Welcome to Canmore & Kananaskis Country!

CANMORE, Alberta (Rockies.com) - Canmore, Alberta, located a mere 15-minute drive from Banff National Park, is a hot spot for outdoor recreation and entertainment in the Canadian Rockies.

Canadian Rockies Photography by John E. Marriott

Canmore operated primarily as a coal mining town from the 1890s until the late 1970s. The mines were shut down in 1979 due to a low demand for coal and the province tore down most of the mining infrastructure the following year. The population fell from 6,500 to only about 3,000 and the future of the town was uncertain since, up till then, it had not been hailed as a recreational hot spot.

Canmore´s future took a turn for the better with the construction of the Canmore Nordic Center for the 1988 Winter Olympics held in nearby Calgary. The forgotten little mining town became a popular location for outdoor and recreational activities.

The following decades saw Canmore´s population boom to its current 16,000 as infrastructure was built to support major tourism industries. The town is well-known not only for the Nordic Center, but also for its wide assortment of recreational activities and outdoor adventure opportunities. Thanks to the tourism windfall, Canmore is now home to a diverse selection of attractive hotels, inviting bed and breakfasts and all accommodation in between. You will also find a diverse array of mouth-watering restaurants and charming pubs.

Many seasoned tourists prefer Canmore, over Banff for a variety of reasons. Banff is an upscale tourist hub that could be compared to Vail or Aspen, Colorado. Canmore is utterly charming, cozy and the type of place you love to take your family. Travelers can expect to see local stores and restaurants while avoiding tacky touristy shops. . You can expect to save 20 to 30 percent on your hotel lodging as well. Canmore is a great Canadian Rockies destination on its own as well as an excellent base for additional Canadian Rockies travel to cities like Banff, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon and other nearby towns.