First pick
Quarry Lake Park
Park or garden
13 ha3.1 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.1 km of path
2.8 km westfrom the centre
Fun Forrest
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: D. Mulligan · CC BY-SA 3.090%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Canmore · parks, protected land & trails
All of Canmore sits within Banff National Park
Inside the town itself, 57% of the land is protected. 90% of the land and water within 10 km is protected (the typical Canadian town: 2.3%). Named trails close by number 7, the Centennial Ridge Trail and Grassi Lakes among them.
Protected land
90%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
6
within 10 km, 6 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
Inside
Banff National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Walking routes
7
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
4
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Canmore stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Inside a national parkCanmore lies inside Banff National ParkProtected land all round90% of the land within 10 km, more than 99% of Canadian townsWalking routes7 named routes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeBow Valley Wildland Provincial Park reaches the town
Canmore’s best card is Banff National Park all around it, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
Canmore beside other Canadian towns, figure by figure
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. Outdoors isn’t one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.
Protected within 10 km90%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town57%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas6Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes7Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches4Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
No town of the 40 its size has more protected land around it than Canmore
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (16,857 to 17,851 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Canmore90%
Towns its size3%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Canmore6
Towns its size5
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Canmore7
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
For protected land nearby, Canmore tops all 39 other towns its size.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canmore AB | 90% | 57% | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| 2 | Sooke BC | 23% | 21% | 23 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 | Fallingbrook ON | 14% | 0% | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Saint-Henri QC | 10% | 0% | 23 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Grandview BC | 10% | 3.9% | 170 | 7 | 1 |
| 6 | Sainte-Catherine QC | 7.9% | 6.3% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Unionville ON | 7.5% | 0% | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Yorkton SK | 6.4% | 0% | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Lake Country BC | 6.1% | 0.5% | 20 | 0 | 22 |
| 10 | East Burnaby BC | 5.5% | 2.6% | 54 | 3 | 17 |
| 11 | Saint-Michel QC | 5.2% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 7 |
| 12 | Cap-Rouge QC | 4.7% | 0% | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Saint-Basile-le-Grand QC | 4.3% | 0% | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Fraser Heights BC | 4.1% | 24% | 129 | 4 | 6 |
| 15 | Sainte-Thérèse-de-Lisieux QC | 4% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 8 |
| 16 | Petite-Côte QC | 4% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Centre ON | 3.8% | 12% | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Malvern West ON | 3.5% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Humbermede ON | 3% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Morningside ON | 3% | 27% | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| 21 | McKenzie Towne AB | 3% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 22 | Bay-Cloverhill ON | 2.4% | 0% | 12 | 9 | 18 |
| 23 | Kennedy Park ON | 2.4% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 8 |
| 24 | Danforth East York ON | 2.2% | 0% | 13 | 4 | 21 |
| 25 | Victoria Village ON | 2.2% | 0% | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| 26 | Saint-Émile QC | 2% | 0% | 25 | 1 | 3 |
| 27 | Cold Lake AB | 1.7% | 0% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Willowdale West ON | 1.6% | 0% | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Laurentian West ON | 1.5% | 5.8% | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | St.Andrew-Windfields ON | 1.4% | 2.3% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Mahogany AB | 1.4% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 32 | Clanton Park ON | 1.3% | 0% | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Yorkdale-Glen Park ON | 1.3% | 0% | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 34 | La Visitation QC | 1.1% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Oakbank MB | 0.8% | 0.8% | 22 | 7 | 1 |
| 36 | Cowansville QC | 0.6% | 0% | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Brookhaven-Amesbury ON | 0.5% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 38 | Brooks AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Saint-Charles-Borromée QC | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Coventry Hills AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Parks, woods and paths around Canmore
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the town; tap a number for its park or wood.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
21 named parks and woods to walk in near Canmore
Largest first: Quarry Lake Park leads with 13 ha. Numbers match the map.
21 named parks and woods, 69 ha in all
Parks & gardens 69 ha
Many small places make up the total; the biggest is 20%.
Millenium Park
Park or garden
13 ha0.5 km of path
1.4 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Three Sisters Park
Park or garden
6.7 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
2.9 km southfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Elk Run Park
Park or garden
5.7 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
Centralin the middle of Canmore
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park
Park or garden
5.6 ha1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
1.7 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Three Sisters Sports Complex Multi-use Field
Park or garden
4.1 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
3.6 km southfrom the centre
Three Sisters Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Lions Park
Park or garden
3.4 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
2.9 km north-westfrom the centre
16 Street10 Avenue
Directionsto a point inside
Centennial Park West
Park or garden
3.4 ha0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
1.9 km westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 21 named parks and green spaces
Quarry Lake ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsMillenium ParkPark or garden · 13 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsThree Sisters ParkPark or garden · 6.7 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsElk Run ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsCentennial ParkPark or garden · 5.6 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsThree Sisters Sports Complex Multi-use FieldPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsLions ParkPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsCentennial Park WestPark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsWest Canmore ParkPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsCentennial Park EastPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsEagle Terrace ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsElk Run Off-leash Dog ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsRiverside ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsLarch Ice Rink ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsPeaks ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsPalliser Dog ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsRundle Crescent ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsVeterans ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsHubman (Three sisters) off leash dog parkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsGeorge Biggy Sr. ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsLarch ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
7 in 10 people in Canmore live near a park
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (74%)Further (26%)
Canmore74%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town does better, at 83%. For about 4,600 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away.
Protected areas
90% of the country within 10 km of Canmore is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Canmore57%
Within 10 km90%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Every one of the 6 is on public land. Banff National Park is the biggest, 664,100 ha.
