About Canmore | Canmore Kananaskis
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About Canmore

Canmore Kananaskis > Visitor Information > About Canmore

Not your average small town

An hour west of Calgary, 22 kilometres (12 miles) east of Banff, and nestled in the vast wildlands of Kananaskis Country, visitors and residents of Canmore are energized and inspired by its incredible location. Our beauty is enviable, geography mind-boggling. We take advantage of the environment that surrounds us and we’re committed to sustaining it. With the arms of the majestic Rockies wrapped around us and a pulse that resembles a much larger city, being in Canmore feels larger than life.

We’re made up of an eclectic mix, this quaint small town in the wild. We’ve got endless amounts of outdoor activities, world-class mountain sports, and standout wellness facilities combined with impressive food and dining experiences, one-of-a-kind locally-owned boutiques, and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. All this within the backdrop of provincial parks, unspoiled wilderness, and show-stopping mountain peaks means Canmore is rapidly becoming celebrated as an unrivalled tourist destination in the Canadian Rockies.

This is Canmore. Welcome.

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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.
Canmore's main street

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.

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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.

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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.

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Getting Around

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

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