outdoor activities are available in July and August?

Everything. Hiking, biking, paddling, rafting, river surfing, fishing, golf, horseback riding, canyoning, and cave tours are all in full swing, and high-elevation trails that hold snow into early summer are typically open.

Can you swim in the lakes around Canmore in summer?

Yes, if you don’t mind a wake-up call. Even in August the water carries a chill from the peaks, and locals consider the post-hike plunge part of the experience. You’ll find swimmable lakes throughout the valley and Kananaskis; pick one along your route and earn your dip.

What’s the best time of day to explore in peak season?

Start early or stay out late. Trails, lakes, and viewpoints are at their most peaceful before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., and the light is at its best. Booking guided experiences ahead, taking ROAM Transit, and building your days in the Trip Planner all help you make the most of every day.

What events are happening in Canmore in July and August?

Highlights include Canada Day celebrations (July 1), Rockies 24 at the Nordic Centre (July 24 to 26), the PanAm Whitewater Championships (July 30 to August 2), the Canmore Folk Music Festival (August 1 to 3), the Canadian National Whitewater Championships (August 3 to 9), the Cheezie Musical at Carter-Ryan Theatre (through August 16), and the NADGT Canada Exclusive disc golf event (August 15). Full events calendar here.

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.