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkProvincial park · 44,941 ha · reaches Canmore
Banff National ParkNational park · 664,100 ha · Canmore lies inside it
Bow Valley Provincial ParkProvincial park · 3,251 ha · reaches Canmore
Spray Valley Provincial ParkProvincial park · 25,564 ha · 0.7 km from the edge of town
Don Getty Wildland Provincial ParkProvincial park · 88,981 ha · 6.5 km from the edge of town
Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkProvincial park · 80,083 ha · 9.5 km from the edge of town
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
Big parks near Canmore
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
National park
Banff National Park
Canmore lies inside it6,641 km²since 1885
Provincial park
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
At the edge449 km²since 1998
Provincial park
Bow Valley Provincial Park
At the edge · south-east33 km²since 1959
Provincial park
Spray Valley Provincial Park
0.7 km south256 km²since 2000
Provincial park
Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park
6.5 km north-east890 km²since 2001
Provincial park
Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
9.5 km south-east801 km²since 1996
There are 5 provincial parks within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
488 km of paths in and around Canmore
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
488 km
in and around the town (132.7 km²)
Woodland
69%
about 90.9 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
CanmoreTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths3.7
02.55 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
CanmoreTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland69%
0%50%100%
More of it is wooded than in 91% of Canadian towns. For path density, it beats 80% of Canadian towns.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
Canmore has 7 named walking routes
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
LocalOther waymarked
Centennial Ridge Trail19.6 km
Grotto Canyon6.0 km
Grassi Lakes4.0 km
Ha Ling3.7 km
Policeman's Creek Boardwalk3.6 km
Johnny's Trail1.5 km
Spur Line Trail1.4 km
At 19.6 km, the Centennial Ridge Trail is the longest local route. 2 are short walks under 3 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Canmore in July to September
Daylight at the town’s latitude and ECCC’s 1991–2020 normals (Banff, 19 km away). Good months: long days, highs of 15–30 °C, light rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | -4 | -1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 9 | 1 | -5 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 19 | 19 | 29 | 39 | 50 | 73 | 47 | 47 | 45 | 36 | 28 | 23 |
Daytime highs run from -5 °C in December up to 23 °C in July. Expect 73 mm in June, the wettest month, and 19 mm in February. Snowfall averages 184 cm a year. The climate in Canmore →
Beaches
4 beaches within 5 km of Canmore
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
One more beach goes unnamed. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Canmore: 17 viewpoints, 11 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
17Viewpoints19Hills and peaks11Waterfalls1Nature reserves4Picnic sites43Playgrounds4Dog parks2Campsites1Slipways
Among the peaks, Big Sister (Faith Peak) is highest at 2,940 m. Most numerous: playgrounds (43).
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 17
Canmore Engine Bridgein town
DirectionsHighline Trailin town
DirectionsLittle Grassi Knob Viewpointin town
DirectionsPathway to Bow Riverin town
DirectionsPathway To Quarry Lakein town
DirectionsPowerline Trailin town
DirectionsQuarry Lakein town
DirectionsSpur Line Trailin town
DirectionsPlus 9 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 19
Wind Ridge2,179 m · in town
DirectionsLittle Sister (Charity Peak)2,694 m · 0.1 km from town
DirectionsHa Ling Peak2,474 m · 0.4 km from town
DirectionsEast End of Rundle2,530 m · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsMiddle Sister (Hope Peak)2,769 m · 0.8 km from town
DirectionsMiner's Peak2,450 m · 0.9 km from town
DirectionsShip's Prow Mountain2,636 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsRundle 82,575 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 11 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 11
Lower Spray Fallsin town
DirectionsThree Sisters Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsPlus 9 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Wildlife Corridorin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 4
'Old Camp' - Day Use Area1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 43
200 Benchlands Terrace Playgroundin town
DirectionsBanff Gate Mountain Resort Playgroundin town
DirectionsCarey / Homesteads Playgroundin town
DirectionsColliers Ridge Playgroundin town
DirectionsFitzgerald Rise Playgroundin town
DirectionsGeorge Biggy Sr. Playgroundin town
DirectionsMoraine Road Playgroundin town
DirectionsSolara playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 35 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
Elk Run Off-leash Dog Parkin town
DirectionsHubman (Three sisters) off leash dog parkin town
DirectionsPalliser Dog Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 2
Bow River Campground0.1 km from town
DirectionsThree Sisters Campground0.3 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Canmore
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. No closer places have figures: these lie 12–35 km from Canmore.
Bighorn No. 8BanffStoney 142, 143, 144Canmore
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canmore | 90% | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Bighorn No. 8 12 km | 32% | 12 | 5 | 12 |
| Banff 19 km | 100% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Stoney 142, 143, 144 35 km | 16% | 7 | 0 | 6 |
Its neighbours have no more than twice Canmore’s protected share.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Canmore
How far is the nearest provincial park from Canmore?
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, which reaches the edge of town.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Canmore?
July to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Is Canmore near a national park?
It is on the doorstep: Banff National Park touches Canmore.
Is there a beach near Canmore?
Try Crosbow Beach, in town, first of several.
Are there hiking trails near Canmore?
Try the Centennial Ridge Trail, Grassi Lakes and Ha Ling; more are on the map.
Which is the biggest protected area near Canmore?
Banff National Park: 664,100 ha, a national park.
Is there protected land near Canmore?
Within 10 km, 90% of the land lies in protected areas.
Sources
The sources behind Canmore’s outdoors figures
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).