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02 Aug 2024 Blogs
In the last 2 years, the number of cyclists as been increasing everywhere. With new bike options, people are coming back to a sport they had abandoned for a number of years. With hundreds of kilometers of various types of trail, biking in Canmore is an epic experience. From road biking to expert mountain biking, all kind of riders will find a spot to practice their favorite sport. If you are ready to ride, hop on and get ready to roll!
Wether you’re travelling light or flew in, you might not bring your bike to your holiday. You still have the option of having a nice bike ride, on a high quality bike.
Gear Up offers Giant bikes that will serve you well on pavement and maintained gravel trails. They also have Giant e-bikes and kid’s bikes. For the youngest, you can also rent a Chariot trailer. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 supply shortages they do not have mountain bikes for summer 2021.
For those looking for a full suspension mountain bike, visit Trail Sports at the Nordic centre for a nice Rocky Mountain.
Let’s be honest, bikes are not the same as they were! The old saying « as easy as riding a bike » might not seem so easy. With full suspension bikes, fat bikes and e-bikes populating our trails, you will see that the feeling is not the same. Therefore, if you haven’t ridden a bike for a couple years, starts slow. E-bikes can go as fast as 45 km/h depending on the type. At that speed, you will feel the fall.
Throughout the town, there is some nice, easy, flat trails for biking. We recommend the Bow River Loop Trail (Map 1 trail 1), Three Sisters Pathway (Map 1 trail 3) and Larch Loop (Map 1 trail 6). You can also stroll along the Bow Valley Trail and Railway avenue on the multi-use pathway. For those who would like to experience the Legacy Trail, note that there is a slow steady climb going towards Banff. For an easier ride, take the Roam Bus to Banff and ride the Legacy trail towards Canmore.
No matter what level of rider you are, you will find a challenge for yourself in Canmore.
I highly recommend using Trailforks app, especially as there is a lot of unofficial trails that can get you off track. For a quick and not too difficult ride, the Horseshoe Loop (Map 2, trail 6) is one of my favourite. Easily accessed using Cougar Creek trail, it is a nice loop through a forest with a few climbs. However, some section have more roots and rocks than you might expect. It can be done both ways, but I prefer counterclockwise. If you find it too easy, in addition the the loop you can ride the Horseshoe Slabs. Warning: drops ahead!
On the other side pf the creek, The Montane Traverse (Map 2, trail 4) is a great option with less rocks and roots, and you can decide how far you go. Either turn around or go down one of the many trails possible and pay yourself a treat coming back on Palliser Pathway (pavement and almost flat).
On the West side, the Highline Trail (Map 1, trail 4) is a local favourite. Be prepared for a good challenge! You can either start in Three Sister’s neighbourhood or at Quarry Lake.
Connecting Banff and Canmore, the Legacy trail is a must do in the Bow Valley. This 20 km long trail runs along the highway but separate from it. All kind of riders use this trail daily. My kids always ask me : « How long is it dad? – Well, it depends how fast you go! ». However, it takes roughly 1.5h (to Banff) or 1h (to Canmore) for average rider. There is a day use area in the middle with toilets and picnic tables. Also, about 2/3 towards Banff, there is a beaver dam and pond. If you are lucky, you will be able to see some beavers swimming. Also look on both sides when you are close to the water tower where you can see some hoodoos that are taking form.
Get the map here.
Want to get to Banff but you’re allergic to pavement? Well, you will love the Goat Creek trail. This 19 km trail runs behind Rundle Range and bring you the the Banff Spring hotel. Unlike the usual mountain bike trail, it is a wide path, well maintained and highly used. Great views, great people, this is on my favourite list.
Every year, we leave Canmore using the Goat Creek trail, have lunch in Banff and come back on the Legacy trail. We did this the first time in 2017. My kids were 8-9-10 years old. Those small legs rode 48 km. It was a challenge, but they’ve done it, and repeated it every year since. After that, it has become a tradition that the whole family enjoy. Try it, and like us, have dad go up the big hill to go get the car!
Built in 1988 for the Calgary Winter Olympic games, the Canmore Nordic Centre is now a well known mountain biking destination. With over 100 kilometres of trail, you won’t ride the same one twice in a day. Indeed, this is the mecca for mountain biking in Canmore. Either for pleasure or challenge, from beginners to advanced riders, everybody will find what they are looking for. At this time, a Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
For those into dirt jumps and technical features, you can practice your skills at one of the skills park in town. They are located at the Nordic Centre, on Benchland trail east of the over pass and a more family friendly one at Millennium Park. All parks are free of charge (see Canmore Nordic Centre section for pass requirement to park your car)
As you can see, Canmore is a great riding destination. Grab your helmet, sunscreen, a snack, be wildsmart and enjoy your ride!
