About Canmore | Canmore Kananaskis
three hikers on a trail in Canmore during the fall with mountain ranges in the background Header Item 1

About Canmore

Canmore Kananaskis > Visitor Information > About Canmore

Not your average small town

Just an hour west of Calgary and a stone’s throw from Banff, Canmore sits where the prairies give way to towering peaks. Tucked along the edge of Kananaskis Country, this town isn’t just in the mountains—we’re with the mountains.

Canmore is home to wanderers, creatives, mountain athletes, and seekers—people drawn to something deeper than just the view. Here, you’ll find both adventure and calm: technical mountain routes and quiet valley strolls, alongside a community that values good food, creative expression, and meaningful connection.

There’s no single way to experience this place. Whether you come for the challenge, the scenery, or simply a change of pace, Canmore gives you the space to move at your own rhythm. Settle in, stay a while, and see where the trail leads.

a landscape photos of the Three Sisters Mountains with a trail and the town of Canmore in the foreground

Quick Facts

  • Latitude: 51.087977, Longitude: -115.349418
  • Town centre elevation: 1,309 metres (4,296 feet) with surrounding summits reaching heights of 2,936 metres (9,633 feet).
  • Geographic location: 106 kilometres (66 miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway 22 kilometres (12 miles) east of the Banff townsite on the Trans-Canada Highway.
  • Population: 13,077 permanent residents and 3,890 non-permanent residents, making us the largest community in the Alberta Rockies.
  • Economy: Primarily tourism and hospitality services, with a mix of health and wellness, arts and culture, and sports.
  • Lifestyle: Canmore has a young, energetic, diverse and well-educated population that values a vigorous, outdoor lifestyle along with the comfort and amenities usually reserved for city life.
  • Mountain recreation: More than 71 kilometres (44 miles) of multi-use trails within the town limits facilitate endless opportunities for outdoor activity.
a woman walking on a crosswalk between buildings on Canmore's Main Street on a sunny day with the Three Sisters Mountains in the background

Downtown Canmore

At the heart of Canmore is our vibrant downtown core. Nestled between the glacier-fed waters of the Bow River, the picturesque walking trails along Policeman’s Creek and the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, you will discover a downtown unlike any other.

Stroll down Main Street for an authentically Canmore experience. Check out incredible art galleries, shop stylish boutiques, or indulge in a delicious patio lunch. All while soaking in the dreamy mountain views.

Visit Town of Canmore
Bow Valley at sunset

The Canmore Kananaskis Region

Canmore is the charming mountain town. Kananaskis Country is the more than 4,000 square kilometres (1544 square miles) of wildlands surrounding it, the stunning valley on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Together, the Canmore Kananaskis area is picture-perfect and primed for any manner of adventure, in any season, any day of the year.

About Kananaskis

the three sisters mountains behind the spring creek pedestrian bridge

Canmore History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal peoples hunted bison in the Bow Valley, leaving behind some of the oldest archaeological sites in Canada dating back more than 8,000 years. The town of Canmore itself was named in honour of King Malcolm of Scotland, from the Gaelic word, Ceann Mór, which translates to mean Big Head, in reference to one’s elevated height or stature.

Learn More
a roam transit bus driving along a road with Three Sisters Mountains in the background

Getting Around

No car? No problem! Making your way around Canmore and Kananaskis is a breeze while you’re visiting.

Getting Around