02 Aug 2024 Blogs
In the last 2 years, the number of cyclists as been increasing everywhere. With new bike options, people are coming back to a sport they had abandoned for a number of years. With hundreds of kilometers of various types of trail, biking in Canmore is an epic experience. From road biking to expert mountain biking, all kind of riders will find a spot to practice their favorite sport. If you are ready to ride, hop on and get ready to roll!
Wether you’re travelling light or flew in, you might not bring your bike to your holiday. You still have the option of having a nice bike ride, on a high quality bike.
Gear Up offers Giant bikes that will serve you well on pavement and maintained gravel trails. They also have Giant e-bikes and kid’s bikes. For the youngest, you can also rent a Chariot trailer. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 supply shortages they do not have mountain bikes for summer 2021.
For those looking for a full suspension mountain bike, visit Trail Sports at the Nordic centre for a nice Rocky Mountain.
Let’s be honest, bikes are not the same as they were! The old saying « as easy as riding a bike » might not seem so easy. With full suspension bikes, fat bikes and e-bikes populating our trails, you will see that the feeling is not the same. Therefore, if you haven’t ridden a bike for a couple years, starts slow. E-bikes can go as fast as 45 km/h depending on the type. At that speed, you will feel the fall.
Throughout the town, there is some nice, easy, flat trails for biking. We recommend the Bow River Loop Trail (Map 1 trail 1), Three Sisters Pathway (Map 1 trail 3) and Larch Loop (Map 1 trail 6). You can also stroll along the Bow Valley Trail and Railway avenue on the multi-use pathway. For those who would like to experience the Legacy Trail, note that there is a slow steady climb going towards Banff. For an easier ride, take the Roam Bus to Banff and ride the Legacy trail towards Canmore.
No matter what level of rider you are, you will find a challenge for yourself in Canmore.
I highly recommend using Trailforks app, especially as there is a lot of unofficial trails that can get you off track. For a quick and not too difficult ride, the Horseshoe Loop (Map 2, trail 6) is one of my favourite. Easily accessed using Cougar Creek trail, it is a nice loop through a forest with a few climbs. However, some section have more roots and rocks than you might expect. It can be done both ways, but I prefer counterclockwise. If you find it too easy, in addition the the loop you can ride the Horseshoe Slabs. Warning: drops ahead!
On the other side pf the creek, The Montane Traverse (Map 2, trail 4) is a great option with less rocks and roots, and you can decide how far you go. Either turn around or go down one of the many trails possible and pay yourself a treat coming back on Palliser Pathway (pavement and almost flat).
On the West side, the Highline Trail (Map 1, trail 4) is a local favourite. Be prepared for a good challenge! You can either start in Three Sister’s neighbourhood or at Quarry Lake.
Connecting Banff and Canmore, the Legacy trail is a must do in the Bow Valley. This 20 km long trail runs along the highway but separate from it. All kind of riders use this trail daily. My kids always ask me : « How long is it dad? – Well, it depends how fast you go! ». However, it takes roughly 1.5h (to Banff) or 1h (to Canmore) for average rider. There is a day use area in the middle with toilets and picnic tables. Also, about 2/3 towards Banff, there is a beaver dam and pond. If you are lucky, you will be able to see some beavers swimming. Also look on both sides when you are close to the water tower where you can see some hoodoos that are taking form.
Get the map here.
Want to get to Banff but you’re allergic to pavement? Well, you will love the Goat Creek trail. This 19 km trail runs behind Rundle Range and bring you the the Banff Spring hotel. Unlike the usual mountain bike trail, it is a wide path, well maintained and highly used. Great views, great people, this is on my favourite list.
Every year, we leave Canmore using the Goat Creek trail, have lunch in Banff and come back on the Legacy trail. We did this the first time in 2017. My kids were 8-9-10 years old. Those small legs rode 48 km. It was a challenge, but they’ve done it, and repeated it every year since. After that, it has become a tradition that the whole family enjoy. Try it, and like us, have dad go up the big hill to go get the car!
Built in 1988 for the Calgary Winter Olympic games, the Canmore Nordic Centre is now a well known mountain biking destination. With over 100 kilometres of trail, you won’t ride the same one twice in a day. Indeed, this is the mecca for mountain biking in Canmore. Either for pleasure or challenge, from beginners to advanced riders, everybody will find what they are looking for. At this time, a Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
For those into dirt jumps and technical features, you can practice your skills at one of the skills park in town. They are located at the Nordic Centre, on Benchland trail east of the over pass and a more family friendly one at Millennium Park. All parks are free of charge (see Canmore Nordic Centre section for pass requirement to park your car)
As you can see, Canmore is a great riding destination. Grab your helmet, sunscreen, a snack, be wildsmart and enjoy your ride!
